I thought I was getting better.....
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi everyone and you have my absolute sympathy. I am a 57 year old female and was diagnosed with Shingles recently. I think it started long before the small rash came out. I have taken the anti viral drugs and thought I was getting better. Now a month on, I feel worse than ever. The fatigue is awful, I also have left rib ache which seems to be associated with constipation, bloating and upset stomach. I have a painful right knee which is numb to the touch. My long standing tinnitus is much worse now. I have just been signed off work for another 6 weeks. Dr believes it's post viral fatigue. Does anyone else have these symptoms ?
1 like, 20 replies
Jkay07 julia70706
Edited
i am so sorry to hear you are dealing with this. Yes- i have similar symptoms.
(Age 51) I noticed I started losing my balance and dropping things constantly, as well as having quite a headache around Dec 12+. I even had some weird symptoms such as extreme dry mouth and ear pain, i thought i was getting an ear infection. Then bumps started showing up, one by one. First one was above my right eye, but I didn't think too much of it, then a second and third - I thought they were spider bites. I finally went to the doctor Dec 18 after a fourth one in my scalp and my lymph node by my ears swollen up.
A "lovely" walk-in clinic male doctor told me it might be shingles and prescribed antiviral viral drugs and told me to continue to go to work, just don't rub my eye and spread C. pox to others. He also said that I wouldn't have to worry about anything unless my vision changed.
I kept working my very stressful job as per docs orders. I started early so I could take a 2-hour lunch/ rest. My ear was very sensitive to sound so I just kept an ear plug in the right ear. The rash healed up with the antivirals by late December but that week is when I began to notice, extreme fatigue, dizziness, nausea, tinnitus and pain after ANY physical or mental effort. This continued to get worse until I met with my family doctor who said I needed to be off for 2 weeks. Now every morning I wake up with painful skin and chills, as if I'm getting a flu. Dizziness and nausea only kick up when I try to do anything physical or think! If I try to push it, the symptoms become intolerable with stabbing ear pains. I haven't had too much gastrointestinal issues but maybe because that's not the nerve that is affected for me? I have to say I too feel much worse now, with fatigue nausea and all the other weird symptoms. I'm going to try L Lysine and maybe ashwagandha? I don't know it's a crap shoot. let me know if you find something that gives you relief.
quarrywalker julia70706
Posted
Dont know how much help I can be, just joined to take my mind off the pain in my back and going through shingles for over 2 weeks.
My husband developed shingles 30 years ago and still suffers symptoms if he gets tired. For a long time he had recurrences but now its muscle pain sometimes which I guess is post viral. His initial attack was extreme and left him off work for 3 months. The long term effect has been life changing. Life was difficult in his working years and he gradually cut down hours, often doing little outside of work. His recovery was gradual and now he is very active but knows to rest as soon as the pain starts.
I thought I was immune but just over 2 weeks ago had back pain one side going into muscle over my front on one side. My skin was tender and, thinking I had twisted a muscle, just rested and was out in the garden in pj's. When the rash started I thought it was midge bites. After a few days I realised I have shingles. My stomach is bloated, despite hardly eating and some constipation but I put this down to co codamyl. I do find it reassuring to know that this happens to others with shingles. Looking at various websites, it would appear that shingles has so many symptoms and side effects its impossible to know how it will affect the individual person. For my husband it has been rest and gentle exercise, balanced diet, avoiding stress and watching weight. It was easier for him when he cut down on hours before retiring.
I am 72, fit and active, used to teach yoga. I have found breathing and relaxation exercises help a bit with visualisation but it only goes so far. Finding something to do has helped to take my mind off the pain; anything - reading, watching tv, walking around. This option is limited for the busy working person. I hope your post viral symptoms fade in time, Julia and that you recover soon.
Rash is on my belly and down one side of my back and it has been so painful, also have tinnitus off and on, living in fleece pyjamas because my skin is so tender. About all that my husband has found to help and I am finding is to be as relaxed as possible and accept what is going on in the moment.