# Shingles really hurts. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 13, 2014, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099 "2014-12-13T07:21:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/1 "2014-12-13T07:21:36Z")
I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, and I’m a petty and vengeful fellow. Can’t sleep for the pain. Or bear to be touched. Trust me when I say you don’t want details much less pictures. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/2 "2014-12-13T07:34:28Z")
Did you ever get a shingles shot? They say it doesn’t absolutely guarantee you won’t get shingles, but just makes it less likely, _and_ if you do, it won’t be as severe as it would have been without the shot. (How can they know that?) Not much anyone can do for poor evil **Skald** I guess, but I’m sure he would agree with this: Let this be a warning. Get y’all to a doctor and get your shingles shot! (I got mine a few years ago, after reading horror stories about it.) ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/3 "2014-12-13T07:38:52Z")
Got the shot a while back, after younger sis got shingles. The goggles, they do nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/4 "2014-12-13T12:46:20Z")
My ex-FIL had them. It said it was horrible. Go naked! It might help. Sorry you’re going through this anytime, but right now at the holidays, too. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/5 "2014-12-13T12:54:20Z")
My sympathies are with you. I had shingles on the back of the head, so it was misdiagnosed, and i didn’t get on anti-virals soon enough to do any good. Hope you had better luck with early diagnosis. The pain does go away, and becomes nothing but a memory, and a weak one, at that. Hope that happens for you soon. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/6 "2014-12-13T13:20:22Z")
**Skald** –I been there. Don’t use heating pads–it makes the shingles last longer! See your doc, follow his/her advice. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/7 "2014-12-13T13:28:40Z")
How long does an outbreak last? Gout episodes seem to last 3 to 5 days. Focusing on the passage of time seems to help me deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/8 "2014-12-13T13:32:11Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, and I’m a petty and vengeful fellow. Can’t sleep for the pain. Or bear to be touched. Trust me when I say you don’t want details much less pictures. > > That is all. See a doctor and get on the antivirals if you still can. It helps and helps prevent persistent pain once the illness is over. My husband just had it and it was a solid three weeks before he felt all better, with 7-10 days of the worst. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/9 "2014-12-13T14:03:59Z")
I’m sorry you’re in such pain. I want a shingles shot, and am urged to get one by signs every times I visit the pharmacy. However, you can’t get one without a doctor’s prescription, and my doc won’t give me one because I’m too young or something. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/10 "2014-12-13T14:51:22Z")
I just got over my second round with them, and I agree with everything you said. This time, however, I was able to get antivirals about three days after I figured out what it was (no antivirals the first time I had them), and that made a difference. I can’t have the shot. If you can, get it! ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/11 "2014-12-13T14:55:19Z")
There is an oral anti-virial medication that helps some people. Talk to your healthcare professional. It’s called Acyclovir. It really helped my husband when he had it. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/12 "2014-12-13T16:19:41Z")
Am going to er. Update la ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/13 "2014-12-13T16:33:50Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, and I’m a petty and vengeful fellow. Can’t sleep for the pain. Or bear to be touched. Trust me when I say you don’t want details much less pictures. > > That is all. Are you not taking pain meds ? I was given a script of a mix between morphine/oxycontin when I had shingles. It was such a relief after a week of not being able to sleep, and it getting progressively worse. I had no idea what it was until my sister look at my rash and got me to hospital right away. Can vouch, very painful. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/14 "2014-12-13T17:04:15Z")
Damn Skald, I’m sorry. Good luck with the pain management. ---
**Author:** ![Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/77aa72/32.png) [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy_PickleSniffer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/15 "2014-12-13T18:35:51Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > My ex-FIL had them. It said it was horrible. Go naked! It might help. > > Sorry you’re going through this anytime, but right now at the holidays, too. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. You told Skald - _SKALD??_ - to go nekkid? :eek: Man… you’re one brave woman. 😃 Skald I hope the ER can help you minimize some of the pain. Never had shingles myself but I’ve helped a friend who had it and have seen with her how much pain that can cause. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/16 "2014-12-13T18:43:35Z")
coolness helps. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/17 "2014-12-13T21:59:09Z")
So sorry to hear it, Skald. I hope the ER docs can give you some relief. I had it just a few weeks ago. IT was five weeks of hell, followed by three weeks of shooting pains. Since [misery loves company](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736875), you might enjoy reading my description in Post #22. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/18 "2014-12-13T22:10:56Z")
I had shingles last year–started on my birthday. After suffering for 48 hours, I went to one of those critical care places. They sent me for an MRI (I had no rash). Anyway, next day, the rash started. THIS TIME, the doctor identified it with a glance. I had it for two months. I found a hot shower worked for temporary relief. This is the opposite of everyone else, but ice packs did zip for me. Oh, yeah, the antivirals stopped the shingles from going up on my face. One day my face itched, and over the next couple of days on the anti-virals that went away. I’ve passed a kidney stone, and I’ve had shingles. Shingles was worse. And I’d had the shingles shot. I was one of those it didn’t do any good for. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/19 "2014-12-13T22:36:28Z")
I’ve had it twice. First time I was prescribed acyclovir and that worked well. Next time I had Valtrex (I think) and that wasn’t as good. Ask if you can get both. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2014, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099/20 "2014-12-13T22:55:40Z")
I had what I was told was a mild case and it was miserable. topical anesthetics like Lanacaine helped as well s the antiviral meds. I thought it was a spider bite from doing inventory at work then it spread from two small places of blister type things on my back (crossing my spine) to another spot on my stomach. so then I thought poison ivy which I wasn’t previously allergic to and hadn’t been outside more than walking to and from my car and shingles wasn’t supposed to cross to different areas of the body. by that time the itching was getting painful. Dr said it was an unusual presentation (the crossing my spine) but yep shingles. I am considered too young for the shingles shot to be covered by my insurance but I would rather pay it than get it again. I still have phantom pain/burning on the spots where I had the blisters. It fortunately is not as prolonged or as painful as before. I just need to remember to call to arrange the shot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shingles-really-hurts/707099.md?page=2)