I tried gerbapentin, Bendryl, capsacin, lidocaine but nothing helped, finally I was told by my mother in law’s maid to apply non flavored yogurt on my rashes and washed it off after 1 hour.. Sometimes I even kept it overnight n was finally able to sleep peacefully I pray in Jesus name this helps someone out there 🙌🏼
I applied Manuka honey onto my rashes each day after taking a cool shower with colloidal oatmeal, it works wonders. I only got few blisters before diagnosed with shingles and after my diagnosis, I applied Manuka honey right away and tape on sterile gauze. Besides those few blisters (one is tiny cluster) at the beginning and the terrible pain, only few of my new rashes developed into blisters that much because I applied Manuka honey, no itching and reduce scarring too. Manuka honey is anti bacterial and anti viral. Now my skin is on its way to healing, I don’t need to apply anti viral like Manuka honey anymore, so I apply healing ointment to moisturize it to help reduce scarring and itchiness.
I tried yogurt myself. I never read about it. It just came to me and it worked on another rash. I am not sure if it was shingles. Strange. I am glad it worked.
Non flavored yoghurt.. U have to apply it twice a day and leave it for 30 mins and take a shower, u need to continue this daily till u get permanent relief..Trust me , no doctor recommended creams or tablets helped me, only plain yogurt
THANK YOU! It is nice to hear from a professional. I am a heart transplant patient and in week two of shingles. It is miserable. Praying it goes away soon. I want to help build my parent's home. 46 yrs old
I met my friend when she was battling stage 3 breast cancer. She survived complications and setbacks. Then she got a debilitating case of Lyme disease that took months to diagnose and years to find effective treatment. It left her with permanent chronic neurological issues. At the time she said her Lyme disease ordeal was way worse than going through chemotherapy. THEN she got shingles on her face, from her temple to neck that took months for the pain to subside. She said THAT was more painful and way harder to endure than her cancer & Lyme experiences combined. I am radically vigilent avoiding ticks and was SO relieved to get the shingles vaccines as soon as allowed.
I had shingles at 22. It took a month to get any doctor to listen. They all said I was “too young” for shingles and it was just a rash. Thankful a lovely ER nurse advocated for me and got them to do more than just look.
My daughter had chicken pox at 7 years old . She had shingles st 16 and her doctor could hardly believe a 16 year old had shingles but he treated it right away and it cleared up right away.
My daughter was told she was too young for endometriosis at 15 by SO many Drs. The youngest diagnosis of my daughters specialist Dr. has diagnosed, last I heard, was 9 years of age for endometriosis. Some Drs are really uneducated.
I worked for Drs and always made me so mad when they would tell people they were too young. Some things are rare but that shouldn’t cause them to not listen to their patients! Your never too young for anything
@HGCUPCAKES I have shingles ongoing for almost 2 months now. I am taking acyclovir five times a day and gabapenten 3 times a day, the rash seems to a bit better. How much longer will this go on, is there an end in sight?
Aren’t there any medication’s that you can take to alleviate the pain? I’m sure you need more than ibuprofen, but I would think of the condition is so painful that something could be prescribed.
I did receive medication that helped stopped the spreading and spasms but there isn’t really anything for the nerve pain. Feels like your nerves are being ripped apart all the time until the rashes dry. Cold showers were the only thing that helped. So many cold showers. Anything that touches them is excruciating for me at least and I was 34.
Oxycodone is not effective? I thought that was the strongest painkiller there was that’s what they gave me when I broke my wrist. It worked really good and I never got addicted to it. It’s OxyContin that had the big problem.
34 and had shingles when I was 8. It did wrap around my midline. I have scars from it. And have post herpetic neuralgia on my back and ribs where it wrapped around. It was one of the most painful times of my life. Right before the bumps broke out and during, it felt like my lungs were being crushed with every breath I took. I wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy. To this day I get random pains that felt like when I had shingles, and I worry it's an invisible breakout. It doesn't last long, but it's very similar. Thank you for sharing all this 💚💚
What? You have to have chicken pox before you have shingles. Shingles is the virus of chicken pox . You can Google that.. From Google : No, you can't get shingles if you've never had chickenpox. However, it's possible to be exposed to chickenpox without realizing it, which can make you vulnerable to shingles later in life”
I've had shingles dozens of times since my early 20's. I can feel it tingling up and down my back weeks before it breaks out, and I find that making a concerted effort to lie down every afternoon for at least 20 minutes, whether I sleep or not, is enough to calm it down and keep it from blistering. I've gone two years without an outbreak, and that's the longest I've ever gone shingles free in my life.
I also could feel the tingling on the right side of my back I never broke out in a rash until 4weeks later. But the rash appeared on the back of my right leg behind my knee. Told my doctor this and they said that is unlikely. She said the rash would have been on my back.🤷🏻♀️
@@ema_9 When I was going through my divorce, I had a break out on my back every month for five months. Every other month after that for the rest of the year. Stress, for me, makes it active and I can feel it before it starts.
I'm 57 and have just got shingles. Had chicken pox when I was young. Am lucky I work in a hospital suspected what it was. Got it diagnosed quickly and was given medication for it. So all good. Thank you for your video it was very helpful and informative.
Just got diagnosed yesterday. I’m 39 and don’t feel all that unwell but the rash is characteristic of shingles and very sore. I’m glad to have this informative video
I felt that your description of the pain and itching made it seem much more mild than it actually is. I didn’t realize I had shingles, but thought I’d been bitten by multiple spiders when picking fruit. It was very itchy and kept getting more painful. I called the doctor after 6 days and he wanted me to come right in, in case it WAS shingles, so I could get a shot before the weekend. It’s extremely painful and itchy! I had it on one shoulder.
I have had chicken pox. My younger brother actually got shingles when he was 40. It was unusual in that as you said, it typically appears in older people. But I think he was severely stressed at the time so it popped right back up in him. Thankfully no lasting complications. Thank you for such an informative video, I hope people really pay attention to this.
Had shingles at age 52, from the crown of my head down to my left eye. I was misdiagnosed until it was too late to take antivirals, but a great doc saved my vision. I still have a lovely scar on my forehead and a hole in my lashes 12 years later. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated because I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone!
Same happened to me ,my right eye had bleeding inside my eye ball . I was so scared. But now have Glaucoma in my right eye and when I'm stressed or tired my right eye hurts and my head tingles and I feel burning sensation so I lay down and pray I'm going to be ok. I would never wish this on my worst enemy.😢
@@gianna3582 the friends of mine that got shingles were really stressed. I got shingles at 39 from a lot of stress. My sister got it when she was extremely stressed. I got the Shingrix vaccine in my early 40's because I had shingles close to my eye.
I had shingles on the left side of my head that was originally misdiagnosed as foliculitus (sp). It was the worst pain of my life and I had a hard time sleeping for two weeks waiting to get the proper diagnosis and medicine. Stay healthy folks! I was about 38 at the time and under a lot of stress.
So glad you made this video! I feel like most people have heard of shingles but don't really know what it looks like or how to deal with it when you get it. And it is pretty miserable, no matter how old or healthy you are when you develop it! I feel like it develops when you're already battling one or more illnesses, and maybe that's why it's more common in older people. But it's not unheard of in younger people! My brother got shingles on his left ear and face when he was in his late 30s and otherwise physically completely healthy. Luckily, it didn't affect his vision and he recovered after a few weeks, but he was VERY miserable while he had it. The pain is no joke! I also know an older person who has bouts of post-herpetic neuralgia, and I honestly wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. So I got Shingrix as soon as I was eligible. If a vaccination can reduce my chances of getting shingles or even just a really bad case of shingles by even a tiny amount, why wouldn't I take it? I had chicken pox as an infant (I think it was harder on my poor mom than me since I have no recollection of it!) and my brother didn't get it until he was a teenager, and he was quarantined for weeks! It's much harder to handle the older you are when you get it. CDC has also mentioned that developing shingles is much less common in people who have had the chicken pox vaccination, so if you haven't had chicken pox, you might want to get the chicken pox vaccination! One of the worst things about shingles (in my opinion) is that it comes when you're already battling an illness (or are immunocompromised)--like you need one more thing to worry about?! It sucks.
My sister got shingles in her eye and it was misdiagnosed for a very long time. The pain lasted for months but fortunately did not damage her eye permanently. I got the Shingles vaccine after that!
I had shingles about 3 months ago and I got the immunization about a month before that. Definitely induced by a stressful life event. Very painful. Ice packs on the breakout area was a huge help. No post nerve pain, thank God.
@@angiepattillo3599 The vaccine takes some time to work. It builds the immune system. Sort of like how you can be exposed to other things and after vaccination for them you come out with that illness. Think measles, mumps, flu, and especially chickenpox!
@@angiepattillo3599 The Shingrix vaccine is two doses from 2 - 6 months apart. The first dose is about 56% effective, after two doses one study said 70% effective, the clinical trials were 90%. You do NOT want the disease..
My younger brother suffered 3 outbreaks of shingles, mainly due to major stress events in his life. When he turned 50, the 3rd outbreak affected his brain and caused a stroke that killed him. Please see a doctor and get vaccinated.
