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Eye-doc here. Please get this checked out ASAP for ocular involvement. Also, need to be put on antivirals ASAP to minimize chance of chronic nerve pain.
Commenting to add visibility but also to add that my mom had shingles in the same location and almost lost her eye and vision and still over a decade later needs steroid shots in her eye. She still has residual nerve pain.
Please OP get a team of doctors on your side ASAP
Oh hellllllll no, steroid shots to the eye?? Like IN her eyeball? That poor woman 😭
Imagine the people who have macular degeneration. I used to take my gpa to get shots in his eyes for this. It was rough to watch but he said it didn't bother him as far as discomfort.
No thank you, I would not like to imagine that
This is an important comment. Get your eyes checked. Get antivirals. Get treatment asap.
+Hutchinson's, huh
I was gonna say this too. I’ve had ocular involvement with mine, but fortunately, no issues. I take valacyclovir regularly to keep it from coming back. (Granted, doc wasn’t sure if it was cold sores or shingles, but either way it sucks. )
Why can’t we get the shingles vaccine at a younger age? I know so many people who have had it before they turned 50, including my brother who had it when he was 17.
I can see in your eyes how much this is affecting you. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. Few good comments in here for you to check out. Good luck. It will get better.
It also happened to me in 2022. Within a week, it spread quickly. Then it gradually disappeared over about three months. All because of stress.
I had shingles at 24… most painful experience of my life.
Yeah for 2 days I wanted to go to the Dr and my wife kept saying “what grown man goes to the doctor for poison ivy” so I didn’t -but obviously I broke down cuz I knew something wasn’t right.
What a crappy comment fr her.
Maybe OP revealed the source of the stress 😬
Lol. Seriously.
My husband went to the dr for poison ivy and I'm so glad he did. He ended up with a skin infection that needed treating and they gave him this cream that stops the poison ivy progression instantly. Is saving me rn because I just got it and the itch is unreal.
Why are people so against going to doctors?
Misogyny and racism can be a factor. Also the mistrust of doctors
People don't trust them and think they're a con for money. 🤦🏻♀️ The antivax movement is probably a large part of it.
Especially when mine was literally the exact opposite. She seen 2 tiny red spots and said shingles.
Had it not been for her catching it then it would of been so much worse but since it was early and was able to get medication for it it wasn't that bad compared to stories I've heard. She doesn't sound very nice
We got my wife into the doc as soon as we figured out she had shingles. Unfortunately a couple days late. She still got the antivirals. 3 months later and she’s still on max dose gabapentin and tramacet (at night for sleep) for post herpetic neuralgia. I have chronic pain from injuries, and having to see her join me in misery sucks. Never wait to see a doc for shingles.
Wife doesn't seem very nice tbh.
I'm just going to say I hope you use this as a lesson to trust your own body. When your brain says "hey bud, we should seek medical attention" you get tf up and go. This applies to mental health as well. You do what's best for you regardless of what is convenient for someone else.
Hi, wife here, I just want to chime in that your wife is not a good wife. I know my husband probably wouldn’t go see a doc because I have to nag and nag him when it comes to his health, but I feel like he’d eventually break down and listen if it was days of a rash and pain. Your wife has some weird machismo bs going on and that’s stupid. The next time she whines about her period cramps, I say this with all the air in my lungs, tell her to suck it up and stop being a baby. If she’s going to drive this road, so too, can you, we’ll see how she likes it.
next time she whines about her period cramps
Based on his post history, his wife is abusive.
He needs to cancel his life insurance policy immediately
Red flag
Look at his older post. The wife is an abuser.
I was coming here secretly hoping someone would mention it, that lady has a more then just a few screws missing in her head…….
Definitely. I have the opposite problem with my husband, I can't GET him to do to the doctor. He will go if I schedule his appointments, so at least there is that. But damn, that is why we have health insurance that we pay dearly for! Better to get it checked out and it be nothing than not go and it's something...
Deleted.
Go into the post, is quoted. Tldr, wife smacked him
Not surprising, that's why he's still with his abuser.
I have an idea why OP is so stressed
Your wife sounds like a bitch
Well she did slap him in the eye after he was healing from lasik.
Your pain and concerns are valid, it’s despicable that your partner is so uncaring and hostile towards what you feel.
