Who's had Shingles?

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
In my earlier thread about the miserable week I've had, I mentioned Shingles. I'm starting another thread specifically about that, because I'm curious everyone's experiences with it.

I had a couple bouts with Shingles over the last several years. They were both very mild, hardly any rash, no itching or pain, tired for a couple days but that was it. Ron too gets Shingles, has had the problem for a few years more than me, but his pattern hasn't ever changed. Very mild, very small rash in the same place, minor tiredness. That was my only exposure to and personal experience with Shingles, so this current bout has taken me completely by surprise.

The rash isn't much bigger, still very small about the size of a silver dollar, right hand side just above my waist. But the effects are vastly different this time. The pain is awful....a combination of a deep throbbing unrelenting pain, interspersed with these random bouts of stabbing pain that make me gasp. I'm itching a lot, both at the site of the rash and wrapping all the way around to the front close to my navel. The front area is both tingly and numb. I keep looking for the rash to break out there,but so far nothing. I'm completely drained physically, my joints ache and I have a pounding headache.

I had NONE of these symptoms the last two times I had shingles, got no treatment, didn't do anything except deal with it for a couple days. Didn't get a shingles shot because the symptoms were so mild I just didn't think it was necessary. This time I'm gobbling OTC pain meds like candy, my doctor prescribed Valtrex, I'm using either a heating pad and an ice pack constantly depending on what feels better in the moment, and I've spent more time in bed than up. I am NOT a wimp when it comes to pain, I work through most every physical ailment I have, but this has taken me down almost completely. I've still been working but I had to cut way back, and when I get home I do the barest minimum and then head to bed. Thank God for Ron who's uncomplainingly picked up all the slack.

My doctor advised me to get the shingles shot as soon as is feasible after I recover, which I will do. He said that shingles has a tendency to get worse each time, and that if I'd gone to her with the very first bout, instead of basically ignoring it and not even mentioning it at my well visits, she'd have advised it then.

Those of you who've had shingles, what has your experience been?
Symptoms?
Pain level?
How long before the tiredness left?
When did you return to feeling completely normal again?
And anything else you'd like to share.
 

I had chicken pox as an adult at age 26 , I had not had it as a child. My girl friend at the time was a nursery school teacher, so she infected me. I was miserable for about 2 weeks, and itchy as well. I asked my primary care Doctor about the shingrex vaccination at age 60. He said I should get it and I did. My Wife also had chicken pox as a child ( age 10 ) but didn't get vaccinated as an adult. She came down with shingles at age 66, and boy was she sick ! She got vaccinated the next year. So far no further problems for her. Here in Canada we see TV commercials for a shingels vaccine that can be prescribed by a M.D. JimB.
 
When I was 30 (39 years ago) I never heard of Shingles. When I saw the little blisters on my chest & back, I thought it was a spider bite. It was very painful. My wife at the time also didn't know what it was, but she was scared because her first husband died of Leukemia at 30. After 4 days, she insisted on taking me to a doctor, who immediately said, "Shingles." I asked, 'What's that?" He said, "It's the herpes virus."
At the time, the only herpes I ever heard of was sexually transmitted. I must have looked at my wife like I wanted to kill her because the doctor said, "Wait, it's the same virus but yours is not sexually transmitted." He also said, "I'm surprised you waited so long to see a doctor; it's pretty painful." He never mentioned Chicken Pox. I must have had it when I was very young because I don't remember ever having chicken pox.
I said, "Well, can you cure it?" He said, "No; it will go away on its own."
I said, "Then why does it matter that I waited to see a doctor?"
He said, "I can give you a B-12 shot."
I said, "Does that cure it?" He said, "No." I said, "Thanks," & went home.
The blisters turned to scabs & I was fine after a few days.
 
Six years ago I got the older type of shingles vaccination, a few years later the pharmacy told me there was a newer better type but they didn't have it in stock, they put my name on a list but I never heard back from them. Then last year I got very mild shingles in my right leg, some pain and blisters but didn't impact my life much (but it hurt). Now this spring I am getting the shingrix vaccination series, will be getting the second shot next Friday.
Several years ago when my riding instructor got shingles she felt so bad she retired. And where I used to live my neighbor was in his 90s and got shingles and had very severe pain for a long long time.
 
