shingles started on right shoulder, now on both bum cheeks?

Oh. I had shingles about 6 years ago. Started on my right budocks. It spread up from there but only stayed on the right side of my body. Up to and around my ear. It was terrible. Nothing helped me. They have me valtrax and something to help the pain. I could barley shower. The water hitting my back was painful. It seems like I may be starting with it again. I am starting to have a lot of the same symptoms .. Can you get them again so soon ? And is it true that the usually will only spread on one side of your body ? Thanks.

The anti vitals take time to respond. When I first broke out the dr also gave me the shingles immunization. It has reduces the severity and amount on breakouts. Your dr should give you the immunization for shigles for future protection .

immune compromised systems can be check by blood tests ask your dr. 

If for instance u also have arthritis which is also a autoimmune disease markers in the blood are specifically tested.

do remember to get the shingles immunization.

Hello,

It is possible to have shingles on both sides of your body. However, it is fairly rare or not very common. There are documented cases in medical journals. For decades, medical wisdom about shingles has been that it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The commonly-held belief is that patients are protected from a recurrence of the herpes zoster virus, which causes shingles, after one episode. But according to recent research and/or studies about shingles they have found that this is not true. For example, a study published in the February 2011 issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings shows that recurrences of shingles may be significantly more common than doctors have suspected. New Medical Studies have found and prove that recurrences of shingles are prevalent in the IMMUNOCOMPETENT population. "It's been thought that recurrences were limited to people with compromised immune systems, for instance from chemotherapy or bloodborne malignancies, but this is not the case," "Recurrence was prevalent in the immunocompetent population. We were very surprised by the results." Unfortunately, alot of doctors are not up-to-date on the most recent research about shingles. There is still so much that the medical community needs to learn about shingles. "Shingles has a mind of its own and does what it wants to do". Basically what I'm saying (& I hope that this information will help you) there has also been a long belief that people are not able to get shingles on both sides of the body. It is very rare but it has happened and it has happened to IMMUNOCOMPETENT people.-Thinsport

Hi LooLoo,

You are immunocompromised with bowel disease, Crohns, Ulcerative colitis, or IBS, any of which increases your risk of Herpes Zoster-Shingles.

You therefore certainly can have a more complicated case.

Please see your physician immediately. You may need a longer course of antivirals.

I am so sorry you are going through this.

Please let me know how I can help you. I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States and have had Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every three to five weeks for the past twenty years and twice in my right eye.

Best wishes

Merry Juliana

The bottom line is No One Knows exactly what causes a reactivation of the virus! If they knew exactly what caused it there probably wouldn't be this blog. You could have a good immune system and get it. You may also have a poor immune system and get it. However, if your immune system is compromised at all of course you would be more susceptible to having the virus be reactivated. Some of the speculations or research published in medical journals suggest these things may contribute to reactivation of the virus... (but like I said before doctors and researchers do not know for sure).  1). Having experienced injuries or nerve damage also seems to raise the risk for shingles, since within the nerves is where the virus lays dormant. 2). Some research suggests that traumatic stimulation of the nerves in the dorsal root ganglion can trigger the virus to reactive. 3). Some people also seem to be genetically predisposed to the development of herpes zoster to some extent, with research showing that changes in the gene for interleukin-10 (an immune-system mediator) are associated with an increased incidence of herpes zoster, as is a family history of the virus. 4).  Finally, the impact of high amounts of stress and poor gut health shouldn’t be overlooked. Psychological stress, chronic stress, or dramatic life events seem to contribute to VZV reactivation, with studies showing an association between physical, emotional and sexual abuse and higher incidence of shingles. According to a report published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, contributing psychological factors for shingles development include financial stress, inability to work, decreased independence and an inadequate social-support environment.

 

Lolo I really feel for you. This is my 1st outbreak and I had people tell me no if couldn't be Shingles because of where it is. My bottom just the right side is affected but I can't wear anything that touches it. I'm at Doctors right now and hopefully he can do something. Wish me luck