I hope your recovery goes well and that things improve in your relationship, I don’t know anything about you but I can safely say you deserve better than that
Damn she sounds cold, hope you get better soon!
Better wife?
As she opens the door, he rolls over
Pretends to sleep as she looks him over
if you can find cold sore cream, buy it and put it on. Tried it on my third round of shingles (I'm 42). dried them out right away and shortened how long I had them. Doctor dismissed me when I told them, but it damn well worked
Doctors tend to be like that sometimes. Super annoying
I read that as cold sour cream and was really confused for a second
I thankfully don't know if this works on shingles (and I just got the vax), but for cold sores, I recently discovered that a product called Releev works WAY better than the Abreva I'd been using before. They say it clears up a cold sore in a day, and....they aren't kidding. I think mine took two days, but, GONE. It's cheaper than Abreva, too (although it's still in a small container).
I used it on a couple of healing acne spots too, and it worked like a charm on those as well.
I don't see why it wouldn't at least help shingles sores.
For coverage like OP's got, it might cost a bit, but the healing of the sores might be worth it.
It's incredibly easy to differentiate shingles from poison ivy. Poison ivy doesn't cause fever and headache, shingles does. I'm afraid your wife has a severe case of TSKS disease.
(Thinks she knows shit)
(She maybe caught it from my ex-wife)
I’ve never had either so yeah I was just caught up
I've been to the emergency room for poison ivy, your wife sounds like a problem dude... Nothing "un-manly" about taking care of yourself.
🚩 prayers for this husband
Wow! I got it on my side at 37 and it felt like a donkey had kicked me on my side. I went immediately to the doctor and they told me the bad news. But I caught it so early that I only had symptoms for a couple days, and the rash went away after a week or two if I remember correctly.
I can’t imagine what it feels like getting it on your head.
Has anyone been able to successfully get the shingles vaccine under the age of 50 and get their insurance to pay for it?
I’m sorry your wife sucks.
Going to the doctor for any reason isn’t worth feeling ashamed about.
If something is wrong, please take this internet comment and know no one is judging you for seeing a doctor.
Better to be cautious than in the ER.
Dude, your wife… what the fuck?
In what scenario would you accidentally make facial contact with poison ivy?
Mountain biking. I went over my handlebars into a patch of poison something that causes rashes.
Switch the i in your username with a u
My sister does shit like that, always downplaying symptoms and thinking “its not that serious” . Idk how ppl think like that.
Dude same age for me! Doctor was surprised because I was so young. He said it probably was triggered because of a lot of stress going on in my life. He was definitely right, we were planning a wedding and 3 months out and I got in the biggest argument I’ve ever had with my dad
Jeeeesus.
I got the shingles vaccine a couple years ago - after the first shot it was the sickest I’ve been in a long time - the second booster was absolutely fine - but it’s nothing compared to actually having shingles.
Get well my dude
I got my second shot some 40 years after the first one, just for the safety of a newborn (in my childhood getting only one shot was recommended).
What can I say, I didn’t feel too well for 2-3 days after the second shot. I guess I really needed it.
... the shingles vaccine is only given to adults over 50... Are you thinking of the chicken pox vaccine? If you had the chicken pox vaccine and never got chicken pox, you don't need the shingles vaccine. (Shingles is a resurgence of the virus that causes chicken pox)
Oops, mixed up with measles… my bad. Non-native speaker here. Sorry.
The shingles vaccine is given to younger people who are immunocompromised or have certain conditions. I was shingles vaccinated twice at 26 because I had metastatic colon cancer.
https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/hcp/vaccine-considerations/index.html
Just had shingles at 37. Got the antiviral medication quite quickly and it all subsided within a week. Still there now a bit but no pain or itching
how long after?
You really need to take it within 48h of the first sign. I had shingles at 37. Took the antivirals within 24h and it went away about a week after.
I had shingles at 36 too! It hurt like hell! They said they were surprised I had it so early and wouldn't give me the vax because I was too young! Wishing you luck!
I was pissed about not getting the vax too, but it’s been 11 years and I haven’t had a recurrence. Knock on wood that I can make it another 4 years and have insurance.
It pisses me off so much. My wife is 34. She's had two shingles outbreak and cannot get the vaccine. Absolutely wild how they don't allow you to get it if you have a history of shingles.
Why won’t they?
