Shingles symptoms afrer 7 months

I wouldnt think you will be ready for work for a while yet.

Take care

Christine

I did not have the blistsers in my ear, just up the side of my face to the ear. I did read, it can just affect the nerve from the ear to the brain, I did have a very sore neck and suppose it is the cranial nerve causing the dizzyness and balance.

All your other symptoms I did have for a month before they started to get better. My doctor too cant see anything in the ear, and really doesnt understand what i am trying to tell him. The head is very hazey, and starts as soon as I get out of bed, even after starting the pills .

I had no medication at all from November until now.

I started the pills three days ago, and am not sure if they are helping yet. It is frustrating . I hear what to are saying about the depression ,

I was trying to avoid going down that path but will if I have to.

I forgot to tell you I live in New Zealand and our health service is not as good as yours. I dont recognise the Pills you have, they are probably better than mine. I am 72 this year, so mine is probably age related.

I am so sorry you have to put up with all this so ofren, I dont know how you cope.

Thank You again

Christine

I feel for you as it is not age related, it is the Herpes Zoster-Shingles, Ramsay Hunt Syndrome sequelae. I have learned how to cope, and my family is most understanding of my issues. I am 64 years old now and never mind saying that, as many people never make it to that birthday. I hope you have a wonderful and supportive family. I had to retire after a second ischemic stroke. Although I had ITP, the clot buster drug, I received it later than I should have and lost some of my neurons. I can still walk and talk, though, and enjoy life. It is difficult to deal with this disease and the ramifications. Please let me know how I can help you.

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

I am so so sorry to hear about all your problems, you really have a lot to contend with.

By age related I meant my immunity must be low, they say it gets less as you get older.

I am writing this in bed lol it is easier to use the

tablet in comfort before the fuzzies start .

I was quite fuzzy yesterday, some days are

better than others.

I read there are rehab exercises that will help

with nerve problems, I just got blank stares from

my doctor , he said that is in America !!

this tablet is playing up I should be on the

computer, I lost my message yesterday so better be quick. So lovely to hear from you, take care

Christine x

Now I understand, re age related. Your doctor must think we are very rich in the US, re therapy LOL. I am immunocompromised, as I have autoimmune diseases and breast cancer, caught early, no lymph node involvement. When I am ataxic, I weave from the couch to the bathroom and back to the couch again... sometimes I write an entire epistle to someone, only to lose it. When the site acts up, I just send without signing and write part 2 continued on the 2nd page, so the person knows I was interrupted.

Merry Juliana

I am a 78 yr old female (Caucasian) female in general good health other than environmental allergies (lifelong rhinitis) and Graves Disease

(Radioactive Iodine TX 1980) have taken synthroid/levothyroxine daily since. About two to three weeks prior to shingles diagnosis, I developed severe back pain (very unusual for me) and general flu-like symptoms...I got up with a red rash on chest on

Jan 30, 2016 and went to Urgent Care and was diagnosed with shingles prescribed acyclovir within hours after breakout; I completed the 7 day tx along with naproxen, gabapentin (only took 3 or 4) and tramadol for pain. The breakout rash was mild on left shoulder, arm, and breast; but, the pain was excruciating, unbearable for about 6 weeks.

Since, I have had a few good days, but mostly feeling really bad...overall weakness, extreme fatigue, lightheadedness, brain fog and general malaise. Prior to this illness I was able to function quite well putting in full days. Now, if I get less than 10 hrs restful sleep I can hardly function. I have almost normal 2 or 3 days, and then get hit with back ache and flu symptoms again ... Here it is 4+ months since I was diagnosed and no one understands why I'm not well ... I live alone and do all my own housework, some yard work and all my shopping and handle my own business affairs.

It has become extremely difficult. I am easily agitated which is not normal for me.

I take multi-vitamins and L-Lyseine,

Levothyroxine 88mcg, Zyrtec 5mg, Lisinipril 5mg.

With your training and experience I would like to hear from you.

Thanks, Joyce

I am so sorry for your suffering. Remember, Herpes Zoster-Shingles is a disease process that literally takes months to a year to overcome. I believe you also have hypertension as you are on lisinopril.

You had a viremia circulating in your body that affects your central nervous system. It causes many people to feel fatigued, malaise, cognitively impaired (or have brain fog,) emotionally labile, irritable, as the virus has attacked your sensory nerve root. It also has caused a true illness with the multiple symptoms that persist long after the rash is gone. You did not say that the pain persists. Does it? If so, then you have post herpetic neuralgia. I truly feel highly irritable sometimes with my recurrent Herpes Zoster-Shingles, and I dislike being this way. It is totally out of character. The virus has caused an inflammation. Herpes Zoster-Shingles strikes the older ones more aggressively, although it certainly can strike anyone with a vengeance. My first episode, I literally wanted to cut my right inner ear out à la Van Gogh due to the agonizing pain. Of course, it took three ENTs before the third one believed that my pain was real, and he diagnosed it after the vesicles-blisters appeared on my outer ear. The first two thought I was narcotic seeking.