There's a good interview on Mark Hyman's channel about this. His guest who is a physician that's a very insightful information on the holistic view on treating shingles as well as preventing the neurological impact post infection. I found his information helpful and very balanced
Me too had it in my ear was so painful. Spread to my inside of mouth on one side. The blisters were also under my skin on my cheek but never came out on my skin
Thank you for the information.Knowledge is definitely power.I was diagnosed with shingles as of yesterday 7/26 My symptoms is very mild and I thank God for that. I also believe it's due to me having the shingles shot. For those of us who are experiencing shingles hang in there it gets better.❤Great video!!!!
I have an interesting Chicken Pox story. When I was a child, I got the Chicken Pox in my mouth. The pox, when they swelled, almost completely covered my teeth. Somewhere there is a comical picture of me smiling with these lovely pox obliterating my teeth. I think I had some on my face and neck; but, the pox were concentrated in my mouth. My parents made me milkshakes for days. When I got Shingles later in life, they appeared at the nap of my neck and up into my scalp. As you described not fun. I wish I would have known about using petroleum jelly. My doctor gave me a shot of one of the medications you mentioned and it really did shorten the Shingle outbreak for me. Great video, Dr. Dray.
I had shingles in December. I’m in my 60’s, female and had chicken pox as a baby. I workout almost every day and had done a long run and weights on successive days. I woke up on the 3rd day feeling fatigued and thought I had overdone my exercise. During the course of the day I developed pain in my right forehead, scalp, ear and throat. The fatigue also progressed similar to what I felt after having my first COVID vaccine. The small vesicles appeared on the 3rd day on my right forehead and I had orbital swelling around my right eye. That’s what prompted me to go to urgent care where I was diagnosed with shingles. I was prescribed acyclovir which I believe kept the vesicles from developing further around my eye. All in all I was out of commission for a month. A couple of times I felt better, exercised and then relapsed. I still had the scabs, scalp pain, and forehead pain. At exactly 4 weeks everything resolved and I was able to exercise without relapse. I encouraged all my family and friends to get the vaccine. I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what I went through and I probably had a mild case. Thank you for your informative video.
My grandfather developed post herpetic neuralgia post-shingles and it absolutely ruined the last 20 years of his life. He was bed ridden and pain medication and all treatments did not alleviate his pain. It was awful to see him deteriorate from such pain. It’s not something any one ever talks about, but I can attest to its severity.
Iam sorry for ur grandpa.I know how painful it is.Iam just in my first pain year.iam 73 and have not much hope to get rid of this indescribable Pain.I get pregabalin and it helps for hours.He should try.
It always amazes me how the RUclips algorithm seems to just KNOW when I need to see something! I was diagnosed with shingles this afternoon, and this video from three months ago pops up a few hours later! So weird! Anyway, thank you, Dr Dray. I'm in a LOT of pain, but I just started the Valtrex, I have some triamcinilone, and I was given a very small Rx for Norco to get me through the worst of this agony. Going to just settle in and let this thing run its course.
@@krispy1k Well, I wasn't on my phone because I only watch YT on my laptop (vision issues, phone screen is too small!), so my phone isn't listening. But somehow my laptop is. LOL.
My 2 year old daughter (she’s 43 now) gave me chicken pox. I was 26. I had them in my eyes and all over. It was horrible. I don’t understand anti-vaxers. It was not fun. But I have had the shingles vaccine. Happy it’s available. ❤ Thanks, Dr. Dray!!
The problem with that word is that it’s been weaponized and propagandized. Many if not most are comfortable with certain vaccines and not with others….especially when the definition has changed. Immunization, be it natural or by vaccine is the best defense for the majority of diseases but at the end of the day, the entire point is for the body to evolve around these diseases via a stronger defense system. Seems like more and more so-called “vaccinations” suppress the body’s natural defense system which in turn, defeats the purpose. Furthermore, these vaccine producing corporations have lobbied and managed to pass legislation that protects them from lawsuits or being held accountable. I’m not against western medicine and I believe both eastern and western medicine have their place within the healthcare system but I will never shame those who question corporate-backed medical care, or are selective with the vaccines they choose for themselves and their children or who choose to avoid it all together. Until there’s more transparency within the healthcare system and medical doctors and researchers outside of corporate-backed/ government agencies are not being threatened, shunned or silenced, I will never question those who refuse to partake in our current “healthcare” system.
@@susangassaway8038 You can get it if you haven’t had an outbreak for six months. Ask your pharmacist. Most give those shots now. He will be able to look up your insurance and tell you if they will pay for it.
I had chicken pox as a kid. Got my first dose of Shingrix right before lock down in mid-March 2020. FINALLY got my 2nd dose of Shringrix day before yesterday.
I have Shingles; I went through an extremely stressful time, and it manifested in my right nasal passage and into my right eye. Thankfully, I found a great doctor who saved my sight. It took 3 months to clear up. I got the Shingles shot, but during stressful times, the blister still sometimes appear inside my nose.
Don't let anyone scare you out of taking the shingles vaccine. It's two doses, and the second dose is a bit more painful than the first. But honestly, it's manageable. For me, it was really just a sore arm for a few days. I've had period pain worse than that!
@@WiseFamin Thanks so much for the info! I am a nurse and would much rather deal with the vaccine than shingles but I must admit that I have concerns about how I will feel afterwards.
@@avandjemom For me and for most people I know, the effects of Shingrix were much milder than the COVID boosters, if that helps! Also on the plus side--your arm might hurt after getting the vaccine, but not so badly you can't go in to work. Don't know if the same can be said about actually getting shingles! Good luck!
I currently have shingles. I’m 66 and it’s very painful. My doctor put me on Acyclovir and Gabapentin and also percoset for the pain. I’ve never felt such pain that seems to pierce through me. Thank you for your video. My doctor told me I wasn’t contagious 🤔
As a wound nurse, I have seen many patients with complications of shingles which can be debilitating. The CDC recommendations for the Shingrix vaccination are adults over 50 adults who are over 19 years old and are immune compromised.
My poor mom got it on her face, nose and in her mouth. It nearly killed her. Spent a month in the hospital and weeks in rehab. Went down to 88 pounds because she could hardly eat. This has been years and she still suffers terribly today. No one has been able to help her get the nerve pain under control. If anyone has suggestions, we will take them. We have been to dermatologist, neurologist, infectious disease, pain management, ENT, doctors. She is 94 and still so miserable. Breaks my heart. It affected her eye and ran along her trigeminal nerve. 😢
Also tried acupuncture. She still feels like it is in her mouth and on her face, but no rash doctors can see, although she feels the “blisters” in her mouth and on her upper lip. She itches and burns constantly. Help please!
Hi Mary... I have chronic Shingles...get about three or four times a year. High stress. Try the Manuka honey for her mouth. It is expensive about $40.00. You might try Lysine the amino acid. Not sure if others here have tried that. I use cold packs and calamine lotion as well. God bless you and your Mom.
I didn't get chicken pox until both my daughters got it. It was not fun as an adult but thankfully it didn't get severe enough to be hospitalized. You can bet I've had the Shingrix vaccine.
I thought getting the chicken pox as an adult can cause all kinds of problems and especially in boys I'm pretty sure I read it can and usually does cause infertility.
@@traceykoontz2868 Not sure about boys but I know it can cause birth defects in pregnant women. I remember being worried because I was reading about adults getting such severe reactions that they had to be hospitalized and I kept in touch with Nurse Direct over the phone to discuss my symptoms. My mother said she had never had it so I thought maybe she had passed some sort of immunity to me. My daughters were around 6 and 8 when they got it at daycare and I was around 40 to 42. I think the chicken pox vaccine came out around that time so it hadn't been a recommendation yet.
@@traceykoontz2868 I replied but I'm not seeing my comment. I couldn't find anything specifically mentioning that but it can definitely cause significant problems for adults. My girls were about 6 and 8 and caught it in daycare and I was probably 40 - 42. My mom never had it so I assumed that's why I didn't get it sooner. Thankful that it didn't get too serious for me.
I had shingles and it took many months before the nerve pain was completely gone. I'm a senior and have had 1 shingle vaccination and will get the second. You don't want shingles. My sister is experiencing now and the pain is intense making sleep difficult. The rash goes away much faster than the nerve pain.
Thank you Dr. Dray for this information :) I've been dealing with the shingles rash for almost a week now 😏 The rash was red and itchy for the first few days - I've noticed since I've been taking Valacyclovir 3 times a day , the rash is looking better but not completely gone. I didn't have any pain, just a slight headache now and then. Take care everyone 🌹
I got shingles right below my lower lip at age 35 last year after completing my CPA exams (aka stressful times). My DR thought I had a cold sore or some kind of bacterial staph infection. I made a convincing argument to my DR that I didn’t think I had a cold sore and so she offered to take a swab and send it in to a lab. I’m so glad I spoke up because it turns out it was shingles. I was prescribed antivirals. DR suggested I cover the shingles spot with cold sore patches. NOT RECOMMENDED! What worked for me was calamine lotion. The cold sore patches kept the blisters moist when the blisters actually needed to dry out. I believe my shingles healed completely in about 2-3 weeks. The scar is barely noticeable now and I have no lingering pain. I got very lucky!
