Talk to me about shingles. Because I've fucking got it :(

[Jacksmania]

Please come talk to me about your experience with shingles. Lucky me, I've got it :(

It started with odd low back pain last Monday evening. Pain in my low back and right hip. Achy and pinching and yucky. Really crappy night. More of the same Tues and Tues night. Weds morning noticed an odd blustery rash on my low back. Thought I'd burned myself with the hot pack.
Went on a short family holiday Weds to Sunday. Back ache, yucky burning pain in my hip, bloody awful itching all over my right hip. Lymph nodes in groin swollen and painful. WTF? I finally put it together when I asked DH to look at the rash on my back again and he said "hmmm... it looks exactly like when you got those fever blisters on your cheek last year" (baaaaad cold sore outbreak on my lip/ cheek last Sept).



Fuck. What if its shingles???
Got home Sun night, begged to be seen by GP this morning. Yup. Shingles. Massive prescription for acyclovir. Seeing her again Thurs.

So. Tell me about shingles. How long does the rash last? How long does it hurt?

I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself right now. :(

[DorothyGherkins]

Oh poor Jacks. My friend has shingles at the mo, so I cant catch it from her? I had a good dose of chickenpox as a child.

[Jacksmania]

No, if you've had chickenpox, you won't get it from your friend. I still don't advocate getting anywhere near her rash :o but you'll be fine.

[bigbluebus]

DD had a Shingles rash approx 3 weeks ago. I recognised it straight away as she had it 6 yrs ago. She had Aciclovir from GP within first 2 days. The rash faded within a few days. She is severely disabled,so unable to communicate how much pain she is in, or where exactly the pain is. We just kept her topped up with Paracetemol and within a week she seemed ok.

I have just noticed that she now has a further line of spots on her back. Same area as before, but slighly different line. She has seemed to be in pain for the last few days, especially when on her side. I guess its off to the GP again tomorrow for more antivirals. Poor DD doesn't deserve this - it is so unfair.

[FiveFlowers]

You don't catch shingles Dorothy, you can only get it if you've previously had chickenpox. The virus lies dormant until you're run down or stressed and re-activates as shingles.

It's awful. I do sympathise Jacksmania, I had shingles a few months ago and didn't go to the GP for a week as I didn't know what it was (and it was in a very delicate inaccessible area so I could barely see the blisters ). I was prescribed acyclovir but too late for me I think.

The pain took weeks to go (sorry, you don't want to hear that) but it did gradually fade away. I sometimes still get it now if I'm very tired or I've been sitting too long.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Narked]

How are you doing today?

[cocolepew]

Did you smit me? I've woken up with them

[howtodecide]

have just posted too as I have shingles....about 10 days in I think - I don't have a huge amount of pain anymore - its on my leg and I had very sore skin for a few days and then the rash which is very itchy but not hugely painful thankfully but I feel dreadful - really worn out shattered, weak and pathetic! Its rubbish you have my sympathies!

[Narked]

Multivitamins and non itchy vibes all round.

[Jacksmania]

Oh, coco, no!!!!!!!!!! :(
It wasn't me, I promise!


Not sure how I feel yet, haven't gotten up yet. It's only 7:41 am here. DS is sleeping beside me :), he came in last night and snuggled.

Crap day yesterday. Sooooo tired. Thought I could just soldier on at work but left early. DS and DH out, went to bed for several hours. Actually managed a decent sleep. At least I didn't wake up madly itching and accidentally scratching my back last night, like I did the night before. Just about fell out of bed!!!!!

I'm stating home today, and probably tomorrow, too.

Does it go away faster if you decide to be smart about it and rest as much as you can?

[cocolepew]

I don't think it goes faster but you feel better afterwards if you try to rest, not so run down.

off course I got mine on my bum

[Jacksmania]

Oh nooooooo :(
Mine's just above my bum. Top of my sacrum, bottom of my low back. Right where the belt would go on a pair of jeans. Which I have obviously not been wearing as even soft clothes make my skin hurt.


I'm still tired. Had a better sleep than the night before, walked DS to preschool, thought I'd go for a little walk, am home and just wiped out. Think I'll go back to bed for a while.

[kelseymcmanus75]

Does this look like shingles? Thanks

[Circe1]

Can I just say TF I found the conversation on google. The form my attacks take is excruciating trigeminal nerve pain - and outbreak of lesions IN the mouth as well as cold sores. I'm better at getting the antivirals in quick now. But it is the fatigue and depression this time that is absolutely crucifying - week 3 and I am just about getting routine stuff done while wondering if it will ever get better EVER because suddenly the world has taken on that peculiar gray of hopelessness when you start to think that there is nothing good and it's all down to your own character defects. So - Thank you Ladies - I now know I am not alone and I am not being pathetic, and it is not in my head. Well...actually for me it is.....but you know what I mean.

[seb3]

I got shingles through the vaccine! It started soon after the injection. Before this I had never been ill. Started with aches in the arm and back and then rash appeared. I took acyclovir after 3 days but no real effect.The numbness and pins and needles manifested themselves in the hand, and being an artist and teacher, I could no longer use the hand. Even putting on socks, the physical activity, sent shocks up my arm. I am presently on amitryptilene low dose and 3 weeks on I am considering giving up my job because I can no longer do it properly. A nightmare!