Do you have any good friends that could help you with some chores? I know that I feel confused, mentally foggy with my severe episodes, but just ride them out. I am 64 years old and have had two strokes. I received the clot buster drug tPA each time. I therefore am not paralyzed or aphasic. Regarding the Herpes Zoster-Shingles, I have learned to accept that this is part of life and go with the flow. When I had the strokes, I had to work hard to overcome the deficits, as you always lose neurons, some motor, speech, and cognitive function. I just work hard to get back what I lost and accept the "new" Merry.

Do not worry what other people think! You know what you are going through. Housework can wait. If you need to rest, rest! I have slept 18 hours straight sometimes during an episode. Do what your body is telling you to do. I find I need much more sleep after I have had two strokes, Herpes Zoster-Shingles, and Cancer. So I sleep. (I needed sleep with Herpes Zoster-Shingles) Please yourself. I know what you are going through.

Please let me know if you are still suffering from pain.

All my best, Joyce.

Merry Juliana

I cannot stress enough how grateful I am for this forum. I was thrilled when I happened upon it. I believe it was divine intervention as I have prayed to understand more about what I am going through. You are certainly an inspiration to all of us!

No, I am free of shingles pain other than an occasional twinge (praise the good Lord)!

I do have bouts of itching in the area where the shingles rash was when I get hot or frustrated, irritable and agitated, all of which happens frequently nowadays. So out if character for me...

I failed to mention...my eyes are itching a lot, and even though I have allergies, never had my eyes itch like this before shingles. Also, when I'm experiencing flu-like symptoms my vision is blurred, which is very disturbing...on a good day it seems to clear up, so I know it is related to this post shingles syndrome.

Actually I don't think I have true hypertension. although I had an episode last summer several weeks after a terrible attack by a swarm of hornets...I had stings all over, but did not go to ER or doctor, just treated with home remedies. Several weeks later, my BP shot up really high (my face turned scarlet and I was very dizzy) I wound up in ER, so I was prescribed several meds. After a few months BP was under control with duet, exercise and 10mg Lisinipril...I break it in half now and only take 5mg. When my primary Doctor found out about the hornets attacking me he seemed to think the venomous toxins may have caused the BP episode since I had no history of hypertension at all, it had always tended to be a little lower than normal.

Anyway, I haven't actually exercised per se since shingles diagnosis so I've gained about 25# not happy about that, and although I do everything for myself, I'm like in slow motion.

Before shingles I moved at a good pace and tried to walk a lot...now, I am so low energy that getting exercise outside of what I have to do, is just not possible.

Do you think my thyroid disease (Graves but since RI tx I am hypo on levothyroxine daily) may be contributing to difficulty in getting over shingles or the viremia? I know it is an immunosuppressive disease and so are allergies, coupled with my age is probably why I am having such a hard time overcoming it.

Thanks so very much for your help and advice. ( I have more faith in a good nurse practitioner than most MD's!)

Do you think I need to be on an antiviral? I started taking L-Lysine 500mg daily about 2 months ago after perusing this site.

Again, Merry Juliana (what a beautiful name!)

Thank you so much! God bless you as you continue meeting your daily challenges.❤️

Another thing, the night before I broke out with the shingles rash I had every symptom of a heart attack, all pain in chest left side, yet something told me it wasn't a heart attack so I didn't call 911...(the next morning when I saw the red spotty rash I knew it was probably shingles) ..the chest pain continued for at least 6 weeks, is this common to have so much chest pain? Also, I had chills in the beginning and throughout, and even now when I have an episode I may be hot and have a chill at the same time, very strange ... feelings I've never experienced before... Just wondering if all this us common; I know we're all different and shingles effects us differently, but have others had my same symptoms?

When you are having chills, sweating, and feeling hot and flushed, those are signs that you were having a viremia or virus circulating in your body. You have been ill, and and would be fatigued. Also, as you have gained 25 pounds, it will make you feel more sluggish. As you are on Synthroid, your thyroid should be normal. If you have gained weight, you might need a current blood level of the thyroid hormones.

An acute episode of Herpes Zoster-Shingles can mimic a heart attack, pleurisy, and many other painful conditions, but I wouldn't take the chance and not go to the ER.

There is no way to edit your comments once you have posted.

If you feel you are having recurrent episodes, you would have similar agonizing pain in the same area, usually with the rash, and the same symptoms as before. In that case, please see the physician and get on an antiviral STAT. However, one can experience fatigue, malaise, headache, flu-like symptoms, aches and pains, before, during, and after the episode. The itching of eyes might be related to spring allergies....I do not know where you live. I hope this has helped you somewhat.

