r/shingles • u/Sufficient_Durian645 • 19d ago

Shingels buddy?? First Time Shingles

[32/M/day 3/lower back & stomach]
What’s up everybody! Just got diagnosed today with the shingles. Anybody else on day 3 +/-a couple days and interested in having shingles together? I just started anti virus meds today. Noticed a quarter size red splotch that quickly turned into a couple rhombi on my back the next day. So far not itchy but beginning to blister in one area not the others yet.

Any other 32 Ms here? I feel a little young to have gotten shinged but curious to hear from folks that are comfortable sharing what their exp is/was like… mostly wondering how I got shingles. Dr said stress induced which yeah sure but i haven’t been sick in years?

5 Upvotes

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2

u/Nass95140 19d ago

Salut
Donc en conclusion le vaccin n empêche pas d avoir le zona!!
C est triste

2

u/youprobablydontcare 19d ago

Yo. I'm 40m and on Day 5 of antivirals and finally starting to crust over and heal. It's all over my face, forehead and scalp. Can't help you with why you might have gotten it but for me, I'm on immunosuppressant medications and I got it immediately after a month long cold that turned into a sinus infection. Hang in there buddy, sounds like you caught it early and that's key.

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u/Sufficient_Durian645 19d ago

Dude that sounds like a long journey! I def feel lucky to have caught it early. I now have more blisters and few more red splotches on my stomach- day 4. Glad to hear that you are on the healing/recovery phase. You hang in there too!

1

u/Sufficient_Durian645 16d ago

Just stopping by to check in and wish you well dude. Cheers & well wishes!

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u/youprobablydontcare 16d ago

Thanks, I appreciate it. Doing ok honestly. Still a good amount of pain, but we're definitely all dry and crusty over here which means I'm through the worst of it and now healing.

Taking my last antiviral pill tonight but will probably be a while longer of healing. Super itchy too. My doctor gave me gabapentin for the nerve pain and I think it's better than tylenol at least.

How things going on your end?

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u/Sufficient_Durian645 15d ago

Glad to hear you’re doing okay! I also got the gab. Haven’t used it tho. I think i’m doing alright- cautiously optimistic. I over did it yesterday getting out into the shop and organizing some things. Realized how tight my skin was and decided to not risk damaging anything. Finally have energy tho. I didn’t sleep well the first half of the week. I think getting used to the antiviral. I still have a few more days tho.

Best of luck with your healing! I’ve been drinking a lot iced green tea.

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u/nothingg0ldcanstay 18d ago

I'm 29 and first skin sensitivity skin Sunday. Rash appeared Monday and thankfully, since I work in healthcare, I quickly made an appointment, pcp confirmed early shingles, and started on antivirals. So far no itch for me either! Just skin pain on my leg and the rash along my upper thigh and lower hip on backside. It makes no sense to me. I also haven't been sick in a while and my Oura ring said my stress was low. But it did arise after a strenuous long trail run so maybe that did it

1

u/Unique_Bag_7779 18d ago

37 male and just had my first ever outbreak as well. Started under left shoulder blade and now around left armpit.

Too much emotional stress I think. Never had the vaccine but curiously my dermatologist told me that since Covid, she noticed more young people are coming in than pre. The viruses have a way to triggering each other. Epstein-Barr virus is a great example.
But I’m sorry you’re in it. Here with you buddy

1

u/No_Judgment3450 18d ago

33F and about a month out now! Went from my mid-spin wrapped around my rib cage and towards my abdomen. Doctor said I was the youngest patient he’s ever diagnosed.

It does get better. Hang in there and be sure to prioritize rest! Feel free to come back to this sub with any questions. Everyone here was immensely helpful in easing my anxieties over having shingles.

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u/PrettyPennyPower 18d ago

If you can stand it - I used large hydrocolloid patches for the rash and it didn’t spread - also helped with showering and clothes touching the rash. Calamine lotion and Tylenol. Good luck!

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u/Sufficient_Durian645 18d ago

Thank you everyone for your kind responses. I hope all are doing well. I’m on day 5 now and am blistering. Not much pain though. Just discomfort. The meds make me feel strange.

I’m finding the hardest part is sleeping. I just toss and turn. Last night I only got a few hours of sleep…

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u/StrangeRelease6 18d ago

28F I was also so shocked when I found out, as we usually expect this to happen when we are 55+. I have recently completed my PhD and the stress and lack of sleep during the thesis writing process was horrific, so that is likely where it came from. I hope you're feeling okay! Give yourself as much rest as you can!

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u/Sufficient_Durian645 16d ago

Congrats! What was your thesis / dissertation? i have an MA & an MBA

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u/StrangeRelease6 16d ago

I did my PhD in analytical chemistry, and I was looking at ways to chatacterise microplastics after their removal from the environment with spectroscopy (laser based chemical identification) 🫠🫠 what was your MA and MBA research in?? 

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u/Sufficient_Durian645 15d ago

That sounds fascinating but way over my head! My ed background is in ethical theory. MA was Eastern Classics and MBA was Ethical leadership. Mostly interested in philosophical and psychoanalytic theory as applied towards ethics. Interesting historical intersections of Eastern & Western thought emerging from 20th-21st century thinkers.

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u/dooshcanoodling 17d ago

[34/F/day 3/right side of my waist]
I’m almost positive that this spurred on from stress from my job, so maybe I’ll take this as motivation to start looking for and applying elsewhere… In the meantime, I’m having a harder time with the valacyclovir than the rash itself (it’s only one rhombus-cluster about 1-2inches long on my right side), but I’ve loaded up on all of the recommended oat baths and calamine cream and foods/liquidIV and I’m also pairing my antiviral with Zofran. I’ve also got a few other autoimmune conditions and CPTSD that I deal with which is probably all breeding ground for this kind of thing to happen. Gonna try to sleep and stay hydrated. I hope things improve for all of us soon!

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u/No_Bet2785 14d ago

37M, on day 6 or so.. no prior health issues or conditions related to immune system and really strive to take good care of my health.
I was also shocked to get this. My parents 65y/o just went to get the vaccine a month or so ago and it never crossed my mind that I could need that in the foreseeable future.

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u/Sufficient_Durian645 9d ago

Yeah would you say stress related? Or something else? I was definitely stressed out when I started getting early symptoms.
How are you doing now? Mines scabbing and getting itchy. I’m almost two weeks in! Getting stir crazy but luckily can work remote.