I had a burning etc left had side roof of mouth and had operation for cataract recently and it was also aching left hand side went to doctor examined my mouth said I have shingles prescribed acroviral 5 times a day mouth is very sore inside bi
ut that's only symptoms will this now go away without rash etc occurring
Not sure it will go away but might help to clear it up faster. Did you have any rash or pain on face, head, neck, shoulder etc? It's usually triggered after some sort of stressful occurance such as surgery, illness or incident in your life which has upset you. Probably the OP for cataract in your case. The chickenpox virus stays dormant in your body and never goes away after you've had a bout of it. It's reactivated as I mentioned above in these or similar circumstances. Older people are more at risk. More info available on this site if you want to check it out. Look under health info for a stert. Best wishes, Ellie.
Hi June,
Shingles is caused by Herpes Zoster Virus, the chicken pox virus, which lies dormant in your body until you are under stress, such as illnesses, surgery, or immunocompromised, etc.
The first stage which lasts up to 10-14 days, often has symptoms such as headache, joint and muscle aches, malaise, fatigue, and low grade fever. The pain can precede the rash by 24-72 hours. Then the pain starts, which is described as itching, burning, electric, stabbing, but in most older individuals, can be agonizing, excruciating, and last weeks or a couple of months. Any longer and the pain is classified as the dreaded post herpetic neuralgia (PHN.)
Shingles is almost always on one side of the body, in your case, the left side. People can have recurrent episodes, always on the same side and same location, but does not happen to most people. This forum, though, is devoted to individuals who have had particularly difficult times with Herpes Zoster, including me.
I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States who has Herpes Zoster Oticus in my right ear every three to five weeks for the last 19 years and had Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus twice in my right eye. I am 63 years old and immunocompromised.
My suggestion to you is to obtain excellent pain relief now with Opioids if you need it. I am glad you were diagnosed immediately and placed on antivirals as that is key.
Please let me know if you have any questions as the head can be a tricky place to treat, causing severe headache, etc.
All my best,
Merry Juliana
Thank you Merry it is roof of my mouth but I was more concerned with left eye as just over month ago had cataract op as doc was as well but gave me acroviral tablets 5 times a day first day is over seems to be okay at moment apart from pain in mouth and slight headache so hopeful was caught really early thank you for you reply and help I am in the United Kingdom hope you eventually get some relief from this painful disease kind regards June xx
Thank you Ellie for your reply and info I was more worried about my eye then my mouth because of pain in that went to the doctor as just thought I had burnt my mouth with food or had an ulcer just as well I did as he put me straight on acroviral tabs 5 times a day for seven days as was worried about the eye as well but eye seems to be okay apart from very sore mouth and slight headache seems to have caught in time I am in the United Kingdom good to have reply like this as never had shingles in my life and am now 73 years of age fingers crossed not again kind regards June xx
Dear June,
Very glad your Zoster was diagnosed and treated early as often that prevents the devastating sequelae and complications.
My initial Zoster-Shingles was not diagnosed until I saw an excellent neurotologist 4 weeks after onset of agonizing pain, for which I never received any analgesics. I lost 90% of my hearing in my right ear. Two ENT doctors thought I was faking the pain, as they couldn't "see anything wrong," although I had blisters my 7 year old son had seen via my otoscope . Many physicians are not astute regarding shingles, so you are indeed fortunate.
Should you have an inkling of a recurrence, get antivirals immediately, within 24 hours, as that is the most definitive and important key in improving your outcome.
