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Shingles - Where do you feel the symptoms?

Posted , 20 users are following.

kevin-Canada
kevin-Canada

We all know shingles symptoms being pain, tingling, burning, itching on the skin and we all have had shingles at least once and that is why we are here so in your case(s) "Do you feel above symptons exactly where you later get the blisters and sores later or those sores occur somewhere else some distance away to where the tingling and burning started?"

In my case first time shingles 4 years ago and I had tingling and burning on my thigh and that was exactly where I got blisters and sores later but this time since May I have had recurring problem (my doctor says it is shingles but I am not so sure as based on what I have read herpes simplex symptoms and pictures are identical to shingles but simplex not zoster is the one which recurrs).

In these recent cases unlike 4 years ago it starts with pain in my left arm, then burning and tingling starts on the skin of my left arm and round wrist and top of my left hand and then two days later very tiny blisters occur on completely different place, that is on the palm of my left hand on a small area below my middle finger. The tiny blisters join up to form two or three larger blisters turning red a week later becoming sore and falling off. No red patches as I see in pictures. Thank you in advance.

5 likes, 62 replies

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  • kevin-Canada
    kevin-Canada

    Posted

    Hi All:

    This is Kevin Canada the OP. I can share the good news (at least for me) that I have ended the vicious cycle of shingles by boosting my immune system. This can be good news for everyone who may be going through what I went through for 5 months. It has now been over 5 months shingle free (I had 4 outbreaks in 4 months). Get enough sleep, eat healthy (meat, fruits, salads) and multi-vitamins especially vitamins D, B complex, C, and A. It may take a bit of time (my immune system crashed due to severe impetigo infection last March) but you will come out of it.

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 kevin-Canada

      Posted

      Kevin,

      I congratulate you that you are better and out of the vicious cycle of shingles. .. it feels great to be without the agonizing pain and other symptoms that accompany shingles.

      Best Wishes for the Holidays.

      Merry Juliana

    • kevin-Canada
      kevin-Canada Merry19451

      Posted

      Thanks very much Merry. The reason I share the good news was mainly to encourage those without any underlying deseases to follow the same path and get themselves out of the misery as I did. In many (but not all) cases shingles is as a result of weak immune system weakened by a sudden sickness or surgery or long travel or stress and in these cases strengthening the immune system by good nutrition and good sleep is the solution to end this vicious cycle.
  • Axplayer
    Axplayer kevin-Canada

    Posted

    I'm going through a episode now that started 5 days ago. I had a small shingles rash on my right side belt line a few years ago but that wasn't too bad. This time it's from the center of my back/rear end and wraps around to my bellybutton on the right side. The sore skin though runs from the top of my right knee to the stomach and up to the right armpit. Pain is incredible. Can't sleep on my back or stomach. Only on my left side so toss and turn all night which just triggers more pain every time I move.. Has anyone taken prednizone seeing it's an anti inflammation? My doctor did give me the anti viral but it may have been just a bit beyond the 72 hours.
    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 Axplayer

      Posted

      Hi Axplayer,

      So sorry for your suffering.

      Take the antivirals anyway. They will help even if it is somewhat beyond the 72 hours.

      Prednisone studies are equivocal, in that some scientific research show patients are helped, and some studies show that patients are not. I would be inclined to take the Prednisone. It will reduce the swelling and inflammation.

      I would ask your physician for a strong Opioid such as oxycodone. Shingles is one of the most excruciating conditions to afflict mankind. ..no kidding, right. I would also ask for a medication such a neurontin or Lyrica that works in conjunction with the Opioids to lessen the neuropathic firing of painful stimuli. The other thing you might want to try is dibucaine ointment. It contains a local anesthetic that you apply to the skin to deaden it topically.

      I have had Herpes Zoster Oticus in my right ear every three to five weeks for the last 20 years. I am on Topamax routinely. It is an anticonvulsant similar to neurontin. I also take oxycodone with every episode. I also use Auralgon ear drops in my right ear canal while I am suffering from this excruciating disease. It does contain Benzocaine and helps deaden the superficial nerves from firing.

      Please see your doctor immediately re this

      Best Wishes

      Merry Juliana

    • Axplayer
      Axplayer Merry19451

      Posted

      Luckly is almost gone now. A few marks and the skin is a bit sensitive to the touch. Don't want to take Prednisone if at all possible.

      I'm taking L- Lysine everyday as a supplement just for good measure. The anti-Virus meds helped and GoldBond seemed to dry it up.

