I got an unexpected gift for my 72nd birthday, a case of Shingles. The good news its only on the left side of my face and head, Lol.
I never had this before.
The rash was really just a small area above my left eye, I had some bumps over my left scalp and down on my left eye brow, the pain has mostly been to my left eye area and a constant head ache and fatigue.

What have you found to be a good treatment?
From what I have read there does not seem to be an actual cure for this.
The Shingles seem to be going away, about 1 week after the start.
Is the Shingles shot worth getting or will it be effective in the future to help prevent another outbreak?

Only thing I might know is if it involves your eyes, you need to see a doctor asap.

There's a new shingle shot that is two shots a month or two apart. New in the sense that if you had the old one, they now recommend this one(two).

Hope you feel better soon, Lon! I've heard it's awful.

As dsiets said, you probably should see a doc.

I got the shingles vaccine(s) several years ago and glad I did. I'd recommend it after you get over this episode.

I had shingles when I was 11 years old. Yep, 11 years old.

It sucked, hurt like he'll. Still have a scar.


ARman

Got a case not long after my 50th birthday. Back and abdomen. The medication I remember best then was Lyrica, helped a great deal with the pain. By all means if it's around your eyes, get to your doctor's office ASAP.

Definitely see a doctor as Shingles anywhere close to the eye can be dangerous if it spreads to the eye.

Yes, you absolutely need to get the Shingles shot after you have recovered from it as you can get it again.

My wife has had it twice. The second time was absolute complete hell for her.

She ended up with nerve pain after the Shingles rash ended. She had the pain for months. Some people that get the lasting nerve pain have it for a short period, for months, years, or, life. Getting Shingles isn’t lucky, but not getting the long lasting nerve pain is lucky.

As far as treatment, it really varies by person. My wife’s pain was so bad that nothing worked. She just suffered. There is narcotic pain meds, nerve pain meds, topical lidocaine, etc.

How do you know you have shingles?

You should have gone to see a doctor immediately. There are anti-viral drugs that can nip it if administered promptly.

I had several painful bumps on my eyebrows. I thought I had poison ivy that might get in my eyes, which had happened when I was a kid. My family doctor diagnosed shingles and the anti-viral medication cured it within days.

YES see a doctor. Take the advice and treatment.

The "original" Shingles shot was a once and done. Later found that it lost effectiveness after some years. My wife found out! The new shot (a series of 2) is the SHingrix vaccine. 1st shot followed by a second after 2 to 6 months.

quote:

Originally posted by Hay2bale:
How do you know you have shingles?

Exactly! But, let's say you have shingles. You already had it for one week, and it's going away. The time for antiviral med is long passed past. The time for definitive treatment with antiviral is no later than 72 hours after onset of the rash.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 12131,

quote:

Originally posted by Hay2bale:
How do you know you have shingles?

You should have gone to see a doctor immediately. There are anti-viral drugs that can nip it if administered promptly.

I had several painful bumps on my eyebrows. I thought I had poison ivy that might get in my eyes, which had happened when I was a kid. My family doctor diagnosed shingles and the anti-viral medication cured it within days.

quote:

The good news its only on the left side of my face and head, Lol.

This is a huge sign it is Shingles. It effects only one side of the body if you split the body with an imaginary line down the middle. Sadly my wife waited too long for the antiviral medication before saying anything.

^^^^ Easy to say. But without at least some pic, you can't make a diagnosis. Many things can be on just one side of the body.

I got Shingles last year. Hit with the flu same exact time, was so bad the first couple days I contemplated going down to the highway and walking out into traffic.

On my upper chest and trailing around right side onto my upper back. Day three, since I'm a masochist I quit drinking coffee cold turkey also. Argh.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
^^^^ Easy to say. But without at least some pic, you can't make a diagnosis. Many things can be on just one side of the body.

Very true and I am not a doc like you sir!

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:
Very true and I am not a doc like you sir!

I'm not saying that because you are not a doc. That also applies to too many docs who prescribe meds without ever actually examining the patients. You know, many of the Tele docs. Even the PCPs, too. In fact, just a couple of days ago, I found out my sister was prescribed antibiotic for an imaginary UTI by some MD. She got an allergic reaction from the med that should not have been prescribed in the first place.

Personally my self have been shingles free.... But I understand as a previous chicken pox victim makes ma a canidate for shingles.. Have taken the2 shot treatment...... Known several people who had it and would not want my worst enemy (if I had one) to get it.... Just like a good attack of gout....................Get to a doctor ASAP Shingles on face near eyes is not to be taken lightely............ drill sgt.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
The "original" Shingles shot was a once and done. Later found that it lost effectiveness after some years. My wife found out! The new shot (a series of 2) is the SHingrix vaccine. 1st shot followed by a second after 2 to 6 months.

I was vulnerable because of a childhood disease (chickenpox). After a neighbor suffered a bad case of shingles I got my pair of Shingrix shots.

I am not a fan of vaccines, but when I saw what my wife went through, I got the Shingles shot 4 months before I turned 50. I had to get my PCP to prescribe it for it to be covered by insurance before 50.

After my wife finally recovered, she too got the Shingles vaccine. It really is not a gamble worth taking and it is a gamble in so many ways.

Does the shingles vaccine have any effects after you receive the shot? I'm asking because I may be having family visitors soon. I was planning to get the shot soon, but I may want to delay it until after the visit - so I'm not suffering with any after effects while they are here.

quote:

Originally posted by Fed161:
Does the shingles vaccine have any effects after you receive the shot? I'm asking because I may be having family visitors soon. I was planning to get the shot soon, but I may want to delay it until after the visit - so I'm not suffering with any after effects while they are here.

As with anything, I would say it varies by the person. For my wife and I, the first shot was not really a big deal besides a very sore arm. The second shot made both of us feel like shit for about 12-24 hours but fine after that.