Anyone had Shingles on their face/head?

Dear Bobby,

As you have gathered, Shingles is not fun. As you do lifting, I have some ideas for you regarding prevention....

1. It is great you are getting more Antivirals. Please take them for the entire prescribed course, never skipping a dose.

2. Please do not power through this...It only returns. You need to rest and sleep. Give your body a break....Your body is giving you a warning here...

3. Please Google High Lysine Low Arginine diet and Herpes Zoster-Shingles connection. I was getting Herpes Zoster-Shingles every three to five weeks for the past twenty years in my right ear and twice in my right eye. When I read about the Lysine-Arginine Herpes diet, a lightbulb went off, as I was eating a large amount of legumes-high Arginine. When I ceased eating them, I didn't have an episode for five months.... Vast improvement!

I am sorry you are going through this. Did the Zoster-Shingles actually infect your eye? Please understand your health is the #1 priority, not your work, or the wedding... My apologies to your fiance. What I am saying is you need to care for yourself, as if you do not have your health, you have nothing.

I understand how difficult it is to stop the lifting and going to the gym. I worked in a building that had a weight lifting gym with dedicated lifters.

Shingles virus thrives in people who are stressed, tired, run-down, and will continue to assault your body unless you rest and sleep. Your recovery will be prolonged or you will be like me, the single mother who was not diagnosed properly, had to keep working, and has had Herpes Zoster-Shingles every three to five weeks for the past twenty years. I was in great physical shape, exercised 6 days a week for an hour, etc etc etc..Or you can develop Post Herpetic Neuralgia PHN.

I am a Nurse Practitioner in the US.

Please let me know how I can help you.

Usually, individuals with Shingles have exhaustion and fatigue long after the rash has disappeared, sometimes for months.

Best Wishes on your Wedding.

Congratulations

Merry Juliana

Hello again Merry,

I just wanted your opinion on how common itching is after shingles! I spoke to my Dr yesterday and he seemed surprised that after 10 months I still have intense  itching on and off every day,  in and around my eye, forehead and eyebrow (where the rash had been) He said it is unusual for it to go on this long, do you agree? I don't think Drs seem to know a lot about shingles, and I get no answers at the eye clinic either, it's all very frustrating and annoying. .

What is the longest time that you have had the problem once the shingles has gone?

I really appreciate your comments and enyone else who can reply to my question!

I am going to try Zyrtec again as I only took it for a short while before and even that didn't help!

Thank you

 

Hello,

I am still having issues and it will be a year come March 2017. My internist, neurologist, ophthalmologist and dermatologist all said the same thing. I have nerve damage and it will never go away. My stress plays a large part in the outbreaks. When I get real upset my face and my scalp itches so bad that bumps appear and I try not to scratch..... but.... I get scabs. I am trying to control my anxiety & I take a kolopin to help if really needed. I even have small flat red bumps that appear on my face (just a few) but it shows a line if connected where the shingles first made the appearance.

I just am learning to deal with it.... it does stink. But I look at it like my MS issues. I have not had full feeling in my feet and legs in over 3 years and I just deal with it. I always say it could be worse.

Good luck and prayers.

Laura

I think you are very brave especially as you have other problems to deal with apart from the ones caused by shingles. Good luck and I really hope things improve soon! I always tell myself how glad i am that my vision is ok as at the time I was very worried about losing vision , but with regulas visits to the eye clinic they have been checking my eye. Like you, I have learned to live with the itching as there is no choice really!

Jane,

I never had itching with Zoster-Shingles, but with allergies, which were intense and took me two years to resolve. The severe lancinating pain is usually the problem, but the Trigeminal Nerve, which conducts your sensations, sometimes causes itching, and uses other medications. That is why I urge you to see the expertise of a neurologist to see if one some of medications ie work on the itching. Tegreretol specifically works for some issues on the Trigeminal Nerve, (and other anticonvulsants.) I use a low dose anticonvulsant which I am certain prevents PHN and lessens the intensity of lancinating pain during my episodes. It also has prevented me from having any migraine headaches for 15 years...You never know unless you try...I know from personal experience that severe itch is unbearable...I had drug, food preservative, and medication allergies start at once, and allergists were stumped....I figured it out on my own.

