Hi all. 16days ago on a sunday, i started to get intense headache that wouldn't budge & had a burning feeling just like sunburn (i wasn't) on my right shoulder. over the next 4 days, the intense stubborn headache continued, I felt like i was coming down with a cold, & the burning feeling on my shoulder got more intense & extended to my neck, front of right shoulder & top of right side of chest & behind right ear. after my shower on the thursday (5days after the initial symptoms) i found a very red bumpy lesion on front of right shoulder, & suspected i may have shingles after talking to my mum. i went to doc same day & she confirmed shingles & put me on anti virals valciclyvor for 1wk & gave me amitryptilline to take at night to help with nerve pain. i had continuing burning pain from back right shoulder which stopped just before my left shoulder, & same pain round front of right shoulder, top of right arm, neck & behind ear. i finished the anti virals last thursday(5days ago). the pain is a little better at time of writing, but has also spread down right arm, & i only had 3 clustered lesions appear around the right shoulder,neck, top of back,behind ear, with additional red areas that were VERY sore to touch, but no lesions. however on saturday - about 2 days after finishing the anti virals, both my buttocks are COVERED in loads of spots with very dark red centres(like scabs) on a pink spot background & they are itchy - not burning like the shingles i had on my right shoulder & surrounding area. they feel rough if i put my hand over them & i have avoided scratching them by applying antiseptic cream over both buttocks after my showers before i put my knickers on. thing is, i thought shingles only affects one area/one side, so i am wondering whether i should go back to the doctors as the spots on buttocks have come up AFTER finishing the anti virals? i do not know if my immune system is below par or not; i have been off work since mid may with chronic bowel issues currently under investigation - colitis, & crohns/small intestine problems now being tested for, so I am having a period of chronic illness at present. Could that weaken my immune system & have caused shingles? Does anybody know how a doctor or specialist of any kind can check if your immune system is under par/compromised? (that may answer some of the cause of my other health problems at present). Look forward to any replies, experience or advice anyone can give me. x
Oh. I had shingles about 6 years ago. Started on my right budocks. It spread up from there but only stayed on the right side of my body. Up to and around my ear. It was terrible. Nothing helped me. They have me valtrax and something to help the pain. I could barley shower. The water hitting my back was painful. It seems like I may be starting with it again. I am starting to have a lot of the same symptoms .. Can you get them again so soon ? And is it true that the usually will only spread on one side of your body ? Thanks.
The anti vitals take time to respond. When I first broke out the dr also gave me the shingles immunization. It has reduces the severity and amount on breakouts. Your dr should give you the immunization for shigles for future protection .
immune compromised systems can be check by blood tests ask your dr.
If for instance u also have arthritis which is also a autoimmune disease markers in the blood are specifically tested.
do remember to get the shingles immunization.
Hello,
It is possible to have shingles on both sides of your body. However, it is fairly rare or not very common. There are documented cases in medical journals. For decades, medical wisdom about shingles has been that it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The commonly-held belief is that patients are protected from a recurrence of the herpes zoster virus, which causes shingles, after one episode. But according to recent research and/or studies about shingles they have found that this is not true. For example, a study published in the February 2011 issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings shows that recurrences of shingles may be significantly more common than doctors have suspected. New Medical Studies have found and prove that recurrences of shingles are prevalent in the IMMUNOCOMPETENT population. "It's been thought that recurrences were limited to people with compromised immune systems, for instance from chemotherapy or bloodborne malignancies, but this is not the case," "Recurrence was prevalent in the immunocompetent population. We were very surprised by the results." Unfortunately, alot of doctors are not up-to-date on the most recent research about shingles. There is still so much that the medical community needs to learn about shingles. "Shingles has a mind of its own and does what it wants to do". Basically what I'm saying (& I hope that this information will help you) there has also been a long belief that people are not able to get shingles on both sides of the body. It is very rare but it has happened and it has happened to IMMUNOCOMPETENT people.-Thinsport
Hi LooLoo,
You are immunocompromised with bowel disease, Crohns, Ulcerative colitis, or IBS, any of which increases your risk of Herpes Zoster-Shingles.
You therefore certainly can have a more complicated case.
Please see your physician immediately. You may need a longer course of antivirals.
I am so sorry you are going through this.
Please let me know how I can help you. 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 twenty years and twice in my right eye.
