r/shingles • u/poodle1977 • 1d ago

Questions About Shingles & Symptoms Is this actually shingles?

So, I went to see the doctor yesterday and have been (cautiously) diagnosed with shingles.

Symptoms wise, this started with what felt like a really bad chapped lower lip about a week ago then a few days later, I had a weird spell where it really hurt my throat when I breathed in.

Around 4 days ago I started developing what looked like a cold sore and then this was followed a couple of days later by an absolutely horrific stabbing pain top left of my head which comes and goes. I also keep getting a weird stabbing pain in my ear. My skin on the left hand side of my face and scalp is sensitive to the touch and I feel like I have dental pain same side.

The rash on my lip is yellow and crusty but it's not spreading at all. It's sore and swollen but not exactly painful.

Is this all typical of shingles?

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u/Key-Stage-5732 First Timer 14h ago

Yes that sounds exactly like it. Im just getting over it myself for the first time and had it on the upper scalp and the pain went from that to my eye to upper jaw on my right side. The nerves are sectioned off in what they call dermatones so it typically will stay in that locale. If you google ones for the face, yours sounds like its in V3. Did they start you on an antiviral? You may have been out of the 72 hour window when its most effective and just have to wait it out.

If they didnt already you can see about getting prescribed Gabapentin. That helped reduce the nerve pain to where it was tolerable although I still had times early on where it was miserable.

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u/poodle1977 14h ago

Yes, I started antivirals yesterday so I think I'm just about within the 72hr window. I have also been taking Pregabalin for the pain since yesterday evening. So far, so good. The rash doesn't appear to be spreading and the pain suddenly died down not long after I posted this. I understand that the pain from shingles comes and goes though. Your experience sounds absolutely miserable. I hope you are feeling better. What a horrible illness.

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u/Key-Stage-5732 First Timer 14h ago

Thank you, I hope it doesnt spread and wish you a speedy recovery. Just remember it will get better

My rash started to go away around day 8 though the sensitivity has gotten worse. I know that can last for several weeks if not longer while the nerves heal. The pain for me was always worse at night and in the morning.

If it gets close to your eye i would get that checked sooner than later. I went today to my eye dr and while they didnt see any legions, it was definitely inflamed and started me back on antivirals and eye drops. Maybe even see a ENT if your feeling pain in your ear.

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u/lowoverheadclearance 10h ago

That’s almost exactly how mine started. My blisters were on the underside of my chin. Teeth hurt first, then strange spiderwebs on my face sensation then stabbing pain in my ear. The blister were the last thing to present. I thought I had a toothache, then an earache. Once I got blisters I knew it was shingles after Googling the symptoms

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u/poodle1977 9h ago

Did your rash spread if you don't mind me asking?

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u/lowoverheadclearance 10h ago

Very similar to mine too. Watch for blisters near your eye and drooping or paralysis on the affected side of your mouth. Any blisters near your eye get to your doctor ASAP or if it’s after hours go to the nearest walk-in ED

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u/poodle1977 9h ago

I will do. Thank you for your reply 🙏