***knocks on glass of monitor***

hello? sorry.... really worried here. would be so nice to hear from someone... anyone... hello?

I just found out I have shingles too. I have them along my hair line, in my ear and on my cheek.

I told my doctor the same thing, that shingles happens around the trunk. But after reading up on it, it can happen on the head and neck.

I too have huge swollen glads, a bad headache and ringing in my ears.

I have been on Valtrex for a week now and the blisters are getting better.

Hey guys. Sometimes over a weekend or on a Monday things get quiet around here. Plus people will start jumping on your post and share and help you out. Sometimes takes alittle while. Now while I have been a member of this club since January, I was diagnosed back in mid-December with shingles. BUT I do not have them where either of you do. You both break my heart when I read this - especially about other people NOT understanding. OR they are trying NOT to stare at your shingles. My shingles were well hidden - under my breast to my back, and when I tell people that I still have pain from shingles, easier and trust me then to say PHN, I find them staring at me like they can either see where those shingles are - or - hoping to see WHY I am in pain. It's a silent pain. Of course when you are grunting, or trying to hold that part of you that hurts so badly you cannot believe, not so silent now is it? And by the by - shingles happens ANYWHERE on one side of the body - the face - neck - upper body. God - you aren't supposed to even get shingles until you are older - like after 50. So if your doctors give you any grief, just make sure of a few things. That you are on Valtrex - I was along with steroids for a short period of time. I am also one of those people who needs a pain killer to take the edge of. Again, if you don't mind doing that and find it helps - MAKE THE DOCTOR PRESCRIBE SOME. You should not have to deal with this weird extreme pain without something to help. Ice packs help - in private of course :) -heating pads are now my favorites. But anything that helps you reduce the pain helps. I am sorry I can't comment on the areas that you both have shingles in. One of our buddies here most likely can help you both - making you not feel so alone.
Remember - you ARE NOT ALONE. I wish I wasn't on here to say that to you - but I am. And trust me. The first time I reached out I helped someone else. Had no idea what was ahead me - and everyone IS DIFFERENT - so don't get anything into your about how long - how bad - just keep reaching out here. We all help with a hug - a laugh - or a stupid story that has nothing to do with shingles.
Hope both of you are doing better today :). And don't stop.......

oh - I am also on Neurontin - Gapentin - both the same. Most people are put on those drugs once the shingles go away. This helps calm your nerves down. I think it has helped me - who knows - but for ME the side effects are just feeling a tad more tired all the time. BUT - hey - I'm 54 - I am going thru perimenopause for REAL finally AND have had PHN for over 4 months. Heck anyone would be tired :) - just throwing that out there about the drugs if you haven't discussed those yet.....:)

The second night I had pain (before I was diagnosed), I had an excruciating sore throat. I couldn't swallow. It started suddenly late in the afternoon on Saturday and lasted until mid-day on Sunday. It disappeared suddenly - as suddenly as it started - with no trace left over. While I had the sore throat, the lymph nodes in my throat were extremely sore. The week before the pain started, I had a weird headache behind my left eye - no pain on the right side of my head.

I know how you feel about no one being able to see what is causing the pain. My shingles are on my lower back and come around to the front and down almost to the groin. One of the managers at work asked me to show her the rash. She was very nice about it, but I can't help but wonder if she didn't believe I could be in so much pain with "nothing to show for it."

Jussssme, this is my first time here, and I'm so happy to have found this support group. I was really desperate for information about Shingles. Reading everyone's posts has really been helpful for me. I hope you find some answers here, too.

JustShoot.... I so totally understand your comment that others who are trying to comfort you- and can't really *see* anything, don't quite get the message.

Before all this started for me, I probably would have been one of those people. I have PHN and the most frustrating thing for me I looking at friends/coworkers with tears in my eyes, trying to get them to understand my *invisible* pain.

