I was diagnosed February 20th of this year . Have the same issue you described. I am so, so tired! Took antiviral three times a day (mostly) and finished them in about a week - that was 2 weeks or so ago. Have continued to be exhausted. Have slept 11 to 12 hours on the days I am off. I am a teacher and took a day off Monday and Friday of last week Slept a lot those days. Slept 11 1/2 hours last night. Walked the dog, helped a teeny bit with an electric snow blower, then handed off to my husband.
Did you get less fatigued in time? I am hoping so...
Donna. If you got The antivirals within 72 hours, they should help combat the shingles. So that's the first question I have for you is when did you get the antivirals? Don't forget, the shingles is a virus, you can have all kinds of other symptoms particularly fatigue possibly nausea, headaches headaches, bodyaches, and all kinds of other odd symptoms particularly severe pain in the area of the rash. The fatigue is not unusual sadly. Are you also on any other medication, such as gabapentin, the generic of Neurontin. that can lessen the pain and possibly shorten the duration of your illness. However it also causes again sleepiness, and confusion. This is a serious illness, you need to rest as much as possible. Most of us came to this for him seeking answers and truly did not understand how serious this was and what impact it can have in our life. Take care keep asking questions, but you might want to start your own forum thread where it says start your own discussion down below, to get some specific information regarding your situation. Please excuse any typos. I am five months out from my first and hopefully only bout of shingles, and I'm using speech to text to type this as it's much easier for me.
I have used acupuncture and it is brilliant. Pain was gone just about instantly. Went back to work within a month after I had gotten rid of those horrible antivirals. They are worse than the disease. I had shingles already a week, however was not as crook as when I took that c%$p. I do not think they work well. Within 6 weeks I am as OK as I was before. However I have also some miracle recipy I call it. :-) Marjo
I was just diagnosed about a week ago with shingles.. Not a bad case, just a small patch on my rib.. I am being treated with an antiviral and antibacterial medication.. I no longer have the burning sensation at the rash spot, but my muscles hurt everywhere.. It's like I over did it at the gym.. And I get extremely fatigue and weak (physically weak, no longer lift small amount of weight).. My friend just told me to stop complaining and suck it up.. Smh
Dear Mindy,
I am sorry you are going through this. Your friend is not empathetic. Herpes Zoster Shingles affects the entire body, not just the area where the rash is. The generalized aches and pains can last for a couple of weeks. The fatigue and exhaustion can last for months. The area of Herpes Zoster Shingles can start burning again with a vengeance, so be careful.
You should have been told to take analgesic medications for the pain. Naproxen is good.
You need to rest and sleep and sleep and and rest. No☺, that was not an error. You have to do nothing except rest, and eat nutritious foods. That "friend" isnt going to help you.
Hopefully, by the end of one month, the lesions will be scabbed over, and you will feel better. Please consider taking time off from work.
I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States and have had Herpes Zoster Shingles in my right ear every three to five weeks for the past twentyone years and twice in my right eye.
Best Wishes
Merry Juliana
I was given NARCO for pain but I really don't function well on pain meds, so I haven't taken them but at bedtime.. I'm also stubborn so I am still working in an auto parts store..
Tell the "friend" that once they have shingles, they can then tell you what to do! Seriously, the rash is NOT the virus, it's just one of the many, many symptoms that appear from its assault on our body. You can have shingles with no rash and have just as much or more pain than someone with one. I had two tiny areas, yet was almost debilitated by the pain. It's so very hard to understand, like Merry said, that you are ill and have a systematic infection--just like the flu or a cold etc. Yes, rest is the best thing you can do.
Take care, we're here for you.
Wow. Clearly your friends have never had shingles.
As the other persons who have commented suggest, ignore them. Your body is under assault and you are exhausted as a result. Slleep alot and don;t feel badly about it. The muscle pain decreased when I rested. Like you, I did not have a very bad rash, but my muscles ached and I was so. so. so tired. I was sleeping full nights and napping during the day, after teaching. I told my students that grading was going to take longet than normal and I also took a few days off. Do what you need to do and don;t apologize about it. I hope you felel better soon.
Dear Merry, I've been reading your posts and they're so helpful.i hope you're still posting I came down with shingles about 4 weeks ago . I had had surgery and a weakened immune system with lots of anxiety and suddenly I had this rash on my forehead. My dermatologist knew exactly what it was ,prescribed the antibiotic (I was already on Gabapentin due to my surgery which was another nerve issue-sciatica) and sent me to an ophthalmologist right away because it was also on my eyelid. Well it's cleared up a lot but I still feel burning on my scalp and sometimes I feel sick with the chills,nausea and an upset stomach. Can this also be attributed to the shingles? I'm also embarrassed to ask but do you think its safe for me to now dye my hair since the rash has cleared?
The virus often can cause other symptoms, so it could be that, but it could also be a separte stomach virus. I did have nausea and threw up the second week of my shingles. But your symptoms are very common with various stomach aiiments. Sadly, you may know by now.
You mentioned your rash has cleared up, but you still have burning and your scalp, personally, I would hold off a bit. Do you go to a stylist or do you do it yourself?