I had shingles 2 months undiagnosed. The 3rd month i finally had a woman doctor correctly diagnose it and treat it. All the men doctors thought it was acne and wouldnt listen to my pain ugh. It was hell on my face. It was on one side and felt like fire. I never had chicken pox or any other health problems. I was just very stressed at the time but was only 25.
You probably were exposed to chicken pox as a child but you had no symptoms at all. This happens frequently, people don’t realize they had chicken pox. Happened to my husband, he got tested for the virus when his kids got it and he had the antibodies.
@flininto5781 she put me on medication, and all the symptoms went away in about 6 days. I don't remember the name put they were pills I had to take multiple times a day.
@flininto5781 I was one of these meds she prescribed me and went away very quickly less than a week (and I had a swollen eyelid): antivirals, such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex)
I had shingles on my torso when I was 14. What surprises me now as an adult is I had no idea it could be so severe in some cases. For me I don't remember my experience being that bad, just some mild pain that didn't last very long and a mild rash. I feel like I got lucky that time.
Shingles! The first time I had it I was a camp counselor and dared not tell anyone. At 15 I would NEVER have shown that part of my anatomy to anyone. Consequently the undergarment abraided the shingles and left dreadful scarring. I got it again after giving birth to my firstborn at age thirty and then at age 48. My husband could draw a perfect outline of the nerve by “connecting the dots”. My husband and I got the Shingrex vaccine last year since he has an aggressive cancer. Be grateful for every single day. Heed Dr. Dray!
@LadyCatherine538 Read your comment here and want to ask if the Shingrix vaccine is better than the first vaccine they came out with. I remember hearing something to that effect but not positive. Any information you can give me will be most appreciated, because I had the first vaccine.
@@Kathern-lv9nvShingrix is more effective. If I recall correctly it is >90% effective versus the ~50% effectiveness of the earlier vaccine. The CDC recommends that if people received the earlier shingles vaccine that they get vaccinated with Shingrix.
As a current retiree/medicare beneficiary I’m old enough to have known generations of shingles sufferers. I first heard of the condition when my grandfather got it and was miserable for weeks or possibly months. I had a bad case of chicken pox which I still remember breaking out during the last school assembly of my first grade year, while I was wearing a very itchy dress. Put this all together and ask if I’m vaxxed to the max against shingles?! I am, even though I was warned that dose 2 of Shingrex might be rough, which it was. Would definitely do it again!
I just had my second dose of the vaccine and have red swelling near the shot location, muscle soreness and major headache pain. But this has to be better than getting shingles! 🤷♀️
@@akhiker01 You're supposed to get 2 shots of Shingrix within a period of 2 to 6 months, and you don't have to go back again, per the pharmacist I got them from. I have read some comments that said they are good for 8 to 10 years (?). I would ask your primary physician to be safe.
@@akhiker01 A two shot Shingrex sequence is supposed to be the last you’re likely to ever need as far as I know. I had the first iteration of the shingles vaccine about 15 years ago and “moved up” to Shingrex last year.
I'm 45 and in good health. I currently have shingles. This is my 5th time having them. I have noticed that shingles always erupt in the summer months after I have experienced long days in the heat outside and when I get light sunburns multiple times. The rash is always in the same spot on my right front shoulder. My current case is probably the worst I have experienced. My whole right side is in pain. I have a band of pain that starts in my lower back, through my shoulder and armpit, down the backside of my arm to my fingertips. I also have pain up the back of my neck and into the back of my head. I'm on acyclovir and gabapentin.
My mother developed singles at the age of 88. She developed the rash around her left eye. She has had a recurring case of Uveitis over the years. Shingles seemed to exacerbate her Euveitis and when combined with the shingles virus she ended up with significantly diminished vision in that eye. While the singles rash and accompanying pain diminished over a few months she never regained her vision. My mom is the kind of person who goes to a doctor has the last resort and when the shingles vaccine first became available she believed that shingles was just a simple rash. After getting shingles she quickly received the latest version of the vaccine as soon as it became available.
I suffered from a heartbreak and developed shingles on my right thigh. I received oral medication, it healed quickly but left very visible scars. I used the Kerasal Intensive Foot Repair (with 10% urea) that you recommended for the heels on my scars for six months to fade them away. I have since been vaccinated.
Thank Dr. Dr Dray. I learned so much from this video! I'm just recovering from Shingles and now suffer from Herpetic Neuralgia. It's the worst nerve pain I ever experienced. I can't sleep, have troubles getting comfortable. Nothing takes the burning pain away. It's in my spine and rib cage. under the arm and I have troubles breathing. I'm 77 years old and wonder how long this will last.. Seeing my Dr. today and hope for some relieve through medication.
Yes, had it on my neck. Luckily a coworker encouraged me to go to prompt care, put me on medication early and made a difference. I agree, the pain was odd feeling to explain. Took 2 months for it to totally clear, painful to touch!
i got shingles on July 3, 2023. Started with worst headache i’ve ever had on one side of my head. (like a constant brain freeze). thankfully for me i had an appt with my doc for a physical on July 8. She immediately and correctly identified shingles, and the meds she prescribed cleared the shingles (that appeared in my scalp, my eyelids, forehead, etc) within 10 days. Went to Opthamologist and thankfully no affect in the eye itself. But I’ve had PRN ever since. That has been unbelievable at times. Much better now, but I still have zinging pains in my head and burning itching in all the affected areas. Going to be getting Shingrix soon. I can’t go thru this again. (66 yrs old).
I came down with shingles the week of Thanksgiving, and Ingot the facial palsy as well. It was awful and scary. I was out of work until January. It was not only painful, but exhausting. I am 48, so I had never gotten the vaccine. They start recommending it at 50. I still don’t have full facial movement back, and it is February now. I am grateful to be past the pain now, though.
My husband had a mild case of shingles; just a circle of blisters about the size of a half dollar. He said it felt like needles poking into him. I put cortisone cream on it and covered it. It was gone in 24 hours.
My mom had shingles last year. Her rash was right in the middle of her back between her shoulder blades. It took a couple weeks to heal, but if she didn’t get the shingles vaccine with my dad prior to that, it would have been much worse and lasted a lot longer.
I got shingles as a child. Two school nurses were talking and I overheard them saying they never heard a child getting it and there was no cure so I thought I was going to die. Over 60 now, I was told to get the vaccine. Yes it’s crazy painful.😢
My husband had. it is horrible! Very painful. Took forever to go away. Thanks for telling us all about this It is very important to know about Shingles. Old wise tail says: that if you had a bad case of chicken pox, you are least likely to get Shingles when you get older. I had a very bad case in 2nd grade so we shall see.
That old tale is false. I had a devastating case when I was a toddler, then when my younger sisters got chicken pox from their friends before I started kindergarten, I got it again, but milder. I got shingles when I was worn down from mononucleosis as a teen working and babysitting at the local resort and barely sleeping. I bad summer before college! I have shingles many times since. Usually when I was worn down from extreme stress or illness, like Covid-19. Always around left near waist, down sciatic nerve or up from there. The lesions get less and less pronounced. Wish the pain was. The last time was miserable. The dizziness from that left ear is awful. So don’t believe everything you hear.
I had a very bad case of chicken pox as a child and I have had shingles 2 times around my eye. I got the double vaccine and hopefully I will not have shingles again.
@@annehhodges What’s the double vaccine? I didn’t take the earlier one because my insurance co said a better one was coming soon and they would pay for only a single time. Shringrix was the new one but I’ve waited to see how others responded to it.
I am in pain right now as I am watching this video. Shingles are very painful. Yes I have had chicken pox some few years back. I pray these pains go away fast.
Thank you for talking about shingles. I got it at 36 and had no idea that was what it was until I finally went to an ER and got diagnosed. Unfortunately, I still have some pretty bad scars from it. I’m healthy so it was likely due to chronic stress.
I developed shingles a year ago on my left jaw line, ear, neck and shoulder. It was a bizarre stinging tingling pain. The doctor didn’t believe it was shingles at first because it wasn’t a textbook case, but prescribed me antivirals as a precaution. They took a swab of a blister to confirm, and it was positive for shingles.
I had shingles in my face and scalp. I was pregnant at the time. The pain I could handle, but the ITCHING. Holy crap that was SO bad. I won't wish this on my worst enemy
I agree the itching is insanely intense. Apple Cider Vinegar helps me as does a hot bath with epsom salt and baking soda. Ice temporarily helps as well.
I understand how you feel believe me, I have been through this same pain before and finding the best cure for Herpes, Shingles (HSV1&2 ) contact Dr.Ani John via RUclips channel he saved my life from this same virus I will always recommend him because he is the best herbal doctor in the world
I had a bad case of shingles at age 16 around my rib cage. Missed 3 weeks of school and lost 12 lbs. I still have scars from the sores and I am 63 years old. I have been vaccinated now.
