Experiences on how long shingles last?
Posted , 7 users are following.
Greetings everybody!
Hope you guys are having a good day so far.
I wanted to ask everybody's experience on the first time you had shingles how long did it last from the first first stage until the last stage where the rash and blisters went away from the affected areas.
I'm currently on day 7 and on the stage where I'm noticing the red spots rash are turning into blisters and getting really painful. I have to sleep on a certain angle to get a good nights rest. Since the shingles is affecting my lower left chest, side and back.
Any feedback or experience would be appreciated. Thanks!
1 like, 18 replies
hope4cure Texas1976
Posted
It varies from 2 -4 weeks. In my case the dr also gave me the immunization for shingles. As it has lessened the duration and frequency of breakouts.
antivirals really didn't work for me.
Millwood Texas1976
Posted
Is stillgiving the burning pain which is still
very painful.
Merry19451 Texas1976
Posted
My first episode twenty years ago started with a severe agonizing headache, then earache for three months. I saw my great allergist, and two ENTs- who thought I was narcotic seeking, even though I did not ask for any pain medication. I finally saw a wonderful Neurotologist who diagnosed it quickly after the lesions appeared in the ear canal. As I did not have the Antivirals, nor any pain medication, I lost my hearing and some sense of balance on the Acoustic Nerve, never to be regained. The entire episode lasted three months. I have recurrent episodes of Herpes Zoster-Shingles every three to five weeks for the past twenty years.
If the Herpes Zoster-Shingles is not treated promptly with Antivirals and the pain is not controlled aggressively, individuals have the risk of Post Herpetic Neuralgia PHN and/ or recurring Herpes Zoster-Shingles.
While the vesicle-blisters turning into scabs is the normal evolution of Herpes Zoster-Shingles, Tex, it also certainty can get more painful. If your pain is bothering you, please see your physician and get the pain under control now, before it is out of control...
Best wishes
Merry Juliana
Merry Juliana
Goodwater_Betty Texas1976
Posted
I would say it was about a month (perhaps a little less) from the first discomfort until the major outbreak had crusted over and healed. However, it's been a little over four months since my episode began and I still have a place about the size of a silver dollar on the palm of my hand which remains sensitive, sort of like a little permanent reminder of the disease. Occasionally I will still get some of the sharp, stabbing pains in that area, but it goes away quickly.
babs99203 Texas1976
Posted
Don't get "shingles" confused with full recovery or dealing with PHN. Many of us have long-term nerve damage called PHN, so we have pain and a decreased quality of life compared to our pre-shingles incident. In order to give you a better answer I'd need to know if you got the anti-virals within 72 hours of the outbreak. If you did, the pain, itching and spreading reash may be greatly reduced and in aboutt 4-8 weeks you should be good. Also getting certain drugs like Gabapentin (Neurontin) or Lyrica can help with the symptoms and may reduce the discomfort.
I suspect you did NOT get the anti-virals, so I'll work from there. It will take much longer to heal--which is the really hard part, we all think that's not us! Briefly I'll state that rest as much as you can, this is a very serious virus and can cause long-term problems--as in pain for years. You may also have nausea, headaches and/or severe fatigue. Avoiding activity which triggers the pain is needed to help heal. At this point, everything probably harts, but I had shingles on my back and chest so basically bending, turning lifting or leaning fire up the nerves.
Take care and keep asking and we'll keep answering.
Texas1976
Posted
Thanks for your response guys. Today will be my 10th day since my first time initial breakout of Shingles. It seems like my rash doesn't seem seem so irritated and red anymore. The color is starting to get darker and some of the blisters are starting to get crusty. However, I'm still experiencing some slight tingling, prickling ,
Fatigue, and sensitivity on the affected area especially when I wear a shirt which is extremely irritating.
I'm still currently taking Prednisone (taking on day 3)and Acyclovir (day 4 )after my first initial breakout and recently got tramadol for pain.
babs99203 Texas1976
Posted
I'm glad you got the anti-virals, that is very good news for your recovery. Every case seems to have it's own variation, so keep reading and learning. The older you are and the more severe the case the greater likelihood of developing PHN. Even if you do get Post Herpatic Neuralgia (PHN) severity and recovery varies.
As far as your meds. Prednisone may not help much. There was some thought it may, but that's been pretty well discounted. The other meds I mentioned were specific to nerve pain and help the most. Unfortunately, they also have some frustrating side-effects. If the pain is pretty-well under control, the Acyclovir must be helping. Also, some people just fight it off better. All, very good news for you!
I wasn't very clear about my earlier comments regarding PHN. What I meant is that sometimes we say shingles, when the real issue is the complication that comes later. So if you read about people with pain or severe symptoms months later, that's PHN. Technically the shingles is gone then, but the nerves were damaged. I didn't want you to think that some of our symptoms are what you'll have.
My husband just got it again, 2nd time in the last 5 months, but like you, got the anti-virals. He has some rash (he's on his 7th day) but it stablilzed a few days ago. He has no pain, only some slight itching. We expect him to have almost no real problems within the next few weeks as he's already healing well.