I don't know if this varies by state but, I live in Colorado and was able to just walk into Walmart and get both vaccines for $0. They just had to be 2-6 months apart. I had the option to list my insurance but it wasn't required. I'm 31 and have had shingles 3 times in the last 4 years.
Hope this helps
I had it at 38. I was told that the vax wouldn't necessarily prevent me from getting it again...like come on! really would prefer not to have it again sheesh
I had shingles three times in three years, ages 31-33, and they still refused to give me the vaccine. If I got it a 4th time I would have had to go to the health department and possibly CDC to see if I could get it approved. The pharmacy, my doctor, and even insurance were all fine with it. The medical office/administration was the one blocking my access. Luckily I haven't had a recurrence. Only 11 more years and I can get the vaccine. It'll be the first thing I do when I'm 50. I don't want it again.
Did you have chicken pox as child
Yep! Age 3 or 4
So I knew there was the connection between chicken pox and shingles, but I didn’t know you can only get shingles if you’ve had chicken pox.
As someone who had chicken pox as a kid, It’d be interesting to know the odds I get shingles when I’m older.
I always ask for the Shingles vaccine and my doc always tells me I'm too young....ugh.
please don’t listen to the anti-VAX people…getting a shingles vaccine can help prevent shingles and can reduce the severity of the disease and lower the risk of a complication if you do get it. my mom was not able to remember if I had pox so I erred on the side of caution. talk to anyone who has had it and they will tell you there is nothing as painful as this rash.
Also don't listen to the people telling you how awful the vaccine makes you feel. It's short lived and beats getting shingles, which apparently happens to 1 in 3 people who had chicken pox.
I had shingles in my 30’s. It was on my chest around to my back. Just my shirt touching it hurt like needles going in me. The sheet on the bed hurt me. It was miserable.
I finished my second dose of the shingles vaccine a couple months ago. 24 hours after I got each injection, I felt bad for about 36 hours. Felt like I had the flu. But then I was fine. I’d go through the vaccine 20 more times to not get shingles again. It’s way worse than the vaccine. Suck it up and get the vax.
Shingles pain is terrible. If you don't want to feel like there are hundreds of needles under your skin then I recommend the vaccine.
I had recurring pains for years afterwards every time I was stressed. It has gradually subsided though, so I rarely get it now more than ten years later.
I got shingles vaccine this morning, and it knocked me out until 8:30pm. Slept for 12 hours!
Jealous! Had an unpleasant case last year, they said I have to wait another 20 years to get the vaccine
as a fellow baldy I advise you to shave it all ffs. For the shingles, stay strong buddy
He literally has the perfect head/face for it too. I started losing mine in my late 20s, tried shaving as soon as I noticed it receding but I looked like a fucking thumb with a face lmao. Got on the Min+Fin+Ru combo and got it all back thankfully.
Should’ve gone for vinyl siding. Much better investment.
Hot shingles in your area!
Vinyl siding is trash. At least get aluminum.
Brick is king. Then plaster. Then Vinyl
I (37) got shingles on the left side of my forehead and around my eye this year. My eye was swollen shut. That wasn't fun at all. I've got a cool looking scar on my eyebrow now too.
Hope yours clears up soon friend!
Scary, that sometimes leads to blindness.
I had it in my eye on on my forehead like you but I was 25. I lost vision in that eye and am still scarred. Disfigured for life so young.
Only the beer kept me alive.
Username check outs.
And my sincerest well wish for you man. You are a fighter!
That sucks! I got shingles at 29 not long after my MIL passed. It was very stressful
I had shingles at 11 years old. Get the vax. Believe me, it comes back. I hope you feel better soon.
Woof that’s young to get it. I got it at 21, 27, 33…. Every time I’ve had it it’s progressively less painful, to the point that I barely notice it. The doctors told me it was genetic to experience it like that.
I got shingles when I was four years old. I got it not too long after getting chickenpox. The doctor said it was caused by Shanghai flu that almost killed me. This was around 1990 or 91. So within the same year, I got chickenpox, Shanghai flu, and then shingles all over my chest and arms.
I got the Shanghai flu from the Columbus Ohio zoo and I guess it was a rare flu at the time. I was quarantined in the hospital for over a week. It was very intense and caused pneumonia. I’ve had asthma ever since.
You should get tested for Alpha-1. I've had chicken pox, scarlet fever, shingles, HPV, Covid, RSV, and countless bouts of pneumonia, leading to collapsed lungs. I recently completed early lung cancer treatment. I went into respiratory failure in December 2024. I'm currently in stage 3 of COPD.