I've had shingles many times. Always on the right side of my forehead, down the side of my face. I some times had blurry vision, but thankfully never lost my vision in that eye. It started when I was 35. I was in Hawaii for two weeks, came back with a bubbly rash and intense pain. Went to the Hospital as soon as I got back, and was told I had Shingles. Every time I've had Shingles it is always when I am out in the sun a bit too much. I don't burn, so I believe it is just too much exposure over a period of time. I've never gotten Shingles any other time, than when out in the sun. I finally got the Shingles vaccine the first time when I turned 50, not realizing the vaccine had a shelf life of 4 years. The person administering it never relayed the info sadly. I ended up getting quite a bad case of Shingles at 57, after being in Vegas for a week. I then went to my Doctor who told me I needed a new Vaccine. I then got the SHINGRIX vaccine, which I was then told lasts up to 7 years. I am 61 now and have not had a case of Shingles since the vaccine thankfully.
@@susangassaway8038 My Doctor told me to wait until the breakout was healed. That is what I did. It was about a month, then I went and got the SHINGRIX vaccine. Trust me... it definitely works. :-)
@@susangassaway8038 "Shingrix provides strong protection from shingles and long-term nerve pain. Get Shingrix even if you already had shingles, because you can get the disease more than once. Your risk of shingles and complications increases as you age. You need 2 doses of Shingrix." CDC
@@susangassaway8038 You got some wrong information. Thinking on that has changed. I wasn’t told it would work for only a few years. I inquired just before Shingrix was released. My insurance company said they’d pay only once because it should last a lifetime! Encouraged me to wait for Shingrix release because that was far more effective than the one available at that time. For those who have previously had shingles, even that is not 100% but it’s the best we’ve got.
I just found you because I have blistering , weeping clear , nerve pain on different parts of my body . The first sites were on the area between thumb and index finger like I had worked too hard pukking weeds that dsy . I covered immediately after cleaning and they soaked the dressings . Next was my left knee . I did the same . Struggled w ith flu for 2 days. Now I have a larger set of 2on my Fight thigh.and a large one over my lefy shoulder that is miserable next to my bra strap. Im prepping for promtcare as this is a holiday , and prayerfully ask for relief . Thank you for giving me a knowledge base from which I csn draw from . I was to get my shot this ne xt w eek. You have been such a light unto my path 🕯️. Take heart for us elderly . This may not be it but the electrical pain is as you de scribe d , yet mine is running amuck ❤
Was hoping you would say how to prevent or eliminate the scarring that results from shingles. I got shingles and didn't know it soon after I got my very first COVID shot. Learned later that was one of the potential side effects of it. My derm told me it was shingles a few months afterwards when she saw the scar. Otherwise, I never would have even known!
I had shingles (age 45) on my chest and neck. Then a few years later I was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy. This followed a diagnosis of ear infection. I still have facial paralysis. I truly believe I had Ramsey Hunt.
did you get your Vitamin D check if your have low D levels this will allow illness and viruses to hit you and also cancers. Vitamin d is the fourth link in the immune system change.
Yes, I had chicken pox at the age of 34 when I was pregnant; it was horrible! Lucky, I was 4 months along and my baby was fine. I’m now 62 and I have not gotten the vaccine because I’m worried about the side effects. Can you please address Guillain Barre and shingles? I know someone who developed Guillain Barre and it was not fun.
Get immunised. My girlfriend, mid fifties healthy and fit, got the most shocking case. She got a 3 inch wide band across her back. Five years later is still in a lot of pain and on a pain management plan. It’s just awful
My brother had shingles and it came out on his back when he was working he's a truck driver and it hurt him so bad and with that information as well as the information I got the vaccine.
I’m in my 30s and I keep getting it. I have to go 6 months with out it for them to consider giving it me. They don’t give it to people under 50 which is crazy because more younger people are getting it and reoccurring episodes.
So I developed shingles after a surgery a year ago but was misdiagnosed as an allergic reaction to something. Then it happened again after another surgery resonantly and was diagnosed correctly. My question is: should you get vaccinated after having it and if so, how long after should I wait to do it?
Mine went across my nose and headed to my eye- thankfully stopped at my eye. Had to see a Eye Dr and the whole 9 yards. Veeeeeerrrryyy painful! After I healed up I got the shingle shot😢
My husband is 45 and just got a case on his chest. It started with a patch right under the neck , he kept asking me if there was anything on the back of the neck because it was painful to move his head, he also said his lymph nodes felt swollen. The next day we saw new blisters, so we had a suspicion it was shingles and it was confirmed.
I got shingles early in my pregnancy. Had almost no rash, just a small patch on my belly. But the pain was a intens burning sensation deep, inside my abdomen, only on one side of the body. Keept going for a few weeks. The pregnancy when very well. healthy 10 y o.
My grandma got this before I was ever born (I'm 47) and she had long term, lasting effects. My mom had this too but so far doesn't have lasting effects. Make sure to get immunized. Shingles are incredibly painful.
My mother said all I had as a child was the three day measles... so when I got the shingles April of 2022 I wound up going to the ER thinking I was having the worst migraine in my life or whatever.. my BP was through the roof also. After about 5 hours in the ER and receiving numerous shots etc to try and ease the pain they finally told me I had the shingles. They were under my lash line, on my eyelid, eyebrow , forehead and scalp. It then turned into Postherpetic Neuralgia which I still have... April will be two years! It's been the worst illness I've ever had...
I tried gerbapentin, Bendryl, capsacin, lidocaine but nothing helped, finally I was told by my mother in law’s maid to apply non flavored yogurt on my rashes and washed it off after 1 hour.. Sometimes I even kept it overnight n was finally able to sleep peacefully I pray in Jesus name this helps someone out there 🙌🏼
I tried the yogurt and it helped during the day but not at night!! Anymore input??
I applied Manuka honey onto my rashes each day after taking a cool shower with colloidal oatmeal, it works wonders. I only got few blisters before diagnosed with shingles and after my diagnosis, I applied Manuka honey right away and tape on sterile gauze. Besides those few blisters (one is tiny cluster) at the beginning and the terrible pain, only few of my new rashes developed into blisters that much because I applied Manuka honey, no itching and reduce scarring too. Manuka honey is anti bacterial and anti viral. Now my skin is on its way to healing, I don’t need to apply anti viral like Manuka honey anymore, so I apply healing ointment to moisturize it to help reduce scarring and itchiness.
I tried yogurt myself. I never read about it. It just came to me and it worked on another rash. I am not sure if it was shingles. Strange. I am glad it worked.
Non flavored yogurt or unsweetened? I tried plain coconut yogurt and only helped for a couple hours!!
Non flavored yoghurt.. U have to apply it twice a day and leave it for 30 mins and take a shower, u need to continue this daily till u get permanent relief..Trust me , no doctor recommended creams or tablets helped me, only plain yogurt
THANK YOU! It is nice to hear from a professional. I am a heart transplant patient and in week two of shingles. It is miserable. Praying it goes away soon. I want to help build my parent's home. 46 yrs old
I met my friend when she was battling stage 3 breast cancer. She survived complications and setbacks. Then she got a debilitating case of Lyme disease that took months to diagnose and years to find effective treatment. It left her with permanent chronic neurological issues. At the time she said her Lyme disease ordeal was way worse than going through chemotherapy. THEN she got shingles on her face, from her temple to neck that took months for the pain to subside. She said THAT was more painful and way harder to endure than her cancer & Lyme experiences combined. I am radically vigilent avoiding ticks and was SO relieved to get the shingles vaccines as soon as allowed.
I had shingles at 22. It took a month to get any doctor to listen. They all said I was “too young” for shingles and it was just a rash. Thankful a lovely ER nurse advocated for me and got them to do more than just look.
My daughter had chicken pox at 7 years old . She had shingles st 16 and her doctor could hardly believe a 16 year old had shingles but he treated it right away and it cleared up right away.
My daughter was told she was too young for endometriosis at 15 by SO many Drs.
The youngest diagnosis of my daughters specialist Dr. has diagnosed, last I heard, was 9 years of age for endometriosis.
Some Drs are really uneducated.
I worked for Drs and always made me so mad when they would tell people they were too young. Some things are rare but that shouldn’t cause them to not listen to their patients! Your never too young for anything
@HGCUPCAKES I have shingles ongoing for almost 2 months now. I am taking acyclovir five times a day and gabapenten 3 times a day, the rash seems to a bit better. How much longer will this go on, is there an end in sight?
Have you gotten better?@@sallylforst4761
I had shingles last year right where I have a pinched nerve in my back. I would not wish that pain on my worst enemy. I still have scars.
the pain is awful
Aren’t there any medication’s that you can take to alleviate the pain? I’m sure you need more than ibuprofen, but I would think of the condition is so painful that something could be prescribed.
I did receive medication that helped stopped the spreading and spasms but there isn’t really anything for the nerve pain. Feels like your nerves are being ripped apart all the time until the rashes dry. Cold showers were the only thing that helped. So many cold showers. Anything that touches them is excruciating for me at least and I was 34.
Gabapentin for nerve pain was what I was prescribed some antiviral also.
Oxycodone is not effective? I thought that was the strongest painkiller there was that’s what they gave me when I broke my wrist. It worked really good and I never got addicted to it. It’s OxyContin that had the big problem.
