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Anyone had Shingles on their face/head?

Posted , 79 users are following.

Schumacher13
Schumacher13

I was diagnosed as having Shingles on Friday at the doctors. I started itching on my forehead Tues night and by the next day my forehead had all red marks on it? I didn't realise you can get shingles on your face? 

I have had horrible pain on/off since, swelling on my eyebrow and jawline near my ears?

Anyone else had this? How long will it last? Also should I be off work with it?

Appeciate any advice please

8 likes, 309 replies

309 Replies

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  • rose99677
    rose99677 Schumacher13

    Posted

    Thankyou for your reply, I am still suffering from the pain that has been left on my face after having shingles and it seems that no one can give me anything to make the pain go away only medication that sends me to sleep , it does not get rid of the pain so that is no good to me, sleeping all the time is not the answer for me, but thank you for your reply
    • joseph34465
      joseph34465 rose99677

      Posted

      Rose, I too have had post pain from Shingles on my scalp and forehead for over a year now and I have not found anything that seems to help. Not sure there is anything but I can say it sure changed my life. Sorry for your pain and good luck in finding anything to put on it that will help.
    • rose99677
      rose99677 joseph34465

      Posted

      Thankyou for your reply I think the doctors do not care these days and just fob you off with anything I am in so much pain and get no sleep now adays, I just dont know what to do next I think I have tried everything and have found neothing but thanks again.
    • Adldiane
      Adldiane rose99677

      Posted

      Hi Rose please re-read Merry's reply. She has a wealth of knowledge on shingles and I agree with her we did not cause the opioid problem. Keep going to doctors until they give you strong enough medicine to help take away the pain which I can vaulch for is so bad it's not bearable. You cannot sleep with pain like that. 

      Will you be your own advocate and get the help that you need and keep writing to us we will support you. Diane

    • Bigwiscon
      Bigwiscon Adldiane

      Posted

      Nothing, and I mean Nothing took away the pain from the Ocular Shingles. The Opthamilogists were all stupid about it and did Nothing to help me. I had to go to Walgreens and get a homeopathic eye ointment and to my PCP who gave me a scrip for 5% Lidocaine patches which helped a little bit. Two months of Gabapentin did absolutely nothing.
  • KVincent
    KVincent Schumacher13

    Posted

    I did not know how to start a new thread so I’m hoping someone gets this.  Ten years ago I had shingles. Outbreak on left side face/Head & in left ear. Bell’s palsy ensued, lasted c. 2 weeks. Nerve pain lasted c. 1yr. 

    In last few months, I’ve started having itching where old eruptions were plus on the right side of face around eyes and head.  I’ve always noticed nerves around left eye & mouth were numb since shingles, I guess some nerve loss. But, now I notice  the numbness is present on the right eye as well.  It could be that I’ve just not had cause to notice til now. 

    Questions:

    1.  Has anyone else experienced itching so long after the initial outbreak?

    2. Anyone know if it’s possible some of the shingles from a decade ago were not erupted (on right side of face). The Bell’s palsy was only on left side.

    Thanks for any info. KSV

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 KVincent

      Posted

      Hi K Vincent!

      If you had Herpes Zoster-Shingles in your Left ear with paralysis of the face, caused by Shingles, it is Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, FYI. I know, because I have recurrent Ramsay Hunt Syndrome in my right ear.

      You may be having a new episode of Shingles if you are having new symptoms. I would see a clinician to be evaluated and start on an antiviral.

      Best Wishes.

      Merry Juliana

  • lisa65143
    lisa65143 Schumacher13

    Posted

    Hope you will not have to suffer w PaHN...haven’t read everything here,,but I do hope you are off the hook

    i am in agony for over six years.

    and stuck w this horror until I croak,l

     I am sorry I cannot. be hopeful like the others, 

    i

    • Bigwiscon
      Bigwiscon lisa65143

      Posted

      I feel for you. No one can understand how truly awful this is. Thankfully mine resolved for now after four months of hell. Just a bit of itching left. But it lowered my immune system so badly I came down with pneumonia two months later!
  • lisa65143
    lisa65143 Schumacher13

    Posted

    I recommend legal medical marijuana,,this is the best,,I prefer the vaporizer,,most states have legalized medical marijuana by now

  • lisa65143
    lisa65143 Schumacher13

    Posted

    Whenever I mention medical pot, my posts get censored.medical pot is largely legal and everyone knows it is safe and effective, I recommend it, it is much better than all the dubious pharmaceutical including opoidd. Check it out for pain.
  • lisa65143
    lisa65143 Schumacher13

    Posted

    One item, I meant dubious pharmaceutical like opoidd not anti virals ,,,I meant what works for pain,,you need a savvy doctor who is certificate and trained to give you the medical m.
  • ian9999
    ian9999 Schumacher13

    Posted

    I can only make this short at this point...ive been dealing with constant itch burn tingle crawling numbness stinging on face for 11 months. Im 55 and the first week included extreme fatigue headache and nauseated for 8 weeks. Prodrom type symptom on lip.. Never a pustule never a scab. Been to doctor 22 times in 10 months with no diagnosis or medication. Sent to nuerologist who did motor testing which i passed and he suggested to buy a bike and enjoy summer. . finally being referred to both MS clinic and dermatologist..Both could be a year wait. Dr.said derm. Could reject referral if not cancer related. Been to Nat Path and accupuncture. Pain and itch on face never ever stops...it has changed symtoms and intensity.. Even neck pain to point i couldnt turn neck to drive for 8 weeks. This has been crazy.....super itchy under nose ..like 1000mosquito bites.. 11 months now...Ontario Canada
    • kevin31557
      kevin31557 ian9999

      Posted

      Ian, I had shingles on my face.  It was 18 months ago, but I still have some pain and irritation. I used a variety of remedies: ice packs, "ICE" gel, cold compresses, heating pad.  There is a medication that can help and it is called Gabapentin.  Have you had an increase in sickness, flus, colds?  Have you had any skin conditions?

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