Shingles on my face. So, so down. Please tell me what will happen.

[whippetwoman]

Basically that. I have shingles on my face, lots on my nose, round my right eye, which is swollen and yellow below it from the bruising, and a cluster on my right cheek. I am on anti-virals and also using anti-viral eye ointment as it is so close to my eye. The doctor is monitoring me closely but so far it hasn't spread into my eye.

But my god, pain aside, I look absolutely awful. Bright red crusty sores on my nose, cheek and round my eye. I haven't been out for days because I look so, so, so awful. I'm about a week in from when it all started and as I didn't know what it was, only started the anti-virals a few days ago. I am beyond miserable and want the sores to go. Anyone know when they will go or if I will scar?

Thank you!

You poor, poor love. Shingles is horrid anywhere, but I had it on my face too and it really is horrid. I'm glad you're on antivirals and being monitored, and also glad it's not going to your eye - mine didn't either (I had the eye ointment as well).

None of mine scarred, and the redness faded over about 3 weeks in total - but I got diagnosed right at the start, was on antivirals fast, so the blisters never fully formed. They were just bright red, itchy bumps that looked worse because I was so pale.

I was told 3 weeks, roughly, for the illness to run its course - and it was about that. But I was very tired for a while, and for at least a year I had occasional pain where the shingles had been - especially in cold, windy weather.

One thing worth knowing: feeling miserable and low is definitely part of the illness - I felt incredibly depressed (and am not normally a depressed type person, iyswim) in the second week, a bit better in the third week, and much happier in the fourth week. So hang in there, you sound exactly on course to me - and yes it will pass.

I hope you have some good painkillers (to help you sleep even if they don't kill the pain) and lots of real life TLC. Rest as much as you can, because getting tired and overdoing it makes it go on longer!

Hope you feel better v soon, and have no scarring. There are some amazing natural oils you can put on wounds if they do look like they are going to scar a bit - not sure what they are, but hopefully someone else will have an idea for you.

Elibean thank you so much for replying, I really appreciate it. In fact it's made me feel a bit weepy as I am so grateful to hear about your experience as it sounds very similar to mine. Just to know I am on course is reassuring.

I think what gets me is feeling so rough combined with looking so rough so I am incredibly down, but if it's just part of the illness then that's also reassuring to know actually. Also, that's a very good idea about natural oils, I will investiage that. Genuinely grateful for your reply!

You're more than welcome

Wish I had a magic wand, too!

I do remember hibernating with mine, and not wanting to go out - and if it looks acute right now, that would certainly add to that feeling. I didn't do school runs for a week, iirc, and then it was half-term so I didn't have to.

Hope you can really hunker down and coddle yourself with day time tv, soppy books, sleep, whatever passes the time without effort.

If you have trouble finding oils, you could re-post with oil question in title?

Yes, good idea, I will repost about the oils if need be.

I have become a total hermit. In fact I have just got in from walking the dog in the dark! I would scare small children otherwise. Although my one year old doesn't seem phased by my bright red crusty lumps. Also my mum is coming up tomorrow to lend me a hand with my older two. Thank god it's the summer holidays so no school run but on the other hand, I have missed some sunny days out. Anyway, thanks again