A nerve block is the other alternative, which is the next step after medication.... I do empathize with you, truly I do....

Please make the appointment and be proactive.

Best wishes

Merry Juliana

Thank you Merry,

I have  managed to get an earlier appointment at the eye clinic this month,  and if they still fail to help me,

, I am going to ask my Dr to refer me to someone who will! (neurologist maybe)

Thank you for all your good advice!

Jane

 

Thanks for the kind words Merry19451! I am reading all about Arginine vs Lysine diets.

I can certainly conclude that over the past 3 months I have consistently taken a protein supplement after working out daily. I also see alcohol, caffeine, too much red meat are all on the not-so-helpful list. Between this and lack of sleep, all are not helping me much.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your hard-learned knowledge, it made my day that somebody cared to read my message. I'm really enjoying the commaraderie of this forum so far.

God bless,

Bob

Wedding stuff is slowing down some luckily, we're doing a bigger destination wedding so I really can't wait to just get there and relax in the nice warm weather, it'd be best if I'm not embarrassed about a crazy rash on my forehead, luckily I can let my hair hang down and block it. Oh the struggle!

However, I do love dairy products, I make a strong effort to eat vegetables, fruits and meat daily. I will try an experiment over the next couple weeks and report progress. Unfortunately when you mess up here you pay for it.

Dear Bobby,

It is ok to eat foods high in Arginine, just in moderation...It is the ratio of Lysine to Arginine that is the point...

Where is the destination wedding? Hopefully, the actual wedding day goes smoothly and doesn't stress you and your lovely bride.

I eat and drink dairy products and will never give them up, BTW....

Best wishes

Merry Juliana

Juliana,

Good point, I will try focusing on the ratio of arginine/lysine intake.

Wedding is in Costa Rica in May this year, we are ready for it for sure.  Need to escape the cold Chicago weather.  

Forgot to answer about the eye question, my eye never did get infected, they were worried and it certainly was the start but the eye drops every 1-2 hrs quickly cleared the eye up.

Thanks,  Bob

Bob,

Ah,

The windy and snowy city of Chicago. My grandmother ran a Speakeasy there during the prohibition and entertained the Police Commissioner and Chief of Police. She was never raided...

I did not turn out like her....

I live in the flat state of Delaware, at a Balmy 44°F. The Nor'easters can be fierce, as well as hurricanes, but tornadoes and earthquakes are fortunately rare here.

Costa Rica is gorgeous, I understand...When May rolls around, I shall be thinking of you and your lovely bride...

Cheers

Merry Juliana

Hi Merry 🌺 Another ? I'm pretty stressed , having the eye pain as before when I first got the shingles 8/15 , still get scabs on my scalp

Headache most days , it was sinus inf but is cleared up . Guess you just live with it , I tore the meniscus in my knee so no yoga which I love .. blessings ty for your help 🌷🌷🌷

Hello Azbella,

 In 2013 I had shingles for a couple of months and held it off with aloe vera and other ointments, but when it started to get worse I knew I had to do something else--so for the short story-- I used proteolytic enzymes (which are made for "eating the protective protein coatings that protect any virus) and my shingles was gone in 3 days and never returned.  If you're interested in hearing more let me know because I'd like to share what I did to get better.   Peter

Hi Peter. I would love to hear about your remedy for this rotten condition. I've only had it for 3months & I'm over it. I also have MS so I think one exacerbates there other. So any suggestions on stopping this infernal itching, crawling & pain around my eye & scalp would be greatly appreciated please?.

Kind regards Judy

Hi Peter.

Please could you tell us more about this?

Hello Merry

I just want to give you an update as I am so much happier today, I went to the eye clinic to ask some questions about my scar on the cornea etc. I wanted to know whether it was small or large and if it would alter my vision as time goes by. Apparently it is very small and is at the bottom of my eye so has not affected my vision at all,. it is the same as before i got shingles. Such a relief to hear that it can't get any worse and hopefullt my sore eye might improve over time, It's nice to have some good news to share with you!

Jane,

That is indeed wonderful news! I am happy for you!

Best wishes

Merry Juliana

Thank you, I was also told that it is rare to get shingles more than once, but i intend to eat very healthily and build up my immunity, I never want that again!! Good luck to everyone else on here who is suttering!