Feeling sorry for myself .....very sore vulva

[Idontwanttotalk]

Just diagnosed today with.... shingles.

A few days ago I had really deep yet sharp pain in my Ischium (bone at the bottom of my bottom) on the right hand side. Then 2 days ago I thought my clitoris was a little sore. By yesterday I had a rash at the top of my leg underneath my bottom and my vulva was very sore, swollen and thickened on the right hand side.

I just thought it was due to wearing jeans too tight in warm weather. Overnight my bottom was incredibly painful on the right (not just saw) and I have a further rash this morning.

I could barely move for the pain in my vulva so saw GP today and, as I said, it is shingles. GP said treatment needs to start within 3 days ideally so just a warning to anyone with pain and rashes on one side of their body to get to a GP asap.

GP warned me the pain may get worse. I'm just lying on the bed with legs akimbo ( ) for comfort and wish I had silk or satin sheets so I could just slide my body around on them.

You poor thing!!!!

Ouch!!

Ouch!!! Try and get some lidocaine cream or spray-you should be able to get otc. Also a well wrapped ice pack.

Oh good lord, I had no idea shingles could present in such an unusual way! Bless you for thinking to warn others, I'm glad you managed to see your GP in good time, here's wishing you a good night's sleep and a swift recovery.

My memory of chickenpox as a child is mostly around a very sore vulva - if it's like that, you have all my sympathy.

Having had shingles on my back/rib cage and it being agony, I can't imagine the pain you must be in.

I hope the anti-virals stop it in its tracks and you can recover soon.

Just for what it's worth, ye olde hand, foot and mouth can affect the 'nappy area' too

Thank you everyone for your replies. The first thing I said to the GP was "are you sure?" as I'd never heard of it.

For anyone who gets the opportunity to have the vaccination I'd have to say "Go for it".

Basically the GP old me that once you've had chicken pox the virus stays in your spine forever and then may activate at some point in your life. Sadly it can recur again and again. Depending on where you get the pain you might confuse it with siatica.

Looking back I've had sharp yet deep joint pains on the one side of my body for over a week. Stupid things like the back of my hand or half way down my thigh or terrible sharp pains in individual toes.

So, if anyone gets these symptoms and can't account for them in any other way, get straight off to the GP and pray you don't get it on your vulva.

I had shingles on the roof of my mouth and that was bad enough but vulva?! and much sympathy! Hope you feel better soon.

This stuff is good (I use it post cycling!)

Oh you poor thing
Well I know it’s painful, I know you can get it in your eye. I did not know you could get it there!
I hope it eases soon for you

OMG, I can't imagine it on the roof of the mouth. I also read about it on the face and that it can cause blindness. The rash is really thick and raised but no burst blisters yet and I'm just trying not to touch them at all as I'm worried I may touch my face or my eye.

The rash has travelled further down my leg and I have shooting pains in my toes today but I managed to get some sleep, albeit disturbed.

I feel truly sorry for anyone who has this. Makes me wonder why the vaccination doesn't start until the age of 70. Makes me feel really sorry for little ones with chicken pox too. Only the other day there was a newspaper article about a little girl with the worst case of chicken pox that had been seen.

I'm literally going to have to lie here with my legs open today as walking is too difficult. Good job I don't have a window cleaner.

Thanks everyone for the sympathy and advice.

I was just thinking about pain relief when I remembered
ABSOLUTELY DO NOT TAKE IBUPROFEN
Get well soon

I had shingles 2 months ago on my face. Has caused paralysis on the right side of my face because of nerve damage. Hopefully it won't be permanent but the doctors said only time will tell

Hope you recover quickly OP and don't have any lasting side effects

Shingles follows the path of a nerve, that's what makes it so painful and explains odd locations for it.

I'm just wondering what "not just saw" in the brackets means?

Typo for 'sore'?

Ouch!

My husband got it on the lower side of his ass years ago. At least he could lay on his other side but poor you must be in agony

OP I feel your pain! I had shingles last year on my face and in my mouth. I had further complications with Ramsey Hunt syndrome which could have left me facially paralysed. It was excruciating.

Feel better soon!!

@Shouldbedoing"
"ABSOLUTELY DO NOT TAKE IBUPROFEN"
I did buy some but haven't take any. DH spoke to local pharmacist who insisted the doc was an idiot and shouldn't have told me to take it. She sold us Co-codamol. Apparently Ibuprofen will make it worse.

@MyNameIsArthur and @LMW1990
Sounds like it is awful wherever you have it. I hope you fully recover from it.

I still have a rash although it is much improved and mainly looks like bruising and blood under the surface now. My vulva is far less swollen but healing from (sorry if TMI) where skin split due to massive swelling will probably take time. The nerve pain has now kicked in and is really awful. I feel like I have numerous electric shocks affecting my bottom and back of thigh and suddenly get a creeping burning sensation under my skin.

I'm so shocked that I knew so little about how shingles affects people. No idea when it will go away.

You can't be vaccinated against it until aged 70 on NHS so, I will definitely pay privately for the vaccine as soon as I can have it. It won't stop me getting it again but will reduce the symptoms. I ever want to go through this again.

My sympathies to anyone who has it now or in the past.

Hi, just wondering if anyone has gotten shingles on their face and inside their vagina at the same time?