I never had a rash with my shingles. The pain started in my lower back and came shooting around to the front of my stomach. It was highly painful. I went to the ER and they thought I had kidney stones. They sent me home, and within 12 hours I returned with "out of my mind" pain. I could not stand straight, sit, kneel, or lay down. The second ER doctor figured it out quickly. Thank goodness.

This is my second time with shingles. Both times were mild with little pain. Both my grown sons had the chicken pox along with the other kids in the neighborhood. But with my kids, you could count their pox marks, while the other kids were completely covered. I wonder if we have some kind of immunity, with such mild cases of both.

About four weeks ago, I woke up with shooting pains on the right side of my neck, going up to the crown of my head. I was concerned I was having a stroke. The emergency room doctor diagnosed a form of a migraine. Symptoms persisted, and then two weeks ago, a scabbing appeared in my right ear. The doctor diagnosed my symptoms as shingles. Medications include acyclovir, Lyrica, and a strong pain killer similar to extra-strength Tylenol. The blisters have cleared up, but I have pain on the right side of my head, neck, and on the cartilage of my right ear. Painkillers help, but I am weak, easily confused, and tired.

Charlie horse like pain beneath my left rib cage. Itchy skin, sensitive skin (can't stand anything to touch it). Red rash on my back. Pain radiated from middle of my back to middle of my front around my upper abdomen. I caught it quickly so I'm praying that I have no unpleasant side effects that last for years like nerve pain. I'm on pain and antiviral meds. Don't wait to get checked out. You'll regret it.

I had a small red rash over my eye brow. It didn't blister of hurt or even itch. It looked like a simple rash that was the exact shape and length of my eyebrow. I did, however have a splitting headache worse that any migraine I have ever experienced. It lasted three weeks even with the gabapentin (for nerve pain) and acyclovir (for virus) meds prescribed.

I thought I had a cramp in my left hip, could hardly walk for two days, the morning of the third day I woke up with screaming pain in my left thigh and an itchy rash, which was really sore. The rash spread to my groin area. I got the medication Valacyclovir, which helped some, but the pain is terrible.

It started with itchy rash, and then it got very painful. The rash bumps broke open and crusted over. It spread on one side of my face, my nose on my right cheek. It feels like something is crawling on my face and at the same time, it hurts really badly!

I'm 47; I thought I had glass in my foot at first. Then during the night I thought there was a second piece of glass in my toe. Extremely painful! There were no indications such as redness or itchiness. Wasn't till later that day I noticed a small rash on the side of my lower leg. Then I found rash at the base of my back. Throughout the previous week I was tired more than usual.