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!!!

[cellomom1]

I was diagnosed with facial shingles 3 weeks ago and I had an acute case. I heard about shingles but didn't think I had to worry about it at my age. How wrong I was! The blisters and sores made me look hideous, but the pain, tingling and itching is a nightmare. I was not prepared for the fatigue and just cried and went home to moms like a baby and curled up in bed. I have lost 10lbs ( live in NYC), not in the best way, I may add. I am too tired and depressed to eat. The sight of food sickens me. Wow- I would have never guessed this little thing called shingles is a MONSTER! It was helpful to read the other comments because at least I know it is not all in my mind . I am exhausted! Feel better everyone. As we say in NY, I am just going to "suck it up" and get moving.

[Hel3n]

I am so glad I found this thread, I was diagnosed with Shingles 8 days ago. An early diagnosis thankfully and only 12 small blisters on my torso. 800mg of Acyclovir five times a day seems to have cleared them up and I had little to no pain. BUT ....... I am absolutely exhausted 😴 I have the energy of a geriatric sloth and really don’t know how I’m going to manage back at work. I am thankful that people have shared their experiences so I now know it’s kind of ‘normal’ to feel this way. 🥺🥺

[Roger322]

Hi I have had shingles now for about 3 weeks the rash has started to calm down however the pain is still quite intense. What concerns me is why I am so tired and feel ill most of the time I sleep for about 18 hours plus a day can anyone let's know of this is , normal.

[Pajamagirl]

I had been feeling tired and ill for about a month when the rash appeared 2nd Nov , ( I was so shocked I had a thread about it I worked for a week then took 2 weeks off . It also felt like I was being bitten , I also thought a flea had been trapped in my boot , madness)
The rash has cleared and the pain is like flickering electric shocks in my ankle ( I got my rash in my leg (
Still have zero energy and sleeping as much as possible .my
Legs feel heavy as if I have been running when I’ve only walked a little ... came in here to see others stories

[Jenjenny]

I'm just getting over the shingles the pain and rash was aweful on my right breast under arm and back cant explain how much pain I was in but nothing beats this exhaustion I will be sitting on the couch and just fall asleep all day I dont have any energy never have I been this tired I'm so glad I stumbled on this thread I thought I was dying I have never ever been one to sit down I have adhd I dont even sit down while eating but now I can barely clean my house hopefully it will run its course and i will feel better soon .prayers for everyone

[MyNameIsArthur]

I was given Pregabalin and my fatigue was lifted same day. Be careful with Pregabalin though. Can be addictive so try and come off it as soon as possible ie no longer than a few weeks

[Moyle]

I too am so happy to have found these comments on shingles. I had a severe case with face, mouth and scalp. The rash and blisters have subsided, but the fatigue is crazy. Has anyone tried acupuncture? I am
desperate for energy,

[JamieFrasersSassenach]

I too currently have shingles - mine started as very sore skin under my left arm, which then moved to my left torso and a small red sore rash appeared a day later. That was Saturday and I went to the GP on Monday and saw the nurse practitioner who said it is shingles. I have acyclovir to take 5 times a day for 7 days and I'm keeping on top of the pain with paracetamol and ibuprofen.
BUT I am so tired. I'm off work this week anyway so it's not an issue but I really don't want to take any time off next week, and on top of the tiredness I can't really wear a bra at the moment as it's painful.
Has anyone had the acyclovir and found a big improvement after the 7 days - with pain and fatigue?

for everyone else suffering

[Dreamersandwishers]

I recently (Oct) had shingles on my face & the aciclovir def helped reduce the symptoms. That said, I was fatigued for a couple of weeks , and even now I still itch from time to time, in the cold or if I wear make-up on that area. It’s crappy.

[Plato5v]

It has been 5 weeks with me and I am like a lot of you, I can't get over the feelings of fatigue. I can work for a few hours and then I am just exhausted. I eat a plant based diet and have been taking some B-12 but so far it does not appear to help. So far I have not seen any comments but I would prefer any suggestions as to something I can do to get some energy.

[Chrispb1]

Following 4 back to back colds I started severe itching all over my body which lasted about 2wks, I thought I’d got a food allergy or bed bugs or flee infestation. Then the itching just stopped but was replaced by a burning skin sensation mainly all over my back with some on my arms. After about 2 weeks of the burning sensation I had a single shingles spot appear on my lower back rt side. Doctor diagnosed shingles and prescribed antivirals and within the week the spot went. Burning slowly subsided and my skin only occasionally feels sensitive. It‘s now 9 weeks since it all started and my energy levels are very low and if I do too much I feel quite poorly with a strange vibrating/shivering feeling deep inside almost as if I’ve a fever and feel cold. I think things are improving a little as I feel brighter on some days. Hope this helps sufferers understand it seems a normal part of the illness and not something more sinister.