Damn I was 16-17 when I got it. Painful shit
Friend, someone need to tell you this, start to shave your head bald, don't fight it anymore you lost this battle long time ago
Started shaving my head about a decade ago and it is amazing. I like to say I lost the battle but I won the war. Nothing to be ashamed about being bald!
In all seriousness I hope it gets better for you bud
Nah, man. Good friend got it and nearly lost an eye.
He was amazed, however, when I was describing his pain to him.
Apparently, my cluster headaches feel very similar to the pain caused by shingles on the face.
That said, I know your pain and wouldn't wish it on anyone. I wish you as speedy of a recovery as possible.
People often think of shingles as an older persons' disease, but the truth is since it's the same virus, once you've had chicken pox it can strike anyone, at any time, and not just once.
Even after mine cleared I had nerve pain for about 6 months. Good luck.
Bruh don't kick him when he's down 😢
That stuff is no joke. I have had that 💩 three times. Yes. 3. One was internal on the nerve root of my spine and the other two were external right on the belt line of my back. Not very fun. Good luck and I hope you heal up quick.
Had the same a month ago. Out of the blue but extreme stress was the culprit. Get better soon.
Get the shingles vaccine guys. Just get it.
Definitely, definitely get the shingles vaccine as soon as you turn 50. That shit will come back over and over and over again, but the shingles vaccine is considered one of if not the most effective vaccine we have to prevent infection
DUDE! You need to get anti-viral medication STAT. That shit can make you go blind if it gets to your optic nerve!
Study finds strongest evidence yet that shingles vaccine helps cut dementia risk
When that clears up, shave your head.
Wishing you the best
I got it last year at 27. Thankfully just my abdomen/rib area. But man. So painful
I read the title as "Singles at age 36" and it still made sense
Shingles (in my ear/face) @ 45. Please say you've got anti-virals and a heavy dose of steroids. Mine was misdiagnosed as Bells Palsy (my rash was delayed) so I didn't get meds in time to prevent nerve damage. 5 years later I still have nerve pain, hearing loss, and tinnitus. Also, if you don't vax your kids for chicken pox because you want them to get it " naturally " because you don't think its serious, this is the nightmare they have to look forward to.
Ouch! I got the Jab and the improved Jab because my wife was a nurse in long term care. She told me of a client who died when the shingles passed through her eye into her brain.
I had shingles on my face too when I was around 20 years old. Wasn't a fun experience.
I got shingles around my left eye two years ago at age 37. Other than swelling and itching, it cleared up in about a week (with medication). Hope you feel better soon!
i had shingles at 26 on the right side of my scalp front to back. FUN EXPERIENCE!
My brother I feel your pain! I'm 38 and literally just finished a course of Valcyclovir yesterday. Worst part is I'm training for a new job and can't miss anything so I've been miserable day and night
It's been a miserable week for me. You are in my thoughts.
Now excuse me while I scroll through the positive comments in this thread and pretend they were for me.
Ngl I read this as "Single at age 36" and I thought this were selfies of you looking for a partner lol
I guess that would still qualify as “well that sucks” 🤣
Just hope you didn't get post herpetic neuralgia.
Y’all are reminding me to get my vaccine
My husband had it twice at 23. I had ocular and scalp just last year. Pretty painful, I hope you recover quickly!
I got shingles at 14. It sucks
Had it in my 30’s too. The rash wrapped from my stomach to back on one side of my torso so it was easy to conceal. The nerve pain, however, was the worst part of it. Felt like getting shocked internally all the time.
I had it a few years ago at 32. I thankfully had it on my chest, and back, but shit it hurt.
I had to change my sleeping position because of it. It took awhile for that infected area to regain feeling too.
Good luck OP!
I got shingles at 16, never had the chickenpox but had the vaccine, it definitely sucks.
Your shingles are super close to your eye though, I recommend going to the doctors asap if you haven’t already. Shingles close to the eyes/ears is a dangerous game to play.
You need to get seen. That can blind you. Also, you should be checked for immunodeficiency if you’re not on know immunosuppressant medication.
I'm 21 when I had my first shingles.
At first I thought it was chicken pox or something, but then from rash comes blisters, and it hurts SO MUCH.
