All my shingles questions in one thread...

If you haven't seen my other thread, i've had shingles on my face now for 3 nearly 4 weeks.
Have had 3 lots of antibiotics that haven't worked as i got a secondary infection and now they are trying antivirals for the hell of it because i can't get rid of it.

Now... next question....
can it spread? I only have it on one side of my face near my chin but i'm noticing spots that look like the same thing on my chest now, on the same side of the ones on my face.

For people who have had it, how bad was the scarring (if you had any)? I can see my face scarring i guess because it went untreated for so long.

how did you know you had shingles?

It started with what I though was pimples. Got so painful and itchy I went to the dr who gave me 2 lots of abs and just told me the pimple got infected. Finished those and ended up back at my normal dr who said shingles. Did the touch my face thing it hurt like hell, and all the signs were shingles. He gave me a stronger ab to try and get rid of infection but also said that the antiviral is usually only given within the first 72hourd , as it had been so long went with the abs. Still did 't work.
Was tired, in pain so went back. He gave me the antiviral with the warning it most likely won't do anything as its been so long but worth a try. And to go back next wk if I still have it after finishing the antiviral. At this stage I'll be back there.....

wow, shingles sounds very unpleasant. i was curious, had heard of shingles all my life, but never actually understood what it was. i hope your GP works out what to do, to get rid of your shingles for good, good luck hon.

You poor thing. :hug: I have had shingles and it will only attack one area of your nervous system at a time. You will need to find out if the area on your face that is affected follows the same nervous ustem track as down your chest. For me it wrapped from the back of my neck, over my shoulder and down onto my chest on the left side.

The good news is it will go away. I had no scarring although at the time it looked vicious! I can remember freaking out thinking I would never be able to wear a strapless wedding dress or a strappy top ever again. Important not to scratch and apply ice to it if it is really bad.

The bad news is the nerve pain lasted for months. I couldnt wear a bra strap or carry a handbag on that shoulder for a good 3 months and even after then, the pain would sometimes resurface after carrying someothing that applied pressure to the area.

I cant remember how long it took for the marks to go away. I was at uni when it happened. I remember I was first diagnosed with a spider bite that caused an allergic reaction and I was told to take some antihistamine. What a joke! It wasnt until I was in complete agony and could not even lift a mobile phone to my ear with that arm that I went to another doctor who said straight away shingles.

I hope you get better soon. It really does hit you for six. Rest is so important and I know that is hard to do. Maybe stress to DH that the doctor has told you that your immune system is sitting on zero (which would be true) and if you dont rest and try to take it easy you will end u in hospital. Yes you need to work, etc but he needs to step up and help with the girls and the house more so you can have time to recover.

Lots of :hug: to you hun

I had shingles some time in high school so can't remember how long they lasted now but I had them on my chest. I do remember it seemed forever but never spread beyond my chest.

They're definately not pleasant :( Hope you get some relief soon!

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You poor thing. :hug: I have had shingles and it will only attack one area of your nervous system at a time. You will need to find out if the area on your face that is affected follows the same nervous ustem track as down your chest. For me it wrapped from the back of my neck, over my shoulder and down onto my chest on the left side.

The good news is it will go away. I had no scarring although at the time it looked vicious! I can remember freaking out thinking I would never be able to wear a strapless wedding dress or a strappy top ever again. Important not to scratch and apply ice to it if it is really bad.

The bad news is the nerve pain lasted for months. I couldnt wear a bra strap or carry a handbag on that shoulder for a good 3 months and even after then, the pain would sometimes resurface after carrying someothing that applied pressure to the area.

I cant remember how long it took for the marks to go away. I was at uni when it happened. I remember I was first diagnosed with a spider bite that caused an allergic reaction and I was told to take some antihistamine. What a joke! It wasnt until I was in complete agony and could not even lift a mobile phone to my ear with that arm that I went to another doctor who said straight away shingles.

I hope you get better soon. It really does hit you for six. Rest is so important and I know that is hard to do. Maybe stress to DH that the doctor has told you that your immune system is sitting on zero (which would be true) and if you dont rest and try to take it easy you will end u in hospital. Yes you need to work, etc but he needs to step up and help with the girls and the house more so you can have time to recover.

Lots of :hug: to you hun

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I've been off work all this week and have most if next wk off too. His been pretty good I have to say. I'm just frustrated that it's on my face and it's ugly and ppl will always move their eyes to it...yes I do know it's there lol it's still pretty painful and itchy and trying so hard to not sratch it. Pain in the butt when the girl want kisses and cuddles...last thing I need is to spread chicken pox.

I had them in primary school, it was on my ribs but it didn't spread. Unfortunately it did scar. I hope yours clear soon and that you don't have any scarring.


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omg - i have only just thought about how much having shingles on my face has affected my self esteem. I can't wash my face properly, i can't cover the ugliness with make up, i don't want to go out because it's noticable... and now i feel like it's spreading.
Wow - things i had never really thought about until i was in the shower this morning trying to wash my face properly :(

Oh sunshine, it sounds horrible. Have you been back to the doctor?


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I have to go back on Tuesday. I k ow it sounds stupid and like I'm whinging (which I hate doing too) but I feel so unhappy. There is something coming up right next to a mole on my face which has me freaked out. I don't know of its another shingle thing or something else. Dh had a melanoma cut out about 18months ago and now I'm a little freaked out that where it is that it could be something else and not anothshingle.

Sorry for my whine :(

2538Just when I thought it looked slightly better it comes up like this again today :(

I'm an idiot I dr googled how long shingles can last and came up with reasons why it doesn't clear quickly..... I should know better than this. :( frustration leads to stupid things....

Ouch! That looks painful. You poor thing! Did you make it to the doctor today?


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Ouch! That looks painful. You poor thing! Did you make it to the doctor today?


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Went yesterday.
They swabbed it and told me there is nothing else they can do and i have to wait it out. Could be days, could be weeks :(

Hope it clears soon for you :hug:

How is it going sunshine?


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