How long does the fatigue last after you've had shingles? I'm still so tired I could cry :(

[Jacksmania]

The rash and blisters have mostly cleared, it looks like there was something there on my back but you wouldn't know what it was. No more pain. Only occasional itching. According to GP, the mildest case of shingles she's ever seen, at least as far as the outside is concerned.

But the fatigue is just crushing. I'm so tired my bones ache. I can function, because I have to, but anything (like yesterdays's three hour visit to A&E for stitches in DS's scalp - he fell over backwards and hit his head, completely fine today though) leaves me feeling like I have nothing left.
I am taking tons of B vitamins, trying to eat well, am sleeping about 9 hours a night, if not more, and I still feel awful.

How long does this last??? My GP just made a sympathetic face and said it's different for everyone.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggghhhhh!!!

Mine was right down the centre of my back between my shoulder blades and down to where my bra sat so yes it can happen.

I have shingles now going on 2 weeks. I'm very tired and the nerve pain is horrible . I have been trying this advocare spark I sell and it has been helping stay more alert through the day. I would not wish shingles on anybody ever. I never imagined it to be this painful and exhausting

I have just been diagnosed with Shingles, the pain is excruciating, and so constant, does it fade once the rash is out?! It started appearing a couple of days ago.

Oh thank God I've found these posts. I have chronic shingles. For about 2 years as soon as I got over a bout in a week or two they were back. They're very mild cases and always on my thigh. I just turned 60 and this has been going on for about 6 yrs. I also have osteoarthritis and some other age related minor stuff, but the fatigue is just killing me. I used to be a truck driver and could literally drive 20 hrs straight with only a couple breaks here and there, sleep 4 hrs and right back at it. Now I can't even clean my house unless I have a very rare 'good' day. I absolutely feel so lazy because I've always been such a hard worker. It never dawned on me that the shingles could be causing this and haven't really discussed it with my GP but sure will at my next appt. Thanks for all your stories you have no idea how much better I feel knowing there is a reason for this!!!

i just joined yesterday. second bout back to back shingles. never reached scab status. tenth time and never paid much attention. no after effects. this time extreme fatigue. read your posts and immediately went to urgent care and got b12 shot. will continue to eat good food(made avocado, almond mils, yogurt, blueberries, banana for breakfast), get rest and try to be as normal as possible. thank you sooo!!! much for this web site. (I thought I was dying till I read this).

4 weeks of knackeredness for me and then a while after that to feel human again. I had antiviral which is supposed to shorten/help it

b12 shots

Hi all! Everyone I know says I have shingles. I live in Walton On The Naze and haven't been able to contact my GP....first it was the weekend and now it's Monday and the office is closed over lunch. This morning every man, woman, cat and dog was attempting to ring them I think! My left hand rear lower quadrant of my torso has ugly dotted rash in circles following a line. A few days ago, I said to my husband that I felt like I had the start of flu. With pain through my hip and pelvis. And a lazy tiredness. As I have other illnesses requiring voltarol, on looking at my back to prepare to rub some in my husband made a loud exclamation. Since then I've exhibited it to every poor so-on-so who crosses my path with the general consensus "SHINGLES". I feel very poorly. Should I persevere with trying to contact my GP rooms or 111 or a walkin some 40 mins drive away? Are there any home remedies worth trying? Cider vinegar stung but at least it disinfected the area? Or do I have an excuse to curl in a ball, read and wait? I'm beyond child rearing at 61 so can afford to take it easy for a day or so...any recommendations from other mums? X

I had shingles in february, just in time for my birthday,lol felt tired ever ince,usually have lods of energy
After the pain comes the numbness, you just cant feel your body where tyhe rash was its a strange feeling
oodlesofpoodle get some Virasothe,its for cickenpox and shingles,its very soothing, Boots and most chemists sell it,you can but gel or spray,i found the spray best and you dont need to touch your rash
It is very painful i know,and it lasts a while [,few weeks]

Virasoothe should say

I recently was treatied for my 7th Shingles outbreak in the Emergency Room. This and the ladt time were on two different sides of my face. The pain this time was so excruciating because of the location and lump underneath the huge blistering area I was bedridden for almost a week.The actual scabbed area from heal blisters is minimal due to getting treatment within hours of symptoms and testing / medication drops placed in my eye right away and that I had received the vaccine. This morning was my last day of taking the Valtrex. I am exhausted beyond words. Every bone in my body feels so week. I am 2 months from major arm, wrist and tendon surgery. That may be part of it. Three yrs ago I received the Shingles vaccine at age 60. Ironically , last week I received a letter from the pharmacy to come in and get the new 2 step vaccine. I encourage everyone age 50 and over please make arrangements to get the vaccine to prevent you from experiencing this virus! Have a beautiful Holiday Season!

I have had shingles since 12/12/2018 and still feel like been hit by steam roller , been off work and due back in Jan 14th but worried l won't be able to cope

It looks like this is an old thread, but I found it when searching for information on fatigue related to Shingles. As I read through the thread I just sat here and sobbed—partly because it’s good to know a lot of people feel this, but partly because it looks like I’m going to be dealing with this feeling for a while and it scares me.

