To ask those people who have had shingles....

[Silvercatowner]

To tell me how long it was before the rash came out??? I know I am being unreasonable because you aren't medically qualified and I promise I will go to the dr tomorrow if I'm not better. But I feel crap, temperature and the skin round my abdomen and back feels sore and sensitive - it's a very odd sensation. I can't see anything on my skin though (although my eyesight is rubbish) - no rash or anything.
Thanks

[Rockmysocks]

Oh, and the other symptoms others here mentioned, run down tired, achy, flurry. It was the blister that nailed it. Thought the weird pricking might have been a bite but wasn't.

[WickedWitchInTheCupboard]

I had shingles when I was a teen.

It was very sore under my armpit tand I kept complaining to my mother who assured me there was nothing there. A couple of days later there was a red blistery rash in my arm pit and in a sort of circular figure round to near my breasts (it follows the nerve I believe).

I don't remember much other than it was very painful and sore. And I got time off school which was the best part to a teenage me

[Rockmysocks]

Mine started with a feeling like I was being pricked- like with the end of those plastic t shaped tags they use to attach price tags with.

That went on for a couple of days then got a small blister then within a week I had a track of blisters.

[TooManyPaws]

I had an itchy rash on my back and chest, each only the size of a teacup. I really didn't pay much attention to it as I occasionally get eczema. I went to the doctor when I started to get pains down my left arm. He was going to send me for an ECG when I mentioned that it seemed to start from this funny rash. I was actually signed off for two weeks, more as an infection thing which I wasn't disputing seeing as the Beast from the East promptly arrived and we were snowed in for five days down our farm road. I felt a bit blah and slept a lot but I wasn't in pain or really ill.

I've since had occasional twinges down my arm in the same manner but I did wonder if I got a small patch of it again on my shin on the same side a couple of months ago. I just slathered it in my eczema cream but, looking back, the rash wasn't quite the same as my eczema and more like the shingles.

[bruffin]

I had the rash first (12 spots on my right buttock) and pain came after, but it was infected and had a lump in my groin.

DD had a chicken pox at 15 months and i think a tiny patch of shingles when she was about 7. Was only a tiny bit grumpy and not symptoms other than spots

[mum11970]

My ds had it at 3 years old and showed no symptoms of being unwell, was only diagnosed by the rash/blisters.

[Hellefrog]

lumps on forehead/ scalp head a week last Tuesday. Felt like skill coming through top of head.By Thurs twitchy eyelid. Urgent Care doc said maybe shingles or insect bites on Sunday but prescribed anti virals as close to eye by now.
Scans slowly crusting but should I expect any new ones now and still have lumpy head.
How long for all scans to crust? 🤮

[faustina]

it's been about four days so far for me, but I went to see my gp yesterday and he's put me on anti-virals. i have it on my face, so am NOT looking forward to it.

Good luck with yours - do go to the GP, it does make a difference apparently if you get anti-virals

[1974rach]

I had a sore arm pit so walked around like "I'm a little teapot" for a week whilst generally feeling crap.

Then I got blisters which stung like mad all under my arm and down on to my ribcage.

Very painful and 15 years later I still cannot use antiperspirant sprays as I find they are very irritating.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

My DH has had it twice. It only appears on one side of your body and follows the nerve line. He found it very painful. I take it you've had chicken pox? As if you haven't, it ain't shingles.

Hope you get to see a GP soon, it's not a pleasant thing to have, my mum was really ill with it.

[MrsBobHale]

I had it when I was 15. I was in hospital for a week. I still get the pain now 25 yrs later if it's cold and I've been ill. Not as bad but a very distinctive pain, and I occasionally get scabs on my scalp.

I've never looked into whether it is possible to get minor scabbing and pain every now and then, so it might not be, but it feels exactly like it and it's where I had the shingles.

It felt like I'd been smacked over the back of the head with an iron bar, and I couldn't turn my neck. I'd say 3-4 days until diagnosis but I can't remember when the scabs appeared.

[remotecontrols]

Took a few days before it came out. The skin on my back felt very prickly and then blisters started to come out. Was very painful

[Hawkmoth]

Go tomorrow. Get antivirals.

I was unwell for about a week before blisters. I was only 14 and nobody believed me.

They scarred and still hurt whenever I get a virus or the atmospheric pressure drops. Intriguing but irritating.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

My DS had shingles when he was 10 yo

Sunday night -painful armpit but nothing visible
Monday- vague red marks on arm , like blisters
Tuesday morning at the GP because he had tiny blisters down to his fingertip.

[HMG83]

Mine was 1/2 a day. Felt crap at work, literally couldn't stay awake. Felt burning sensation on my stomach and my back and generally felt really irritable. Couldn't get comfy.

By the evening I had come out in the rash on my stomach where it had been burning earlier and took myself to the walk in centre.

If it's shingles you beed to get the anti-virals in your system within the first 72hours else they're not effective.

[aquashiv]

God it sounds awful. I remember my Mum having it when I was five and her sobbing in pain.

[fluterby]

Can't remember exactly. Just that it was a burning feeling.

[Silvercatowner]

Thank-you everyone. I will go to the dr tomorrow.

[Fluffyears]

I was tired and in work about 2pm I got a raging sore throat and felt fluey. Spent weekend on sofa then got a black rash with red spots on stomach on the Monday (been ill since the Friday) at first i thought it was an allergy. Then realised it was only on one side doctor confirmed it was shingles. It burns like a really bad razor burn rubbed with stinging nettles and prickly heat. I still get twinges now 4 years later and feel rundown easily.

[Loopytiles]

Almost a week, hurt a lot! Like had trapped a nerve in back of shoulder, and under lung, actual rash was on boob!Horrible. Still hurts when it's cold!

Hope you're better soon OP.

[KurriKurri]

I get recurrent shingles - and its usually about 48 hours from the weird prickling feeling to the rash for me. The sooner you get something for it the better, (but sometimes docs want to see a rash before they will prescribe anything)

Also you might very well feel quite poorly for a week or so (aside form the soreness) - its a nasty virus. Hope you feel better soon.

[Witchofthenorth]

I was a couple of days...started off thinking I had been bitten, following day started to feel really shitty, by the third day I had everyone telling me to hope the rash doesnt join in the middle

[Loveleopardprint]

When booking the appointment just mention shingles to the receptionist as there might be a different waiting area to avoid contact with the old or pregnant.

[Motherinlawsdung]

Go to the doctor as soon as possible. Getting the antiviral can make the difference between a week's discomfort and months of pain. Your description of it feeling very odd and weird is exactly correct for shingles.

[onadifferentplanet]

Several days for me. Hadn't felt right for several days and actually went to GP as the pain and itching were horrible, he thought it was muscular, spots came out a couple of days later. By the time it was officially diagnosed it was too late for meds and 3 months later I still get pain if tired or cold and have picked up so many bugs which is so unlike me, so get yourself to the GP tomorrow.