Enduring the pain is one thing but the piercing pain like needles are very hard to endure.
There would days where I'd go sleepless just cause of the pain, it hurts to just move my back and all due to it being super sensitive to touch.
10/10 wouldn't recommend.
If this is near your eye you need to see a doctor/ get it treated. Normally they don't give medication (UK) but due to potential blindness it's treated as a priority..
Wife had it (c 2003) and because it was around her eye she was prescribed tablets. Pharmacist didn't have them in stock and had to place a special order as they were expensive. Explains why they don't usually prescribe.
When the first sign of my shingles appeared, I texted a doctor friend some pics and he asked if I had a “wet rash”. My initial reaction was wtf is a wet rash? The next morning I found out what a wet rash is. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
If it helps, you look at least 48.
Once that shingles clears up, embrace the bald, brother.
Think of the economic advantage.
Think of the expediency of which you achieve readiness for your appointments.
Think of the tides of allure you will acquire by settling into one of the two camps all great men fall into; camp hair or the camp that transcends hair.
Do not wallow in the indecisive wasteland of the balding, for both the bald and not bald agree on one thing: no man should suffer the balding.
Do not touch it and touch your eye!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had it twice by that point in my life, and I have had it again since then. They won't give me the shingles vaccine because I am under 50 🤷♂️
I've tried to get the vaccine! I can't, because i'm not 50 apparently. I had shingles when I was 38. Also on my face. I'm so sorry for what you're dealing with... I hope it heals quickly!
Vaccinations matter
🤝 got mine on my face at 23? and unfortunately near the end i was taking off a shirt too quickly and ripped my scabs and now I have permanent scars on my face!!! but i'm apparently very lucky it didnt affect my eyes.
good luck brother (and be careful with your scabs!!!!!!)
When I hand shingles in my mouth and ear, I was told it’s serious if it’s above the eye line. Just passing that along.
I have a buddy who essentially lost an eye to shingles. I got shingles around age 40, definitely not a 50+ thing.
Shingles is no joke. The rash is one thing, but the nerve pain is rough. Kind of like the pins and needles when your foot falls asleep that takes a long time to go away. Glad there's a vax for it now.
I had shingles in my late 30s on my rib cage under my right arm.
The pain was mostly in my right arm though.
For me it was like waves of fire. Like if someone was holding a torch an inch away from my skin, going up and down my arm. Enough to hurt, but not agony. But it lasted a few days.
Made it difficult to fall asleep.
The meds they gave me to dull the pain did nothing
weirdly enough, got shingles when i was like 21, i did not feel pain at all where the rash was. in general i just felt a little off, i got lucky i guess.
Ditto, thing is we got it young. I still have scaring, but nothing major ten + years on.
My octogenarian neighbor died a horrible painful death from it the next year.
Yeah I’ve heard this is one of those things that is significantly more painful/serious for older people (seniors) than for more youthful folk.
Same. Got it when I was 20. The rash wasn't painful. Though for a few years after, I would get phantom pains where the rash was.
Same as you man! It was a horrible experience, every movement I did was painful. Thankfully the pain meds worked on me, but their effect subsided after just a couple of hours. And thank God I didn't get any long lasting after effects.
You got meds for the pain?!?!? This revelation is making me hate my doctor right now, and wondering if she hates me. I was just left to suffer for weeks with only the antivirals.. Wow.
My doc gave me Solpadeine which is a mix of codeine, paracetamol and caffeine. That shit was dope, literally 😂😂
just guessing you aren’t in the US given you refered to paracetamol rather than acetaminophen. US doctors are hesitant to prescribe anything more than over-the-counter pain meds in a lot of cases due to the opioid epidemic. some make knee jerk reactions and refuse to prescribe anything stronger.
I went to the hospital with kidney stones on 3 seperate occasions. All the doctors mentioned to me how painful it was and that some people say its worse than childbirth. But they didnt give me any fucking pain meds!!!! Maybe it's because im a young male (with no history of abuse).
These anti-opiate doctors are taking it way too far and are making people suffer. My grandma was on hospice and couldnt move from being in so much pain. After being on hospice for 8 months, she got a new nurse that saw that they weren't treating her pain. She got furious and called my grandmas doctor and started yelling at her over the phone.