I have not been so lucky. I had no itching, very little rash, but tremendous pain. I was off work and he took over everything around the house. I only started driving two weeks ago as I decreased my meds. I'd say you have a good prognosis.
rlyndecker Texas1976
Posted
Not to be negative but I'm wondering the same thing- I'm on ~day 29ish (first saw the rash on the back 29 day ago) I STILL have blisters and it STILL is really painful :
babs99203 rlyndecker
Posted
rlyn, sorry, I can't remember if you got the anti-virals within the 72 hour time frame. If you didn't I'm starting to think there's not a really firm answer. A quick search comes up with answers from 1-6 weeks. Isn't that helpful! I wonder if it depends on the definition of "healed" "gone" or "started". The more I read, the more I decide that that it's very individualistic and there's not a lot of good information out there--they'll be gone when they're gone, but expect weeks to months, not days.
The not knowing is almost as bad as the disease, isn't it? If you have terrible pain at the dentist and he says I'll be done in 20 seconds, it may be longer, but you know it WILL have an end in the next minute. With this, you feel so helpless, which makes it even harder.
Merry19451 rlyndecker
Posted
Have the vesicle-blisters begun to scab or scabbed over?
The pain from the Herpes Zoster-Shingles can last much longer than one month. I am not certain if you were prescribed any analgesics, but if you were not, I strongly urge you to see your physician tomorrow to address the pain.
Merry Juliana
hope4cure babs99203
Posted
Texas1976 rlyndecker
Posted
I can imagine the pain that you are going through and I'm sorry that you are going through that. Are you currently on any pain medicine(s)? If not, you should. At first I thought i can handle the pain but it got to the point it was interferring with my sleep which was one othe main reason I went to my doctor to get some pain meds. The only bad thing about pain meds is I feel more tired which is i dont need since im already fatigue from the Shingles but i rather feel tired than feel pain plus having more sleep is beneficial to getting better and increasing your immune system. Today is day 13 since i first noticed my first breakout. Some of the blisters are beginning to scab over, there are still redness but the red bumps are getting smaller. I'm hoping it won't scar. In regards to pain, I still have occasional pain if i dont take my pain medicine and still have that intermittent tingling and prickling feeling with a lot of sensitivy to the touch.
In the long run, i guess everybody recovers differently. Some recover fast and some don't. Hang in there and get tons of rest. Hope you feel better and everybody else who is suffering from this dreadful pain.
rlyndecker Merry19451
Posted
Yes, they scabbed over and a lot of the scabs have fallen off. The ones on my back though (I posted about this somewhere else) are there and very red. Some of the scabs seem to be coming back and I have one new one???
I already discussed the pain with my Dr. on Friday, she only gave me Hydrocodon-Acet. 10-325 every 8 hours in addition to what I have been on (Gabopentan; Advil) She wasn't very sympathetic. I am trying to get ahold of my dermatologist to see what he says...
Goodwater_Betty rlyndecker
Posted
If your doctor isn't sympathetic and is not actively trying to help you, it is time to change doctors. As you have probably figured out from our responses, shingles can be a very painful, debilitating disease, one which may continue for months. You need something like Lyrica which is specifically tailored to relieve nerve pain. Hopefully, your case won't be in the acute stage more than three or four weeks, but you definitely need a doctor who is sympathetic and actively interested in doing all that he/she can to help you.
Merry19451 rlyndecker
Posted
If you are getting new lesions, ie bright red vesicle-blisters, your Herpes Zoster-Shingles has recurred and you need a second course of antivirals. As your Physician did not prescribe you a second course of antivirals and gave you hydrocodone 10, a poor analgesic, I would see another Physician who actually seems to care. Change Physicians to someone else you can trust when you need them.
I am so sorry you are going through this. Believe me, I know how you feel.
Best wishes.
Merry Juliana
rlyndecker Goodwater_Betty
Posted
That's why I am trying to get in to see my Dermatologist ASAP. I emailed their office telling them it was urgent and giving them my cell.
I also plan to send an email to my Neurologist but I think she's gone until April
I've tried to get a new Dr., unfortuantely where I am if I want to get an apt. within a reasonable amount of time, this Dr. is it. She's good at diagnosing (Which for me is normally great and all I need) just no sympathy and no real bedside manner. Hopefully I'll hear from the Dermatologist office in the AM.
Merry19451 rlyndecker
Posted
Sorry you are in this predicament
Merry Juliana
rlyndecker Merry19451
Posted
I'm replying to both your comments at once. I agree it's not a good situation but it's the best I have right now
As for getting a new dose of anti-virals, I am going to make sure to get into see the Dermatologist ASAP. I told them to call my cell NOT email me, so hopefully I'll hear from them really early. I told them it was urgent, that I thought the back might be infected.. if I don't hear from them, I guess I can go back to my practice's Urgent Care...
Thank you so much!