I am 60 years old and have shingles right now. This is the 5th time I have had them in less than one year. I get a huge painful rash on my buttocks and lower back. I also get what feels like flu symptoms. My doctor prescribes valacyclovir for me. He wants me shingle-free for at least 4-6 months before giving me the shingles vaccination. I feel sorry for anyone that gets shingles!

Initially I concluded that I had shingles based on the location of the rash and the way it broke out. My first lesion was just above my left eyebrow. I thought the spot might have been a severe blemish but the next day I had another lesion near it. Sine pain and itching had started in that area also. Within 48 hours a doctor examined me and although the shingles diagnosis was not firm that day he put me on antivirals. Even with treatment the condition worsened and I sought care again two days later. At that time the rash, pain, and itching were confirmed by the doctor as shingles.

I had a very sensitive sensation on my upper arm and back with stabbing pain but no rash or blisters. I went to my GP who suggested it may be from my neck. I asked if it could be shingles as I had witnessed my mother suffer terribly from this. He said unlikely but as I was travelling, gave me a prescription for if the rash broke out. It did but only a week later. The medication was not very effective and the pain terrible. It is three weeks later and I still have pain but the rash is gone. I am treating the area with tea tree and lavender and taking L-lysine twice a day.

I was diagnosed with shingles almost 27 years ago after my oldest son was born. I have had it off and on since then and due to the almost monthly breakouts it was suggested that I go to see an acupuncturist. It was just in the last 2 years that I discovered that by taking calcium, and a high dose of folic acid B12 that I am almost completely shingle free. I suffered with intense pain in my lower back, hip and leg down to my foot until I could hardly stand to walk. Due to my very low levels of b12 I am convinced that this did the trick. It's been almost 7months now with a single symptom. Aspercream also works to help with pain.

I went to the clinic I attend and could not see a doctor; the nurse on duty saw the rash, saw my swollen eye and was explained the extreme pain from my face, head and in my eye. She diagnosed me with a sinus infection. The pain and rash became so severe that I went to the emergency room. One look and the doctor told me I have shingles; I was two hours away from not being able to take the medicine to help. I have been on anti-viral meds for two days now and have not seen a marked improvement, only more rash. At this point I am really hoping the medicine helps me soon.

I felt mild burning around chest/back area. Then the classic shingles symptoms (red rash, etc.) developed. I was given the anti-viral and pain medications which really did not help. I developed post-shingles stuff. The ONLY thing that helped was acupuncture and lidocaine patches. Ten months later, I still have itching and pain. I later got the vaccine. I recently developed very mild shingles on the other side. I have fever and fatigue, but mild (relatively) pain on new area. However, it retriggered the old side.

The shingles were not diagnosed until I actually suggested to my GP after the rash became very uncomfortable. Until then I was tested for a kidney infection then kidney stone. As I also suffer from psoriasis I dismissed the initial rash as this not knowing the pain I was suffering was possible with shingles.

I had stabbing pain for 3 days under my right rib cage. On the 3rd night, I had flu-like symptoms, and when I woke up I develop a rash on my right back. Went to the doctor that day and they diagnosed it was shingles. I got prescription and took the tablets right away. I'm just on my first 8 hrs of treatment. The stabbing pain is still there.