Anyone had Shingles on their face/head?

Hi I was diagnosed with facial shingles 3 weeks ago. Went to my practice GP and saw a GP who I had not seen before, my usual doctor was not on. Although I had swellings on my forehead along with a tingerling feeling and two swollen lymph nodes he said I had an infection and gave me antibiotics as he thought I had an infection.  Three nights later I had to ring 111 as the pain was excruciating and my eye hardly open.they said a doctor would contact me later. A doctor rang and said it sounds like shingles and could I get to the emergency dept. Later inthe morning. I saw a doctor there and he confirmed shingles and prescribed anti viral Meds. .he sent me to the eye casualty next where the doc said my eye was ok but prescribed drops just to ensure it did not effect the eye.i finish that course tomorrow. The following day we were due to fly to Cape Town and pick up a cruise ship to Australia. We had to cancel. I was in so much pain I had to see my GP who prescribed some other eye drops but also said she did not like the look of my eye and sent a urgent fax to the eye casualty asking them to see me again. This I did the following day. They said my eye was ok. 

Currently im taking, omeprazole,naproxen,paracetamol,cetirizine and amitriptyline.ive not slept well since this started. My scabs have healed over but the eyelids ,eyebrow and forehead hurt like hell. I'm 68 , retired but a voluntary community first responder for the NHS . At the moment I can't respond or do much else but we have been out a couple of times. My wife also has a low immune system and the specialist was concerned that she may contact chicken pox. He asked for a blood test which came back ok. 

Niki,

I am so sorry for your suffering. It sounds as if the rash is concentrated on the Cervical Dermatome. The spot by your ear is your concern. The Herpes Zoster-Shingles virus starts in the nerve root and works it way through the auditory nerve , the ear canal, and the outer ear, not vice versa.

Are you in severe pain? Do you have an ear ache, or facial droop? Do you have a headache, aches and pains, malaise, fatigue and exhaustion, fever, chills and sweating,?

Do you have appropriate analgesics for the pain?

I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States and have had Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every three to five weeks for the past twenty years and twice in my right eye. I currently have a severe episode.

Let me know how long can help you.

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

Dear David,

I am so sorry for your pain and suffering. As you are three weeks into the diagnosis of Herpes Zoster-Shingles, has the pain diminished at all? If not, you may wish to seek a referral to a neurologist or pain management specialist. They are often better at management of the excruciating lancinating pain of shingles.

The concern is that if the pain becomes chronic, ie lasts longer than one month, it can cause Post Herpetic Neuralgia PHN.

I know that Herpes Zoster-Shingles in or near the eye is especially painful as I had Herpes Zoster-Shingles Ophthalmicus twice and have had it in my right ear every three to five weeks for the past twenty years.

I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States.

It is important to rest and sleep right now.

.Please let me know how long can help you.

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

Hi! Thank you for your concern and sorry for your struggles with this.

It started on my neck and seems to just have spread to the outer ear. I'm getting shooting pains in the back of my head to the tip of my ear. No hearing loss or throbbing in the ear canal area. I just have the small spot at the tip of my ear on the outside and in front of the ear near my cheek. So far nothing inside. So you're saying if it was inside, it would have started there?

My doctor told me to watch for facial dropping and inner ear issues and spots in the ear canal, but she didn't think any would show up there. But to watch just in case.

No pain meds except a general ibuprofen. Been taking a couple every few hours but it's not helping much anymore. The antiviral medicine seems to be starting to decrease the swelling on the spots though.

Niki,

The Herpes Zoster-Shingles Oticus starts from the inside, and works it way out...

Are you immunocompromised, at all?

I see individuals who have protracted or recurrent episodes, when they have autoimmune diseases, IBS, Crohns, UC, Cancer....I am immunocompromised, although when I started with this, I didn't know I was...

I would try to get stronger analgesics, as Ibuprofen just won't be enough. Also,

Rest and sleep are very important right now. You cannot power through this. The varicella virus is circulating in your body, and yummy need to rest. Hopefully, you have a supportive family who can help you.

Ignore any grammar and spelling mistakes, please. My smart phone thinks it is smarter than I am...and changes words after I post.

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

Hi merry, thanks for answering so quickly. The pain has reduced a bit from the back of my head. I had a bad night last night with pain around my eye, do not have a red eye. I have been rubbing in germalene a cream for burns and cuts brought over the counter. It contains a mild anethesia. My wife has read that I should not do that. Cold compress helps. Perhaps I should ask for codeine instead of paracetomol ? Is it ok to use a cream called Aveeno, it's a skin relief nourishing cream on my head? Thanks David 

David,

All of your remedies are excellent for relief! You can ask your pharmacist for the cream with the highest percentage of Lidocaine or Benzocaine....Probably germalene cream has soothing ingredients for your skin...I need to look it up.

Cold compresses are very helpful.

Aveeno contains oatmeal, which is very soothing and healing to the skin.

Your multi-modality approach is wonderful....that is what I use and go into that with my second letter to those who respond and have significant pain...