I hate doctors who refuse to prescribe pain meds to people that actually need it. I understand that people fake and seek meds, but its not a reason to let people suffer
Doctors are becoming more and more cruel when it comes to analgesics. People are getting TYLENOL after SURGERY! It's disgusting and inhumane. We don't treat dogs that way. You are also about half as likely to get a pain med script if you're a woman, so that's just lovely as well. I have had painful chronic illnesses for my entire life. I still have to fight to be heard, even for things like my immunosuppressants. Why you were denied medicine to ease your suffering, I'll never understand. I'm sorry. 😞
I think it’s a crazy bounce back from the opioid crises.
Prior to the Sachlers putting out tons of opioids for pain management, pain really was under managed in the US. So that was used as part of the campaign to promote their products. They got a bunch of doctors on board and in some places and situations pain became over managed and it led to tons of pill heads.
So now we are in the bounce back from all that over management and back to the era of under management. The sad thing is that we were probably in a place where some things went to appropriately managed during that era and are now being under managed again.
100%. The amount of people who became addicted to opioids vs people who just needed them after surgery or to even manage chronic pain was minimal. The benefits way outweighed the cost of addictions. There needs to be a middle ground again.
That's why fentanyl overdose is all the rage. Just let people smoke weed again or have some controlled, regulated morphine when they need it
Source:
Just broke the fuck out of multiple bones and they prescribed me low-dose aspirin (no previous conditions)
I live in South America and I only got Tylenol after a gastric bypass surgery lol. The first night in the hospital was excruciating. I had proper analgesics after an appendectomy in Canada, and I basically felt no pain at all.
Yep mine occurred in my mid 20’s. I was told I could lose hearing in my ear. It ran along my jaw line. Luckily I didn’t have damage to my hearing. If you get shingles again, it will come back in the exact same place. It’s weird like that.
Ugh!!! I got shingles about 8 years ago and can still feel where it was like deep inside my neck. Not on the skin or anything, but like really in there. Feels like it never fully went away, if that makes any sense.
My sister had it above her eyebrow and dr had her come into the office every couple days for monitoring. She was in her 20s
Woah that’s scary
I better get that vax, then. I have neurological problems, which makes pain much worse than it normally would be. A stubbed toe feels like I broke it. Shingles sounds like it would be hell for me.
I tried to get the vax at 23, because my sister got shingles at 25. Doctor told me its only allowed for people 50+
I tried to get the vax at 44 and they kinda said the same thing to me. My doctor told me it was because they want you to try to get it as close to 50 as possible so you get the most protection when you are older bc that’s when shingles is more serious. It was more like, you can get it now but we really want you to try to get it when you are 50 so when you are 80 you don’t get shingles.
You can pay for them yourself, I believe
$500 is what I was quoted
It's not about money. It's about finding a healthcare provider willing to administer it in spite of the 50+ direction of the medicine.
It's some seriously painful stuff. Up there with kidney stones, though a different type of pain, but as intense.
My sister has a similar problem. She feels pain like 5-10x more. She got shingles in her 40’s. It was hell for her! Get the vaccine! She still gets small outbreaks even with the vans but they are not as bad
My MIL lost her sight and then received a cornea transplant and can see again. Crazy.
We get to be the only generation that suffers from shingles in our 30s and 40s before. Older people got the vaccine before catching shingles, younger people got the varicella vaccine and won't get shingles.
For something so painful I hardly ever heard about shingles my whole life. I'm 40 years old now and I only really know about it because David letterman took a few weeks off from television because he got it
I've had shingles since I was seven. They've always grown on my face - cheeks, nose, and around my right eye. I keep getting told by many different doctors over the years that I'm too young to get the vaccine and many of them don't believe me despite having medical history of it going back decades.
I had shingles at 23. Started in my left eyebrow and moved up my head. Luckily I went to the doctor and got meds for it pretty quick. I had actually initially gone to the eye doctor because my eye had started bothering me and general tenderness around it. I figured maybe a stye or infection since I’d had a stye before. They told me it looked like shingles and to get it sorted ASAP that I could lose vision in the eye.
I think I had it for two or three days before I got to the eye doctor and when I told my boss I had shingles, he was dumbfounded that I was still walking around with it on my head since he’d been out for a week with it on his shoulder years before.
No joke, the name for shingles in Norwegian is HELLFIRE (helvetesild).
