Pre-Rash Shingles Symptoms

[Jm954]

Shingles is a virus condition involving inflammation of sensory nerves that can result in severe pain. It causes localized pain, numbness, and itching, followed by the appearance of clustered blisters in a strip pattern on one side of the body. Sometimes the pain can persist for weeks, months, or years after the rash heals (known as postherpetic neuralgia).

The pain of shingles may develop even when there is no rash. The patient may notice several days to a week of burning pain and sensitive skin before the rash appears. In this situation it may be difficult to determine the cause of the often severe pain.

Other symptoms that may occur before shingles rash include fever, chills, upset stomach and headache.

More here - it's good to be aware and take prompt action - medicinenet.com/shingles_pi...

Jackie

[elkk]

Thanks Jackie,

Great article very informative 😀

Elkk au

[PaulaS Volunteer]

Great article Jackie. Many thanks.

I've inserted the link into the 30 Tips post. There's already one there and maybe it doesn't need two, but recognising shingles is such an important thing...

Paula

[BeckyLUSA]

Great article, but one thing missing is the fact that you can have shingles without the rash. I had shingles in the trigeminal nerve on the left side. My pain was a severe headache. It felt like a bad sinus infection. I had what I thought was a “pimple” beside my mouth and one beside my ear, on the same side. Both looked just like ordinary pimples. I had a spot inside my mouth and nose, but these did not appear until after my diagnosis. The ER doctor I saw was able to more quickly diagnose the shingles only because I had the Ramsey Hunt Syndrome to go with it, a Bell’s Palsy.

BeckyL USA

[NooNoo14]

Thanks Jackie. As part of my CLL Trial medications, I take Acyclovir. I assume this is to limit the severity if I develop Shingles rather than stopping me developing it at all?

Netty

[Jm954 Administrator in reply to NooNoo14]

Hi Netty,

It's intended as prophylaxis to prevent you getting shingles but if you think you might have developed it the same prompt action is needed.

Jackie

[NooNoo14]

Thanks Jackie - good to know.

Hope you're doing ok.

Netty

[Jm954 Administrator in reply to NooNoo14]

I'm good thanks Netty x

[NooNoo14 in reply to Jm954]

Glad to hear...

[caven]

Is there any reason why a person with CLL (AND his/her closed family/same-household members) should <NOT> get the Shingrix vaccine?

I ask because I can't think of any contraindications.

Caven

[Wroxham]

Thanks for info. Jackie.

Sue