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Exhausted post shingles

Posted , 107 users are following.

MsM81
MsM81

I was diagnosed with shingles 2 weeks ago. Compared to some, it was a mild case with just a small rash on my back. I caught it early and was given antibiotics which I finished last week. The rash has pretty much cleared but now I have overwhelming bouts of fatigue. Yesterday I literally couldn't move. Is this to do with the shingles and if so, how long does it take to be 100% better?

13 likes, 453 replies

453 Replies

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  • Ophiana68
    Ophiana68 MsM81

    Posted

    Well, I was diagnosed with Shingles on 02/05/2016; prescribed with Aciclovyr 5 a day, and Amitriptilyne - not told by the doc how many a day, ended up being overdosed. Started taking them from them immediately. And antibiotics after 7 days 4 a day.

    In the 7th week now still feel as if the burning and pains of shingles hasn't gone yet. Lightheaded, dizzy and dozy, I feel like a bear with a sore head. Yes, I too feel the same. When am I going to feel 100% and Normal again, often I'm in tears.  But some times I do get those few moments of normalcy in between and feel hopeful I'll soon be better.

    Just be positive. It's in our own hands to kick most illnesses out. Some medicines are necessary though.

    Good Luck anyway and All The Best.

  • sara28314
    sara28314 MsM81

    Posted

    Hi, I've just been diagnosed with shingles 4 days ago after a week of really bad back pain. I've been sleeping loads and am quite dizzy a lot of the time. I've been working from home and trying to do a bit of cooking, washing etc but feel like I've just done a 10k run after! I'm in my 30's and have been told to pull myself together and get out of bed. I am wondering if others have felt this tired and dizzy, and are sleeping a lot so I don't feel like I am being lazy! Thanks :-)
    • joyce01872
      joyce01872 sara28314

      Posted

      Hi Sara,

      I was diagnosed with shingles 1/30/16...I had terrible low back pain (right side) a couple wks before I broke out with rash and was diagnosed. ( I started the antiviral acyclovir early). The night before my diagnosis I had all the classic heart attack symptoms on left side, arm shoulder and chest ... That pain worsened and persisted for 2 months...it was unbearable at times even with pain meds (gabapentin and tramadol)...My sleep cycle got all messed up, some nights I didn't sleep at all...I was totally depleted, exhausted...

      Finally, when the pain subsided I was weak, had brain fog and a general feeling of

      unwellness, but so grateful to be free of pain..I had lots of itching (I have allergies, rhinitis pretty much year round, and they have gotten worse) ... I started taking amino acid L-Lysine at about 2 months and continue taking 500mg daily. I am now 4.5 months out from diagnosis and have extreme fatigue...exhaustion, dizziness (off balance) brain fog, and general malaise...sometimes sleep 15-16 hrs straight...Some days are better than others; if I do too much I wind up with flu symptoms and down for a week...I am realizing more each day how vital "rest" is. People don't understand this disease...they wonder why I can't get well...we have a "viremia" circulating in our system that causes these symptoms and rest is the only thing that gives relief!

      They tell me this "post shingles syndrome" can last up to a year!

      But, I know many people have recurring pain, so I am most grateful that I am pain free.

      Sara, I hope this helps, and that you are feeling better.

      Peace & Blessings,

      Joyce

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 sara28314

      Posted

      Dear Sara,

      I am so sorry for your suffering. Where is the rash? How severe is the pain? Hopefully, you were prescribed antivirals and immediately which does help decrease the intensity of the pain and shorten the course of the Herpes Zoster-Shingles. The Herpes Zoster-Shingles is preceded by symptoms such as headache, joint and muscle aches, malaise, weakness, dizziness, fatigue, chills and sweating, etc. Then the pain and rash appear. The dizziness and fatigue can last months to a year long with Herpes Zoster-Shingles. What many people and physicians fail to realize is that Herpes Zoster-Shingles is a disease process in which the virus circulates in your blood, causing these other symptoms, and is not just a rash with a little pain. The pain is considered one of the most excruciating conditions known to man. Often when you are younger, it isn't as bad, but sometimes it is just as excruciating as the elderly. My pain at 44 years old was agonizing...I have had Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every three to five weeks for the last 20 years and twice in my right eye.

      I am also a nurse practitioner in the States. Please let me know how I can help you.

      Tell these nonbelievers, just because you don't look sick, doesn't mean you aren't sick!

      Best Wishes

      Merry Juliana

    • sara28314
      sara28314 joyce01872

      Posted

      Hi Joyce, thank you so much for your quick reply and kind words.

      Thank you for your useful info, it has been very helpful.

