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Shingles pure exhaustion

Posted , 13 users are following.

Mitzygirl1973
Mitzygirl1973

Last week I had lower back pain and thought maybe I had somehow bruised the area than I felt a small bump a few days later which was painful by the next day the pan was unbearable ask hubby to take a peek and he said it looked like a heat rash.  Well by day four I could barely move.  Went to the doctors feeling very embarrassed over such a small thing but I had constant migraines, so tired that I could barely lift my head and the rash was like lil knives in my back.  Well was diagnosed at 44 after a second dr took a peek too with shingles and was swapped for strep throat and blood drawn for mono.  They put me on an antiviral and bed rest.  Both the intense pain, migraines, nausea and exhaustion is crazy.  I can barely lift my head.  I am a mom and can't be down and out like this.  

Did anyone else have similar symptoms?

I am honestly worried I will end up in the hospital.  I am auto immune suppressed.

2 likes, 41 replies

41 Replies

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  • Skye41
    Skye41 Mitzygirl1973

    Posted

    Your not alone. I was diagnosed with shingles a couple weeks ago. This is the second time i have had it. I went to the ER thinking at my kidney stone was giving me trouble. Having all tests done in ER with no luck and no pain relief, i came home and found a small rash on my back. Two days later my pain was worse than kidney stone so i ended up at the drs with shingles wraped on my right side of body. Now that it has been 2 weeks, i was given lodocaine patches. They are aupposed to numb the area but it doesnt do much. Im extremly exhausted and in horrible pain. Im waiting to go to a pain dr or holistic dr. I hope your exhaustion has led up. As a mother it is hard when all u want to do is sleep and try not to move because any moves makes me want to cry. I hope my pain lets up so i can start working out again.i hope you found the proper meds to help with ur pain.take care Thanks for ur discussion.
    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 Skye41

      Posted

      Skye,

      I am sorry you have Shingles, again. I do not know your age, but get your Vitamin D levels checked. I was having recurrent Herpes Zoster-Shingles every three to five weeks in my right ear for the past twenty-one years and twice in my right eye. I started on Vitamin D3 2000 IU daily supplements and have only had it once the last 6 months. Vitamin D3 is important not only for bone metabolism, but for immunity, and tissue healing.

      I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States.

      Best Wishes

      Merry Juliana

    • hannah-mar25522
      hannah-mar25522 Merry19451

      Posted

      Hello merry19451

      i have shingles for the second time in life this time on my forehead I'm into my fourth week off work , I work for the nhs and I'd only been there a week when I came down with it I don't know if I an go back still as I am exhausted a walk to town and I'm dizzy I feel sick I have to come home lie down now I'm getting stressed that I will be sacked although it was the doctors on our department that diagnosed me and sent me home what are your views on this as you also work in medical .

      thanks 

      hannah-Marie x

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 hannah-mar25522

      Posted

      Hi Hannah Marie,

      First, I empathize with you as I was a single mother, totally stressed, when I got my first episode of Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear.

      I do not know the NHS policies regarding sick leave. I am in the States.

      You should see an ENT physician to manage the dizziness and possible vertigo you are experiencing. I also saw a Neurotologist, who was the Physician who diagnosed me after

      3-1/2 weeks of excruciating pain.

    • hannah-mar25522
      hannah-mar25522 Merry19451

      Posted

      Yes I have been referred to a specialist for my ear as it has been blocked for a month now , I think the stress of not working makes it worse as your constantly worrying but if a doctor signs you off not much you can do plus the heat wave here has made my symptoms a lot worse it should cool down next week so fingers crossed I can feel human again.
    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 hannah-mar25522

      Posted

      Hannah Marie,

      Sorry,

      I was interrupted earlier.

      I am going to private message you.

      Merry Juliana

  • susan36462
    susan36462 Mitzygirl1973

    Posted

    Thank you so much for starting this discussion. I was diagnosed with shingles 11 days ago. The first thing I noticed was minor like a couple of insect bites. I got the antiviral, Lysine supplements, and changed my diet. I am so grateful to have only minor symptoms as pain medication is not an option. The one symptom I have which is a battle is I lie here barely able to lift my head. The phone I type into weighs almost nothing but seems to want to drop out of my hand. I have been trying to force myself to get up and do something and if not for this discussion I may well have succeeded in making myself much sicker by doing so. Thank you so much I am so grateful to everyone who chose to write into this for sharing your experiences. You have given me the extra nudge I needed to give myself permission to stay home and rest. God Bless you all 
    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 susan36462

      Posted

      Susan,

      I am sorry you have this disease.