Best regards, and don't hesitate to ask if you have questions,
Merry Juliana
Hi
no my rash took a week to come out .hope you feel better soon
Julie
Hi June,
Sorry to hear you ve been suffering from shingles, I have had recurrent attacks of shingles for over 10 years and like you have had it twice in the roof of my mouth, which is extremely painful, aparently its called Ramsey Hunt Syndrome when you get it in your mouth. Last October i had the shingles vaccine which kept attacks at bay for over 10 months but unfortunately is reared its ugly head again in my mouth. I had antivirals for a week, its so frustrating because i feel really tired and unwell for a couple of weeks after.Ive had gabapentin for pain relief in the past too. Other than shingles im fit and well thats the annoying part of it!! Hope you are soon feeling better, best wishes Lisa1510
Hola June54386, no estoy seguro de que desaparezcan, es posible que hayan causado un trauma en tu boca durante la cirugía; no estoy seguro de eso, pero podría provocarlo. Dudo que desaparezcan. Sé que no es lo que querías oír, lo siento muchísimo, pero la realidad es poco probable. Bebe mucha agua, sigue con los antivirales y mantente saludable, porque yo sé que los tengo con cualquier estrés, resfriado o cualquier cosa que altere mi vida, y todos tenemos cosas, así que será un trabajo constante mantenerse saludable y no preocuparse demasiado. Si puedo ayudarte de alguna manera, simplemente escuchando, lo haré. Una vez más, lo siento mucho, espero que te sientas mejor.
I'm a 43 year old male in decent shape with no stress in my life, at the time I got the shingles in my mouth. Looking back it all makes sense but didn't at first. At first I thought I had a toothache. That was a Sunday. On Tuesday I had blisters on the left side of my lips and inside my mouth. Knew that I needed to see a doctor. Went to an urgent care and found out I had shingles in my mouth. Over the next couple days. I was in severe pain. Had a couple trips to the ER. They gave me injections of opiate painkillers there and more to take home. Nothing would make my tongue stop hurting. I cryed like a baby from the pain I was in. Also was givin lidocaine oral stuff. Swish and spit numbing liquid. That only took the edge of the pain for a couple minutes. I went 4 days with little to no sleep amd not a single bite of food. It is the worst pain and discomfort I've ever experienced. I'm now a week into it and not sure what's going to happen from here on.
Mi situación es casi idéntica a la tuya. Mi herpes zóster también está en mi boca... "desencadenado" por un tratamiento de conducto radicular a principios de la semana. Me asusta pensar que podría volver a tener esto, y posiblemente nuevamente. El único alivio que he tenido hasta ahora son los "caramelos" de cloraseptico con 20% de benzocaína y analgésicos tópicos (como Orajel). El dolor es simplemente increíble. El médico me recetó antivirales (y rezo para haberlos obtenido a tiempo para que hagan una diferencia), e hidrocodona. No puedo ver dónde la hidrocodona funcione más de 20 minutos en cualquier momento dado. Oremos todos por los demás. Estoy contigo —nunca he experimentado nada como esto—, aparte del parto, y eso finalmente termina (ja). Oremos todos por los demás.
Dios los bendiga.
Lisa
I am interested in shingles in the mouth. I noticed a gum boil in my mouth, not sore unless pressed on ,at the same time my blisters started to come out in my hair line ,neck and shoulder all on the left side. Could that be a shingle in the gum?
Could be shingles in the nerve on that side of your face. Shingles usually attacks one side not both. You should see a doctor as anti viral meds are needed soon as poss, within 72 hours of start of outbreak. Urgent care or A n E, (UK only) ER in US can supply a prescription for them. Good luck,
Hola Merry19451, acabo de leer tus publicaciones. Espero que hayas tenido algo de alivio de tus terribles síntomas y que te sientas mejor. Mi médico de cabecera me diagnosticó herpes zóster en el paladar blando y estoy tomando antivirales. Sin embargo, no estoy segura de que realmente sea eso. Comencé sintiéndome muy cansada y mal durante 2 semanas (un comienzo muy estresante del año, mi papá falleció después de que tuve que cuidarlo durante 2 semanas y otras cosas), luego comencé con dolor delante de mi oreja derecha y después apareció una llaga en el techo de mi boca de aproximadamente 1 cm de diámetro, con algunas otras pequeñas lesiones, todas en el lado derecho. La zona era extremadamente dolorosa y no pude comer ni beber adecuadamente durante 2 días. Luego desarrollé una sensación de entumecimiento en el lado derecho de mi cara, y esa sensación de entumecimiento aún persiste una semana después. El dolor de la llaga disminuyó ligeramente después de 1 día tomando aciclovir. Me siento cansada y agotada, y me dieron una nota para tomarme 1 semana de baja laboral. Sin embargo, ya no tengo un dolor terrible como lo describen algunos otros en este foro, y solo he estado tomando ibuprofeno y paracetamol; además, otros no han descrito entumecimiento en el área del nervio trigémino. ¿Será realmente herpes zóster?