      My back pain was awful last week, I've got it in my left side of my back and felt like someone was kicking me in the back. we had been on holiday just before it started so I thought it was due to a rubbish bed. I hardly got any sleep last week. My rash started last Sunday and at first I thought I had been bitten on my back as it looked like a couple of bites. I was so lucky as I saw a chiropractor on Tuesday who ordered me to my doctor as soon as she saw my back and my doctor diagnosed it. I'm taking the aciclovir 5 times a day now until next week. I am very lucky as the rash is in my back which can be covered up and hasn't changed but my pain is easing. I just take painkillers at night now and only wake up once which is a massive improvement. I am still enjoying the fact that I am more pain free than in pain now, I have never appreciated what it was like to be pain free until now! What really took me by surprise was the tiredness, having no energy to do anything and sleeping so much. My highlight yesterday was being able to wash my hair!

      Thanks for your support as I don't feel so silly now feeling this tired and that I was imagining it, it has really helped me as no one at home knows anything about this and as such doesn't understand how I am feeling as I am usually battling through everything, thanks again, Sarah

    • sara28314
      sara28314 joyce01872

      Posted

      Sorry Joyce, I meant to say sorry to hear that you have been suffering as well and I am glad that are enjoying pain free times as well, I hope things continue to improve for you
    • sara28314
      sara28314 Merry19451

      Posted

      Hi Merry,

      Thank you for your message and support. I can see that you help a lot of ppl in here so thank you for your time.

      I am sorry to hear that you suffer from this so bad as well, I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like in your ear and eye :-(

      Thanks for your comments about the pain, I have never experienced pain like it, I am so thankful that this has eased off for me.

      I have explained my story in my reply to Joyce but feel happier knowing I'm not imagining the tiredness etc, it has helped improve my mood.

      I have shown your message to my b/f who is showing a bit more interest now in understanding what is going on as its not just me complaining, so thank you for that!

      Thanks :-)

    • jane97743
      jane97743 sara28314

      Posted

      Strangely enough, i never felt tired until a few weeks after shingles, and my dr was surprised i didn't feel more "washed out" I had arranged a 90th party for my mother a few days after being diagnosed and my sister and \i were hosting it, so it was all very worrying, but i feagnosed
    • jane97743
      jane97743 sara28314

      Posted

      Sorry, the message sent too soon, something went wrong with my laptop! I didn't feel too bad the first week with shingles, but we are all different, and it is now 11 weeks later and I have an awful red sore eye which has given me trouble for 2 weeks, I had the worst type, forehead, head and right eye! Luckily my eyesight is ok but it has been very worrying,
    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 sara28314

      Posted

      Dear Sara,

      You are a smart lady to show what Joyceand I wrote to the male species about the fatigue and exhaustion as they never completely understand unless it affects them. LOL

      Merry Juliana

    • sara28314
      sara28314 Merry19451

      Posted

      Ha ha, I know, there was nothing I could compare it to as an example for him lol, I don't quite think man flu would do it justice lol :-)
    • sara28314
      sara28314 jane97743

      Posted

      Sorry to hear that you have been suffering as well Jane, I hope that things improve soon, sounds like you have a good doctor on your side :-)
    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 joyce01872

      Posted

      I knew the Ladies would enjoy the chuckle!

      Love you

      Merry Juliana

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 sara28314

      Posted

      My first husband would moan and groan about a sore throat. "Oh the pain," he would writhe on the couch, as if he were giving birth or experiencing the worst intractable Herpes Zoster-Shingles case. He attempted to murder me after 18 years of marriage. Fortunately, he failed, I gained full legal and physical custody of my son due to his violence. I should have put him out of his misery when he was complaining about a little sore throat. LOL...

      MERRY JULIANA

    • sara28314
      sara28314 Merry19451

      Posted

      Merry, that's so funny but also so sad at the same time. It never fails me how hopeless guys can be sometimes but then they can then be surprising good when you least expect it. I'm so sorry to hear about what you must have gone through and am so pleased that you managed to survive and get out with your son, very brave. I really hope that you have both managed to move on and are happy now, apart from the shingles which is the last thing you would have needed.
    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 sara28314

      Posted

      Sara,

      I left him 1992, became a nurse practitioner in the States while a single mother working. I left him in the dust, so to speak. He stalked me at first, then moved out of the area, thank heavens. My son wants nothing to do with him. My son changed his name to my maiden name as I raised him. We are very happy and moved on years ago. Thank you for asking. I was fortunate that I had a career and a strong sense of myself when I started, so while it was difficult to go through, obviously, I am at stronger for it and have helped people who have been abused since.

      Best Wishes

      Merry Juliana

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