Dear Merry, thank you, thank you for all the useful info. I came to site because I feel worse today, two weeks AFTER first dx. Of course, grateful stabbing pain is gone. I was lucky to recognize it was shingles from the commercials and was given steroids, antivirals, Tylenol 3, and Lidocaine cream within 72 hrs. The blisters are 75% healed. But starting yesterday, I was having muscle aches, chills, nausea, burning and itching where the blisters used to be, etc. Just relieved to know "it's not all in my head". I was pushing myself to keep up with my exercise routine and today, I just couldn't do it; not even walk the dogs. Thx for talking about shingles being a systemic virus, not just the blisters. I'm going to take it easy. I found relief from Solorcane spray with Aloe and lidocaine. Actually seemed to worked better than the 5% lidocaine cream. Brandy
Hi Susan,
Sorry that you are suffering from Herpes Zoster Shingles. Also, I apologize for the delay in responding. I am driving a dear friend a large distance in the States currently.
Often, the accompanying symptoms can persist, but I would see your physician if you are vomiting or unable to drink fluids, eat properly, becoming dehydrated, etc.
Please delay in coloring your hair as you may set off an acute recurrence of Herpes Zoster Shingles or stimulate painful receptors on your scalp. I have seen advertised hair powders and hair "mascara" to allow individuals to increase time between hair coloring. I am by no means an expert on hair coloring, but have seen many patients with bad reactions to hair dye shortly after they were acutely ill.
Has your vision in your eye been affected at all? If so, you certainly need close following up with the ophthalmologist.
Do you normally have nausea or an upset stomach when you become sick, ie a fragile stomach? Do you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Your surgery was on your back? I hope it was successful and you are in a lot less pain and more functional than before. It certainly did not help getting shingles on top of it...
Best Wishes
Merry Juliana
Dear Babs, Thanks for your reply.I don't think it's a stomach virus because it comes and goes and it's mainly the chills. For instance,this am. I feel fine. I do my hair myself but I'm afraid to start because my face still has some marks from where the scabs fell off even though my head feels clear.
Hi Brandy,
It certainly is not all in your head. The worse thing you can do is power through Herpes Zoster Shingles. Unfortunately, we all have tried to do it, and we pay for it later. You need to eat nutritious foods and rest and sleep. The varicella virus has infected your entire body, and it can literally take months to get over the systemic effects.
Your absolutely right about Solarcaine spray with Aloe helping more than the Lidocaine 5% patch, at least for me, with another ailment....
Best Wishes
Merry Juliana
Thanks Merry for your reply. I. can eat pretty well but will suddenly get the chills and just feel an overall sickness. This happens on and off. One day I'm fine and the next, not so good.
Luckily my vision hasn't been permanently impaired. There were days when I would feel that my vision was a little blurry but that seems to have passed, thank goodness.
The surgery was due to an extremely severe sciatica which, of course, was due to my back.The pain was L4-L5 going down my leg. Still feel some pain because they said that Nerves have a memory. I had to go to the ER twice to get shots of morphine. And finally the surgery. It's been a long recovery because then I got shingles-another nerve pain!!
I guess I'll have to put off dying my hair but my boyfriend says he likes seeing the gray. (Maybe he wants me to look as old as he is!)
I forgot to add that I get easily tired. I've been attributing it to the surgery but could it be the shingles?
In some ways I may have been lucky; I was already going to Accupuncture for another health issue. I was also taking Pristiq for a head injury. Those were two bits of advice I read in this forum. I also knew from the head injury that Gabapentin was not good for me. The codeine worked better and I knew to be very careful. I made a 5 day prescription last 10 days and mostly used it at night so I could sleep. I am frustrated with this heath set back. The head injury was serious and included torn muscles and trapped nerves. It took me 26 months of recovery to be able to exercise for two hours and run a few errands. I can't believe you have had to deal with this every 5 weeks for decades. Thx for sharing what you have learned.
I had the exact same experience. Sharp pinpricks and hot flushes for a few weeks prior then thought I had strained a muscle in my shoulder. 2 days later - the dreaded rash. Caught it within 24 hours so had Acyclovir but they also told me to take pregabalin and tramadol for the pain. I thought I was slowly on the mend but then it hit me. No energy, severe post viral symptoms, zero appetite and I ended up in hospital with chest pain and breathing difficulties.
My advice would be to get the anti itch creams, eat properly and eat good things that help your immunity. Try not to take the really strong stuff as some of the side effects make you feel worse.
Best of health to you all. It's miserable. I'm not there yet myself but determined to get back to normal. Be kind to yourself and if you're tired- rest. You deserve it.
I'm sorry you're going through this! I'm 29, female, and have just been diagnosed with shingles. Since mine appeared on my face, I thought it was just acne at first but it wasn't going away- went to the doc for something unrelated and she diagnosed me immeadiately. My symptoms were not nearly as severe as they could be (doc said that's because of my age) however I, too, have been experiencing MASSIVE fatigue.
Almost like I have the flu.
I'm glad this is normal...
And an upset stomach as well...
Hi I have had shingles over 3 weeks ago and I too have been suffering extreme bouts of tiredness which exactly how you described as almost flu like. I also been suffering with upset stomach sickness & severe headaches. I can be well for a couple of days then get exhausted for 1 & then cycle continues. Being very active and busy this is not me & is extremely frustrating. Have you been given any useful advice what can be done to improve this or even how long this is to go on for.. I would very much appreciate anything that could help me.. Many thanks