What does shingles feel like?

[SharkSip]

I have another post and the posters hinted at the possibitly of shingles.

I'm just wondering for those who had shingles before, what does it feel like?

I experiencing weird stuff for the past few days.

First I had a migraine on Thursday but it was different than what I usually experience. I had nausea and I don't usually have that with a migraine. For me.

Then yesterday, I was experiencing little pains here and there all on my right side - shoulder, hips, thigh, foot, and then also my arm.

Then last night more nausea.

This morning, the pains seems to have eased except for little pinchies in my shoulder here and there.

The nausea has eased now too.

I wasn't able to identify a fever but I was also taking pain meds yesterday so maybe they might have masked a fever.

Is this what shingles is?

Do you have a rash? Mine started on my back and initially thought I’d burned it on a hot water bottle.
Sorry if it is that the pain was like hot needles being pushed into my skin.

Years since I had it but my GP diagnosed straight away and prescribed anti virals
( think they are v expensive) to lessen the impact. I was still very ill. I know every case is different but I’d get medical advice.
Hope you are ok.

For me the pain was very localised.
I thought I had something sharp in my waistband, then later noticed small blisters.
no nausea for me

Mine felt like very painful sunburn rather than itchy. I was tired but didn’t feel nauseous

Just had it (yay). Started off with what I thought was a pulled muscle in back, or kidney pain. Really quite sore, hard to sleep.

Then started getting burning feeling all across affected area then the rash appeared

Took 3-4 days for rash to appear and got anti-virals from doc the same day.

Didn't have nausea or headache

Mine started with a burning sensation in a small patch on my back. Like bad sunburn or like something had rubbed it really badly. A few hours later I had a cluster of 4 or 5 spots. I went to the pharmacy as I wanted something for the burning. They told me to see a GP ASAP for some anti virals as they diagnosed shingles. I got them and started straight away. The next day the rash had spread and got a lot redder. The nerve pain was horrendous. The itching didn't start for about a week.

Also in answer to your question OP in my non medical opinion you do not have shingles. That is not a typical presentation in any way that I have heard of before.

I had shingles on the optic nerve. A headache like nothing I’ve ever had before. Exhausted. Severe eye pain. About four days later the rash came up, on my forehead and across the bridge of my nose. It tingled and felt hot before it appeared. Apparently also in my eyeball, which was nice.
Not something I’d ever like to repeat

Mine started boxing day. I felt like I had broken a rib, and then someone had took a blowtorch to the skin. I had a tiny cluster of spots that spread to half my torso within 4 days. Im immune suppressed and my GP said it was the worst case he had ever seen. I had a awful headache and temp and felt fluey and very run down.

Shingles infects a single main nerve.That nerve can branch out( mine did) but it would still be very localised, not how you describe OP.

@Redannie118 Mine started on Boxing Day too. The GP who diagnosed it and gave me anti virals told me that often it arises when you've had a stressful time such as the run up to Christmas. His mother had it on his wedding day!