Shingles?!

[OhDearMe2]

I'm 35, healthy and well.

3 days ago I felt ill with a stomach ache / nausea but had an early night and felt OK on waking.

Yesterday I woke with back ache (mild) and noticed two small bite like marks on my tummy on one side. Assumed it was a bite although it didn't itch / hurt. Looks a bit puffy but small red spot type thing.

Back ache has worsened but I am looking after two small children (lots of lifting). Feel a bit run down / exhausted but not especially Ill.

Today I woke with several more smaller spots, some of which are in a short line across tummy on same side as other two (from yesterday)

Back ache much worse and spots sort of tingle / bit sore.

Is this shingles?? I'm going on holiday tomorrow and stressing it could be and do I need to do anything before we go? Will it get worse. The pain in my back is mostly at the bottom but not gone up between shoulders a bit too. I am also getting sort of shooting pains today in my side / back if I bend / twist.

Anyone had anything like this?

Yes it does. I. Have just come down with it too. Go and get some antivirals from the dr. Not sure about travelling. I couldn't travel , too much pain.

I've been and it is shingles, got the anti virals.

Not in that much pain at the moment so hoping these will stop it worsening...

Olivo, how long have you been taking them? Any side effects from them?

I only got them this morning. 2 doses so far, nothing to report.

Hope you feel better soon. Did you get 800mg 5 X pe day?

My sympathies to both of you, shingles is horrible.
I was given anti virals but because I didn't go to the drs early enough (didn't know it was shingles) they didn't help me. The worst thing was having to take such a large tablet five times a day when all I wanted to do was die sleep.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

Yes I got that. Hoping it stays at this level as not too bad and think can get on with holiday if so buy worrying it might get worse. Going to finish the packing and get an early night this eve.

I hope you feel better soon. Have you had it before? How old are you if you don't mind me asking?!! My grandma had shingles a lot but I didn't realise you could get it at any age!

I am 41, and I had it when I was 19 as well. Apparently, it is not common to get it more than twice, so I am hoping this is it!

Hoe ploy feel better soon ,and enjoy your holiday.

Yes the Dr said that it's unlikely to happen more than twice!

Are you feeling any worse / better since starting the anti virals? He didn't mention how long they need to start working. I'm definitely in more pain this eve. No more spots yet but I think tomorrow I might wake up worse :-( maybe not though, trying to stay positive!!

I've had shingles and whilst it isn't pleasant, it does clear quickly. The one thing I would add is that although you can't catch shingles, your children can catch chicken pox from you. I got shingles whilst on my 2nd year at uni studying primary education and founder go on any of my school placements until it had cleared up!!!! Hope you start feeling better soon xxx

I'm just recovering from shingles and the anti-viral meds definitely kicked it after two days. Mine was in my head and neck and the pain soon reduced. Take it easy though, I tried to carry on instead of resting and as a result have now developed a complication, Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, where one side of my face is paralysed (hopefully temporary). Shingles can be brought on by stress and tension and it is so important to rest up and just go with it.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Thanks bapple. I've definitely carried on as normal!! Yesterday I was doing all the holiday packing. DH was working to unavoidable but as of now he will be taking over doing everything during the holiday! I'm definitely in a little more pain today but still not too bad. I'm going to go on my holiday and hope for the best, off to take the Anti V now!

Hello oh dear. I feel worse today although less burny. The red blotches have faded into 4 spots but I feel wiped out and tearful.
I don't know if that is normal.
Hope you feel ok and are able to enjoy your holiday.

Thanks for the advice bapple. I have been advised to stay off work and rest. Feel lousy.

hallo everyone, fellow sufferer here, had the anti virals but they don't seem to have helped much, now on supposedly stronger painkillers specially for shingles but tbh they don't seem to give any better relief and make me dizzy
am proper fed up, have had 2 weeks off work, the weather here is lovely and I want to garden but after about half an hour I have to stop and rest
I think feeling wiped out and teary is normal, GP said think of it like flu.
I find aloe vera gel is quite soothing for about 10 mins- my rash is clearing up nicely in appearance, but still feels just as bad

Are you infectious? If you could give people the chicken pox virus it could be bad to be out and about ?
Do you have holiday insurance?

it's only the actual spots that are infectious- if they are covered there's no danger to anyone else

Oh dear Shanti, that doesn't sound like fun. Hope you improve soon.
Will try the aloe Vera gel, weird how such a small area of spots can cause so much pain and itching.

Apparently, it's quite normal to feel teary and wiped out with shingles. A well-meaning friend told me that when I was diagnosed as she was worried about how I'd get on. For me, it has been a real low and I'm desperate to find the energy to get on with my life but it is slow still. Things feel a bit woolly.

I was really dizzy with my shingles and still feel wobbly if I move too quickly - vertigo I think I read somewhere.

Back to the dr tomorrow as just have one more day of steroids to get through.

how long have you been ill Bapple?

I had shingles two weeks ago, for about the tenth time (so you can get it again, repeatedly sorry!!) and I felt no so much unwell, as very anxious and panicky. It was weird.

The anti virals don't agree with everyone, I used to feel more unwell taking them than not, so now I just have to sit it out until I feel better. I am building up some resistance, so it does get less severe with each attack.

The antivirals have given me an upset stomach with lots of wind, but I m persisting! . I can only seem to manage about two or three hrs out of bed.

Feel better in the sense that what I am experiencing g seems to be normal though.

Bapple, hope you improve soon.

I found the antivirals OK but gp gave me co codamol for the pain, that made me constipated so stopped taking it, alternated Ibuprofen and paracetamol instead.
now taking gabapentin for the pain- can't say the pain relief is much better but apparently it's specific for shingles- feel dizzy but that could be the drug or could be the shingles

Shallishanti - now entering my third week. Started with pain in head and dizziness so assumed it was trapped nerve in neck but then developed a blister on my ear and the pain in head was so bad I was having to breathe through the spasms like contractions! Ibuprofen definitely helped with the pain. I am much better shingles-wise but still have the complication of lack of movement in my face. I just feel so wiped out now, bit woolly, like I'm not quite functioning properly!!
Dr told me today it's definitely a long process with lots of rest required.

Shingles not always horrible.

I had it, diagnosed to late to have antivirals. Apart from blisters no symptoms, and I continued to work etc.

I had it in January and spent my 50th in bed feeling crappy. I think the massive dose of anti vitals was the worst thing, but I have a chronic auto immune condition that was worsened by the anti vitals, so that won't have helped.

just to add to the misery a bee stung me and my finger is all swollen and sore!
I feel like the pain is no better, but the tiredness is worse- I have just spent an hour sorting out photos, had to retire to bed
so pissed off