Reoccuring shingles - really scared / worried what can I do?
Posted , 8 users are following.
I am a 34 year old woman who was diagnosed with shingles for the first time in January 2014. Leading up to the rash I was incredibly poorly and had all kinds of blood tests, once the rash came out it was accepted that it was probably the shingles virus all along. The tiredness I have experienced ever since has been emmense and I also suffer from "dark days", roll on 12 months to January 2015 and another shingles rash appeared on the base of my spine, this time I had horrible back pain. The rash cleared within 3 weeks and I tried to get on with my life. The last few days I have felt yucky again and I thought no WAY can this be happening again, this morning, another rash under my bust AND a line down my spine. I have been back to the GP and yes, shingles again. The doctor seems disinterested and shrugs it off as "one of those things", I have asked for anti virals but been told there is no point once the rash comes out. I have had an extreme amount of stress lately, being made redundant and I know stress can be a contributing factor but usually I get coldsores - no coldsores, just blummin shingles. I think what I am most worried about is I read over and over again that shingles is an old persons disease or common in people with immuno defincency. It always states it is "very rare" for it ever to occur again. The GP seems unbothered. I on the other hand am absolutely sick of feeling so tired and run down all the time. Some days I can barely get out of bed but force myself to get some fresh air. The rash is never as massive as some of the pictures I see online, usually 10 or so very itchy spots that turn painful (like needles) after a week or so. The biggest symptom I get are headaches and tiredness. Sorry, I am aware I probably sound like a hypocondriac but I'm not really sure where else to turn. I have had a look through the forums and appreciate there are some threads that cover this but are older. Thanks in advance.
2 likes, 17 replies
AmJane elucy
Posted
I am so sorry you are going through this... I know how you feel. I just turned 38 and have had recurring shingles since I was 35 (2 days before I got married). They are in the same spot, just below the waistline on my left lower back. I've had several blood tests and they prescribed acyclovir and I'm not sure if it helps or not. I feel like there is something more wrong although my test results are fine. Interestingly, my blood tests do not show herpes zoster, but my skin swab does.
Like you, I get a breakout when I'm under stress, but nothing super stressful, just the normal hectic work days and exhaustion. I have a breakout now that was just about gone, then had a couple crazy days at work and felt like I was getting the flu, instead my sores tripled in size and I'm so frustrated.
I've been to 3 doctors and they don't seem overly concerned, yet I have to got to work each day with nothing more than ibuprofen which does pretty much nothing. My next step is researching Immunologists in the area. I can't remember the last time I've been sick with anything but these breakouts. It's exhausting and there are days I don't want to get out of bed but I don't have a flexible schedule so I just have to keep pushing through. The tingling is painful and makes my skin feel like it's crawling.
i hope you get to feeling better and please know that you aren't alone
all the best,
Amanda
elucy
Posted
Like lots of you have said I have an underlying worried feeling that there is something "wrong", I don;t understand how / why this is happening. I get especially freaked out as I have lost many family members including some immeadiate family very young to the big "C" I often wonder if there is something wrong with my genetics. Stupidly I also know that worrying is absolutely NO help to someone who gets shingles when they are stressed!
I am going to try to the L-Lysine, it's worth a shot. I am also going to go and speak to my GP about lupus, my hands often swell and I have a band of raw skin on my face, it was actually my accupunturist who pointed this out to me (I have accupunture for the pain - I can recommend it).I am fairly sure I will get a sympathetic look followed by the impossibility of this being my problem but it's worth a try right? I just don't want to be a drain on the NHS but at the same time I just know not all is right with me ...