34 and had shingles when I was 8. It did wrap around my midline. I have scars from it. And have post herpetic neuralgia on my back and ribs where it wrapped around. It was one of the most painful times of my life. Right before the bumps broke out and during, it felt like my lungs were being crushed with every breath I took. I wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy. To this day I get random pains that felt like when I had shingles, and I worry it's an invisible breakout. It doesn't last long, but it's very similar. Thank you for sharing all this 💚💚
What? You have to have chicken pox before you have shingles. Shingles is the virus of chicken pox . You can Google that.. From Google : No, you can't get shingles if you've never had chickenpox. However, it's possible to be exposed to chickenpox without realizing it, which can make you vulnerable to shingles later in life”
I've had shingles dozens of times since my early 20's. I can feel it tingling up and down my back weeks before it breaks out, and I find that making a concerted effort to lie down every afternoon for at least 20 minutes, whether I sleep or not, is enough to calm it down and keep it from blistering. I've gone two years without an outbreak, and that's the longest I've ever gone shingles free in my life.
How did you treated shingles??
@@shwetajha7587 Anti-viral medications. Once it blisters, care must be taken that a secondary infection doesn't result.
I also could feel the tingling on the right side of my back I never broke out in a rash until 4weeks later. But the rash appeared on the back of my right leg behind my knee. Told my doctor this and they said that is unlikely. She said the rash would have been on my back.🤷🏻♀️
dozens??? you can get this more than once?
@@ema_9 When I was going through my divorce, I had a break out on my back every month for five months. Every other month after that for the rest of the year. Stress, for me, makes it active and I can feel it before it starts.
I'm 57 and have just got shingles. Had chicken pox when I was young. Am lucky I work in a hospital suspected what it was. Got it diagnosed quickly and was given medication for it. So all good. Thank you for your video it was very helpful and informative.
Just got diagnosed yesterday. I’m 39 and don’t feel all that unwell but the rash is characteristic of shingles and very sore. I’m glad to have this informative video
Are you Okk now??
I had a mild case of shingles at 45 over my eye. My ophthalmologist explained the danger of it involving the tip of the nose. Thank you for this info!
Shingles is no joke. A good friend of mine had it and she was in pure agony for weeks! 🥺
A friend had shingles. She is too young to get the vaccine. She was in agony.
Aren’t any pain pills effective or do they just not want to prescribe any?
I felt that your description of the pain and itching made it seem much more mild than it actually is. I didn’t realize I had shingles, but thought I’d been bitten by multiple spiders when picking fruit. It was very itchy and kept getting more painful. I called the doctor after 6 days and he wanted me to come right in, in case it WAS shingles, so I could get a shot before the weekend. It’s extremely painful and itchy! I had it on one shoulder.
My mom survived with the antibiotic Shingles liquid herbs shipped dawn here for her immediate healings
@@snappylady1
Usually they don't want to Rx... which is inhumane.
I have had chicken pox. My younger brother actually got shingles when he was 40. It was unusual in that as you said, it typically appears in older people. But I think he was severely stressed at the time so it popped right back up in him. Thankfully no lasting complications. Thank you for such an informative video, I hope people really pay attention to this.
Had shingles at age 52, from the crown of my head down to my left eye. I was misdiagnosed until it was too late to take antivirals, but a great doc saved my vision. I still have a lovely scar on my forehead and a hole in my lashes 12 years later. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated because I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone!
Same happened to me ,my right eye had bleeding inside my eye ball . I was so scared. But now have Glaucoma in my right eye and when I'm stressed or tired my right eye hurts and my head tingles and I feel burning sensation so I lay down and pray I'm going to be ok. I would never wish this on my worst enemy.😢
My husband and I both got shingles in our early 40’s after a very stressful event. Glad we both caught it early and hope to never get it again!
Do you think the stress caused it? I had one not too long ago and I was worried trying to figure out what caused it
I had my first episode at age 30, then several times a year since then. Hopefully you can avoid it again!
@@gianna3582 the friends of mine that got shingles were really stressed. I got shingles at 39 from a lot of stress. My sister got it when she was extremely stressed. I got the Shingrix vaccine in my early 40's because I had shingles close to my eye.
Very informative, didn’t know about the importance of seeing a doc if you have it on your nose. Thank you.
I had shingles on the left side of my head that was originally misdiagnosed as foliculitus (sp). It was the worst pain of my life and I had a hard time sleeping for two weeks waiting to get the proper diagnosis and medicine. Stay healthy folks! I was about 38 at the time and under a lot of stress.
So glad you made this video! I feel like most people have heard of shingles but don't really know what it looks like or how to deal with it when you get it. And it is pretty miserable, no matter how old or healthy you are when you develop it! I feel like it develops when you're already battling one or more illnesses, and maybe that's why it's more common in older people. But it's not unheard of in younger people! My brother got shingles on his left ear and face when he was in his late 30s and otherwise physically completely healthy. Luckily, it didn't affect his vision and he recovered after a few weeks, but he was VERY miserable while he had it. The pain is no joke! I also know an older person who has bouts of post-herpetic neuralgia, and I honestly wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. So I got Shingrix as soon as I was eligible. If a vaccination can reduce my chances of getting shingles or even just a really bad case of shingles by even a tiny amount, why wouldn't I take it? I had chicken pox as an infant (I think it was harder on my poor mom than me since I have no recollection of it!) and my brother didn't get it until he was a teenager, and he was quarantined for weeks! It's much harder to handle the older you are when you get it. CDC has also mentioned that developing shingles is much less common in people who have had the chicken pox vaccination, so if you haven't had chicken pox, you might want to get the chicken pox vaccination! One of the worst things about shingles (in my opinion) is that it comes when you're already battling an illness (or are immunocompromised)--like you need one more thing to worry about?! It sucks.
My sister got shingles in her eye and it was misdiagnosed for a very long time. The pain lasted for months but fortunately did not damage her eye permanently. I got the Shingles vaccine after that!
She was lucky. My mom got it in her eye. The ophthalmologist treated quickly and saved her eye.
My husband has shingles presently. Shingles is very painful.
My husband got it on his face and eyelid and the doctor was very concerned that it could damage his eye.
I had it in my eye, too. Very painful and lasted about 2 weeks.
@@nannygirlkc So sorry you had to go through that. Until it happened to my sister I had no idea shingles could affect the eye. Take care.
Yes, I had chicken pox many years ago! My momma had shingles & suffered for about a year, it was terrible for her! Thank you for this video!🥰
I had shingles about 3 months ago and I got the immunization about a month before that. Definitely induced by a stressful life event. Very painful. Ice packs on the breakout area was a huge help. No post nerve pain, thank God.
So you had the vaccine & still got it.
@@angiepattillo3599 yes. The vaccine does not 100% prevent you from getting Shingles.
@@angiepattillo3599 The vaccine takes some time to work. It builds the immune system. Sort of like how you can be exposed to other things and after vaccination for them you come out with that illness. Think measles, mumps, flu, and especially chickenpox!
@@angiepattillo3599 The Shingrix vaccine is two doses from 2 - 6 months apart. The first dose is about 56% effective, after two doses one study said 70% effective, the clinical trials were 90%.
You do NOT want the disease..
My younger brother suffered 3 outbreaks of shingles, mainly due to major stress events in his life. When he turned 50, the 3rd outbreak affected his brain and caused a stroke that killed him.
Please see a doctor and get vaccinated.
Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry. :(
Wow! I had no idea it could become that severe. My condolences to you.
Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry for your loss. That must have been devastating for your whole family. My condolences.
😢😢😢😢
Oh wow. So sorry for your loss!
There's a good interview on Mark Hyman's channel about this. His guest who is a physician that's a very insightful information on the holistic view on treating shingles as well as preventing the neurological impact post infection. I found his information helpful and very balanced
Thank you, I will look him up. ❤
A few months ago, I experienced shingles in my ear, leading to the development of Ramsey Hunt syndrome. Thankfully, I am now completely recovered
Glad you're now good! My shingles stopped just short of the auditory nerve.
Me too had it in my ear was so painful. Spread to my inside of mouth on one side. The blisters were also under my skin on my cheek but never came out on my skin
Please what can i recommend to a friend of mine to use and cure her shingles? She's having it on her private side of body
@@electchristian174 If it just happened in the last few days get to a doctor quickly...same day if possible... for an anti-viral prescription.
Thank you for the information.Knowledge is definitely power.I was diagnosed with shingles as of yesterday 7/26 My symptoms is very mild and I thank God for that. I also believe it's due to me having the shingles shot. For those of us who are experiencing shingles hang in there it gets better.❤Great video!!!!
I was on the fence about the shingles vaccine but thanks to you, I want to get it. I’m 70 and don’t want to worry about getting that nightmare !
I have an interesting Chicken Pox story. When I was a child, I got the Chicken Pox in my mouth. The pox, when they swelled, almost completely covered my teeth. Somewhere there is a comical picture of me smiling with these lovely pox obliterating my teeth. I think I had some on my face and neck; but, the pox were concentrated in my mouth. My parents made me milkshakes for days. When I got Shingles later in life, they appeared at the nap of my neck and up into my scalp. As you described not fun. I wish I would have known about using petroleum jelly. My doctor gave me a shot of one of the medications you mentioned and it really did shorten the Shingle outbreak for me. Great video, Dr. Dray.