My middle sister had two cases of Shingles. She didn't tell me what the cause was until a couple of years ago. My moving away traumatized her so bad and she couldn't take the stress of us being separated.

I have been avoiding replying to this thread... it is so sad to hear of the various causes of Shingles.

Hope you are feeling better, @Ronni
 
My husband and I have had our shingles shots...HOWEVER...they were the "old" vaccine (Zostavax) that was about 51% effective against shingles. We didn't know that there was a newer version (Shingrix), with a booster, until we paid $600 for the old stuff. Shingrix is 97% effective. Be sure you're getting Shingrix.
 
I also had the older version of the shingles shot. I have never had shingles but my doctor has been after me to get the newer shot that is more effective. I planned to do so but my sister in law warned me not to after she got that shot and developed a case of shingles a few days after. She talked to the pharmacist who gave her the shot and was told that she probably had dormant chicken pox cells in her body and the shot aggravated them. Her doctor, however, said it probably was not shingles. So I am a little hesitant to take the shot based on her experience and the fact that I seem to be rather sensitive to some kinds of shots. The Covid shots and booster were really rough for a few days.
 
J-Kat said:
I also had the older version of the shingles shot. I have never had shingles but my doctor has been after me to get the newer shot that is more effective. I planned to do so but my sister in law warned me not to after she got that shot and developed a case of shingles a few days after. She talked to the pharmacist who gave her the shot and was told that she probably had dormant chicken pox cells in her body and the shot aggravated them. Her doctor, however, said it probably was not shingles. So I am a little hesitant to take the shot based on her experience and the fact that I seem to be rather sensitive to some kinds of shots. The Covid shots and booster were really rough for a few days.
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There are several attorney practices that are handling cases of people who got Shingles from the Shingles vaccine.
One of the reasons I'm not getting it. But (like the Covid vaccine) to each his own.
 
Had a strong case of shingles December 2013, chicken pox as young kid. Was centered on right thigh and lower back. Began like I had injured my lower spine with strong deep pain. Two days later rash appeared. Strong drugs including Gabapentin over 3 weeks took care of it. Two vaccines since.
 
Only thing I can remember is a rash on my neck leading up to my hairline that itched like crazy. I kept researching it online and white vinegar was suggested which I tried. I can say that's the only thing that helped with the itching.
 
HoneyNut said:
Six years ago I got the older type of shingles vaccination, a few years later the pharmacy told me there was a newer better type but they didn't have it in stock, they put my name on a list but I never heard back from them. Then last year I got very mild shingles in my right leg, some pain and blisters but didn't impact my life much (but it hurt). Now this spring I am getting the shingrix vaccination series, will be getting the second shot next Friday.
Several years ago when my riding instructor got shingles she felt so bad she retired. And where I used to live my neighbor was in his 90s and got shingles and had very severe pain for a long long time.
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Apparently that's a condition that can accompany shingles. It's called postherpetic neuralgia, and it occurs in 1 in 5 cases of shingles. The underlying nerves are damaged to the point that severe pain can continue for months and sometimes years after the lesions have healed and the skin is apparently back to normal.
 
Colleen said:
My husband and I have had our shingles shots...HOWEVER...they were the "old" vaccine (Zostavax) that was about 51% effective against shingles. We didn't know that there was a newer version (Shingrix), with a booster, until we paid $600 for the old stuff. Shingrix is 97% effective. Be sure you're getting Shingrix.
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Thanks @Colleen. Yeah, I checked that out thoroughly becuase I knew of an older vaccine that wasn't as effective. My Doc said as soon as I'm over this bout, I'll get the Shingrix shot, which is a two part shot, the second shot 2-6 months later, though I don't know who or what determines the timing of that second shot.
 
Since I first posted the above, the area around my belly that had been both tingly and numb has now broken out in the rash in two different areas, one around my belly button, the other further down, with a resulting increase in the pain. And there are a couple light dots right on my side that I'm expecting to spread and break out into a rash too. Time will tell.

