Shingles

gmphmac · 22/07/14 - 15:04

I'm 31 and have just been diagnosed with this, after having a painful rash on my shoulder for the last three days. I'm just a bit confused, as I thought only older people could develop shingles. Had anyone else under 40 ever suffered?

It's horrible, but I've been prescribed some anti-viral(?) drugs, so hopefully it'll clear up soon.

chattamanuk · 22/07/14 - 15:10

gmphmac wrote: »

I'm 31 and have just been diagnosed with this, after having a painful rash on my shoulder for the last three days. I'm just a bit confused, as I thought only older people could develop shingles. Had anyone else under 40 ever suffered?

It's horrible, but I've been prescribed some anti-viral(?) drugs, so hopefully it'll clear up soon.

Yes, lots of 'younger' people suffer, it just is more common in the over 70s
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Shingles/Pages/Introduction.aspx

bri160356 · 22/07/14 - 15:46

gmphmac wrote: »

I'm 31 and have just been diagnosed with this, after having a painful rash on my shoulder for the last three days. I'm just a bit confused, as I thought only older people could develop shingles. Had anyone else under 40 ever suffered?

It's horrible, but I've been prescribed some anti-viral(?) drugs, so hopefully it'll clear up soon.

My wife had it in her mid 20’s; made her feel dreadful for quite a few weeks and a full recovery took a while. No lasting effects though; and it’s never re-occurred.

That was 30 years ago.

Summer Breeze · 22/07/14 - 15:57

I had it around the age of 40.
It was very painful for 3 weeks but was in my system for about 3 months in total.
Not nice at all.
All the best to you.

Lyceum · 22/07/14 - 16:15

I had it when I was about 27. Took and age to fully heal and I've got scars where it was.

Hugely painful too.

RandomSally · 22/07/14 - 16:42

I was 26 when I got it. Nasty illness.

Deb Arkle · 22/07/14 - 16:48

I had shingles when I was 11, and was off school while they were learning about long division - I still can't do long division, 39 years later!

Pucky · 22/07/14 - 19:36

I've had it twice! Or at least the docs think the 2nd time I had it was Shingles, they actually weren't sure. It started with a small triangle of itchy marks and then developed into quite a nasty rash. After cream and then anti-virals and anti-biotics and a couple of weeks off work the rash healed and now the scars have gone.

[Deleted User] · 22/07/14 - 19:37

Just getting over a bout now, still have the lovely looking scabs, had to take aciclivor 5 X a day for a week

My son had it when he was 8.
Anyone can get it

gmphmac · 22/07/14 - 20:09

sazzysuzie wrote: »

Just getting over a bout now, still have the lovely looking scabs, had to take aciclivor 5 X a day for a week

Same here (800mg). Just hoping I'm not going to be left scarred or anything. The patches are on my shoulder

Rae_Roo · 22/07/14 - 20:13

Had it 3 times, at 19, 25 and 31... It's more common in elderly but people with weakened immune systems etc can get it, mines has usually followed a bad viral infection, my coeliacs has weakened my immune system too...

Least u caught it fast! I got hospitalised with it the first time, they thought I had meningitis!

Oh, and the last time... Which was earlier this year, I had it on the back of my head! Was horriffic as a women with long hair, uber painful, I thought the chest and leg were bad...

The meds work fast though, if it's caught early! In my experience...

[Deleted User] · 22/07/14 - 20:19

gmphmac wrote: »

Same here (800mg). Just hoping I'm not going to be left scarred or anything. The patches are on my shoulder

At least its been caught in time, take antihistamines for the itching .. Shouldnt scar unless you scratch them off

[Deleted User] · 23/07/14 - 18:45

I had it when I was about 22. The important thing is to get the tablets in the early days, because they only work if you starting taking them within a few days of the rash appearing.

duckylucky · 23/07/14 - 20:18

My daughter had shingles when she was eight years old

fefster · 23/07/14 - 21:00

I had this when I was 35. It started with a throbbing headache and then my forehead started to swell. It was scary. I rushed off to A&E and this nurse kept asking me if anyone had hit me on the head! Then a doctor came in and told me it was shingles. It progressed to my eyes and made them swell and I nearly lost my sight.