Best wishes
Merry Juliana
The bottom line is No One Knows exactly what causes a reactivation of the virus! If they knew exactly what caused it there probably wouldn't be this blog. You could have a good immune system and get it. You may also have a poor immune system and get it. However, if your immune system is compromised at all of course you would be more susceptible to having the virus be reactivated. Some of the speculations or research published in medical journals suggest these things may contribute to reactivation of the virus... (but like I said before doctors and researchers do not know for sure). 1). Having experienced injuries or nerve damage also seems to raise the risk for shingles, since within the nerves is where the virus lays dormant. 2). Some research suggests that traumatic stimulation of the nerves in the dorsal root ganglion can trigger the virus to reactive. 3). Some people also seem to be genetically predisposed to the development of herpes zoster to some extent, with research showing that changes in the gene for interleukin-10 (an immune-system mediator) are associated with an increased incidence of herpes zoster, as is a family history of the virus. 4). Finally, the impact of high amounts of stress and poor gut health shouldn’t be overlooked. Psychological stress, chronic stress, or dramatic life events seem to contribute to VZV reactivation, with studies showing an association between physical, emotional and sexual abuse and higher incidence of shingles. According to a report published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, contributing psychological factors for shingles development include financial stress, inability to work, decreased independence and an inadequate social-support environment.
I was in a car accident 4 years ago. There was a lot of damage to my back and neck. I have had several surgeries on both. I guess that could all be a contributing factor ? It's affected me in all ways. Financially and emotionally as well .. I thought that all could be the reason I keep getting outbreaks. It's very difficult to deal with. It hurts. And it gets me very down. Nothing is really helping me.
I am so sorry for your pain and I thank you for sharing. I'm pretty available most the time if you ever need to share or vent about your pain. If I'm not ever available and you have posted something and I have not replied to the message. Just know that it's probably because I am out of the country (I travel a lot) and don't take it personally. I also wanted to say that Merry Juliana (she replied to you earlier or yesterday) is always very confident and comforting.
Thank you so much ❤️
Lolo I really feel for you. This is my 1st outbreak and I had people tell me no if couldn't be Shingles because of where it is. My bottom just the right side is affected but I can't wear anything that touches it. I'm at Doctors right now and hopefully he can do something. Wish me luck
It can , I believe be or start anywhere. Good luck. I hope you get some relief. !!
The most common sites on the body where the shingle blisters may appear (and where you may feel the "tingling sensations" include the back, the chest, the stomach, the face, the neck, the head, or one arm or leg. It almost never affects both sides of the body simultaneousl . Eventhough it is rare it, is still possible to have shingles affect both sides of the body.
I have no idea how that "smiley face" got into that reply. I did not mean for that to be there.
Hi everybody. thankyou so much for all your very informative replies. this is my 1st bout of shingles ( I am 45), & from what i read it didnt seem like "text book" shingles as its not on one side. After taking in all the info you've all kindly given me, I've decided to check myself in depth daily to check its not continuing to worsen. today i have a bit of a sore throat & it looks a little like there are a few more new spots on both buttocks going slightly higher than actual bum cheeks heading towards lower back. i have felt a little itchy again across both shoulders tonight too. so i will check myself again tomorrow. i will go to the emergency doc or phone doc same day if i really feel its worsening. perhaps i need another course of anti virals??? thanks again everyone. xx
Hi Merry, thankyou for your kind reply. as you're a nurse, please could i ask you a couple more questions? although i'm on prescription meds for my bowel conditions, i'm not on immunosuppressant drugs or steroids, so would i still be immunocomprised with colitis & possible undiagnosed(so far) crohns in small bowel do you know? do you know how my doctor could test my immune system to see if it is "underactive/under par/not functioning 100%"? many thanks for your help. x
Please take care of yourself and let us know how it goes.
Thankyou Rhone. Hopefully your doc will put you on anti virals. i've been smothering my bum cheeks in antiseptic cream after my shower, allow it to sink in b4 putting knickers on & it takes the itchiness/dryness away for few hours. its weird how my bum cheeks rash came out 2 days after i finished the anti virals, & its itchy not burning like my shoulder/arm top of chest is. having read a few posts on the shingles forum, it seems quite a few people get it on their bum cheeks. x
Thankyou thinsport. Your replies show such empathy for people with much worse to contend with with recurring shingles than me. Your information was very informative. Can they not keep people with recurring shingles on anti virals all the time, or give them intravenous high doses with steroids to reduce outbreaks & severity? I am pretty sure my outbreak is caused by my current chronic period of ill health with my bowel conditions that are currently under more investigation by my gastro consultant. x
LooLoo,
Unfortunately, everyone who takes these medications runs the risk of side effects/adverse reactions. Every medication has adverse reactions. Antivirals lead to kidney disease. Steroids are notorious for the myriads of side effects they cause. I have sustained kidney damage from the antivirals and overused corticosteroids, just so I could breathe.
I know your current bout is caused by bowel disease...The first premise of medicine is do no harm.
Merry Juliana
Unfortunately, Mary19451 is correct. You will have to weigh-out the pros and cons with your doctor and find out what would be best for your body and situation. Work with your Doctor(s) to find the best course of action that will provide you with the best quality-of-life possible for you and your situation.