[AMA] I Have Shingles & In the Worst Pain Of My Life (40/M)

Saul Goodman on 12/08/2024 - 17:30

I couldn't find a shingles post so here we go…

Day 1 - 4 weeks ago I went to bed and started to feel pain in my right rib. I'm fairly active so thought it must have been gym related and thought nothing of it.

Day 2 - Next morning I woke up and still had the pain but also pain on my back, still fairly mild but constant. Still thought it was just gym related because I have had back pain in the same area before. Thought maybe nerve related and that was causing the pain to radiate to the ribs. That afternoon I was flying to Melbourne for a short 3 night trip - still caught the flight. Woke up at 2am and it felt like someone had taken a baseball bat and smashed every bone body in my torso. It was the most pain I ever felt in my life. I was just laying in bed in agony, trying to somehow fall asleep as I didn't want to go to hospital.

Day 3 - Woke up in moderate/severe pain and went straight to the doctors who did a heart scan and sent me off to get a chest xray which would come back the following day. There was still just pain and no rash showing so he gave me codeine for the pain. Realised the codeine was not helping with the pain but alcohol did help. Went to sleep and woke up at 1-2 am and again the most pain I have ever felt before. It was like every bone had been smashed and I was laying on the ground in completely agony for an hour before I got tired and got a few hours asleep. This night was worse than the other before. I should have gone to hospital then.

Day 4 - Woke up and noticed some red patches and thought farkk now I have internal bleeding and went straight to hospital. One look and the nurse immediately knew it was shingles. I was put on anti virals and some stronger pain meds.

Day 5 - 14. After starting the anti virals, it started to feel a bit better. It was still a constant minimum 5/10 pain and I would still wake up a lot in pain but nothing like before.

Day 15+ Onwards - After finishing the anti virals, all the pain came back with vengeance. I am constantly in pain and have not had 1 night since where I have not woken up at least 4-5x times in agony.

The pain goes from feeling like my bones have been smashed, to feeling like someone has poured acid on my skin to there being a million bugs crawling under my skin and if I go to touch the skin, it feels like I'm touching it with razor blades. Thankfully I don't get pain from water touching my skin and have found showers/baths are my best relief.

I'm on a number of pain meds and antidepressents which can help with nerve pain. Tried 7 different creams which provides very minimal relief and all the suggested diet/supplement changes. Going to try Vitamin C drips soon to see if that helps. It's looking more like I have postherpetic neuralgia now which is nerve damaged caused from the shingles and can last for months, or years or a lifetime. I'm literally scared of going to bed at night because I know how much pain I'm going to wake up with in a couple of hours. Ask me anything lol

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • SnowDragon on 12/08/2024 - 17:35
    +8

    Do you own any eneloops and if so, how many?

    • Saul Goodman on 12/08/2024 - 17:36
      +13

      Yes, 2 x 4 packs of both AA and AAA

      • mnc on 14/08/2024 - 12:53
        +3

        Hi mate, I was in the same boat like you just about a month ago. I had shingles about three years ago and I knew what it felt like. I mentioned it to the doctors, but the doctors still gave me opioids, Which are not effective painkillers for shingles as it’s NERV pain. Anyway, Long story short, What worked for me was topical nerve patch on the site of pain. It worked like magic straightaway. It’s available over-the-counter in chemist (Nervoderm Lignocaine 5 Dermal Patch
        ). This patch is specially design for this purpose. The silly part is, it was not prescribed by Dr. I had to go figure it out myself. I haven’t read the whole thread. I’m sorry if someone’s already advised this to you.

        • serpserpserp on 14/08/2024 - 17:28

          I would like to know how both of you contracted shingles? Any theories? If not, did the doctors give you an idea of how you got it?

          • mnc on 14/08/2024 - 17:33

            @serpserpserp: I have had chickenpox as a kid. And once you have had this viral infection, the virus stays dormant in your body and gets “activated” causing symptoms when your immunity is down.

  • EightImmortals on 12/08/2024 - 17:36
    +2

    Got weed?

    • Saul Goodman on 12/08/2024 - 17:37
      +5

      Funny enough, getting a pen tonight to see if it helps.

