I was just diagnosed today. For the past five days I have had a band of red from the midpoint of my abdomen just above my public bone and spreading out toward my left hip; then around the back a small dot on my upper left buttock. I could not figure out what it was, but last night I was up almost all night with pain shooting down my leg. I was afraid it might be genital herpes (even though I couldn't figure out how that would be possible), but there are no blisters anywhere in that area. Went to the doctor and he said it was a classic case of shingles. All I know is it hurts like crazy. He said he wished I had come in a few days earlier, but put me on acyclovir and steroids and gave me oxycodone for the pain. I just want this to go away. Hopefully it does and I never have to deal with it again. Wish me luck!

Sadly I was 42 when I got my first case of shingles. I've had it four times now, mostly on the upper region of my face and to the side on my lower back. Oh and of course the pain didn't leave after the blisters, they put me on a nerve blocker called Neurontin which did the trick for me after nine weeks of sheer agony. My heart goes out to anyone who has this illness. For me it seemed like the pain would never end, pain killers did nothing to ease the pain. It was a big stressor, but not anymore, so if you have shingles stop...breathe...and try to get through it, it will pass eventually.

When I developed shingles, it started with nausea and intense hip pain. I broke out two days later with spots middle back to front close to belly button. Now, I have stinging pain and itching.

My shingles started out as intense pain left arm. I also had shooting nerve pains and intense pain in the joints as well as numbness in the hand and fingers. The rash started three days later and have been concentrated between the heel of my left palm and just above the left elbow, with a little on my underarm. The pain is very bad and my medication. The pain increases with activity and sitting/standing.

Yes, I had the chickenpox when I was a child. Then when I was about 24 yrs of age I was diagnosed with shingles, on the lower part of my back. (It always comes up on the same place). The nerve starts on the bottom of my right foot and travels up my leg, resulting in the outbreak on my right side. I seem to have an outbreak whether I'm stressed or eat chocolate! (I haven't heard of food causing shingles, but happens every time, especially with dark chocolate). I spoke with my doctor about Zostavax, and she wasn't comfortable with giving me the shot since I have recurrent outbreaks.

My shingles started on the left side of my back. I went to the doctor, who gave me cortisone and pain medication. My doctor then sent me for an MRI, and I broke out with the rash and hives all over my left buttock and groin area. I am still having problems. I work all day and I'm 55 years old. I just wish the pain and swelling would heal up.

I had a pain in my lower back and side for a few days a sort of tender burning pain, it then progressed right around to my belly button left side I then noticed a few spots and the next day these spots looked slightly yellower reminding me of chickenpox. The next day, there were two more spots that appeared and still burning pain halfway around the waist area. I headed off to doctor who diagnosed me with shingles, and I am just starting medication. The doctor warned me it could get very painful. Fingers crossed, I hope it goes away quickly. He gave me pain medication, too, just in case. It hasn't been too bad so far. I just hope it doesn't itch too much.

I thought I had scratched my eye - it was irritated, burning, and I had blurred vision. The ophthalmologist recognized that I had shingles, although I did not have a rash yet. I've had shingles at least 3 times before and this was on the same side. Valtrex and antiviral drops cleared it right up.