Doctor here - If shingles affects the V1 branch of the trigeminal nerve of the face (frontal scalp like this), it may also involve the eye and cause herpes zoster ophthalmicus, which can be sight-threatening. Needs a good exam (preferably under a slit lamp, not always possible - dendritic lesions can be seen on fluorescein at bedside too) by a doctor (ideally an ophthalmologist/optometrist as it may require steroids for eye involvement) and antivirals for prevention/treatment.
https://eyewiki.org/Herpes_Zoster_Ophthalmicus
I had shingles on my face/eye at 16. They gave me some meds and sent me on my way, I am so glad I never got any eye damage from it. I still have a scar near my temple/edge of my eye from this. It was never disclosed to me back then that I could lose my sight 😬
Not everyone gets the eye involvement, it's just a unique risk that comes with that area and something to look out for :)
That’s good to know, I could be remembering wrong but I thought I was told it was in the nerve of my eye, I thought I had pink eye (red eye, itchy, and tingly) until a painful rash showed up. I thought I was having an allergic reaction to the eyedrops prescribed for pink eye. I do remember them numbing my eyes (weirdest feeling in the world) and checking me out. Then again this was 20 years ago so I’m sure I misheard something along the way. They may have told me it could attack the nerve in my eye, and I took it as it did.
I got shingles in my eye two years ago at age 36 and I have dendritic lesions and scarring all over that eye, it fills with fluid so I have to take the Muro drops a few times daily, and I have steadily lost almost half my field of vision. We've tried prednisone a few times to control it but the problem is after shingles my eye pressure in that eye hovers around 25 and after a week on pred it has shot up to over 40 in which case I was seeing flashes.
Thanks doc I just left my optometrist he wrote a script for Zirgan
Well these comments are just terrifying 😳
Yah. I just stopped reading :) and moved on.
My wife got it in her left ear leading to serious bouts of vertigo.
Tip of the nose is eye involvement! My brother had this at 23 and my mom worked for an ophthalmologist.
You will be blinded if it spreads to your eyeballs.
My dad got shingles in his 20s way back. Slowly lost sight in one eye till he went blind in it around 55-60yrs old.
I had shingles on my face at the eyebrow and through my scalp. It also affected the nerves down the side of my face and upper jaw (no rash there just nuclear nerve pain). They monitored me every day to make sure it wasn't going to go into my eye and believe me I was scared because I knew I could go blind in that eye! I finally got rid of the electrical zinging nerve pain and that lasted for 4 years!?! I was lucky I didn't end up with nerve damage like I was anticipating because I had it so bad and the pain last years!?! I feel for the OP because it's the absolutely worst place you could have it.
Incorrect! I had it in my left eye. With a great ophthalmologist, I am 90% recovered.
I also had it in my left eye and I am 100% recovered!
It's not 100%. My dad got it recently, he is 65. His whole eye was basically closed off. He is relatively fine, some double vision at certain angles but he is able to see fine otherwise. We are hoping it'll get even better as time goes on. Sharing just in case someone is going through it, so they don't fall into despair.
Definitely go to a hospital though, it's very serious, he spent 2.5 weeks in hospital.
Can confirm, had it 3 years ago at 37, right side of my face. Started at the top of my head and my hair hurt like hell while showering. Manifested entirely as severe eye pain before a rash occurred. In and out of the ER multiple times, told it was a “thunderclap migraine.” By the time the rash showed up, my eye was so borked with full blown uveitis. Permanent corneal scarring, blind spots and reduced vision now. My quality of life has suffered immensely from having had Shingles.
it is serious, my grandmother had shingles in her ear and it traveled to her brain and basically gave her dementia. not saying this to scare just have it checked out periodically
Adding onto this: WHEN (not if) you go to see an eye doctor regarding the shingles, make certain that you are seeing an ophthalmologist and NOT an optometrist. An ophthalmologist is an MD who specializes in the eye, like an oncologist specializes in cancer or a cardiologist specializes in the heart. You need an MD.
I had it down the side of my face, including down the side of my tongue... that was not a fun experience.
I went to the GP and was given antivirals (because it was close to my eye) and a month off work - pregnant women were working in the same office.
Hold up, you can get shingles in your mouth???
I’ve had shingles in the mouth and it was the absolute worst experience in my life. Couldn’t eat/drink/talk without searing pain for weeks
Yes my son had it at 22 during final exams of his final year and it was in his ear as well...definitely more serious.