    • Cave Fire on 12/08/2024 - 18:22

      helps dramatically with skin problems

  • BoltThrower on 12/08/2024 - 17:48

    I'm sorry to hear that, it sounds awful!
    Have you had tests to see how well your immune system is functioning? I've read elsewhere that shingles can emerge when it's compromised.
    Are you changing your diet as to not aggravate possible neuralgia? (eg alcohol)

    • Saul Goodman on 12/08/2024 - 17:59
      +1

      I had blood tests done around 5 months ago and everything was good. My lifestyle / eating habits is already much healthier than most others but I'm going to keep improving on it. I did have a lingering cold right before I got the shingles so my immune was down. It's common for stress to cause shingles when you're already unwell, but I wasn't under any. I'm not a big drinker but will be more wary of my intake.

  • garetz on 12/08/2024 - 17:55

    The way you are describing the associated pain is much worse than shingles would give you unless your tolerance for pain is very low.

    Did you have chicken pox as a kid ?

    • Saul Goodman on 12/08/2024 - 18:02
      +1

      Yes to chicken pox. I believe you can only get shingles if you have had it.

      My tolerance to pain is very high. There's obviously going to be degrees of severity. I've read a couple of comments on reddit from females saying their pain was on the same level as child birth.

      • iCandy on 13/08/2024 - 08:26
        +1

        I was lulled into a false sense of security by others who had had mild doses of shingles. The younger you get it, usually the milder it is. I’m 61 and got it about 6 weeks ago. Rash on upper breast, armpit and upper back. Excruciating pain down to the tips of my fingers. Couldn’t wear a bra for a couple of weeks. My doctor advised Soov burn spray from the chemist. It’s got 2% lidocaine in it. It was a Godsend as the painkillers don’t work well. The pain is slowly getting better. My armpit is the most painful area still. Apparently we are immune from getting Shingles again, however, have read many accounts of people getting it more than once. The vaccine is still an option, though comes with some health concerns so do your research and make your decision from there. Good luck.

        • foursaken on 13/08/2024 - 16:52
          +2

          You are certainly not "immune from getting shingles again".

        • trapper on 14/08/2024 - 13:05
          +2

          Apparently we are immune from getting Shingles again

          No you are not immune, can reoccur many times. Get the vaccine.

        • try2bhelpful on 14/08/2024 - 16:18

          Had the vaccine with minimal side effects. Just felt a bit rundown and a sore arm. However, as you said YMMV.

          Looked at what my dad went through with getting shingles on his head and went “no way”.

    • MeesusEff on 13/08/2024 - 12:14
      +1

      I've read a thread on ask reddit on the worst pain you've ever felt and shingles came up a lot

      "Shingles. Had it on the upper left side of my back and wrapped around to under my left boob. The pain is at a constant 9 with no waves of pain, just constant pain. It goes all the way into your muscles and nerves so it’s not just a superficial pain. It felt like a red hot poker was being dragged across and stabbing me with it. "

      • CurlCurl on 13/08/2024 - 13:37

        I've read a thread on ask reddit on the worst pain you've ever felt and shingles came up a lot

        If you haven't had kidney stones you haven't had pain.

    • gromit on 14/08/2024 - 14:36

      Shingles can be absolutely debilitating pain. Yes many people have it mild to moderate pain, but it can be absolute agony.

  • PensionerXXL on 12/08/2024 - 18:01
    +3

    so it's fair to say, it aint saul goodman

    • TEER3X on 12/08/2024 - 18:13
      -1

      There isn't enough evidence to imply causality. This is consistent with TGA findings.

      I did have a lingering cold right before I got the shingles so my immune was down

      OP stated the above, this is the most likely reason. Obviously it's not definitive.

      • mskeggs on 12/08/2024 - 18:24
        +12

        But what if you really want to believe it is covid vaccine related? What does your modern “evidence” based medicine have to say against a deeply held want?

        • Mad Max on 13/08/2024 - 10:43
          -7

          What if you really want to believe it is NOT covid vaccine related because the covid vaccine is safe and effective?
          Well at least you would fit right in with the Ozbargain crowd.

      • GordonD on 12/08/2024 - 18:53

        This is consistent with TGA findings.

        Whilst not arguing they are wrong in this case, after having dealt with GPs, specialists and the TGA itself a lot over the last few years, I wouldn't trust its conclusion as far as I can kick them. For the simple reason that they won't list something as linked until it is reported, and its not reported until the TGA links it. No-one is reporting things to them. Their conclusions are based on under-reporting. When it came to COVID vaccine adverse events the TGA didn't do any pre-preparation of the medical profession to look for vaccine adverse events, so the level of ignorance out where the patients go to their GPs and ask for diagnosis and help was mind boggling. Everything that might be a vaccine - any vaccine - adverse event was simply written off as something else that didn't respond to treatment when it was treated as being something else.