There may be others coming along looking for this same information...

I am on day 9 with Shingles. I have them on the right side of my face and scalp. It took me a while to put the pieces together—first day just didn’t feel so great and had this super painful “pimple” in my ear. Second day still duly crappy, woke with a weird sore throat and stiff neck on the same side as the ear with the “pimple”. Also had a headache all day and throughout the night. Third day same as second day, but was itchy on eyelid and next to eye—was slightly red (thought I was having a reaction to a glycolic mask I had tried the night before). Also had a painful red bump on my scalp that I hit with my brush—another pimple? What the heck? Fourth day all the same as the last couple days except the two itchy areas around my eye had blisters. Posted an angry review of the glycolic mask on Amazon and considered contacting the company. Fifth day woke feeling awful. Many more blisters had appeared across my forehead and on my eyelid. Painful blisters in my scalp. Now I knew what it was! Headed to the ER. Was put on antivirals. Next day eye was swollen shut. Itchy, painful, no appetite, so tired.

Fast forward to day nine and the smallest things exhaust me. Reading this thread I am terrified. I’m a single, older mom. I’m in college full time and classes start back up in ten days. I was trying to find a job but had to cancel interviews because I got sick (been living on student loans for a little bit). If this tiredness goes on, how will I do it all?

Gosh just found this thread spanning years but all saying the same depressing thing. I've got shingles and am completely exhausted, still got DC at home. God I hate it and so feel for everyone suffering the same . Wow what a horrible condition it is..

Iam so glad to read this blog as I have had shingles for 6 weeks today. I got it on the left side of my face during the Christmas season when there was plenty of kissing going on and I had what I thought was a “cold sore” on my lip So it took me a week to get the antiviral. My doctor told me to take the valtrex until the pain went away which I did. However about two weeks later I got 2 very itchy sores on the same side of my face and the doctor told me to take the valtrex until all symptoms gone because I could have shingles for the rest of my life if I didn’t. As you all I have the identical fatigue symptoms sometinpmes accompanied with a feverish feeling. I never thought of increasing my iron so I will do that. But has anyone been taking the antivirals this long? I feel like it will never end. Thank you

Good afternoon! I’m on day 8 with the shingles virus. Just finished my antiviral meds. My rash was on my right side, should, back, under arm(which was the most painful) and right breast! I have never experienced such nagging pain in my life, it just doesn’t want to stop. I too am tired but I try to “make” myself move. I’m lucky as I stay at home and watch my granddaughter, not now of course. Call me crazy but I got bit by a tick 2 years ago I took it with me to Urgent Care they sent it out to be tested and it was positive for Lyme. I have been tested several times and they all come back negative. But it just seems like my health has taken a nose dive since then. I hope you all recover from your shingles, it’s a crappy “Club” to be a member of.

Sure is . I'm up looking fir pain relief, it's horrible, had it for a fortnight now and making me so miserable. Feel for you all x

Hello shingles sufferers, I hope you're all feeling better!

I wondered whether you could tell me whether you had pain in the area before the spots showed up, and if so how long for?

I've had a sore area of skin on one should blade and running under my armpit for 4 or 5 days. It feels kind of like sunburn but there's nothing to see. It's not excruciating but I'm pretty much constantly aware / uncomfortable. I don't feel especially unwell or tired.

Could this still be shingles on the way or would the spots have shown by now? My dad is undergoing chemo so I need to be very careful around him.

Thank you :)

Gentle bump...

I have shingles, been run down last couple weeks sore threat on and off, had sensitive skin On my arm Thursday evening, didn't stop me going out, was away shopping Friday with a friend, that evening tired went to bed early which I often do so normal enough, woke up in the night sore arm and back, notice rSh next day went to mower as it was Saturday, got antiviral, got shock when nurse on phone said do you think I t might be shingles...anyways second day of anti viral, feel ok, just bit discomfort, but don't feel too bad, woke with pain there at 5am but asleep since 10pm. I'm scared reading post on mumsnet re shingles, some people really suffer.....will keep yee posted...

Meant I got a rash, so went to Out of hours Dr, First time posting on this so excuse typos in last post...

I recommend taking L lysine tablets for anyone with shingles or getting over shingles. Bought these from a health food shop.

Hi all, I had lower back and mid waist severe shingles, got antivirals in time and now in the red scarring stage 2 and 1/2 weeks later but chronically fatigued and bones aching and memory loss, but am due to be back in work in 2 days :-o really worried, any advice?? Thanks

This is the weirdest thing. My ear bothered me for months. Doctors said it was fluid build up in the middle ear. My gums on the left side was sore. The dentist said I had no problem there. This went on for months. Finally, when I went again to the doctor and told him of the tingling on the left side and side of nose. The strange thing is that months prior to all this, I kept feeling like there was something in my hair and on my back.
I never got any blisters but months later I have times when I'm really tired. I take Vitamins B, C, finished a bottle of elderberry syrup, and taking echinacea. My symptoms are certainly going away but when tiredness comes, I have to sit down.