      Hope it doesn't come back.

    • Azbella
      Azbella Axplayer

      Posted

      I'll give that a try everyone looks at my arms n freaks plus I have 2 tattoos there n no it's not from the ink. Lol Thank You
  • jukym
    jukym kevin-Canada

    Posted

    I am given up on Shingles on re activation and hoping it will go away. I started a new diet and supplement with loads of plain water too.

    Took the jab but it did not work on me

     

  • Azbella
    Azbella kevin-Canada

    Posted

    It actually made the hair on my head hurt
    • jukym
      jukym Azbella

      Posted

      My shingles is on my left lower arm and left buttock crease. The re activation has repeatedly on 4 to 6 times a year but it is a small lesions after the anti viral shingles jab,

      i am still very unhappy with it

       

  • tgoff
    tgoff kevin-Canada

    Posted

    I have a shingles outbreak on my tailbone area and across my left buttox. The blisters showed up one week ago and I started taking Valtrex within hours of my breakout. (Two days prior, I kept telling my husband that I felt like I had the flu from my waist down, on my left side only ... and I also wondered if I had sciatica that went from my hip down my left leg and into the arch of my foot.).

    Now, a week later, my blisters are crusting over. But, my skin across my lower back and across my hip and down my leg is still soooooo sensitive. I started out taking hydrocodone but it didn't touch the pain. Now, I am taking 100mg x3 of Lyrica. It also does not seem to touch the pain. I really don't want to increase the meds.

    My questions are: 1. Is the super sensitive skin part of shingles, or has it now just gone into sciatica? 2. How much longer can I expect this pain to last? 3. Should I stop taking pains meds and just endure the pain? 4. The super sensitive skin is now also on my middle back and wraps around my ribs (but no blisters) ... is my shingles now in another dermatome?

    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 tgoff

      Posted

      Dear tgoff,

      The sensations you are having are all part of Herpes Zoster-Shingles and yes, it can involve another dermatome without the rash. The dermatome involving your tailbone certainly could precipitate sciatica. I would ask your physician for more comprehensive pain management. If the physician is uncomfortable with this aspect of Herpes Zoster-Shingles, get an appointment with a neurologist or pain management specialist.

      Unfortunately, the pain can last months if the pain is not well controlled the first month. Other accompanying symptoms such as malaise, fatigue, and exhaustion can persist for months long after the rash is a distant memory. Hopefully, your physician is sympathetic to your needs.

      You need to rest and not power through Herpes Zoster-Shingles.

      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.

      Please let me know how I can help you.

      Best wishes

      Merry Juliana

    • tgoff
      tgoff Merry19451

      Posted

      So you think it's possible to get shingles in a secondary, not adjacent dermatome 5 days after breaking out with the first set of blisters and being on anti-viral meds for 5 days? It just seems so odd ... yet sooooo tender, just like the first set.

      And ... even though the Lyrica doesn't seem to be doing anything to relieve the sensitive skin, should I still be taking it?

    • tgoff
      tgoff

      Posted

      PS ... thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions!!!!!
    • Merry19451
      Merry19451 tgoff

      Posted

      Dear Tgoff,

      While skipping a dermatome is unusual, it happens, and if the pain is identical to the Herpes Zoster-Shingles pain, it certainly can be shingles. Are you immunocompromised? People who get Herpes Zoster-Shingles skipping an adjacent dermatome or across the midline often discover they are immunocompromised. It is something that you should be aware of.

      The worry is you could be developing disseminated or widespread Herpes Zoster-Shingles. I would see your physician on Monday to discuss your situation.

      The antivirals have just started suppressing the virus, which is why you probably don't have the rash in the second area of the pain.

      Regarding the Lyrica not helping, you are not on the maximum dosage, nor have you been on it very long to achieve maximum efficacy. Please stay on it for a three weeks to give it a chance to work. The blood levels take awhile to increase.

      Also, you could have much worse pain if you were not taking the lyrica.

      May I ask your age and if you have any medical diseases? I will be 65 years old in December! I am immunocompromised, but certainly did not realize this when I had my first episode twenty years ago.

      Best Wishes, Kevin of Canada

      BTW-my maternal grandfather was born and raised on PEI

      Merry Juliana

      Merry

    • tgoff
      tgoff Merry19451

      Posted

      I am 56 years old and very healthy.  I haven't even had a cold for 2.5 years.  I have never been diagnosed as immunocompromised.  .... Thank you for your help.  I will try to get into my doctor again tomorrow.

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