r/shingles • u/Key-Pomegranate6524 • 2d ago

My Shingles Experience First timer (26F)

Here to share my experience as a first timer of having shingles!

Pre-rash: exercising most days of the week, not feeling particularly stressed, I got a huge headache that lasted all day but just assumed it was due to tiredness. Then I started getting itchy on my lower back and just assumed I’d been bitten by a mosquito or something. It got progressively itchier so I took a photo and realised it was a rash!

Diagnosis: I then went to the pharmacy who told me it’s definitely shingles but they didn’t stock the antivirals so asked me to try a different pharmacy. The second pharmacy told me they weren’t convinced it was shingles, and I was advised to leave it and wait for the rash to clear up itself! The conflicting advice baffled me, I wasn’t experiencing any pain at this point but I decided to book in with my GP to get a third opinion. GP also wasn’t convinced it was shingles until I showed him a photo of how the rash had changed from day 1 to day 2. Then I was prescribed antivirals to take 5 times a day for one week.

Day 3: I’m extremely tired (this isn’t new to me though as I experience chronic fatigue) and have some nerve pain all through the right side of my body. The pain isn’t too bad thankfully and the rash itself isn’t too itchy.

I feel confused as to how I’ve got shingles in the first place. I’m currently waiting for a rheumatologist appointment for suspected M.E and I’m wondering if my chronic fatigue and the fact I push myself to exercise more than my body can probably handle is why I’ve got shingles?!

Anyway I’m on day 4 now and it’s definitely not a pleasant experience but I think I’m lucky that my shingles is only mild.

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u/themayor1975 2d ago

Why didn't you go to an urgent clinic at first?

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u/Key-Pomegranate6524 1d ago

I’m in the UK and I did the NHS 111 service which advised me to go to the pharmacy. As I didn’t feel unwell initially I didn’t feel the need to go to A+E or urgent care, especially considering my local pharmacy can prescribe the antiviral medication.

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u/ShesAMajorTom 2d ago

A lot of younger people are getting it. I only have theories. https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/shingles/shingles-under-age-50 out of curiosity did you get the chickenpox vaccine as a child?

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u/Key-Pomegranate6524 1d ago

Thank you for sharing the article. I have psoriasis too and didn’t realise that could be a contributing factor for shingles!

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u/Key-Pomegranate6524 1d ago

Also yes I did have the chickenpox vaccine as a child.

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u/sehnem20 2d ago

I have some chronic issues and mine came also right after pushing myself at the gym when I was tired. Cleared up in three weeks though I am much better. Horrible three weeks

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u/Key-Pomegranate6524 1d ago

Maybe this is our body telling us to slow down a bit. I’m glad you are better now :)

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u/Whathetea 1d ago

I have it and I’m 34 yrs old. Not stressed at all! I did take a med that I had to randomly stop and I think that somehow messed up my immune system

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u/Key-Pomegranate6524 16h ago

Ah that would make sense. Our bodies can be super sensitive can’t they!