Shingles

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Can you get it for a third time? Feeling really fed up. I had it ten months ago, had it two weeks ago, same side, same place as previous bout, and now I’m pretty sure it’s in the same place on my body on the other side. Within two weeks of the last bout! Is that even possible? Surely if it came back so soon it would be on the same side of the body as two weeks ago? I kind of know the signs, fever-y and a big blotch rash that will no doubt go more purple and come out in blisters. Anyone else had shingles three times so quickly? I’m only 40!

Just realised that it is in the same side as a couple of weeks ago so I guess it has come back. 👎

Hi just noticed this, I also have shingles and not the first time. I'm mid 40s but first had it in my early 30s after an emergency surgery and wonder if that triggered it.

Over the years I have had bouts of pain in the same side without a rash, but in this latest episode it has come up on my face!

So now I have the antivirals again.

So from what I have read online it can recur more than thought. Although medical articles seem to say it is rare.

I'm also having this wierd thing where it moves around and comes up in different places at once, for example it went from chest to throat to jaw to cheekbone area to the eye...

Into other side of face but less severe (which apparently is very rare) and this happened with my first outbreak too- as it seemed to go in one place it started in another.

I hope you feel better soon, maybe ask for another course of antivirals?

It's a horrible thing, I'm so tired with it and lying in bed with a hot water bottle dosed up with antivirals and painkillers,

It's made me dizzy this time as near the ear so have tablets for that too.

Mr right side is the worst so lying on my left. I had this right sided chest pain for months this time before the rash appeared on my face, the docs did tests and scans...I wonder if it can lurk without a rash.

This is mentioned online it it called zoster zine herpete I think.

Ask your GP for a prescription for Acyclovir tablets. It will stop the virus replicating and you'll feel better. It's a recurring virus and does what it likes, may recur in same place or elsewhere. I'm sorry you have it, it makes you feel utterly vile. GP.

I have had those tablets for 7 days and they added some to bring it to 10 days.

Don't find family very understanding. Asked for other pain meds will see what they say.

Take Ibuprofen as well, it's an anti inflammatory. Acyclovir wont touch pain and inflammation. Take both.

Yes unfortunately it is entirely possible. There is recurring shingles. And I assume it is just following a different nerve path Have they treated it was antibiotics or just topical cream
I had recurrent shingles many years ago but I was highly stressed and very run down at the time.

Hello, seems I’m not alone with reoccurring shingles. It has come back, I had a GP appointment and they confirmed. More aciclovir. But to be fair I definitely don’t feel as miserable (yet!) with it, just waiting for it to fully strike! @Orangesandlemons77 i hope you feel better soon. I enquired about the vaccine and was told I have to wait until I’m 70 for it, no extenuating circumstances for reoccurring shingles. Have looked at getting it done privately, will cost about £440 but probably worth it, it’s supposed to lower your risk of getting it by 68%. I do feel stressed so I guess it’s that.

I wondered about the vaccine too. In USA it seems they get it at 50. 70 here.

It is expensive, I wondered would it actually help much if had shingles already?

Who would be an expert in such things, a neurologist? Dermatologist?

I have got the same antivirals, also co-codamol for pain and something else for dizziness / vertigo as mine was near the ear.

Rash I think it starting to go, a week since it appeared. Hoping it doesn't try and pop up somewhere else.

I think it was lurking for months hidden in my back somewhere. I had no rash, and the GP sent for bloods and an ultrasound (which showed a benign liver lesion and then required an MRI) All that and turned out it was the blessed Shingles again...

Best of luck with recovery. Horrible isn't it. I'm finding the tiredness as bad as the pain

Sorry for repeating myself about the tests / scans etc

think it is turning me into a zombie

I hope you feel better soon, it's such a horrible virus. I have recurrent herpes and always have a stock of Acyclovir tablets to begin as soon as that awful exhaustion starts. I begin a course then before any lesions appear and find its the best way to manage it. After about 3 days I feel an improvement and take the tablets for 7 days. Keeps it at bay for me.

At least there are those antivirals. Today for the first time in months my right side is OK and I was even struggling with breathing being painful on that side previously.

I don't understand why some of us seem to get this so badly and others not, it seems it is something to do with the immune system but I don't get colds or other viruses particularly seriously for example have never had a chest infection.

With me I think the emergency surgery I had was a trigger, I read people with bowel conditions have a 50% higher chance of shingles. Isn't some of our immunity in the gut or something like that.

That sounds a good plan. Is the GP helpful with this? Thanks

I have woken up and having weird numbness and coldness in my right hand and struggling to type, this is since most recent bout which seemed to affect the right arm.

Also wierd tinnitus in the right ear and pain in the TMJ jaw area of that side.

It really is the gift that keeps giving isn't it.