Had shingles myself, not nice! Get well soon dude
Cheers NB. Can you remember who long it took for the pain to start to noticeable ease?
It appears I have Zoster Sine Herpete as opposed to the usual herpes zoster. Basically, I have shingles without the rash. Also, sometimes known as internal shingles. This is something I get the impression my GP has not heard of. Twice I’ve been to the surgery, and each GP has spent ages trying to find a rash and scratching their heids. I had to go back a second time for a sick line – he gave me a one week – which kinda makes me think he has doubts as to it being shingles. So back to the GP tomorrow.
The good news is I got my course of anti-virals within 4 days of the first symptoms, so I’m hoping I avoid any long term complications.
But I seem to have gone backwards since finishing the course. Can’t help thinking the course was too short.
I did have shingles before about 20 years ago. I got the classic rash on the lower back. It was pretty nasty, but I don’t think it was anything as bad as I have now.
I’ve had a serious splitting headache for coming on two weeks now. My neck is killing me too. Eating is difficult as it’s painful opening my mouth wide. Though I have no rash, but I have the exact same super sensitivity across the rhs of my scalp and down my face just like I had on my back all those years ago. Plus my right hand and lower arm are slightly numb.
Worst of all I can’t get a decent sleep. During the day I’m OKish but night time I wake up with the rhs of my face on fire and the headache off the scale. It’s only on waking up at night that I take some pain killers. So, some Tramadol which I keep in the house for my kidney stones gets me some sleep at night but not much. Don’t take anything during the day. Too many painkillers just make me constipated
. Anti-inflammatories are supposed to work well with shingles but they wreck ma guts
.
So pretty much grinning and bearing it. The internet says the worst of it lasts 3-5 weeks. So I’m a good solid two weeks in, so sure I should turn the corner soon.
But hey, big moan over, I’m alive and within a few weeks this should all pass.