You can take Benadryl OTC for itching.

All my best.

Merry Juliana

Recently I saw my endo for bloodwork and it came back normal so she didn't change my medicine. She seemed to think my ailments are post shingles, the virus. I take Zyrtec and use Flonase for my allergies and an inhaler when I have allergic asthma. The extremely "itchy eyes" is something new, I've never had this before!

I meant to ask if your strokes were related to shingles. I read somewhere that shingles can cause strokes and heart attacks. You mentioned you have shingles episodes in your ear every few weeks; when did your strokes occur?

I know you get tired of answering the same questions...but rest assured what you're doing here is a form of ministry. I'm sure you're helping many people. Thanks ever so much.

Peace and Blessings,

Joyce

Just want to thank you for all your help, at last I am getting somewhere .

I found a physio to help with exercises for vestibular balance problems.

She sent me to the hearing clinic to check my ears and I ended up wth earing aids !!  I still have to see an ENT to check there is nothing else wrong behind the ear. My Balance has improved, so maybe it was just a matter of waiting out the 12 months, who knows.

I still have a fuzzy head most mornings. but not as bad as it was.

Joyce seems to have most of the symptoms I had, apart from the palsy

I hope you are better soon Joyce

Christine NZ

Hope you're getting better, too. I don't think anyone (other than those of us who have been so afflicted) has any idea what shingles are about; people laugh when you mention shingles! I would love to get folks educated about this disease ...

Peace and blessings,

Joyce

I just tried to reply to you and lost it. I am on the tablet and it doesn't like me. I will try again tomorrow on the computer. All you said is quite right

hugs Christine

No problem. Hope you're feeling better.

Joyce

I am back and just lost another mail !! Even the computer doesnt like me !!

I have got into some bad habits since i got sick. I stay in bed and use the tablet to do my mail, then wonder where all the time went.

 I make too many mistakes on the tabet and then loose it.

I was in bed for 6 weeks when the shingles started last July. Then I got Bells Palsy 10 days later. I sill feel dizzy at times and hate the light in my eyes. I had to see the eye specialst when my face dropped and the eye lid would not close. It is ll fine now. I am back to doing the shopping and a bit of gardening, the houswork is a struggle, I tend to sit and stare into space instead of getting on with it. 

I go to a Vestibular physio she gives me exercises for my eyes, to strengthen them and help with the dizziness, it is improving

It is all so frustrating, you must be very fed up. I dont know how the really old people cope with it, there really is a lack of information out there.

I hope you start to get better soon, it really looks like a 12 month stretch we have to face.

Keep in touch and let me know how you are doing

 Hugs Christine

Sure hope you're beginning to feel better, and that it holds. (I'll feel pretty good a couple days and then I'll feel "very unwell" again for a few days. I think I push too hard when I'm having a good day.)

The brain fog is really annoying, it effects my reading comprehension.

I just thank God I no longer have that

unbearable pain!

Did shingles cause you to have Bell Palsy?

How long did that last, is that what caused the drooping? Other symptoms? Didn't you say

you were diagnosed with shingles 7 months ago?

Sounds like you're getting out some now and that's good; just don't overdo like I tend to do.

Well, I didn't think I'd say this much...I'm very tired and it's frustrating when you type a lot and it disappears!

Prayers for your smooth recovery ...yep, sounds like we're in for a spell...sure hope it doesn't last a year! I have so much I need to do around here, and I'm sure you probably do, too! I live alone, do you?

Falling asleep ...Goodnight..😴

Peace and blessings,

Joyce

I will make this quick on the tablet again.

I had no internet for 2 days but it is ok now.

will write again tomorrow.

I did have shingles last july so my year is just about up. The palsy was part of the shingles, they

call it Ramsay Huntt syndrome. My face took time to come back to normal.

will close now just in case I loose it

hugs Christine

Good to hear from you. Your case makes me realize how blessed I am. Sounds like you've had a terrible time, and it has been a year ?

But, you are better, right? Do you still get this overwhelming fatigue and weakness? I am so fuzzy headed today I can hardly think straight!

Prayers for you and all that are suffering with these awful symptoms! This site is a godsend for sharing and learning...

Keep believing this too shall pass...

Joyce

yes my year is nearly up . I do still get the fuzzy

head but not as bad.it seems to ware off slowly

so you will get better. The fatigue slowly improves too. My balance is still a bit off but getting there

The memory is not great either, I hope that is not permanent, I hate this getting old lol

I do have my husband to help so I shouldn't moa n. I would have had to stay with my daughter if I was on my own.

This site is a godsend, it is the only place I found

help and hope.

