Shingles in early 40s?!

[PinkChocolate24]

Hi all, just been diagnosed with shingles at 41. I thought I was in good health (no known medical conditions) so a bit baffled about how I’ve got this. I got the antivirals yesterday on the same day I noticed the rash. I had a weird stabbing pain in my shoulder area before that and some sensitivity around my bra but thought it was a pulled muscle and tight bra as couldn’t see any redness until yesterday.

Has anyone else had shingles at this age? Do you know what triggered it and how long did it last? I thought it was rare under 50 so now worried I’ve got an undiagnosed condition somewhere.

I had shingles when I was around 9 years old and then again at 15. I haven’t had it since, thankfully.

I've had it on my shoulder blade as have two people on this thread - in my 30s. I thought it was an anomaly is it quite a common disease then?

I've had it in my 20s and 30s. Husband has it twice in his 40s.

Men and women can have shingles (herpes zoster0, at any age and when otherwise generally in good health. If you've had chicken pox in the past some of the virus stays in your body and can reactivate to cause shingles. This can happen if your immune system is temporarily weakened by stress or another illness, even a cold, or be triggered by some treatment or medication. It is not uncommon to have shingles following a bereavement.

I'm sorry you've caught this, it is unpleasant while it lasts. I hope you recover before too long. Take good care of yourself.

Unlike chicken pox, you can't give shingles to someone else so nobody needs to worry about catching it from you.

I didn't realise people thought it was something old people get. Young man I cared for got it at 16 and nobody seemed to think that was unusual

Thanks for the replies everyone- interesting to know that you can get this at any age.

DD age 24 had it last year and DS age 17 had it a few years ago.

I had shingles when I was 14, I don’t remember being stressed or otherwise poorly back then. I do remember how painful it was though.

My DS also had shingles at six years old. He was a very healthy, robust boy yet got them. He had chickenbox when he was one year old but it was very mild, wonder if that had anything to do with it.

I think it’s relatively common at any age.

Unlike chicken pox, you can't give shingles to someone else so nobody needs to worry about catching it from you.

People can catch chicken pox from someone with shingles. The OP needs to be careful around certain people. E.g. pregnant women, immunocompromised people etc.

Yes, it can hit anyone at any age and it is painful.

My sister had it when she was 25!

some in my class a school got it, and it damaged one of her eyes.

I had what the doctor diagnosed as shingles on my shoulder.

I then got it again. About a year later I got it again and then 6 months later again.

I saw a different GP who said it was v unusual to get shingles that often unless I had a problem with my immune system so I went to a private GP who was willing to swab the rash and it was Herpes Simplex not Herpes Zoster. They look v similar in the early stages.

So if you are getting it repeatedly, I would get it swabbed if you can!

Oh that's awful, my cousin had the same.

My mum had shingles around her middle as did someone for whom I used to work. Another friend had it on the top of his head. Shingles can manifest virtually anywhere.

I had it in my 20s despite being in good health otherwise. I was having a hard time personally and think that did contribute. There were no lasting effects. Take time to rest and recover.

My son got shingles this year at aged 10! Very mild, the rash was the only symptom. No idea why or how, he generally eats well and isn't stressed!

I've had it in my 20s, 30s and 40s and my son had it when he was 16. I dont think we deal.with the chicken pox virus well in this family.

My ds had shingles age 3. He had chicken pox under 1 year and that can put them at higher risk of having childhood shingles.

Me and a friend got it (independently) within a couple of days of each other, both early/mid 30s with very small DCs. Presumed it was stress related and haven’t had it since, fingers crossed

I had shingles in 2018 when I was 28, still no idea why. Been fine since, even fell pregnant just after and had another baby since

I was only in my mid 20s when i had shingles. I was on holiday and bent over in the bathroom and my bum touched a hot radiator, a week later shingles came out in the same spot. I was quite stressed at the time.
I know an 18 year old who had a spinal operation and got shingles at that site of the operation .

Also someone in their 20s in a train crash . They wrenched their arm and the shingles came out in that arm.

I had it at 39 - must have been stressed induced. Had the rash and stabbing pain under arm.

I actually didn't realise what it was and didn't see a doctor (possibly, milder case compared to others) until my dc got chicken pox a couple of weeks after and that's when it clicked.

I need to check re vaccine and what age qualifies.

I had it when I was 38

It wasn't that bad

I felt rough and had a rash on my neck