Wow! Chicken pox in your mouth!!
Dr. Gray, thank you so much for taking the time to make all these videos!☺️
I had shingles in December. I’m in my 60’s, female and had chicken pox as a baby. I workout almost every day and had done a long run and weights on successive days. I woke up on the 3rd day feeling fatigued and thought I had overdone my exercise. During the course of the day I developed pain in my right forehead, scalp, ear and throat. The fatigue also progressed similar to what I felt after having my first COVID vaccine. The small vesicles appeared on the 3rd day on my right forehead and I had orbital swelling around my right eye. That’s what prompted me to go to urgent care where I was diagnosed with shingles. I was prescribed acyclovir which I believe kept the vesicles from developing further around my eye. All in all I was out of commission for a month. A couple of times I felt better, exercised and then relapsed. I still had the scabs, scalp pain, and forehead pain. At exactly 4 weeks everything resolved and I was able to exercise without relapse. I encouraged all my family and friends to get the vaccine. I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what I went through and I probably had a mild case. Thank you for your informative video.
Comon aren’t you aware of all the damage vaccine cause by now. Do not trust any medical person. Covid should have told you the dangers in the vaccine.
My grandfather developed post herpetic neuralgia post-shingles and it absolutely ruined the last 20 years of his life. He was bed ridden and pain medication and all treatments did not alleviate his pain. It was awful to see him deteriorate from such pain. It’s not something any one ever talks about, but I can attest to its severity.
Iam sorry for ur grandpa.I know how painful it is.Iam just in my first pain year.iam 73 and have not much hope to get rid of this indescribable Pain.I get pregabalin and it helps for hours.He should try.
It always amazes me how the RUclips algorithm seems to just KNOW when I need to see something! I was diagnosed with shingles this afternoon, and this video from three months ago pops up a few hours later! So weird! Anyway, thank you, Dr Dray. I'm in a LOT of pain, but I just started the Valtrex, I have some triamcinilone, and I was given a very small Rx for Norco to get me through the worst of this agony. Going to just settle in and let this thing run its course.
If you didn't look at a related product for shingles or search for something related then your phone is listening.
@@krispy1k Well, I wasn't on my phone because I only watch YT on my laptop (vision issues, phone screen is too small!), so my phone isn't listening. But somehow my laptop is. LOL.
My 2 year old daughter (she’s 43 now) gave me chicken pox. I was 26. I had them in my eyes and all over. It was horrible. I don’t understand anti-vaxers. It was not fun. But I have had the shingles vaccine. Happy it’s available. ❤ Thanks, Dr. Dray!!
The problem with that word is that it’s been weaponized and propagandized. Many if not most are comfortable with certain vaccines and not with others….especially when the definition has changed. Immunization, be it natural or by vaccine is the best defense for the majority of diseases but at the end of the day, the entire point is for the body to evolve around these diseases via a stronger defense system. Seems like more and more so-called “vaccinations” suppress the body’s natural defense system which in turn, defeats the purpose. Furthermore, these vaccine producing corporations have lobbied and managed to pass legislation that protects them from lawsuits or being held accountable. I’m not against western medicine and I believe both eastern and western medicine have their place within the healthcare system but I will never shame those who question corporate-backed medical care, or are selective with the vaccines they choose for themselves and their children or who choose to avoid it all together. Until there’s more transparency within the healthcare system and medical doctors and researchers outside of corporate-backed/ government agencies are not being threatened, shunned or silenced, I will never question those who refuse to partake in our current “healthcare” system.
Anti experimental vaxes. That were never tested to see if it stopped transmission. And it does NOT stop transmission.
I was told I couldn’t get the vaccine because I have had shingles already?
@@susangassaway8038I would get a second opinion because, as Dr. Dray said, you can get Shingles again.
@@susangassaway8038 You can get it if you haven’t had an outbreak for six months. Ask your pharmacist. Most give those shots now. He will be able to look up your insurance and tell you if they will pay for it.
My friend got shingles on her scalp. She said it was incredibly painful. That convinced me to get vaccinated.
I had chicken pox as a kid. Got my first dose of Shingrix right before lock down in mid-March 2020. FINALLY got my 2nd dose of Shringrix day before yesterday.
I got chicken pox as a child. I’ve had shingles four times. Thank you for this video. Very informative.
How did you treat shingles
I have Shingles; I went through an extremely stressful time, and it manifested in my right nasal passage and into my right eye. Thankfully, I found a great doctor who saved my sight. It took 3 months to clear up. I got the Shingles shot, but during stressful times, the blister still sometimes appear inside my nose.
I have been meaning to get a shingles vaccine. I just scheduled an appointment. Thanks for the reminder!
Don't let anyone scare you out of taking the shingles vaccine. It's two doses, and the second dose is a bit more painful than the first. But honestly, it's manageable. For me, it was really just a sore arm for a few days. I've had period pain worse than that!
@@WiseFamin Thanks so much for the info! I am a nurse and would much rather deal with the vaccine than shingles but I must admit that I have concerns about how I will feel afterwards.
@@avandjemom For me and for most people I know, the effects of Shingrix were much milder than the COVID boosters, if that helps! Also on the plus side--your arm might hurt after getting the vaccine, but not so badly you can't go in to work. Don't know if the same can be said about actually getting shingles! Good luck!
I currently have shingles. I’m 66 and it’s very painful. My doctor put me on Acyclovir and Gabapentin and also percoset for the pain. I’ve never felt such pain that seems to pierce through me. Thank you for your video. My doctor told me I wasn’t contagious 🤔
As a wound nurse, I have seen many patients with complications of shingles which can be debilitating. The CDC recommendations for the Shingrix vaccination are adults over 50 adults who are over 19 years old and are immune compromised.
My poor mom got it on her face, nose and in her mouth. It nearly killed her. Spent a month in the hospital and weeks in rehab. Went down to 88 pounds because she could hardly eat. This has been years and she still suffers terribly today. No one has been able to help her get the nerve pain under control. If anyone has suggestions, we will take them. We have been to dermatologist, neurologist, infectious disease, pain management, ENT, doctors. She is 94 and still so miserable. Breaks my heart. It affected her eye and ran along her trigeminal nerve. 😢
Also tried acupuncture. She still feels like it is in her mouth and on her face, but no rash doctors can see, although she feels the “blisters” in her mouth and on her upper lip. She itches and burns constantly. Help please!
@@maryfreyre3170the one comment mentioned cbd cream helped her. Maybe that would help your Mom. 🙏
I will pray for her!
I have this pain since one year now.I try EVERYTHING,but only PREGABALIN helps.Without i had myself shot alteady
Hi Mary... I have chronic Shingles...get about three or four times a year. High stress. Try the Manuka honey for her mouth. It is expensive about $40.00. You might try Lysine the amino acid. Not sure if others here have tried that. I use cold packs and calamine lotion as well. God bless you and your Mom.
I didn't get chicken pox until both my daughters got it. It was not fun as an adult but thankfully it didn't get severe enough to be hospitalized. You can bet I've had the Shingrix vaccine.
I thought getting the chicken pox as an adult can cause all kinds of problems and especially in boys I'm pretty sure I read it can and usually does cause infertility.
@@traceykoontz2868 Not sure about boys but I know it can cause birth defects in pregnant women. I remember being worried because I was reading about adults getting such severe reactions that they had to be hospitalized and I kept in touch with Nurse Direct over the phone to discuss my symptoms. My mother said she had never had it so I thought maybe she had passed some sort of immunity to me. My daughters were around 6 and 8 when they got it at daycare and I was around 40 to 42. I think the chicken pox vaccine came out around that time so it hadn't been a recommendation yet.
@@traceykoontz2868 I replied but I'm not seeing my comment. I couldn't find anything specifically mentioning that but it can definitely cause significant problems for adults. My girls were about 6 and 8 and caught it in daycare and I was probably 40 - 42. My mom never had it so I assumed that's why I didn't get it sooner. Thankful that it didn't get too serious for me.
@@traceykoontz2868 it will die for old people got chicken pox first time
32F just recently diagnosed 🤚🏻 thanks for this, it’s been mild so far but I wanted to check in on best practices for fast healing.
Thank you for speaking of shingles, my friend got them in his head and they actually
Traveled into his eyes,.
I had shingles and it took many months before the nerve pain was completely gone. I'm a senior and have had 1 shingle vaccination and will get the second. You don't want shingles. My sister is experiencing now and the pain is intense making sleep difficult. The rash goes away much faster than the nerve pain.
Thank you Dr. Dray for this information :) I've been dealing with the shingles rash for almost a week now 😏 The rash was red and itchy for the first few days - I've noticed since I've been taking Valacyclovir 3 times a day , the rash is looking better but not completely gone. I didn't have any pain, just a slight headache now and then. Take care everyone 🌹
I am 76 and have had four outbreaks six months apart in the past two years. Waiting for current episode to end and will get vaccinated.
I'm 46 and had it on my left leg and lower back several months back. I've just gone through a divorce and under tremendous stress.