Please ask for codeine or OXYCODONE, which is stronger, for the pain. I take OXYCODONE every episode for the few days I am incapacitated. Physicians are reluctant to prescribe them now due to the overdose epidemic. However, Herpes Zoster-Shingles is one of the most painful conditions known to mankind. It is a physician's duty to alleviate suffering. If the pain is not well controlled by the end of the first month, the risk of developing Post Herpetic Neuralgia PHN is increased markedly.

Best Regards

Merry Juliana

Thank you. My wife has a supply of codeine which I am going to try 2 off tonight. I won't take any Amitriptyline tonight as the warning leaflet with codeine says they should not be taken together. We asked a pharmacist today if codeine was ok and showed her all my tablets including Amitriptyline and she said ok but I'll ring my nurse in the morning and tell her I need codeine.

thanks again. 

Dear David,

Codeine sounds like a good idea, and it is better that you have your own prescription, certainly. While you can mix amitriptyline with Codeine, it is best done under a clinician's care.

Best regards

Merry Juliana

Hello,

I am 33 yrs old and was diagnosed with facial shingles 2 weeks ago. I was feeling tingly across the right side of my forehead for 2 days till a small rash broke out. I went to the ER and they immediately put me on Valtrex. It got much worse before it got better... rash got really bad, alot of swelling along the right side of my face including the eye. luckily, the opthomologist said eye is ok. 

Rash is almost gone now, however I am still feeling extreme NUMBNESS on my forehead esp, and my eyebrow, and a little on my eyelid. Can anyone tell me if this numbness is normal and how long will it last??? And if there's any creams or meds I can take? Major discomfort and even painful. I'm a full time working young mom of 3 and I can't function with this lingering in my system.

any suggestions are appreciated.

Hi Mksweety4u,

The lingering numbness and pain is a normal course for the Herpes Zoster-Shingles disease. As it occurred two weeks ago, I would suggest that you need to try to rest so that it does not recur. I would try to take off from work, at least part-time, to alleviate the stress. I was a working full-time single mother twenty years ago when I had my first episode of Herpes Zoster-Shingles. I get it every three to five weeks in my right ear and twice in my right eye.

I realize you are a full-time working mother of three children, but this disease is brutal, and is kind to no one. Ask your physician for pain medication. The numbness will resolve. Usually, Shingles strikes those who are stressed. Many people have severe pain issues that go on for months and months.

Ask for help with the children, too.

Best wishes

Merry Juliana

Hi Merry, now that it's been 10 weeks since my episode started would it be beneficial for me to get the shingles immunisation needle please? Regards Judy

Judy,

I would go ahead and try it. Zostavax does not necessarily have an excellent efficacy rate of preventing Herpes Zoster-Shingles in individuals who have never had Herpes Zoster-Shingles, but the theory is that it has helped prevent a recurrence in some of us patients. It did not help some of us. My episodes were not milder, either.

There is a new vaccine Shingrex by Glaxo-Smith-Kline that was submitted for approval to the FDA in October of 2016 and the corresponding UK agency in November 2016. I am not sure when the distribution of the vaccination will occur, but the efficacy of Shingrex ranges between 93-97%, compared to the dismal showing if Zostavax 37-53%.

The Shingrex has an adjuvant that renders it more potent.

I hope you are feeling better now and this information has been helpful.

Best wishes

Merry Juliana

Thanks Merry,

Still have extreme itching on my forehead & scalp. I also have shivers over my scalp when I'm tired but I'm not certain if that's me MS or Herpes Zoster-Shingles. The Dr,this time, I've seen 3 different drs, has put me on Lyrica 25mg at night for 2 weeks, 50mg at night for 2 weeks, add 25mg mornings for 2 weeks then up to 50mg in the mornings. So 100mg Lyrica daily until this irritation goes away. 25mg makes me tired so by the time hopefully I will be used to it. Hopefully all will be better soon.

Thank you for all your support. 

Regards Judy

Your welcome...

Please keep me posted on how you are doing...

Merry Juliana

I have been told by my GP that if you want to go ahead with the immunisation you should wait for 6months after you are given the all clear by your GP then you can have one .On the other hand my GP said you would have a certain amount of immuity due to you allready have had Shingles so it would seem rather pointless

Hi,

When i read your post, i can totally relate to your pain. I am getting extreme numbness on my left cheek coupled woth occasional itch. Its crazy and I wonder what could be done to relieve the itch. Do you have any ideas how long this numbness and itch would go away?

I ve just recovered from shingles 3 weeks back.

I tried everything for the itching and nothing worked, but maybe it will for you, some people try an antihistamine.  I have PHN still after a year, no pain now but a  sore eye which also itches frequently, I did mgo throught the numb stage but that faded.in a few weeks, i wish you all the best

Sorry, something went wrong after I wrote that (spelling)

    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

What do you think of Aloe Vera gel? (for itching eyelid) I was diagnosed last March and still having awful itching in and around my eye every day!  I have had PHN but have no pain now, just irritation!! I was told 2 weeks ago that I have a scar on the cornea which isn;t helping me to feel any better as I am now concerned about my vision , although ok now, I don;t know that can change over time,

Hi Judy

The itch on your face can be treated by using E45 Anti Itch cream I use it and it does give me some relief,but as for the  numbness I'm sorry to say mine is still there and this is since Nov last year but not quite as bad although I'm told it can last for months or even years