        Every time I see a new specialist on some other matter they want to know my medical history, they don't have a clue outside their own little area of specialty. But that doesn't stop them thinking - like all smart people and experts - that because they know a lot about something, they know a lot about everything. I don't claim to know much about medicine except what I've bothered researching thoroughly because I have or might have had it. But you can't tell them that means you know more about that particular thing outside their area of expertise than they do. That's not an auto-immune condition. Well, everyone else but you thinks it is. You've got something. No, I don't, I've got something else altogether. You can't have had that, because its always fatal. (That was GBS by the way.) Rubbish, it killed only one of the 173 Australians officially acknowledged by the TGA as having got it as a result of the COVID vaccination. Its really tiresome when you just want to tell them your medical history that they won't accept they don't know everything about everything.

      • iCandy on 13/08/2024 - 08:28
        -1

        I got Shingles after the flu vaccine. Not saying they are definitely connected, but worth a thought.

        • Jono05 on 13/08/2024 - 20:36

          I got shingles a few days after my daughter got her chicken pox vaccine, which I took her to get. That was about 16 years ago. I think it took a couple of weeks for the pain to subside.

    • freefall101 on 12/08/2024 - 20:45
      +2

      Note that VZV reactivation is a well-established phenomenon both with infections and with other vaccines (i.e. this adverse event is not COVID-19-specific)

      Unless they just had a covid vaccine (which is pretty uncommon for a 40 year old these days) it's likely another infection or vaccine.

      In other words, why do you bring up the vaccine and not that covid itself might have caused it?

    • Ughhh on 12/08/2024 - 20:46
      +7

      Damn all the people who got shingles before 2019 must've time traveled to 2024, got a covid vaccine and travelled back in time!

    • chichi on 14/08/2024 - 02:46
      -1

      Covid attacks your immune system. It’s more likely you would get shingles after numerous bouts of Covid than the vaccine.

  • CurlCurl on 12/08/2024 - 19:59
    -1

    Every time I see a new specialist on some other matter they want to know my medical history, they don't have a clue outside their own little area of specialty.

    At least they know how to spell.

  • elgrande on 12/08/2024 - 20:05

    Did you have chickenpox as a child?

    (I didn't)

    • Saul Goodman on 12/08/2024 - 20:11

      Yes

    • AdosHouse on 12/08/2024 - 21:44

      I never did. Now I know if I get it as an adult that Shingles is very likely.

      • trapper on 14/08/2024 - 13:07

        If you never had chickenpox you won't get shingles.

        But chickenpox is very bad as an adult so get the chickenpox vaccine asap.

        • serpserpserp on 14/08/2024 - 18:03
          +1

          If you never had chickenpox you won't get shingles.

          No you can get shingles from somebody else that has shingles.

    • morse on 13/08/2024 - 03:47
      +1

      Have you had the chickenpox vaccine? Might be worthwhile if not, chickenpox is brutal as an adult. I think most kids get vaccinated for chickenpox these days so depends on your age.

      • elgrande on 13/08/2024 - 04:19

        Thanks, I'll look into it.

  • vince088 on 12/08/2024 - 20:30

    I had mine 3 years ago at 33, yes very painful. Took 1 week off work

  • Cheap Gamer on 13/08/2024 - 07:44
    +7

    See a doctor immediately if you get a rash on your face. Shingles near the eyes can ruin your sight.

  • mrdean on 13/08/2024 - 09:13
    -6

    Had a close friend in his 40's go through this. He described it as the worst pain of his life too. Got over it ok, but it took a long time, there were no lingering effects.

    Years ago, I came across this presentation by Gary Goldman, it's worth a look.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9owLjgItcJU

    "Gary Goldman, Ph.D., presents his varicella vaccine findings and whistleblower experience as a lead research analyst in the Antelope Valley Varicella Active Surveillance Project. He describes how a national chickenpox vaccine program altered the epidemiology of shingles, and ways in which the CDC manipulated data to conceal the unwanted outcomes that occurred."