I hope you will feel better soon

Hugs Christine

Good to hear you're doing much better!

I slept 16 hrs and feel so much better today, I have to be careful not to over do it!

Thanks for the encouragement; we must remember, this too shall pass!

Peace and blessings,

Joyce

5 months have passed !!!LOL

Well I still have dizzy heads ! and balance ! although they are a bit better.

I had an MRI on my head and that was clear.

The latest is I got a virus that knocked me out for 10 days.

A week later i came out in an eczema rash all up my arms and neck.

I went to see a skin doctor as mine is useless. She said it was an allergic reaction, and might be the virus or  my Amlodipine BP pills, been on them for 7 years . I am on Prednisone as well for a month. That is nearly up and the hands are still itchy and sore , but the rest has cleared nicely. i think I have aged 10 years !!

I hope you have recovered from the Shingles and are feeling better

Taks Care

Christine

I am glad you are better. The rash certainly could be from the Amlodipine, as many people ( 3.4%) can suffer from the itchy Amlodipine rash at any time. Did you discontinue the Amlodipine? Are you on statins, as well?

Best wishes

Merry Juliana

Here I am another 6 months on.

My doctor didnt agree with the amlodipine, and i am still on it as well as Citapril . I have come off the statins and Omeprozole .

There have been developments !!

The dizziness and fog are still here, and the doctor wouldnt up the dose because of it. My kidneys are not good, Chronic stage 3.

The latest is I had a bleed in the bladder in January.

A Cistoscopy in April, and diagnosed with a bladder cancer.

I had an Op this week to get it out and they put a chemo drug in it.

The Odd thing is when I woke up my head was not so foggy and i do feel a bit better havent tried out the balance problem yet, not outside anyway.

A friend of mine in the US has sugested maybe the cancer upset the kidneys and that has caused the spots and itchiness ,what do you think ?

It is early days I know, so I hope things will improve.

The next thing is to get my BP down and the see the renal doctor .

I havent looked on patient yet to see if there is any info on kidney problems.

I am not sure if I told you, my family has Alagille syndrome, and kidney problems are part of the symptoms .

I hope you are both well and sorry I havent kept in touch this year.

Love and Hugs

Christine

Dear Christine,

I am so sorry about the distressing news.

Is the bladder cancer restricted to the mucosal lining of the bladder? Your treatment of the cancer implies that it has not invaded the muscles of the bladder.

I am unfamiliar with the medication Citapril here in the States and tried Googling it and could not find it. Is it an ACE inhibitor for high blood pressure? I also had to read up on Alagille Syndrome.

I too have Stage 3 kidney disease as I have had high blood pressure, albeit well controlled for forty years. Even when it has been well controlled, it is a risk factor for kidney disease.

I had breast cancer and had a partial mastectomy and radiation almost two years ago. I have an excellent prognosis. I just go with the flow and move on. I don't dwell on it. I get my follow up care, however.

It is wonderful to hear from you, Christine. Hugs and kisses to you!

Merry Juliana

Hi Merry,

I had Shingles just over a month ago and am still suffering from terrible brain fog and it also seemed to make my anxiety a lot worse. I'm wondering if you can suggest anything for the brain fog? I've been off work since the Shingles and can't go back as I can't think clearly.

Thanks,

Kristi

I am sorry you are going through this. As you are already aware, Herpes Zoster Shingles causes many more symptoms than the excruciating pain and rash. Do you still experience any pain? Where was the pain and rash located?

Do you also have fatigue and exhaustion?

Are you depressed?

The brain fog often occurs with shingles, but slowly resolves with tincture of time. It is worse if you have residual Herpetic Neuralgia. The fatigue and exhaustion and depression makes it worse. Individuals need a lot of sleep and rest. You can not power through this.

You did not mention your age or if you were on specific medications or had other health conditions. These would be helpful to know.

There is no magic bullet you can take to overcome the brain fog. I eat a balanced diet and take a multivitamin. I sleep more than I used to.

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

I went to the smin specialist this week

she said she often gets patients with sevire eczema that turn out to have a cancer in the body somewhere. She also said it is more than likely that the cancer toxins caused tbe rashes I have has .

they do seem to be clearing up .

fingers crossed it will all

go away after the treatment.

Big hugs to you, I hope your battle is improving

I just realised I might have said some of this on my last post. The brain is still foggy Lol

Fortunately, my twin and I have an excellent prognosis and are on estrogen depleting drugs. As long as we are in the Arctic Circle, we are fine. LOL.

It is wonderful that the bladder cancer did not invade the muscle wall. You were proactive and went immediately after you had bleeding, and that was smart of you.

Holly and I have (now)digital 3-D mammograms annually and I am certain that made a huge difference in our prognosis.

Love,

Merry Juliana