Patient Comments: Shingles - SymptomsWhat were your shingles symptoms?
Comment from: unknown, 35-44 Female (Patient)
Published: April 08
I was diagnosed with shingles on the bottom of my foot. I thought I had some type of bug bite (spider, maybe) with a reaction in the form of a rash next to it. It burned and itched terribly. I went to the doctor right away and he said it was shingles. I was so surprised. The burning, itching, and pain are unbearable. I'm on an antiviral medication and Neurontin for nerve pain. The only thing that helps is icing it for 20 minutes on / 20 minutes off. It looks different than some of the photos I've seen – it's dark purple now (after six days) and looks like blood spots under the skin. It's less painful, but still hurts and burns. Having it on the bottom of my foot makes it impossible to walk. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: 35-44 Female (Patient)
Published: June 14
I had chicken pox as a freshman in college. About two weeks ago, I noticed I was very tired and generally itchy, but I had a sun burn. On Monday night, I woke up with "bites" on my hip. By Tuesday, there was a red cluster of blisters. Wednesday, the blistered area was swollen, warm and red, with the blisters very dark, and I was having pain around my hip. It was very sore. I went to the doctor, and he said it was shingles. He gave me an antiviral, famciclovir, and an antibiotic because my blisters were so inflamed that he thought there were infected. I am using a Lidoderm patch for the nerve pain. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Related Medications: famciclovir
Comment from: Chuck Powley, 65-74 Male (Patient)
Published: June 14
I am 69 years old. It took me a few days to get a doctor's appointment. He treated the pain, which had all the classic symptoms of shingles, with prednisone. This did not allow me to get any sleep, as the pain was constant. I went to the emergency where the diagnosed shingles. They gave me more prednisone, and Tylenol 3. I went back to my doctor who prescribed Lyrica. The lack of sleep and pain problems are still with me. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: 55-64 Female (Patient)
Published: April 29
Comment from: mustardsee, 55-64 Female (Patient)
Published: April 25
I first noticed that my back was itchy, so I used a back scratcher to itch it. A few days later, it started itching more, and I could feel a kind of welt, so I had my hubby look at it. He said it looked like some bites -- maybe flea bites. A few nights later, I found myself in extreme pain on my whole lower back area and around my side. I could not sleep. I had pain all the next day that radiated around my side and into my right breast. I thought that was weird. So after another night of no sleep, I had my hubby look again, and he said it looked like a whole lot more bites all clustered together. Later that day, I happened to be describing my symptoms to a friend on the phone and she said, "You've got shingles! You must get to a doctor now – today!" So thank God, I was able to get the doctor to squeeze me in later that day, which was Friday. Thankfully, I did not have to wait the weekend. She immediately put me on a high dose of Valtrex and a painkiller. It has been two days, and I have some relief, but the sores are now on my breast. It also feels as if I have swelling in my lymph nodes under my arm. It hurts to have my arm pressing against it. I would describe my pain as a constant ache and then occasionally a shooting, stabbing pain. Was this comment helpful?Yes
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Shingles - Experience
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Shingles - Pain
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Shingles - Vaccine
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Shingles - Effective Treatments
Question: What kinds of treatments have been effective for your shingles?
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I was doing some electric work at an apartment building we own. I had to back out of a small area, lost my balance, and fell on my right side. I began experiencing pain on that side and thought I had bruised or fractured a rib. Ibuprofen helped on the first sleepless night. I noticed a small rash, so went to an urgent care center and was diagnosed with shingles. I was treated with Valtrex and prednisone. The first day I had no relief, but was glad I caught it early. That's the trick, I'm told. Ibuprofen doesn't help with the pain – it feels like someone kicked me in the right side and the pain is horrible. I never got the shingles vaccine – I'm sorry now. From what I read, it looks like I'll have about 5 or 5 more weeks of this dreaded disease.
Related Medications: Ibuprofen | prednisone