    Like a lot of things in the medical field, we haven't been told the full story. Interestingly, those generations of kids that went through natural chickenpox infection later in adulthood if exposed to the younger generation going through chickenpox, would get naturally "boosted" just by being around them. With the mass immunization of children for chickenpox during the 1990's this has created a situation where there is minimal or no natural "boosting" occurring, thereby setting the stage for an upsurge in "shingles", & coincidentally creating a huge $$$ market for shingles vaccines.

    • SBOB on 13/08/2024 - 10:00
      +4

      those generations of kids that went through natural chickenpox infection

      and survived.
      Lets ignore the possible increased deaths due to chickenpox prior to vaccination and just mark it up to survival of the fittest.
      https://www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/13-the-success-of-chic…

      and there's studies showed increases in shingles prior to vaccination, eg random google scholar example
      https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4161/hv.34426

      • mrdean on 13/08/2024 - 10:11
        -3

        and survived.

        Both chickenpox & measles were always considered "generally mild diseases"* in the pre-mass immunization era for kids in the first world.

        After introduction of mass immunization campaigns, the generally mild diseases were suddenly transformed into potentially deadly illnesses that must be eradicated. As usual, there is no consideration if the "safe & effective" vaccines are actually causing more harm than good…..because the populations belief in vaccines must be maintained at all costs.

        *the Siedler & Dettmann study mentions this in relation to chickenpox.

        • CurlCurl on 13/08/2024 - 11:40
          +4

          Both chickenpox & measles were always considered "generally mild diseases"* in the pre-mass immunization era for kids in the first world.

          https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/28-05-2024-joint-press-…

          German Measles.

          In pregnant women the virus infects the placenta and the developing fetus. Infection by rubella virus is characterized by a transient rash. Joint pain and arthritis rarely occur in children, but may affect up to 70% of adults. Rubella virus can be found in nose and throat secretions and urine from 1 week before to 2 weeks after rash onset, although infants with congenital rubella may excrete the virus for a year or more in pharyngeal secretions and urine.

          Congenital rubella syndrome is caused by infection in early pregnancy; from just before conception and during the first 8-10 weeks of gestation rubella infection may result in multiple fetal defects in up to 90% of cases, affecting many organs and often results in miscarriage or stillbirth. Infants with congenital rubella syndrome that survive may face serous developmental disabilities.

          Don't know if you have kids. If you do I pity them.

    • try2bhelpful on 14/08/2024 - 10:19
      +3

      My suggestion is people stop looking at your junk links and actually go to reputable sites. I know you find people doing proper research is offensive. YouTube videos are not scientific research. These diseases ravaged native populations who hadn’t encountered them before. That drum of yours is really not well built.

  • Pcosmic on 13/08/2024 - 09:44

    What's shingles?

    • SBOB on 13/08/2024 - 10:01
      +3

      A reactivation of the chickenpox virus in the body, causing a painful rash.

  • datscheap on 13/08/2024 - 10:20

    Sorry for your discomfort.
    Danes translation for shingles is hell's fire for good reason.

    I have family with it and his pain was unbearable. He would badly accidentally burn himself on the stove and not notice it as the shingles pain was all his focus.
    He found the drug Lyrica helped him- and over years it did get better.

    • Saul Goodman on 13/08/2024 - 10:47

      I'm on Amitriptyline atm but if I don't get any relief by next week, the doc said he is going to change me over to Lyrica.

    • derrida derider on 14/08/2024 - 17:31

      Lyrica is a terrific drug for nerve pain but it can precipitate some really serious mental health issues in a minority of people. Use with caution.

  • Ghost47 on 13/08/2024 - 18:26

    Well this sounds freaking scary. Can the pain kill you? On a scale of 1-10 what would you have rated the pain?

    • Saul Goodman on 14/08/2024 - 08:41
      +1

      Most of the day it's probably around a 6-7 but every nearly every night since I got it, I've woken up during the night with a 9-10.

      Don't think it will kill you, but what I have, postherpetic neuralgia (basically nerve damage), is the number one cause of pain related suicide.

  • kizzy on 14/08/2024 - 08:01
    +1

    I had singles on my face and in one eye. Very painful!

    • chrisd262 on 14/08/2024 - 16:45
      +1

      worst possible location

      • kizzy on 14/08/2024 - 17:27

        I got away with only minor eye damage luckily

  • try2bhelpful on 14/08/2024 - 10:16
    +7

    My dad got it on his face as well. Apart from the unbelievable pain you can get scabs inside the eye socket and he ended up with scarring.

