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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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  • Kartini
    Kartini Schumacher13

    Posted

    So sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with shingles. I too was diagnosed with shingles 3 months ago along the occipital nerve path. Ended up on my cornea. Very painful and educational experience. Am unfortunately in repeat mode right now but hoping that I caught things even earlier now that I know what the symptoms are. Will pass along these tips in case any of them help you. Got on antiviral meds right away, went to eye doctor and was prescribed eye gel antivirals as well. Pain was excruciating but needed to be coherent and lucid, so my internist prescribed prednisone for the pain and swelling. That and 4 Advil every 8 hours took care of 90% of the pain without having to resort to opioids. Drank plenty of water since the antivirals, prednisone and Advil can do quite a number on the kidneys and liver. Used Cortizone 10 cream every few hours on the rash  and any area that had neuropathic pain. Needed to keep my hands and the rash sites clean, so I used an individual hypoallergenic wipe once per area (no re wiping) and threw them away immediately plus washed my hands like a fiend to insure I didn't spread anything unintentionally to other areas. When I could stand it a week or so after the rash developed I used apple cider vinegar on the individual wipe as an antiseptic. Last but not least, deep breathing exercises every couple of hours (when I can remember) helps to reduce the nerve firings that prolong the pain and condition. Hope that some part of this helps you. Am passing it along. If nothing else know that anyone else that has had shingles or is going through it right now empathizes like no one else can. 

    • Jane1618
      Jane1618 Kartini

      Posted

      Hi, did you have any long term effects in your eye?
  • jppagoto
    jppagoto Schumacher13

    Posted

    I suspect it's what im going thru now. Forehead red, swelling glands including sinuses eyes and nose puffy. Scalp very sensitive. Miserable. Prior to swelling, low grade fevor and flu like symptoms.

    • jppagoto
      jppagoto

      Posted

      So the doctor said no to shingles this time because it was symmetric and not like a past episode with a pronounced rash with fluid small pimples. My entire scalp was super sensitive, painful really. My forehead, eyes, nose and sinus areas swelled up. There was very little if any swelling before.

      So Dr S ordered a AB Steroid and a Antibiotic cocktail that in 48 hrs went from my eyes were nearly swelled shut to almost normal. That was what made my finally call the doctor. She said it was a bacteria infection.

  • linda27188
    linda27188 Schumacher13

    Posted

    I did and it was awful. Now I have an area that seems to react when I am exposed to any viral component. Like if someone I live with or work with is coming down with a cold or has a cold my head in the area of where my shingles were comes alive, it itches and my scalp feels like I have "bugs" running through it. I believe because of that you never "get over" them.

  • linda27188
    linda27188 Schumacher13

    Posted

    Hello, I had shingles on my face, watch out for eye involvement, very critical to not get them in your eye as they can and do cause blindness. Mine have never gone completely away though I no longer have the rash I have almost constant discomfort in that area of my head where I first broke ouy. No one ever told me the shingles are forever but I am finding out year by yearthat they don"t go away.

    • Tizme
      Tizme linda27188

      Posted

      Hi Linda, I was diagnosed 11 days ago with the breakout in the temple area.  Mild rash is gone but the symptoms are so intense ... ugh.
    • Jane1618
      Jane1618 linda27188

      Posted

      It is over a year ago that I had shuingles and my eye still itches and is sore and stinging every single day, Today it keeps watering, I never feel I have really got over the shingles properly, I never realised that the suffering would never stop, it makes life miserable, I did take the meds early but it didn;t prevent the complications unfortunately!! Almost 15 months now, has anyone else had problems for this long??!
    • joseph34465
      joseph34465 Jane1618

      Posted

      about 8 or 9 month now and I still have the same thing your talking about. I even have a problem going out and enjoying myself.
  • joseph34465
    joseph34465 Schumacher13

    Posted

    I have it now and it has confined me to the house. the pain in my head is the worst thing I ever had and i am 66 so I have had my share of injurys. I am taking 300 mg. of Gabapentin 5 times a day and 800mg. at bed time. I also take 2 mg. of dilaudid which I can take 3 times a day. I take two pills instead of one and none of these pills seem to make any differance in the pain. I have an appointment for a pain managment doctor in 4 days and it seems like a life time. I've had it for 5 weeks and I can tell you that I'm beside myself. Good luck I hope you don't have to go through what I'm going through. my wife has never seen my like this and I know I'm scaring her.

