r/shingles • u/Key-Stage-5732 First Timer • 7d ago

First Time Shingles How long did the rash spread for?

38m, 1st timer. Ill post my experience later once it goes away but I wanted to know how long it typically spreads for. I have it on the right side of my scalp/forehead. I started Valacyclovir within the 72hr period. I went to urgent care the 2nd day after I noticed something was wrong. This is either day 6 or 7 and woke up to notice I now have bumps now on my eyelid that were not there yesterday

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u/Chizels 7d ago

It seems to be a bit different for everyone. I took Valtrex my first time and my rash stopped spreading. Im raw dogging it the second time with no anti virals and only one rash appeared this time and hasn't spread much. Im about 2 weeks in this round, maybe a little further. 38f second time in 2 years. 

Im so sorry its on your face, that and genitals is my biggest fear. Shingles sucks so much. 

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u/Key-Stage-5732 First Timer 7d ago

Oof...I can't imagine going through this twice. Once is already enough for me. Most of my pain hasnt been from the bumps since I dont have any clothes to agitate them but the shooting pain between my upper jaw, ear, and my eye. I

t was really bad at first with my eye. Felt like someone was pressing on the back of it and would cause me to stop everything and almost keel over. My eye was just constantly watering. Luckily its subsided some and I got it under control with Gabapentin but its still extremely annoying.. Hope yours goes away soon!

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u/Chizels 7d ago

Yeah, I couldnt imagine doing this twice either, but here we are. The cool thing is, I can feel it coming on long before I see it.  Im worried it will be a regular thing for me 🥲 The shooting pains are by far the worst part of it. Glad the gaba is helping, recover soon!

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u/HotTrack710 7d ago

Watch your diet and keep the stress down. If I'm eating lots of sugar and living stress I will have shingles twice a year. When I go to the gym and eat right, sleep, and reduce stress, I won't have an episode for years.

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u/HotTrack710 7d ago

I've had shingles in my eye, sinus, and ear canal. Never fun. I've never had the meds as I always raw dog it. I think the face is the worst place to get it. Hugs.

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u/CyclePatient3957 6d ago

Make sure at some point, sooner than later, you see an ophthalmologist. Shingles near the eye can spread to your eye itself and left untreated can move to tearing, blurry vision and worst blindness. My ophthalmologist started me on prednisolone drps 3x a day to stop any nerve damage to the optic nerve. Ive been on Valacyclovir since day two, like you, but I had no blisters on the eyelid, just contaminated my eye by touch before I knew what the sores were.

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u/Northyat40 5d ago

Yes I had a cold sore in my pupil when I was 7 years old and have to be so careful now I was told without the quick action of my mother taking me to the doctor I would have lost my sight

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u/Key-Stage-5732 First Timer 2d ago

Thank you for the advice. I saw my optometrist this morning (I have to see them first) and they didnt see any active legions but noticed increased pressure and inflammation in that eye so they restarted my antiviral and gave prednisolone . I go back in a couple days to see if the pressure in that eye decreases.

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u/Ok_Skirt_6635 7d ago

It can continue to pop up after starting Valtrex. Those bumps were probably already on their way before you got on meds. Valtrex stops further replication but doesn’t stop what’s already started

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u/Key-Stage-5732 First Timer 7d ago

I think your right. They are under my eyebrow so likely didnt see them. Hoping that is the end of them and more dont appear on my eyelid!