Shingles in my eye

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Week four of shingles , the rash has cleared up but my vision is still impaired and I'm in agony - has anyone else had this and any positive stories to give me hope?! I've been to the eye clinic again today and they have told me they do not know why it's taking so long to improve and it's starting to really upset and worry me

Had shingles a few times, one time suspected in my eyes as I had blisters on my upper and lower eye lid.
What treatment have you had? Are you still taking anti virals ?
Must be so painful and debilitating.

That sounds dreadful op. I had it in my mouth and on my face and that was excruciating. Are you getting lots of rest and taking antivirals?

Still taking antivirals orally and also eye drops. The eye drops really sting and make it feel worse somehow. It's agony. I try to rest but I have a toddler and no childcare. Every time the doctors review it seems to have got worse which is so disheartening. It's stopped me sleeping which they've given me medication for but last night I saw every hour, I kept rubbing my eye in my sleep and waking. I just feel so low about it all.

I had it when I was a child. My immune system is stupid. I have to wear glasses now because the cornea is misshaped. But nothing else.

I had shingles that did affect my eye, but not as bad as you at all.
Obviously it’s hard to rest with your DC, can you potentially try and increase your vitamins, healthy eating to improve your immunity to fight it? If you have a DP can you try and get lots of early nights with painkillers to rest and maybe the drs would give you something to help sleep?
Hope you feel better soon.

Is it possible 1 eye is just reinfecting the other constantly?
Can they give you a higher dose of the antivirals?
When I had constant cold sores I asked for a higher dose of acyclovir which seemed to help.
Have they suggested the next step to take if things don't improve soon?

What eye drops are you using?

Are you maybe allergic to the eye drops? Sounds awful.

Ganciclovir

I wondered this as the pain is always so much worse after the eye drops. I called the clinic again today to ask if I could stop taking them but they said no I definitely still have to.

Thank you, I am trying to rest as much as possible and eating as

I had this 12 years ago.
Took about 8 weeks to 'settle down', I kept being told to rest (had twins aged 2 and dc1 was 6). After about 4 weeks they stopped the antivirals and just gave me hypromellose eye drops (which I still take today). I have scarring on my lense and wear glasses now (I can't tolerate contacts). I ended up with post hepatic pain, which is ongoing but sometimes it's better than other times. Opthalmics discharged me after two years, but I've just been referred back as they think my sights deteriorating (I hadn't noticed). Neurologist looked at me twice and said sorry nothing we can do, pain clinic are useless, and even had physio because of deferred pain in my arm and neck. I can definitely say the first 8-12 weeks were the worst but it has always been there since and sometimes worse than other times. In the early days I was told its a wait and see game and that nerves repair very slowly so no one could tell me if/when it would improve. After a year they said its a case of now managing long term as they didn't feel that it would improve. I'm unable to work because of other health issues these days but apart from the first 8 weeks it didn't stop me from working (mainly because i wasn't able to drive). The nerve pain runs down my arm and hand and has caused slight weakness, my head and neck, face (all as if its sliced in half). Light sensitivity was a big issue at first but now its not too bad (i didn't open the curtains for 8 weeks and wore sunglasses outside (even in winter). I am careful when brushing/washing hair, waxing is more painful, and the cold/wind hurts. Although it always hurts /is numb it varies how bad it is and is very rarely the stops me in my tracks pain. I suspect your in the wait and see stage. Hope you see some relief soon.

My friend had this about a year ago and she was really unwell for several weeks. Are you taking any nerve pain medication like amitriptyline or pregablin? If not ask your GP. You can have both as well as other things like codeine which will also make you sleepy ( and constipated so add in senna).

When I had minor eye surgery years ago they gave me sleep goggles though you may not tolerate them.

Friend is still on steroid eye drops and may be for much longer. She was off work for around 3 months.

Talk to your GP about maximum pain relief and try to relax into being ill if you possibly can.

You may be allergic to the preservative - you could ask to try preservative free drops.
Thealoz Duo drops are wonderfully soothing (and preservative free) - you could try using these in between the antiviral drops.

Thank you all so much for your replies, woken up again in agony throughout the night. I'll ask the gp for more pain medication today - I'm already taking amytripline and tramadol but maybe there's something else.

How are you getting on OP?
My Dr recommended Vitamin B supplements for helping with nerve damage and pain, you could give them a try

Hi, sorry it's been a blur with hospital appoints and looking after a fed up toddler. This week is much better, my sight came back in the affected eye a week ago which was a massive relief and the itching and pain have mostly calmed down to just an annoyance when I'm not distracted. For the first time since this started I can tolerate sunlight again so have been out and about with the little one and I feel so grateful for every minute at the moment to see the back of what felt like such a lonely awful time. Thank you all so much for your advice and support when I was struggling so much and had almost given up hope with how awful everything felt.