Shingles

Excellent result. As the rash is on tummy and back all the nearby nerves will be extra sensitive and may be upsetting your gut. I hope you feel better very soon.

I had no idea shingles was like this. I am very ashamed that when my father had it 30 years ago I was not sympathetic at all.
I wish he was still around to tell him! So I will sympathise with you instead.

Thanks.
Saw an excellent Nurse Prescriber and she confirmed it is Shingles. Got a week’ s worth of antivirals and she said to take paracetamol for pain. Still not eating but have just made a huge pan of sweet potato and red pepper soup so may try that.

She also examined my tummy and said it could be due to the shingles but if it gets more painful over weekend to ring 111 and definitely go back if the diarrhoea is black or has blood.

Primrose53. So glad you have an appt. I think I took paracetamol for the stabbing stomach pains. But I am sure you will get good advice this morning and hopefully antivirals.

Prepare to feel rubbish for a while and take life very easy. Lots of rest. Delegate delegste delegate if you can.

grannyactivist that looks so painful. Poor you but glad you had good people in charge.

Have got an appointment with a (I think she said) Nurse Prescriber at 10.

I don’t feel right at all. Since Wed night I have had pains on lower left of tummy and it feels like there’s a blockage. I didn’t eat since wed night but i have just been to loo and it’s diarrhoea. The rash is on my left side tummy and left side back as well.

BlueBelle

Dotpocket cid24. was referring to not getting thr shingles vaccination till 70 not the disease itself 😂

I think Dotpocket is in the U.S.

The age for shingles vax has been lowered to sixty five, but if you are in between 65 and 70, you have to wait until you are seventy.

A few weeks ago, I received the shingles vax, because I am immunosuppressed. I was told it had been rolled out for the first time for those, who are immunocompromised, because of the rise in cases.

Dotpocket cid24. was referring to not getting thr shingles vaccination till 70 not the disease itself 😂

I had shingles in my eye in 2017 and for about eight weeks I looked as if I’d been in a car crash. My wonderful GP diagnosed it even though the presentation was very unusual, she gave me the anti-viral, but cautioned me to go straight to hospital if it got worse. I did that and was astounded when the Registrar called the Consultant out in the early hours of the morning to attend to me. My eye suffered some damage, but thank goodness the Registrar had the humility to call his boss as I do believe he saved the sight of my eye though I still need daily eye drops.

Thank you both. Will be on the phone to surgery at 8am.

cid24 who told you youcant get shingle til you are 70s

www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/shingles-risk-factors.html
given 50-65 at the latest
common 50 age here any one can get shingles any age
immune problems get the shot

Primrose53 either ring 111 tonight or contact your GP urgently tomorrow. You must get and start taking the antivirals ASAP within 36 hours to 72 hours at the latest. Take a photo of the area which you can send to the GP if you can't get a face to face appt.
111 were very helpful and sent a request to the GP for antivirals which I got the following day. I expect you are a bit rundown if you are tired and washed out and that is why the dormant herpes virus in your body has sprung into life. If you jave had chicken pox in the past the virus stays in your body until your immune system is low and then virus wakes up.

I hope it's not too painful. Keep the spots as dry as possible. Anyone who hasnt had c pox already can develop it from coming into contact with your rash. Good luck.

I think I have it. Been feeling tired and washed out and haven’t eaten at all today. Noticed a rash on left hand side of tummy with watery looking blisters. A few mins ago I noticed more on same side but on back.

About 2 years ago after a 2nd bout of Covid, I developed what I thought was a spot in my eye brow. Then another and another all following a line through my eyebrow and down the side of my face. Itched like mad, looked awful and took weeks to clear up. The idea of it being shingles never occurred to me until a couple of weeks ago when I read an article in a magazine which mentioned shingles on the face. It left me feeling really low but I put that down to the Covid. It was the fact that they developed along a line that makes me think it could have been shingles.

Helterskelter1 thank you, that was useful to read. I’m not vaccinated , I think you can’t get it till you’re 70( I’m 67) but I’ll certainly enquire.
Mizuna- I didn’t realise it was shingles at first either, thought I’d had an allergic reaction to a shampoo!

I've had shingles a few times but the first time was by far the worst. It took weeks for me to get over the tiredness and that was frustrating. I never took anti-virals because initially I didn't know that it was shingles, having never heard of it, and each time since then the symptoms are so mild I'm never sure, until it's too late for the anti-virals anyway. I'm vaccinated now, phew.

I had the vaccine Shingrix several weeks after I developed shingles.

Have you been vaccinated Cid24. If not discuss with your GP. You will have to wait until so many weeks/months after the rash was visible.
The sensitive area does last a long time. Two years on if I am sitting on a hard chair it can be painful. A friend who had shingles on her face said she sometimes has a painful face.

I suppose the nerves become very sensitized. When the rash first appeared I had the "stabbing" pains in my stomach, as well as lower back and buttock, and that can be sensitive still.
It's a truly horrible thing to have. Everyone who can should be vaccinated.

Yes I’m still very lacking in energy three weeks on. The site of the blisters is still painful even though they’ve gone.

I’ve had it and it was awful. The anti virals did help. The rash soon went but the dull ache carried on for weeks. I felt very tired for several weeks and still do. I seem to taking lots of painkillers.

I got the anti virals on day 3

Please, if anyone suspects they have shingles, get the anti virals asap. Insist on an immediate consultation even if it’s via the internet and get and take the tablets as quickly as possible.

Interesting re acupuncture thank you

A close relative had them. Acupuncture helped.

I have never experienced shingles before, but I suggest you use the prescribed creams and do not manipulate or scratch them in any way.

You are fortunate not to have severe pain as well. Unfortunately, it may be months rather than weeks before you start to feel like your old self. Please take it easy, I hope it avoided your eyes.

Ah thank you all, reassuring to hear the experiences of others . I thought that once the rash had gone that that was it, all better! But it seems not. Very frustrating when you have to keep cancelling things but am “ listening to my body!”