Hi jussssme,

I had very swollen glands on my face just in front of my ear, and also on my neck and behind my ear, just on the left side of my face where the shingles were. It's strange though because I can still feel that they are sort of swollen and it's been 1 1/2 months since they I was diagnosed.

I hope you're feeling well!

Martha

Yep, had the swollen lymph nodes for sure. They were huge and along with everything else that was going on, they freaked me out. It's OK though, they are just your body fighting the virus. I had shingles on my face, through one eye and into my hairline - but during the initial break out, I also had a sore in my mouth and my teeth hurt like crazy. Weird stuff, but it will get better. Make sure you take all the anti-viral and get pain meds as recommended by your doctor. Also, you should go ahead and schedule an appointment with an opthamologist just to be on the safe side. Oh, and I agree...the ice packs really do help.

I had shingles with swollen lymphnoid in upper groan area.
Few weeks later now moving toward testicles a little worried but was told wait 6 weeks im on 4.
Not sure wtf to do...
Anyone has any input

6/30/2018
Many of the reviews sounds exactly like mine. The back of my head felt like needles. Then it was just little red bumps. Once the blisters broke out then I went to the doctor and got Valtrex right away. The best help has been placing ice on it, the Valtrex and spray on Calamine.: I also take sudaphedrine to reduce the swelling in my gland. It seems to be a very slow healing disease. I am feeling better, probably the most pain is on the one side of my gland. Also the spray calamine lotion that has been a huge help. My lovely daughter told me about this. I hope this helps someone else- I know I appreciate ALL the posts I read here - makes me feel better and know I am doing the right things.

I had pneumonia in early Dec and got shingles Feb 10 due to the suppressed immune system from being sick. I went for almost a week with a killer stiff neck. Then I felt something on my scalp but thought it was just a bit of shampoo build up. Then i felt a little pricklyness on the back of my neck. I saw that I had the beginning of a rash there and also one spot on the back of my shoulder. I went to the Dr immediately and was put on something for shingles and gabapenten to help prevent the long term pain that can remain ( postherpetic neuralgia (PHN)). The rash progressed around from the left side of the back of my neck, around to my left ear and onto my cheek.
(it follows nerve paths).
It's important to seek help right away if it's on your scalp, ear, eyes or face because it's possible to have permenant hairloss, go deaf or blind. It can also leave permanent discoloration where the rash was.

I found relief with liquid calomine lotion and cold showers (heat aggravates it.) My case was mild but still no picnic.

After the rash was gone I went and got the Shingrix vaccine. It's given as 2 shots 2-6 months apart. I got the 2nd one today. I had no side effects either time other than the typical slightly sore arm at the site of the injection. This is the newest vaccine for shingles supposedly better than the previous one. People who get the vaccine are over 90+% of not having a second occurance of shingles ever. '
Stay out of the sun when you have shingles and use protection thereafter because the sunburn can trigger further shingles episodes.

Shingrix is not cheap... it was covered by my insurance and was over $350 for the series (covered both).

I was first diagnosed with cellulitis in the ER for shingles which started on my nose and cheek after a facial procedure to bring sun damage to the surface and make my face look younger. How I regret doing that! This started at the beginning of June 2018. Now not only am I in pain, but it looks like I'll have permanent scarring. I had a few bumps on my hairline while was diagnosed as shingles, but she agreed with the ER about the cellulitis on the rest of my face, as did an infectious disease doctor who was looking for infection! I did some online research and was convinced this was all shingles! Went to another doctor who confirmed it. I was put on unnecessary antibiotics in the emergency room and more antibiotics from the Infectious Disease doctor which makes your immune system worse! Fortunately, i was also put on Acyclovir for shingles for 10 days. Finally, several huge scabs have fallen off leaving divots on my face - so much for my facial making my face look better! I also had swollen glands. Im on Neurontin 1,200 mg/day which is helping for the pain, numbness, and itchiness. I had the original shingles shot (which was a live virus) but can't get the new series of 2 shots as it's on back order around here! Not happy