[Enigma60]

I started with shingles on my buttock on 2nd January and still feel fatigued and quite dizzy some days. I’ve also suffered days of severe anxiety and lasting digestive problems. Shingles is a bitch.

[Ruthmarie1020]

diagnosed Apr 6, i took acyclovir for 7 days, it cleared the rash in about a week, but the Fatigue is unbearable, I'm also on Gabapentin for leg pain. Totally un believable fatigue. I had a rash from my right knee down, but i could feel discomfort on my right abdomen and back, but no rash developed.

[GlamGiraffe]

Its grim isnt it. I had it almst 6 weeks ago. I didnt thi k it was a bad case. On my ric cage about 3inches wide prerfect mark from dead centre of the breast bone and a solid thick like to the spine .the a and e dr acted llike it was a plagie like case (was ot bad compared to your experiences? Im doubtful!)got antivirals within hours but felt bad then ..6 weeks on i feel ghastly. For every day i something normal im whacked and can hardly even walk around the day after. This extreme cant be nofmal can it?

[GrannieAnn]

As I hadn’t see my son in 2.5 years due to Covid. I decided to visit him in Canada for a flying visit, Mum needed to hug her son as facetime was just not cutting it. Arrived Monday 9 May. I felt strange, with a pain around my left breast, I felt out of breath very easily but didn’t know what was going on. I could only walk very slowly, not my usual pace. My mind started to think all sorts.
Thursday I found a rash under my left arm and over my left breast. Had a strange sensation over my tummy but no rash. I called into a local pharmacy and asked for a hydro cortisol cream thinking it was an irritation. Later than day I felt cold and shivery, like a flu coming on and so painful, got over the counter pain meds and slept most of the day. The next day the blisters had appeared, big time, and spread round to the middle of my back and a few on my head which I discovered later. Back to the pharmacy who diagnosed Shingles and, luckily, was able to write a prescription for a 10 day course of anti viral meds, Valacyclovir. It certainly took the shine of my visit and I had an 8 hour flight on Sunday to look forward to.
I slept for 16 hours when I returned home. I used Vaseline to keep the area moisturised. The pain has been bad even after the blisters healed. A few spots needed an antibiotic cream as they were red and inflamed. Then came the itching, I got antihistamine from the doctor for that. It’s now 16 June, 5 weeks since rash appeared and am still taking pain meds, only recently started wearing a bra again but remove it as soon as I can. The skin feels numb where the rash was and scaring is still visible especially on my back. I am still very tired. Went back to work last week but leave early each day and fall asleep. The fatigue is at times overwhelming. It was looking for answers that brought me to this thread. I will try some of the suggestions B12, VitC, Co Enzyme and look into L-lysine. It would appear from what others say it’s just going to take time. For any others who may find themselves with Shingles in the future and looking for answers I will update the thread on how I feel and how long it took before I felt more like me.

[Maxi28]

Do you have any updates
I’m on week three of shingles and utterly exhausted

[GrannieAnn]

Maxi28 poor you. Try and get as much rest as you can. I started to take vitamins that support your immune system. I'm ot sure they helped at first but I needed to feel proactive. It was probably about July, 2 months, before I started to feel more like me again and I started to do some exercise. Others I have spoken to have taken longer. I would try and get out in the fresh air even a short walk and sit somewhere nice. I've had a bit of a set back and while I can't say for certain it's related, my immune system has taken a bit of a battering. Chicken and egg, scenario. Did I get shingles because I was stressed, probably? Now my system was weakened further, it doesn't take much to knock me off my feet. It is a time thing, not a quick fix. Give your body as much support as you can, rest, eat well and be kind.
I still have some scaring on my back. Did you take anti viral medication?
I wish you well, take a day at a time and you will get there.

[allaboutgwen]

Medical community needs to seriously alert people of the horrible sick and devastating pain you get with shingles. Had my doctor stressed this as an emergency I would have gotten my shingles shot. I have never cried so much from the pain, itching, fatigue, nausea, serious constipation and all around sick and hopeless feeling. I'm barely getting out of bed, I feel like an invalid, I'm depressed and sad watching my life go down the drain. It's been over 4 weeks now and it's hard for me to believe I ever was well before. Im taking tons of pills, creams and patches with very little relief. Ive been to the emergency room 4 times and to my primary care doctor and a dermatogist. I'm a surviver of breast and lung cancer and other chronic ailments but this shingles thing is making me feel I'm in my last days on earth. When I do feel a little relief I get nervous that it won't last long and sure enough the pain etc. Keeps coming back. More research is needed on this evil and debilitating disease .I want to feel well again.
Im tired of crying. Good luck to all of you sufferers.__

[allaboutgwen]

So sorry for you and I'm in nearly the same situation. I wish I had a solution for this terrifying disease. They must find a cure! We've suffered way too much. I'm holding on day by day. I wish you well soon GrannieAnn.