Hello. I'm new here. I was diagnosed with shingles 7 days ago. I started valacyclovir at what I THINK was 24 hours after the rash appeared. I say I am not sure because the rash was on my scalp under my hair and I didn't notice it until I touched my head. I had pain there since last Saturday, so 3 days earlier than I noticed the rash. So I HOPE that means I treated within the 72 hour window.

I could not take the prednisone because it affected my mental health badly - I was hearing voices and feeling manic so I had to stop the  prednisone. I get intermittent facial numbness now, even though the rash has gone down significantly and so have my fever and body aches. I don't really know if I need to go to the emergency room for the facial numbness and get treated as soon as possible for it or if it can wait for an office visit. Is this a really bad sign that something worse is happening to me because this numbness is happening now? It's really the whole right side of my face - cheek, forehead, area under my nose, near my jaw, to the ear. I am worried about my eye, too. I never had a rash on this area - just numbness. I am only 39. I am really scared I'm going to have facial paralysis. Should I go to the hospital right now??