      The physicians never tell the patients about the accompanying symptoms of Herpes Zoster-Shingles, especially the severe fatigue and exhaustion, and malaise. In fact, in order to recover more quickly and have less pain, individuals need to rest and sleep, and eat nutritiously.

      We are not used to spoiling ourselves, but this time you absolutely must, or you will feel worse. I hope the pain is under good control, Susan.

      I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States.

      Best Wishes

      Merry Juliana

    • susan36462
      susan36462 Merry19451

      Posted

      Thank you Merry for taking the time to reach out. I have difficulty spoiling myself. My illness is compounded by insomnia due to PTSD and lying in bed often brings on feelings of guilt. People like you who take the time to reach out with concern and advice from a professional perspective help me to know I am not being lazy when I allow myself to rent even if I am not able to sleep. God Bless you.

      Susan

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 susan36462

      Posted

      Susan,

      I also have PTSD, and other issues, so I get it....but I know what happens if you don't rest...

      Please take care of yourself.

      Merry Juliana

    • caress87717
      caress87717 Merry19451

      Posted

      Merry...I am 53 and was recently diagnosed with shingles.  I've been continually reading all you have to say and I feel really comforted by your advise and am glad I found this forum.  I have the rash on my face near my eye and am on antibiotics and antivirals.  My absolute biggest worry and stressor is the malaise and fatigue I feel.  This all started with a weird heachache on April 24th and I am just now in the rash crusting over stage. I honestly feel like I am not going to regain my energy.  Because of this I want to get back to my normal routine really bad but then I read that that is not a great idea either.  I don't work so I don't have that to concern me but I do keep very busy each day and now I can only manage to lie on the couch.  Please advise if you see this!  And thank you for all the time you take to help us all!

      Caress

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 caress87717

      Posted

      Dear Caress,

      I am so sorry you are dealing with this disease. You are only three weeks out, and fatigue, malaise, and exhaustion can occur for months afterwards. You are correct to rest and sleep, and lay on the couch. This is one vicious virus.

      When I try to power through "life," I do pay for it by having frequent recurrent episodes every 2-1/2 weeks.

      How is the pain level, now? How is your sleeping going? Is your family supportive?

      Best Regards

      Merry Juliana

    • caress87717
      caress87717 Merry19451

      Posted

      Merry, thanks so much for getting back with me!  The pain is not so bad and I am sleeping great (I take Ambien for other issues so I’m sure that’s why I'm sleeping so well).  My husband is extremely supportive.  I also suffer from fibro so this is a double whammy.  Now it seems as if my antiviral is making me sick as well (can’t keep it down).  Again thank you much for all the advice you give on here.  It’s really helping me feel not so alone!

  • minders2001
    minders2001 Mitzygirl1973

    Posted

    I’m 35 and was diagnosed 5 days ago with shingles.  I think I’m doing o.k.  If I do too much I feel sick to my stomach and have to lay down.  This weekend I would do a little and then have to take a nap.  I feel pretty exhausted/fatigued. I’ve noticed also that my arm is getting that weird tingly feeling, as well as my lower back.  I wasn’t sure if this was part of shingles or not. The pain started in my upper back by my neck and shoulder blade. I thought I might have pulled a muscle. Then a rash broke out on my chest.  I was prescribed prednisone for 5 days and Valtrex for 10.  
    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 minders2001

      Posted

      Dear Minders,

      The pain in your upper neck, chest and shoulders blade could certainly be related to the tingly feeling in your arm, as shingles rashes occur in dermatomes.

      The exhaustion you feel is a common occurrence. You do need to rest and sleep. Hopefully, the pain isn't excruciating, or you will need to get a strong analgesic from your physician.

      Sometimes, Valtrex and Prednisone will cause nausea, but I would continue the Antiviral, especially. It will help stop the virus from replicating.

      Best Wishes

      Merry Juliana

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