Three rounds of mild shingles

Posted , 3 users are following.

I've had a streak of weird health stuff happen since I turned 40. Generally, I am very healthy, eat well, and have a natural/holistic approach to wellness. Over the last two years though I have had a lot of stress in my personal life. It got kicked off with a cat that got very ill and it really just did a number on me, stress wise. He had kidney failure that had him in and out of the hospital several times in a month, at home subq treatments, etc... My daughter was tremendously attached and that was probably the bigger stress for me. Also, this was around the time my oldest daughter was graduating high school (I was more emotional than I thought I would be), then she was out of state for a summer internship right after she graduated. During this time, my alcoholic father had a health crisis, almost died and needed to live with us for a year and a half. He was not like my dad, but really a walking addiction. I don't drink. It was a very big adjustment for all of us. He has since moved back home (out of state) and has finally - after another near death experience - quit drinking. That brings us to this past June when I turned 40. I have had migraines since I was 20, three weeks after a c section with my oldest. In June I got the worst migraine I have ever had, and it scared me as it really mimicked a stroke. After the initial one was over, I got a migraineevery day for over a week. I was basically in bed all week. Then a few weeks later, the same thing. A couple weeks after that I woke up with a softball sized rash of what looked like bug bites on my left buttock, close to my hip. I only noticed it after it mildly itched. I also had a swollen lymph node in my left groin. I went to the dr and he said I had shingles. He gave me Valacyclovir and sent me home. It only was slightly uncomfortable for a day, and only mildly itched if I bothered it. Everything went well and a month later to the day, my right groin lymph node was swollen and I had a single spot with a blister on my right front panty line. No itching or pain. I didn't take anything for it and it didn't bother me or spread. I did have the tiredness, and sort of felt flu-ish for a couple days. I developed a mean case of bursitis in my right shoulder as well (seven years ago I had it in my left shoulder) that I'm still dealing with. It got so bad that after a couple of months, I finally went to the dr and he prescribed prednisone. I do not like taking pharmaceuticals and feel like I've taken way too many this year. But I was in so much pain despite all the natural things I was doing. I also had my wisdom teeth removed at this time. So antibiotics and a week of pain meds. A week ago I got another single blister. This time on my left buttocks, but not in the same spot as the first set. No swollen lymph node. Tired. No meds for it, it is on its way out. Yesterday I woke up with a fever blister on my lip. I haven't had one in years. And I am in the middle of a week and half long cluster migraine. I have finally broke down and started Rizotriptan (Pamelor) nightly for this migraine. I'm having zero side effects. 

I do yoga (especially for the shoulder) daily. I eat right. But I know I could use some specifics on vitamins/minerals that are aimed at shingles and migraines. 

Is it common to have a reoccurring mild case of shingles? And does it usually hop all over the place or just come up in the same spots? 

Thank you!

1 like, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • Posted

    Sounds like you’ve been under a lot of stress! Awful for you. I can’t answer for sure but others may on this forum. I can say however that this year I’ve had 3 lots of non specific shingles outbreaks after an awful year of stress. I helped care for my Dad before he died after Christmas my mother in law died two weeks later then my partner was diagnosed with  terminal brain cancer. My first bout was on roof of my mouth. Felt v unwell pain in ear and face numb and awful painful blisters on one side only on roof of my mouth. Prescribed acyclovir. Then few months later same in my mouth again. Then just recently started with a strip of pain on my back in classic  shingles area so stated antivirals straight away but no spots but I know it was shingles. Area still feels like a burn now. Very sore still. Stress can do awful things to your body so it’s so important to look after yourself and take time out for you. All the best. 
    • Posted

      Oh wow! I'm so sorry for your losses! You're so right, stress can do awful things to you. Guess I need to really try to help my body out the best I can. Hope you feel better soon!

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