Shingles on the face

[Orangesandlemons77]

I have this and it is a bit scary. I have the antivirals to take. GPs asking about my eye. It is a bit painful and sore but no rash on it. Pain going into my ear and I am feeling a bit deaf and tinnitus on that side. Lots of pain into jaw.

GPs being very helpful and say just to ring if worried or anything changes and they will call back. But when I talk to family about e.g. the ear they look at me like I am mad. I agree it does sound strange but it is a strange thing.

At least the docs are taking it seriously I suppose.

You poor thing. Shingles is absolutely serious, it can causes blindness and deafness. It can even cause encephalitis!
I’m glad your Drs are at least looking after you. I hope the antivirals work well and you suffer no long term effects.

Thanks, it feels very strange. I have had it before when recovering from sepsis and an emergency laparotomy, in my 30s.

It seems rare when not old. I'm mid 40s now. Yes GPs very busy so good to know they are on the ball.

I've had it twice OP. Both times as a result of being run down and ill, I'm in my 30s. Mine was on my neck and second time I realised it was starting early enough to get antivirals before the rash appeared. Thankfully they stopped it developing into a rash but I did have the pain for quite a while.

My mum had them on her forehead but she was too slow contacting the doctor so couldn't have the antivirals.

They didn't spread at all; she just had three quite big patches going from forehead to scalp which got angrier for a day or two and then after a few days it was obvious it was getting better rather than worse.

She didn't have any negative impact at all (apart from slight guilt at giving my DD chicken pox!)

I hope yours improve quickly with the antivirals but just be cautious. If they're getting worse rather than better or if new bumps pop up nearer your eyes or in your ears get checked out the same day.

I got it on my face and across my eye when I was 28. They gave me antivirals and steroids and also dilation eye drops. I was referred to opthomolgy at hospital the same day and had checks a week later. Was all ok though the opticians can see scarring on my eye still 4 years later. Were you referred?

I got shingles curving around the eye after my COVID vaccine - I took the antivirus medicine and it passed off without affecting the eye thank goodness. Worrying though.

I got them on my face when I was 18 and pregnant..they left scars my face

I have not been referred for the eye thought but rash is not there, more into the ear. No rash into ear itself but pain and tinnitus there.

It's pretty horrible, feel for those who have this.

I'm a bit worried as the right side of my fact has gone numb and feel my mouth on that side has gone down a bit? The eye seems Ok though.

Lots of pain in the ear and the throat, slightly masked with co-codomol. Would this me something to check with the GP I wonder.

Shingles transmits along nerve paths so it may be on your cochlear nerve. Given what else you are describing though it may be Ramsay Hunt syndrome:

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ramsay-hunt-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351783

Shingles in the ear can lead to Ramsey hunt syndrome where it affects the facial nerve and you may notice weakness, this is essentially bell's palsy

It can also affect the trigeminal nerve leading to numbness. It sounds like this is involved, and from there can spread to the facial nerve

I would contact your GP if you are noticing weakness as you might need steroids. It's better to catch early

MIL got it twice in the same place on her face. Make sure you take care of yourself and don’t get run down.

I'm trying 19 in the queue. Very painful. Thanks for replies

I've had a bit of a stressful time with teens and elderly parents situations

Maybe teach me a lesson to look after myself a bit more

I'm just sending sympathy. I've had shingles twice (early 20s, early 50s), worse the second time around and utterly miserable. Mine was on my back/waist tho; yours sounds awful. Hope you get well soon and it's not too horrendous in the meantime.

This is my second time, first time was about 8 years ago after major surgery. That time was the back.

Number 15 now. Hmm.

Thanks for message of sympathy x

Just updating this partly in case anyone else gets the same thing.

I have got some new tablets to help with the dizziness / vertigo thing. I have a prescribing nurse who can call back from the surgery to ask things and who can prescribe things.

She seems quite good and was asking did I have ongoing symptoms in the past and we would be looking at symptom management from now on. Has written this in my medical notes too which is good.

I also have depression / anxiety and don't want them putting down symptoms to that. As can happen with some doctors.

I also had another 3 days antivirals to bring it to 10 days in total.

I have emailed the GP to ask about a different pain relief if the pain continues.
I don't think it is great to be taking co-codamol all the time as it can be addictive and have constipation from it. It helps a bit though

Any recommendations on what is best for nerve pain?

I have seen online pregabalin / gabapentin mentioned but unsure if could take it with my SSRI meds (fluoxetine)

It was the last day of antivirals yesterday and the face rash is still there and also it seems to have gone into the other side of the face (possibly via the throat which was painful on both sides) so cheeks quite pink and swollen

Numbness in the cheek seems to have improved. Getting some pain in the back of the head where the skull meets the neck, online seems to be the 'occipital nerve'.

Woken in the night with pain in the right head / forehead, nose (!) ear, jaw and shoulder. The right side is definitely the worst.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed this goes away and is not long term.

Massaging the painful areas seems to help a bit. I have some nice facial oil stuff with aromatherapy stuff in it.