I am almost certain i have internal shingles. I have not been to the doctor because I'm tried of being looked at like a hypochondriac! Has anyone experienced PHN?
Hi Angie. What do you mean by internal shingles? Have you had a bout of shingles recently or in the past? If so you can get recurring bouts of it with or without the rash. What symptoms are you having? The virus stays dormant in your nerve endings, after chicken pox, very close to the spine and erupts on your body/skin when you're rundown, stressed or have some auto immune illness. Most GP's don't recognise it unless you have a rash so that makes things a bit difficult. I'm sure others will come and speak to you soon but if you're unwell and can't get up, go to work etc you should make an appointment to see your GP and tell him/her your symptoms. Good luck 
yep 9 years of it.
If by internal shingles you mean the burning pain like someone has grabbed a pressure point or ants crawling along a nerve then welcome to PHN.
Best cure I found is Tramadol and Amitriptyline.
Good luck.
PS from previous post. As Steve said, we are more than likely to get PHN (post herpetic neuralgia after a bout of shingles. It can be painful, itchy, burning or stabbing pain, crawly sensation as it's nerve pain in the nerve affected by the shingles. Where you get it depends on which dermatome, (nerve ending) was affected. Hope we've helped. Ditto see GP if you think it's necessary. They can give you medication for nerve pain and strong opiate type pain killers too. Best wishes. 
Pollyanna...thanks your replying.... I have had shingles 10 or 12 times. And yes PHN also bit this is different. Started last of Oct between shoulder blades. No rash just itching. Now no itch but numbness and deep pain and swelling. I get very nauseated and severe diarrhea. Now the swelling and pain has come around to my left collar bone. I hate doctors!! But i guess i will habe to go.
Hi Steve.. For speed i have copied what i told Pollyanna. Can you see all of the replies?
I have had shingles 10 or 12 times. And yes PHN also bit this is different. Started last of Oct between shoulder blades. No rash just itching. Now no itch but numbness and deep pain and swelling. I get very nauseated and severe diarrhea. Now the swelling and pain has come around to my left collar bone. I hate doctors!! But i guess i will habe to go.
Hi Angie. You didn't mention your age, what is it? Sounds like you've had another bout in your back where the dermatones are. Do you know which dermatone your first outbreak was? ie cervical, 1-2-3-4-5. I had it in C3-4 which affected my shoulder, upper arm, back of neck and scalp. That was last April and still having PHN in that region. You should def see your Doc because of the sickness and diarreah. Tell him/her what you've said on here. You may need some anti virals plus strong pain meds and pregablin or similar for the nerve pain. Good luck at GP's!
Are you in the UK or somewhere else?
Hi...sorry i took so lomg to reply. I've not felt much like doing anything! I'm 62...an old fart. Lol I'm in the US. Still very sore and swollen. If i do nothing it's better. If i do things I'm almost in tears.
Hi Angie. I would say you definitely need a doctor if just to get a diagnosis and some pain medication. Did you see one yet?
No....no insurance. It's got my left eye numb now. Just keeps getting better!
Sorry to hear that Angie but couldn't you go to ER? That's what I would do if I felt so ill. Fortunately, here in UK we don't have to have private health insurance unless we want it. The NHS covers most thingsand urgent care is treated in Accident/Emergency dept at a hospital. People knock the NHS but it's a life saver, literally for people who are hardup for whatever reason! Hope you can get something done soon. Best wishes. Pollyanna UK
No....no insurance. It's got my left eye numb now. Just keeps getting better!
Yeah the health care system sucks here right now. I lost my job of 20 yrs and for the first time i have no insurance. But i just keep hoping it will wear itself out. So you dont have episodes of phn?
PS. If it is shingles in your eye it definitely is an emergency. It can cause sight loss! Also if it affects your ear it can cause deafness so please, do go to ER.
But you know what throws me off everytime is the lack of sympathy from family and friends cause they don't see a terrible rash!!!!!
Yes I do get PHN sometimes but not as much as I did at first. I'm taking a supplement called L-Lysine which some people on here recommended. It's supposed to help keep PHN and recurring shingles at bay and so far it's worked for me. Available at Health food shops and online through Amazon where I bought some. Good luck and goodnight, I'm off to bed now it's getting late for old ladies like me, (72) 
Pollyanna...so are you like 5 hours ahead of me? It's 7;18 here. Anyway. Went to ER today. Ues everything is shingles and it is around the whole socket of my left eye.
Hey Angie, You are not crazy, and boy do I have an idea how you feel. I had to make an account to comment to you. Without getting into things I have a 12 year history where I keep telling doctors herpes is wrecking my entire nervous system and the fun of trying to get this diagnosed just keeps on giving. (At this point I'm thinking it could be simplex 1 and Zoster) I am shocked at how difficult it is to get some of these doctors to take us seriously when something doesn't show. You could have PHN, or a neuropathy as they can cause pain too. I now spend my time taking Valtrex daily, and at times I have to raise the dose. In other words I'm self medicating. You sound like somebody that should have been put on this drug ages ago for prevention. If you need me I'll be trying to convince them to figure mine out. I'm pretty sure I'm a candidate for a Valtrex IV in the hospital. This stuff is just wrecking my life. What's wrecking it far more though is the lack of respect out of doctors, and so no diagnosis.
Hi susan.... Thanks for sharing. I think i will talk to my doc about going on it dailey. I've also had the shot. But as far as respect from doctors....what about the repect we DON'T get from family!!!!! I know they get tired id hearing about how much i suffer from this but if only they knew!!!! Nothing to do about that i guess. Hope you have understanding people around you. I have had to have 2 manograms and so ogram because shingles affected my ledt breast! Nut the eye thing freaked me somewhat!
Pollyanna... Hadnt heard from you hope you are well.