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 joseph34465

      Posted

      Hi Joseph,

      I am sorry you are going through this. Where is your pain and rash?

      I am glad you are seeing a pain management physician in four days as I know only too well the pain you are experiencing.

      The pain can be treated, but you need someone who knows how to artfully combine the right medications. I know you feel you are going out of your mind, as when the agonizing pain is in your head, it is impossible to compartmentalize it.

      When the pain is that severe, you also don't sleep, and I am certain you have fatigue and exhaustion accompanying the Herpes Zoster-Shingles, anyway.

      I have Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every three to five weeks for the past twenty years and twice in my right eye.

      I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States.

      Please let me know how I can help you.

      Are you immunocompromised with autoimmune diseases, or on corticosteroids, or have cancer or IBS? Any of these predispose you to Herpes Zoster-Shingles. Also, so does getting older and stress..

      Best wishes

      Merry Juliana

    • Azbella
      Azbella Merry19451

      Posted

      HiMerry We've txt before , have ? I still get headaches , scabs on my scalp . Also have Cold sore on lip And yeast . Under my breast n abd. Fold .. is it all related ???

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 Azbella

      Posted

      Azbella,

      Sorry for the delay in responding. I can't see your past posts to see when your initial episode was. You have Post Herpetic Neuralgia PHN if you are having headaches where your initial episode was. It sounds like you are immunocompromised and need to be worked up by a physician. The candida infection in your skin folds, which I know is extremely itchy, can be treated with Clotrimazole cream. OTC. You also need to wear cotton clothing, ie underwear, and expose the areas to air. Yeast hate oxygen, dry air, and sun light. Lie on your bed after bathing and toweling dry and allow those areas to exposure to air by lifting the skin, breasts up for twenty minutes.

      PLEASE, see a physician regarding your problems so you can feel better.

      Best Wishes

      Merry Juliana

    • Azbella
      Azbella Merry19451

      Posted

      Ty Merry, July 2014 ,, headaches are awful , just had a really bad sinus info. Thought the ATB might have caused the yeast .,.'it's always something 🙄😘

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 Azbella

      Posted

      Did not know you were on antibiotics for a sinus infection. Yes, the Antibiotic could have contributed to the yeast infections. Is your sinus infection totally clear? Are you sure that isn't contributing to your headaches? Poor you...Do you have any nasal discharge or fever or facial tenderness over the sinuses?

      The yeast infections still need to be treated, or they will continue spreading....As you have scabs on your scalp, perhaps a visit to the dermatologist is in order. That definitely is not normal!

      I am sorry you are feeling so sick.

      Best wishes

      Merry Juliana

    • Azbella
      Azbella Merry19451

      Posted

      Hi , there are pimple like eruptions on scalp , not sure if they are blisters .I'm going to visit my great grand son n granddaughter , 2/23 I just want to make sure I can't give the dang shingles . That would upset me to no end . He s a premie though is now 5 months old n doing well almost 11 lbs 😘👍 do I need to be worried ?? Please say no ty hugs you are a blessing here 😇💕🌷

    • Jane1618
      Jane1618 Azbella

      Posted

      Hi,

      I just read this and an earlier post about bad headaches, this is how I was feeling before shingles was diagnosed, and I definitely would not be close to any babies or young children as you might be very contageous!

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 Azbella

      Posted

      Hi Azbella,

      The best option is to see your physician for a diagnosis. If it is a Staphylococcus infection vs Herpes Zoster-Shingles, it should and can be treated. Either way, you should wear a cotton scarf or cotton hat when holding the baby. (Cotton breathes best and washes well).

      Excellent hand washing technique is imperative for you. Use antibacterial soap. Usually, I don't recommend antibacterial soap, but for the baby's health, I do.

      You absolutely need to see your physician for diagnosis and treatment, however. If Herpes Zoster-Shingles vesicle-blisters are covered, you are not infectious. If it is a Staphylococcus infection, you need oral antibiotics for 48 hours before you are not infectious.

      Please keep me posted.

      Congratulations on the birth of your great grandson! I am happy for you!

      Merry Juliana

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