Glad you are over it. It just started for me. I am 50. Hope doesn't last long because it kinda hurts
I got shingles right below my lower lip at age 35 last year after completing my CPA exams (aka stressful times). My DR thought I had a cold sore or some kind of bacterial staph infection. I made a convincing argument to my DR that I didn’t think I had a cold sore and so she offered to take a swab and send it in to a lab. I’m so glad I spoke up because it turns out it was shingles. I was prescribed antivirals. DR suggested I cover the shingles spot with cold sore patches. NOT RECOMMENDED! What worked for me was calamine lotion. The cold sore patches kept the blisters moist when the blisters actually needed to dry out. I believe my shingles healed completely in about 2-3 weeks. The scar is barely noticeable now and I have no lingering pain. I got very lucky!
I can’t believe the timing. I’m dealing with it right now.
Hope you get better soon🙏
@@leefamily6061 Thank you!!
I am on week three with mine, too. So tired of this!
Feel better soon
@@connieduncannorrell6181 Me too. Just ready to get back to normal. Feel better soon!
I had shingles 2 months undiagnosed. The 3rd month i finally had a woman doctor correctly diagnose it and treat it. All the men doctors thought it was acne and wouldnt listen to my pain ugh.
It was hell on my face. It was on one side and felt like fire. I never had chicken pox or any other health problems. I was just very stressed at the time but was only 25.
howdid she treat it the woman doctor what did she do. i am in this situation now PLEASE HELP
You probably were exposed to chicken pox as a child but you had no symptoms at all. This happens frequently, people don’t realize they had chicken pox. Happened to my husband, he got tested for the virus when his kids got it and he had the antibodies.
@@flininto5781VALTREX.
@flininto5781 she put me on medication, and all the symptoms went away in about 6 days. I don't remember the name put they were pills I had to take multiple times a day.
@flininto5781 I was one of these meds she prescribed me and went away very quickly less than a week (and I had a swollen eyelid): antivirals, such as acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valacyclovir (Valtrex)
My 83 year old mom had shingles last year. It lasted for many months. I got the vaccine after that.
it is unpleasant
i had shingles around 70 years old, it took me several years for local nerve pain. unbelievable !!
What an informative video. Thank you Dr. Dray for all your wonderful videos! My favorite You Tuber.
Thanks, Dr Dray. Very important health notice!! Have a good weekend.
I had shingles on my torso when I was 14. What surprises me now as an adult is I had no idea it could be so severe in some cases. For me I don't remember my experience being that bad, just some mild pain that didn't last very long and a mild rash. I feel like I got lucky that time.
I LOVE these videos, thank you so much Dr. Dray ❤
Shingles! The first time I had it I was a camp counselor and dared not tell anyone. At 15 I would NEVER have shown that part of my anatomy to anyone. Consequently the undergarment abraided the shingles and left dreadful scarring. I got it again after giving birth to my firstborn at age thirty and then at age 48. My husband could draw a perfect outline of the nerve by “connecting the dots”. My husband and I got the Shingrex vaccine last year since he has an aggressive cancer.
Be grateful for every single day. Heed Dr. Dray!
@LadyCatherine538 Read your comment here and want to ask if the Shingrix vaccine is better than the first vaccine they came out with. I remember hearing something to that effect but not positive. Any information you can give me will be most appreciated, because I had the first vaccine.
@@Kathern-lv9nvShingrix is more effective. If I recall correctly it is >90% effective versus the ~50% effectiveness of the earlier vaccine. The CDC recommends that if people received the earlier shingles vaccine that they get vaccinated with Shingrix.
@@npknscrb Thank you
As a current retiree/medicare beneficiary I’m old enough to have known generations of shingles sufferers. I first heard of the condition when my grandfather got it and was miserable for weeks or possibly months. I had a bad case of chicken pox which I still remember breaking out during the last school assembly of my first grade year, while I was wearing a very itchy dress.
Put this all together and ask if I’m vaxxed to the max against shingles?! I am, even though I was warned that dose 2 of Shingrex might be rough, which it was. Would definitely do it again!
I just had my second dose of the vaccine and have red swelling near the shot location, muscle soreness and major headache pain. But this has to be better than getting shingles! 🤷♀️
QUESTION ?? How many times are you suppose to get the shingles vaccine. We got the Shingrix vaccine a few years ago .
@@akhiker01 You're supposed to get 2 shots of Shingrix within a period of 2 to 6 months, and you don't have to go back again, per the pharmacist I got them from. I have read some comments that said they are good for 8 to 10 years (?). I would ask your primary physician to be safe.
@@akhiker01 A two shot Shingrex sequence is supposed to be the last you’re likely to ever need as far as I know. I had the first iteration of the shingles vaccine about 15 years ago and “moved up” to Shingrex last year.
I'm 45 and in good health. I currently have shingles. This is my 5th time having them. I have noticed that shingles always erupt in the summer months after I have experienced long days in the heat outside and when I get light sunburns multiple times. The rash is always in the same spot on my right front shoulder. My current case is probably the worst I have experienced. My whole right side is in pain. I have a band of pain that starts in my lower back, through my shoulder and armpit, down the backside of my arm to my fingertips. I also have pain up the back of my neck and into the back of my head. I'm on acyclovir and gabapentin.
My mother developed singles at the age of 88. She developed the rash around her left eye. She has had a recurring case of Uveitis over the years. Shingles seemed to exacerbate her Euveitis and when combined with the shingles virus she ended up with significantly diminished vision in that eye. While the singles rash and accompanying pain diminished over a few months she never regained her vision. My mom is the kind of person who goes to a doctor has the last resort and when the shingles vaccine first became available she believed that shingles was just a simple rash. After getting shingles she quickly received the latest version of the vaccine as soon as it became available.
I suffered from a heartbreak and developed shingles on my right thigh. I received oral medication, it healed quickly but left very visible scars. I used the Kerasal Intensive Foot Repair (with 10% urea) that you recommended for the heels on my scars for six months to fade them away. I have since been vaccinated.
Thank Dr. Dr Dray. I learned so much from this video! I'm just recovering from Shingles and now suffer from Herpetic Neuralgia. It's the worst nerve pain I ever experienced. I can't sleep, have troubles getting comfortable. Nothing takes the burning pain away. It's in my spine and rib cage. under the arm and I have troubles breathing. I'm 77 years old and wonder how long this will last.. Seeing my Dr. today and hope for some relieve through medication.
Yes, had it on my neck. Luckily a coworker encouraged me to go to prompt care, put me on medication early and made a difference. I agree, the pain was odd feeling to explain. Took 2 months for it to totally clear, painful to touch!
I have had them several times in the past few years. What a mess. Good to hear some helps.
i got shingles on July 3, 2023. Started with worst headache i’ve ever had on one side of my head. (like a constant brain freeze). thankfully for me i had an appt with my doc for a physical on July 8. She immediately and correctly identified shingles, and the meds she prescribed cleared the shingles (that appeared in my scalp, my eyelids, forehead, etc) within 10 days. Went to Opthamologist and thankfully no affect in the eye itself. But I’ve had PRN ever since. That has been unbelievable at times. Much better now, but I still have zinging pains in my head and burning itching in all the affected areas. Going to be getting Shingrix soon. I can’t go thru this again. (66 yrs old).
I understand completely... I have been battling my outbreak for7 months.
I came down with shingles the week of Thanksgiving, and Ingot the facial palsy as well. It was awful and scary. I was out of work until January. It was not only painful, but exhausting. I am 48, so I had never gotten the vaccine. They start recommending it at 50. I still don’t have full facial movement back, and it is February now. I am grateful to be past the pain now, though.
I got shingles when I was 6 years old. 60 years later, I still remember it was like a belt almost around my waist.
My husband had a mild case of shingles; just a circle of blisters about the size of a half dollar. He said it felt like needles poking into him. I put cortisone cream on it and covered it. It was gone in 24 hours.
My mom had shingles last year. Her rash was right in the middle of her back between her shoulder blades. It took a couple weeks to heal, but if she didn’t get the shingles vaccine with my dad prior to that, it would have been much worse and lasted a lot longer.
I got shingles as a child. Two school nurses were talking and I overheard them saying they never heard a child getting it and there was no cure so I thought I was going to die. Over 60 now, I was told to get the vaccine. Yes it’s crazy painful.😢
My husband had. it is horrible! Very painful. Took forever to go away. Thanks for telling us all about this It is very important to know about Shingles. Old wise tail says: that if you had a bad case of chicken pox, you are least likely to get Shingles when you get older. I had a very bad case in 2nd grade so we shall see.
That old tale is false. I had a devastating case when I was a toddler, then when my younger sisters got chicken pox from their friends before I started kindergarten, I got it again, but milder. I got shingles when I was worn down from mononucleosis as a teen working and babysitting at the local resort and barely sleeping. I bad summer before college! I have shingles many times since. Usually when I was worn down from extreme stress or illness, like Covid-19. Always around left near waist, down sciatic nerve or up from there. The lesions get less and less pronounced. Wish the pain was. The last time was miserable. The dizziness from that left ear is awful. So don’t believe everything you hear.