    There is a pair of shingles shots. They are free for over 65s but they aren’t cheap otherwise. However, if you have private health insurance you can get some money back. We staggered our shots so they were in two different calendar years to get the most back from our health insurance.

    https://www.health.gov.au/topics/immunisation/vaccines/shing…

    • trapper on 14/08/2024 - 13:11
      +2

      Who downvotes a comment like this??

      • JimB on 14/08/2024 - 16:08

        The same people who don't believe in Covid.

    • JimB on 14/08/2024 - 16:09

      What's the cost of shingle vaccines?

      I should check if my PHI covers it.

      • try2bhelpful on 14/08/2024 - 17:00

        Roughly $300 per shot and you need two shots. Our reimbursement was under pharmaceutical benefits. We got $174.50 back from NIB per shot.

        • JimB on 14/08/2024 - 17:34

          Wow, I thought it was going to be $20 like the flu shot lol

  • garbagetnt on 14/08/2024 - 13:03

    has anyone wondered why they name their stores https://www.shingleinn.com/locations/

  • trapper on 14/08/2024 - 13:10
    +1

    There is a shingles vaccine.

    It's only free above age 65, but since it affected you so badly I would just pay for it out of pocket to avoid a repeat of that pain and trauma.

    • notmariya on 14/08/2024 - 16:11

      its about 300 bucks a shot, and you need two taken six months apart.

      qualifying for free shingles shots is probably the best thing developing an auto immune disorder has given me.

      • trapper on 14/08/2024 - 16:31
        +1

        $600 sounds a lot less painful that what OP went through.

  • Commander Shepard on 14/08/2024 - 15:18

    Do you have private health insurance? Or are using the public system?

    Do you think one is better then the other for this specific condition?

  • navegante88 on 14/08/2024 - 15:33

    I had shingles a few years back, i had it on my head! felt like someone was constantly drilling into the back of my skull. When I got to the Dr they said it was too late to take any meds and just wait it out. Would not recommend.

    • chrisd262 on 14/08/2024 - 16:44

      not true medication is designed to stop it

      • May4th on 14/08/2024 - 18:47

        not effective if taken >72hrs from onset

  • sajuuk on 14/08/2024 - 16:00
    -1

    Had shingle last year. Taking both antivirals and L-lysine + B complex. Now occasionally take L-lysine as a preventable measure.

  • bakerboo on 14/08/2024 - 16:21
    +1

    Had it towards the end of last year on my scalp and face. Understand your pain mate. Fortunate that it has mostly gone away with some intense sensitivity in the affected areas every now and then. Hope it dramatically improves for you soon!

  • mnc on 14/08/2024 - 16:32
    +2

    This is the solution
    https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/85047/nervoderm-lign…

    • May4th on 14/08/2024 - 18:02

      and/or capsaicin

  • chrisd262 on 14/08/2024 - 16:43

    Nothing much you can do - lucky not in face and eyes that is the worst.
    You have to take the prescribed medication for 1 week I think. It worked for me.

    Hospitals not interested as you are not contagious - except for pregnant women.

    If anyone has had Chickenpox you have dormant Shingles. 100% guaranteed
    It will only become active in stressful times etc and it can come back!!

    GET VACCINATED NOW!!!

  • sushimonster on 14/08/2024 - 17:26

    lucky u got it sorted early

  • CocaKoala on 14/08/2024 - 17:43

    Sorry about your condition and I hope you recover and feel better soon.

    My questions:

    • Do you regularly rotate the tyres in your car to reduce uneven wear?
    • What side of the bed do you sleep on?
    • How do you feel about the fact that the moon is ever so slowly drifting away from the earth?
    • How many species of spiders do you think you could readily identify?
  • FlyingMiffy on 14/08/2024 - 17:51
    +1

    OP got lucky that he got to a doc before antivirals cut off date post which is "wait til it subsides" kinda treatment. Had shingles in my mid 20s due to prolonged work stress (probably the hardest ive ever worked in my career) and yes, the nerve pain can get quite bad. I have no questions, just wishing you good luck on the recovery.

  • Generous stooge on 14/08/2024 - 19:16

    I can vouch for the medicated patches.
    If the post herpetic neuralgia continues, speak to your GP about getting prescribed some of the older drugs for depression that act as neuro blockers - I've been on low dose endep and it works well

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