Hi Hoxo,
It certainly sounds like Shingles as the pre-eruptive symptoms, the lesions, the pain, and yes, the numbness all on one side are classic for Trigeminal Nerve Herpes Zoster-Shingles. I am so sorry you are suffering with this disease. I have Ramsay Hunt Syndrome every three to five weeks for the past twenty years (Herpes Zoster-Shingles in the ear and get lesions in my mouth as well. I have difficulty swallowing due to the swelling every time. I get a sore throat, as well. I also get a facial droop and numbness on my face, right side. I usually don't bother mentioning all the symptoms I have. I certainly have insomnia for at least a week prior to the headache followed by a severe earache, malaise, ataxic-off balance, exhaustion, fatigue, aches and pains. As I have frequent episodes, I don't wait for the earache to appear. I start taking the Antivirals at the first inclination of Herpes Zoster-Shingles starting to stop the replication of the virus. My episodes are not as long or as intense.
I hope this has been helpful.
Best regards
Merry Juliana
Dear Hoxo,
Please accept my heartfelt condolences on your father's passing. It sounds as if you were a very caring daughter/son. I know only too well how caring for terminally ill parents and the grieving process can sap your energy and spirit to the core. Please treasure the time you had together and know that part of your father still lives inside you.
Best Wishes
Merry Juliana
Hello i have a nasty case of shingles plus a spot on my optical nerve. Its been 3 weeks since first headache. Im still dealing with eye issue's plus a sesitive fake feeling face. I feel im getting ulcers in the mouth but been on anti viral for 8 day's. Was hospitalized for 2 days before that.
I am not doi g well. Can this spread? Ulcers in mouth? Earache? Sore throat? Oh my gosh i want this to go away... Im 40 and in good health otherwise.
I lost my job this is ruining my life.
Can it spread?
Uou really have this every few weeks?
What about vaccine??
Any and all help please.
Thank you
Jimmy
Gracias por responder. Lamento mucho que estés sufriendo tanto debido a este terrible virus con tanta frecuencia. Creo que mi ataque fue leve. Solo me quedó algo de entumecimiento en la cara y experimento ocasionalmente dolores punzantes delante de la oreja. Estaba leyendo sobre ello y dice que la vitamina B12 puede ayudar con los síntomas neurológicos. He estado autoinyectándome B12 durante 12 meses y he tenido una gran mejora en mis síntomas de fatiga. Me pregunto si eso es la razón por la que mi infección fue leve. ¿Te han revisado los niveles de B12 y también de vitamina D? Me pregunto si estos están bajos y, al equilibrarse, tu sistema inmunológico podría mejorar. Espero que encuentres alivio de tus terribles síntomas recurrentes.
Yes,
My D3 levels were very low and I have been taking the appropriate 2000 IU supplement daily and they are fine now.
My B12 levels tested high normal achieved strictly through diet. As I have eaten a healthy diet, my vitamin levels were tested (when I had a second stroke) and were super high normal, except Vitamin D.
Thanks for the post, as many people need this necessary information regarding diet and vitamins!
Merry Juliana
Hi. I had shingles above my groin (3 tiny blisters left side and bad pain) over 15 years ago. Since then I have been fine. However, 8 days ago, after being very run down and coming of steroids fora rheumatic condition I have, I developed excrutiating burning and stabbing pain in my lower gum. The dentist says my gum/teeth are perfect but my doctor is at a loss to tell me what's causing it. I have had trigemenal neuralgia (12 years ago) also on the same side of my jaw but it didn't quite manifest itself like this. I have no blisters but the inside of my lower jaw feels like a live wire. Could this be shingles?