I had a very bad case of chicken pox as a child and I have had shingles 2 times around my eye. I got the double vaccine and hopefully I will not have shingles again.
@@annehhodges What’s the double vaccine? I didn’t take the earlier one because my insurance co said a better one was coming soon and they would pay for only a single time. Shringrix was the new one but I’ve waited to see how others responded to it.
@@sandyshirley5079 I meant it came in 2 injections several weeks apart
@@annehhodges Thanks!
I am in pain right now as I am watching this video. Shingles are very painful. Yes I have had chicken pox some few years back. I pray these pains go away fast.
Thank you for the reminder to get the Shingrix vaccine!
Thank you for talking about shingles. I got it at 36 and had no idea that was what it was until I finally went to an ER and got diagnosed. Unfortunately, I still have some pretty bad scars from it. I’m healthy so it was likely due to chronic stress.
Happy Friday Dr Dray so excited to be here I live for this ❤️
Morning!
@@DrDrayzday ❤
Greetings David Shabas hope u r well n Happy Friday😀👍💜….
@@whitneybrown4067 Happy Friday Whitney😀👍
I developed shingles a year ago on my left jaw line, ear, neck and shoulder. It was a bizarre stinging tingling pain. The doctor didn’t believe it was shingles at first because it wasn’t a textbook case, but prescribed me antivirals as a precaution. They took a swab of a blister to confirm, and it was positive for shingles.
I had shingles in my face and scalp. I was pregnant at the time. The pain I could handle, but the ITCHING. Holy crap that was SO bad. I won't wish this on my worst enemy
I agree the itching is insanely intense. Apple Cider Vinegar helps me as does a hot bath with epsom salt and baking soda. Ice temporarily helps as well.
🙋🏽 2X Chicken pox.. Thank you doing this tutorial.. I wanted to get the vaccine for it. Had it age 10 yr and #14 yr..
Very informative and thank you for not adding music to your videos .
I understand how you feel believe me, I have been through this same pain before and finding the best cure for Herpes, Shingles (HSV1&2 ) contact Dr.Ani John via RUclips channel he saved my life from this same virus I will always recommend him because he is the best herbal doctor in the world
I had a bad case of shingles at age 16 around my rib cage. Missed 3 weeks of school and lost 12 lbs. I still have scars from the sores and I am 63 years old. I have been vaccinated now.
I've had shingles many times. Always on the right side of my forehead, down the side of my face. I some times had blurry vision, but thankfully never lost my vision in that eye. It started when I was 35. I was in Hawaii for two weeks, came back with a bubbly rash and intense pain. Went to the Hospital as soon as I got back, and was told I had Shingles. Every time I've had Shingles it is always when I am out in the sun a bit too much. I don't burn, so I believe it is just too much exposure over a period of time. I've never gotten Shingles any other time, than when out in the sun. I finally got the Shingles vaccine the first time when I turned 50, not realizing the vaccine had a shelf life of 4 years. The person administering it never relayed the info sadly. I ended up getting quite a bad case of Shingles at 57, after being in Vegas for a week. I then went to my Doctor who told me I needed a new Vaccine. I then got the SHINGRIX vaccine, which I was then told lasts up to 7 years. I am 61 now and have not had a case of Shingles since the vaccine thankfully.
I didn't know about the shelf life either! Thanks for sharing!
How is that possible? I was told I could not get the shingles vaccination after I already had shingles because it would not work.
@@susangassaway8038 My Doctor told me to wait until the breakout was healed. That is what I did. It was about a month, then I went and got the SHINGRIX vaccine. Trust me... it definitely works. :-)
@@susangassaway8038 "Shingrix provides strong protection from shingles and long-term nerve pain. Get Shingrix even if you already had shingles, because you can get the disease more than once. Your risk of shingles and complications increases as you age. You need 2 doses of Shingrix." CDC
@@susangassaway8038 You got some wrong information. Thinking on that has changed. I wasn’t told it would work for only a few years. I inquired just before Shingrix was released. My insurance company said they’d pay only once because it should last a lifetime! Encouraged me to wait for Shingrix release because that was far more effective than the one available at that time. For those who have previously had shingles, even that is not 100% but it’s the best we’ve got.
I just found you because I have blistering , weeping clear , nerve pain on different parts of my body . The first sites were on the area between thumb and index finger like I had worked too hard pukking weeds that dsy . I covered immediately after cleaning and they soaked the dressings .
Next was my left knee . I did the same . Struggled w ith flu for 2 days. Now I have a larger set of 2on my Fight thigh.and a large one over my lefy shoulder that is miserable next to my bra strap. Im prepping for promtcare as this is a holiday , and prayerfully ask for relief . Thank you for giving me a knowledge base from which I csn draw from . I was to get my shot this ne xt w eek. You have been such a light unto my path 🕯️.
Take heart for us elderly . This may not be it but the electrical pain is as you de scribe d , yet mine is running amuck ❤
My husband at age 60 developed Ramsey Hunt and is still dealing with the side effects of that 10 yrs later🥺😱😵💫
I didn’t get chicken pox until I was 13 and it was a horrible case. I am immune compromised now, and I got the shingle vaccine as soon as I could.
Was hoping you would say how to prevent or eliminate the scarring that results from shingles. I got shingles and didn't know it soon after I got my very first COVID shot. Learned later that was one of the potential side effects of it. My derm told me it was shingles a few months afterwards when she saw the scar. Otherwise, I never would have even known!
I had shingles (age 45) on my chest and neck. Then a few years later I was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy. This followed a diagnosis of ear infection. I still have facial paralysis. I truly believe I had Ramsey Hunt.
did you get your Vitamin D check if your have low D levels this will allow illness and viruses to hit you and also cancers. Vitamin d is the fourth link in the immune system change.
My mother also had Shingles. She convinced me to take the Shingles shots. I did
Yes, I had chicken pox at the age of 34 when I was pregnant; it was horrible! Lucky, I was 4 months along and my baby was fine. I’m now 62 and I have not gotten the vaccine because I’m worried about the side effects. Can you please address Guillain Barre and shingles? I know someone who developed Guillain Barre and it was not fun.
I am 49 and just getting over shingles. I never expected to have it at my age.
Had chicken pox as a kid. Also had shingles. I had 1 eruption, went on a cyclovir immediately. No pain, but odd feeling. Have been vaccinated since.
Get immunised. My girlfriend, mid fifties healthy and fit, got the most shocking case. She got a 3 inch wide band across her back. Five years later is still in a lot of pain and on a pain management plan. It’s just awful
Absolutely the worst advice
can you please tell me why? Was thinking of getting the vaccine@@SherrylandNC
My brother had shingles and it came out on his back when he was working he's a truck driver and it hurt him so bad and with that information as well as the information I got the vaccine.
@@SherrylandNC why is getting immunised bad advice?
I’m in my 30s and I keep getting it. I have to go 6 months with out it for them to consider giving it me. They don’t give it to people under 50 which is crazy because more younger people are getting it and reoccurring episodes.
So I developed shingles after a surgery a year ago but was misdiagnosed as an allergic reaction to something. Then it happened again after another surgery resonantly and was diagnosed correctly. My question is: should you get vaccinated after having it and if so, how long after should I wait to do it?
Dr dray, how’s your mother doing? I think of her every time I see a video of yours. Also, shingles is TERRIBLE 😭😭 hurts so bad
Thank you so much for explaining. Many docs have a hard time explaining it, even tho they are a wonderful clinician
Mine went across my nose and headed to my eye- thankfully stopped at my eye. Had to see a Eye Dr and the whole 9 yards. Veeeeeerrrryyy painful! After I healed up I got the shingle shot😢
My husband is 45 and just got a case on his chest. It started with a patch right under the neck , he kept asking me if there was anything on the back of the neck because it was painful to move his head, he also said his lymph nodes felt swollen. The next day we saw new blisters, so we had a suspicion it was shingles and it was confirmed.
I know 2 people that got shingles after the shingles vaccine.
How old were they? It’s not 100% and the older you are the greater the risk.
I did.
Sounds like COVID after the COVID vax
The shingles vaccine does not have a long life. It “protects” for about 5 yrs.
This Dr know her stuff!👏🏻💐
Capsaicin cream helps with the pain new research shows!
I got shingles early in my pregnancy. Had almost no rash, just a small patch on my belly. But the pain was a intens burning sensation deep, inside my abdomen, only on one side of the body. Keept going for a few weeks. The pregnancy when very well. healthy 10 y o.
My grandma got this before I was ever born (I'm 47) and she had long term, lasting effects. My mom had this too but so far doesn't have lasting effects. Make sure to get immunized. Shingles are incredibly painful.
My mother said all I had as a child was the three day measles... so when I got the shingles April of 2022 I wound up going to the ER thinking I was having the worst migraine in my life or whatever.. my BP was through the roof also. After about 5 hours in the ER and receiving numerous shots etc to try and ease the pain they finally told me I had the shingles. They were under my lash line, on my eyelid, eyebrow , forehead and scalp. It then turned into Postherpetic Neuralgia which I still have... April will be two years! It's been the worst illness I've ever had...