Damnit. Pretty sure I'm getting shingles again for the second time in 6 months.

[LuckyCharms]

I've had both of my shingles shots.

Several months back, had shingles in right pubic area. Open sores. That eventually resolved.

Now, stinging and burning pain in right-side flank. No sores yet, just burning and stinging on the skin. It's difficult to wear a shirt...very sensitive.

Unrelated doctor's appointment tomorrow. Hopefully, she'll be able to diagnose without seeing any sores.

The previous case was in an area about the size of a silver dollar. This time, it's my whole right flank. So goddamn annoying.

Ok...I'm done whining.

[badhair77]

1. Whine away if it makes you feel better.

I hope your situation can be remedied soon. I’ve seen shingles and it looks miserable but you know from experience. Sending good thoughts that it’s something easily treated.

[dweller]

2. Damn

I was of the understanding that that shingles was a one and done affliction … unless you are in the minor % of those who have 2+ bouts …

I may have had 1 bout … slapped some aloe on it and covered it with a gauze bandage x2 times and it cleared up eventually.
I never had it diagnosed , it was my left scapula and couldn’t even see it , but it felt like what you described.

Hope you get relief soon



✌🏻

[LuckyCharms]

4. I'm thinking it might be...

Postherpetic Neuralgia, which happens in 10% to 18% of people who have had shingles.

Especially since there are no sores...

It's such a weird feeling.

[dweller]

7. Try the aloe

Most have lidocaine for numbing , which does help for the pain , and the aloe speeds healing


✌🏻

[AllyCat]

20. No, I got it twice about a year apart.

Uncommon but happens in about 3-5% of people.

[ret5hd]

3. looking at it all wrong...

they’re “trump bumps”.

don’t you feel better now?

[2naSalit]

5. ...

[debm55]

6. Take care LuckyCharms. I was on vacation in NYC. and woke up with it on the right side of my face. Eyelid was included.

It hurt like hell.They gave me painkillers to get home. I looked like a monster. I wish you good luck at the doctor.

[Tumbulu]

8. So sorry! Hoping that it goes away soon!!!!

And or that you get help!

[LoisB]

9. I have heard they are miserable. I hope you are better soon.

[fantase56]

10. Ask the doc for

valacyclovir. I’ve had great success with this antiviral drug. Seems to stave off the post herpatic neuralgia if taken in a timely manner.

[AllyCat]

19. Yes! This!

[SirReal69]

11. Why wouldn't...

you get the shingles vaccine?

[niyad]

13. D8d you miss the sentence "I have had my two shots"?

[Marthe48]

12. Hope it isn't

The first time seemed pretty painful.

Sending healing thoughts

[niyad]

14. Holding you in love and light, LC. So sorry to hear this

[evemac]

15. Shingles is THE WORST.

Hope you feel better soon.

[MLAA]

16. All the best wishes for a quick diagnosis and recovery.

[JMCKUSICK]

17. I can't imagine what that must be like to go through LuckyCharms,

but as a chronic pain sufferer, I wish you speedy and long lasting relief.

[AllyCat]

18. Ugh. So much stress that brings this on!

Get yourself started on some Valtrex stat.

[Marie Marie]

21. Whatever it is, may it heal quickly for you.

[Figarosmom]

22. I found that laying down in a warm bath of lavender

Oil really helped. If you can get fresh lavender. Boil some, stems and all and dump like 2 cups into your bath. ( The water I let stand over night with the lavender still in it) was stronger and the relief lasted longer. I suppose it would work the same way with time or rosemary too.

[summer_in_TX]

23. Damn. Shingles sux.

My mother-in-law had it perhaps three times. Once inside her mouth and throat. Another friend had two rounds last year. I sure hope my Shingrex vaccinations protect me from it. They're awful.

So sorry. But I hope it is something else, easily treated and short lasting!

[LudwigPastorius]

24. That sucks mightily.

If she says it's shingles, don't leave her office without an acyclovir prescription to nip that in the bud.

I, not knowing what I had at the time, waited about a day and a half too long to get an anti-viral, and 6 years later I still have pain from the damage done from motherfucking shingles

[Donkees]

25. Stress, Certain immunosuppressive medications, like prednisone, can increase the risk of shingles ...

Certain medications, particularly immunosuppressive drugs used in the treatment of autoimmune conditions, like prednisone, increase the risk of shingles in susceptible individuals by affecting the immune system.

The occurrence of shingles is closely linked to one's immune status.

Stress. Prolonged, high levels of stress, including physical trauma and emotional stress, can weaken the immune system and trigger shingles.

https://www.arthritis-health.com/blog/your-medication-raising-your-risk-shingles

I really thought your thread was going to be about roofing repairs.

[Rhiagel]

26. I had that @#$% when I was 12-years-old.

It covered my left arm from my fingers up to my biceps. It burned and hurt like hell and sapped all the energy of that arm. Lasted for weeks and was such a nuisance especially during PE class. The doctor took pictures because he had't seen anyone that young with it back in the '70s. No valtrex then. Probably brought on by stress with best friends moving away and starting junior high. Fortunately, it finally went away and never returned. Knock on wood.

I wish for you a speedy permanent recovery as shingles is nothing but a bitch.

[agingdem]

27. Shingles is not a once in a life time thing..

when I was 31 (I'm 77) and pre-chicken pox vaccine, my children contracted the virus (varicella-zoster) and generously "shared" it with me, a childhood disease I missed..they recovered quickly but I didn't..permanent hearing loss (one ear), severe bouts of vertigo to this day, and unrelenting shingles (varicella-zoster)...

[MiHale]

28. Darn Lucky...spring is coming...

Stay out of thunderstorms…you don’t want to get hit by lightning a few times.
Sending healing vibes…

[Henry203]

29. Your doctor should

Give you anti viral medicine, steroids and over the counter cortisol. That is what I took when I had it.

[LuckyCharms]

30. Update: She put me on an anti-viral.

Lymphocyte bloodwork came back wonky.

Hope the medicine does the trick.

Thank you for your comments!

[Laffy Kat]

31. Oh no! I'm quite sympathetic.

If you have any anti-virals left over from the other time, see if the doctor will let you start them up again.

I am so sorry you're going thought this, LC. I know how much it sucks and not in a good way.

[NNadir]

32. My good friend, I certainly hope you recover quickly and fully.

It sucks I'm sure. The good thing about stuff that sucks is getting past it.

Not all vaccines are 100% effective, but many do if they fail to prevent a disease or syndrome, do accelerate recovery time.
Varicella-zoster is a DNA virus, and thus doesn't form mutants quite as quickly as do RNA viruses. However, multiple variants are known.

I don't know how "sciency" you are but there's a nice open sourced paper free for the public to read Pichlmair et al. Nature Microbiology 10 2048-2072 (2025).

It says that antiviral drugs are the best treatment. Sometimes, channeling my old man, I think growing old can be painful. But having arrived at old age, and out living that nicotine addict, I often remark to the point of absurdity, that the alternative was dying young.

Despite the pain you're experiencing we're glad you're here. Recover quickly and be well.

[Vinca]

33. I got shingles many years ago and had that complicating nightmare of postherpetic neuralgia.

It took a year of treatment with gabapentin to totally get rid of the pain. Anyhow, because of that I've always been too afraid to get the shingles vaccine because I'm worried it would stir things up again. Dumb, I know, but so far so good. Sounds like you caught it early which is definitely a good thing. Damn that childhood chicken pox.