It's not as uncommon in younger people as the doctors make out. Loads of young people I know have had it. I think susceptibility is hereditary.

BlizzardUK · 06/10/14 - 02:51

My mum, age 70, has just got shingles over her eye, forehead, and one side of her scalp. She has been taking anti-viral tablets for the last 5 days, she has a 7 days supply, 5x a day. She also has some kind of cream to rub in to her eye.

I wondered how early is early as far as catching it ? She felt ill 4 days before she got tablets, but she got the tablets only 1 day after the rash appeared (unless it appeared under her hair before we saw it). Is that early enough ? I am concerned about the long term effects and I know quicker treatment means better results usually. I am unsure if it is within 72 hours from when you started to feel sick that is considered early, or 72 hours from when the rash appears, as there is always a few days between the two.

Thanks all.

hils0912 · 06/10/14 - 08:48

I had them at the age of 3. I had had chicken pox 3 times and was seeing an immunologist by then. Luckily I haven't had it since.

Thomas007 · 06/10/14 - 11:54

I had it 18 months ago. Very painful, lasted for about a week tops, seemingly quite short in comparison to many others as it is typically meant to last 3 weeks or more.

The problem I have is the scarring that is left behind, I have wee dimples in my forehead still which aren't that noticeable unless you look closely but I'm worried about further bouts of the stuff as I'll have get surgery if I get any further scarring occurs.

Does anyone know if Shingles continues to persist if you've already had it? It seems like from post #11 that it's very possible it can come back again.

grassmarket · 06/10/14 - 11:56

Thomas007 wrote: »

Does anyone know if Shingles continues to persist if you've already had it? It seems like from post #11 that it's very possible it can come back again.

I had it a few years back, got it cleared up with anti-biotics, but since then it has recurred, but much milder than the original form, not much more than a rash really.

missy83 · 06/10/14 - 12:14

Thomas007 wrote: »

I had it 18 months ago. Very painful, lasted for about a week tops, seemingly quite short in comparison to many others as it is typically meant to last 3 weeks or more.

The problem I have is the scarring that is left behind, I have wee dimples in my forehead still which aren't that noticeable unless you look closely but I'm worried about further bouts of the stuff as I'll have get surgery if I get any further scarring occurs.

Does anyone know if Shingles continues to persist if you've already had it? It seems like from post #11 that it's very possible it can come back again.

I had it when I was about 10 and I'm now 30 and it hasn't ever come back.

[Deleted User] · 06/10/14 - 12:21

I had it when I was 42. It affected one of my eyes, so I spent months going backwards and forwards to hospital to the eye clinic. Took ages to shake off.

RyJa · 06/10/14 - 14:21

My nephew (aged 4!) has just got over this.

tigragirl · 06/10/14 - 20:46

I have been on gabapentin I am sure this can be used for shingles( not the reason I have been taken it)

Melp26 · 06/10/14 - 21:21

My brother had them at the age of 3, brought on by the stress of our parents divorcing

[Deleted User] · 07/10/14 - 02:45

My wife had it on her waist in her 30s, no drugs then, it lasted months and she still has the scars.. I had it on my face in my 40s and was treated with drugs and it cleared up within a week.

Hut27 · 07/10/14 - 07:42

Thomas007 wrote: »

I had it 18 months ago. Very painful, lasted for about a week tops, seemingly quite short in comparison to many others as it is typically meant to last 3 weeks or more.

The problem I have is the scarring that is left behind, I have wee dimples in my forehead still which aren't that noticeable unless you look closely but I'm worried about further bouts of the stuff as I'll have get surgery if I get any further scarring occurs.

Does anyone know if Shingles continues to persist if you've already had it? It seems like from post #11 that it's very possible it can come back again.

Ive had it 3times in a year. on my left leg, I diagnosed it first time from search on internet. Dr first said "If I didn't know better, I would have said you have a Cold Sore on your leg"
I have never ever had a Cold Sore on my lip in 77 yrs, my wife gets them frequently.

Hey there!

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