I was up and down all night, for the bed to the couch to the guest bed, trying to find some way to get comfortable enough to sleep, in spite of heating pad, cold packs, OTC pain meds. Tomorrow I'll talk to my doctor and see if there's something stronger I can take. I HAVE to be able to sleep at least!

This ain't fun, people! :(
 
Ronni said:
Since I first posted the above, the area around my belly that had been both tingly and numb has now broken out in the rash in two different areas, one around my belly button, the other further down, with a resulting increase in the pain. And there are a couple light dots right on my side that I'm expecting to spread and break out into a rash too. Time will tell.

I was up and down all night, for the bed to the couch to the guest bed, trying to find some way to get comfortable enough to sleep, in spite of heating pad, cold packs, OTC pain meds. Tomorrow I'll talk to my doctor and see if there's something stronger I can take. I HAVE to be able to sleep at least!

This ain't fun, people! :(
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No,it is NOT fun! Wouldn`t wish Shingles on my worst enemy. I had it when I was 55 so the vaccine hadn`t even been discussed yet. But I could never get an answer as to whether or not I should get one after. None of the docs I asked seemed to know. Now I hear that they do recommend that you do but I am not going to get it-mostly due to things I have read here lol.

By the time I saw a doc,he said it was too late to give me anything to help,so he just gave me pain pills and sleeping pills. It took a month for it to go away.

I did do one really stupid thing,which I have shared here before. My daughter told me that she read that applying Aspercreme to the rash would help with the pain.So off to the store I go. And what do I buy? Not Aspercreme,but Capsacian.Made from chili peppers. I applied it and OMG! The pain was horrific! So then what did I do? Got in the shower to wash it off. Opened those pores right up and I thought for sure I was gonna die. Felt like such a dummy....
 
Do you have to have had chicken pox to get shingles? Since I was quarantined for almost a year at the age of 6, I did not get chicken pox. Just wondered.
 
Mrs. Robinson said:
I did do one really stupid thing,which I have shared here before. My daughter told me that she read that applying Aspercreme to the rash would help with the pain.So off to the store I go. And what do I buy? Not Aspercreme,but Capsacian.Made from chili peppers. I applied it and OMG! The pain was horrific! So then what did I do? Got in the shower to wash it off. Opened those pores right up and I thought for sure I was gonna die. Felt like such a dummy....
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Oh! @Mrs. Robinson that must have been SO awful!! I've absentmindedly scratched the itch a couple times, right on top of the rash, and that made me weak at the knees from the pain! But putting that directly on the rash??? I can't even imagine! :eek:

Even apart from the nerve pain under the skin that is causing the deep throbbing pain and random knife plunging type pain, my skin is SO sensitive!!! Ron's and I are both very tactile people, give and get lots of hugs, and he's put his arms around me a time or two, forgetting how sensitive my skin is right now, and landed or squeezed in exactly the wrong place. I jerked so hard last night that my head hit the underside of his chin which caused him to bite his tongue! It was pretty funny this morning :D but last night when it happened, we were BOTH in pain for a while after!
 
Liberty said:
Do you have to have had chicken pox to get shingles? Since I was quarantined for almost a year at the age of 6, I did not get chicken pox. Just wondered.
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Yes the virus that causes Chicken Pox stays hidden in your body, and typically comes out in your 50's or 60's. I didn't get Chicken Pox until I was 26 years old. I have not had any symptoms and I am now 75. It is a hit or miss kind of thing, some people get shingles, others do not. Vaccine is available, but individuals SHOULD speak to their primary health care provider about it. JimB.
 
This is second hand info. My friend had shingles twice, the second was much worse the first. She was basically flat on her stomach for 3 weeks in pain. Shingrix wasn‘t available then. Another lady had shingles in her eye and spent months in agony. Conan O’Brien talked about having it in his eye when he had just moved to LA; he had to move back home. The pain was excruciating.

We’ve had the Shingrix shots. As I vaguely recall, we had a test to see if we’d had chickenpox before.
 
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