Shingles: What You Should Know | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Shingles, or Herpes Zoster, is the "reawakening" of the Chicken Pox virus, which could become a serious complication for those with autoimmune diseases. Dr. Chris Mecoli explains what Shingles is, how it presents, and how one can take preventative measures against it.

[puppiesarethebest]

I am 29 years old and I just got shingles so I feel like people need to lower the age range instead of saying oh it's 50 and above when it's really not

[m.m.h]

How many of you experienced stress/anxiety before get shingles?

[dizzysfan]

I’m 63 y/o and currently have shingles…started last Sunday as pain, numbness and tingling sensation on my right upper back, up my right shoulder, upper right arm posteriorly to my rt elbow, rt chest and arm pit…the rashes and blisters came out Thursday, then I realized I have shingles! I immediately booked an appt with my PCP who recommended I go to urgent care…I went to the ED instead! I’m on antivirals, Gabapentin, and Codeine. Pain is intense for me…I have a high pain tolerance but this is something else! One other thing, I have right occipital neuralgia too that I think was triggered by this stress brought on by shingles…I am now advising my friends to get the shingles vaccine …can’t wait to get better…

[ladykat]

I currently have shingles (on my fanny); The pain was so bad that my husband took me to an ER. Oddly, the shingles themselves are not causing that much pain. My symptoms: Fever (100 - 102), severe pain and BURNING throughout my body, constant/massive headache. Pain is so bad in my back that I can't bend over. Dr prescribed Acyclovir. I'm a very spy 68-yr-old and I can honestly say I haven't suffered pain in my adult life as bad as the shingles. My heart goes out to anyone who has or is suffering from shingles!

[beccalea]

I’m 30 years old, pregnant, immune suppressed and developed a severe case of shingles. Continuing to spread even after starting medicine within 72 hours. Pretty intense to say the least 😭

[ashreetxiiiurden]

before watching this video, i had viewed several with the same topic on shingles.. but they were nowhere near as far as precise explanation is concerned to this one.. great job guys... you should do this more often...

[wimschoenmakers]

I'am now ten months after the shingles outbreak, and still use a few painkillers in the morning. Skin on my back is still sensitive during the day, so still some sever pain now and then. But things improving verry slow, so we hang on and hope for the best.

[Okayyy]

I’m 30 yrs old and I’m currently dealing with shingles, it’s the worst pain ever!! I just want to go back to my normal life.

[jseeqvg]

Very informative. I just received my first shot yesterday, my arm was very sore and painful. Later in the day, I developed severe headache and body aches similar to flu symptoms. Hopefully, these symptoms will subside soon.

[lmmayberry]

most informative of all the shingles videos I've viewed this week. Are Dr.s afraid to tell us the "real" about shingles?? thank you for the info and for trusting us to want the truth about our treatments.

[ulisespico]

I’m 31 and just got shingles, 2020 was like: “But wait, there’s more!”

[David-kdvl]

3rd time i have had shingles in 2 year and i get it on my head every time.

[ezskanken]

Shingles is intense! 39 y/o and just hit with it. Sunday woke up with my left side of my neck, back, and arm extremely sore and tight. Followed by numbness and tingling later the same day. Monday noticed these rash patches which quickly turned into fluid filled blisters. On day 5 of blisters and my fingers feel like they are going to explode. They are still growing in size and pain. Just started the anti viral yesterday after getting misdiagnosed with contact dermatitis (poison ivy). I hope this ends soon. Stress was my igniter.

[feliciakunze]

33 years old and got Shingles from the mid back and wrapping around the Left side, breast, to the middle of my chest. The pain is excruciating. I have no underlying health issues. From what I’m seeing, age is just a number. This needs to be addressed to the medical insurance industry that the age limit needs to be changed if they even give a care. I wouldn’t wish this pain on anyone. I’m still dealing with the discomfort on the third week and it would be worse if I didn’t go back to the doctor’s to get prescribed Gabapentin…

[juansosa]

I'm 53 and I just got shingles very painful no fun at all. Can't wait to get rid of this pain!! I still go to work everyday, I'm stronger!!

[ryanmercado]

I'm 35 and just got back from the dermatologist. I have shingles. 😭

[doylecrum]

I have shingles on my head for the last 3 months and they won't go away. Can I take a vaccine while I have the shingles?

[idcomplex]

39 years old. Just got shingles all over my left arm and palm of my hand and finger tips. Hand doesn’t look as bad as the rest of my arm, but is definitely the most painful. Doctor prescribed me medication and lidocaine patches.

[taravirginiamiller]

Shingles at 37 while battling the worst case of endometriosis disease that has been misdiagnosed for years and doctors have completely just looked at me like I've had 3 heads anytime I've tried to tell them what's been going on. Gynecologist, primary Care, you name it. I feel like I've been failed and abandoned by what's supposed to be medical professionalsand. After all the blood test I've done, all the pelvic transvaginal ultrasounds, pelvic scans and everything else you want to throw out there don't forget the UA's I just finally found out I have hypothyroidism which I already knew I had because I've always been a tiny girl and I put on so much weight in the last few months and it's just been an ongoing battle with my weight and I don't eat bad I'm very physical. I feel like I'm never going to get the help I need. I've been waiting on my doctor to reach back out to me just so I can get on my thyroid medication because I'm awaiting a surgery date for my very much needed hysterectomy. So with all the stress that my body has been under and every single month I lay in bed because of the endometriosis that takes me out of work takes my life away from me with heating pads on the front heating pads on the back doing everything I can possibly do to try and find some sort of comfort to get through the most horrible menstrual cycle a woman should never have to experience, it's no wonder I have shingles right now. My body's immune system has been trying to fight so many other things all at once and it has stressed out to the max and from what I'm reading I'm getting so much mixed communication about what I can eat what I can't eat what's going to cause the shingles to get worse one minute I read something that says the doctor's approved you to eat this and then I read another thing that says scientifically they found out the doctors were incorrect about that so my list of things I can eat is down to a minimum I'm literally dropping weight faster than someone that's anorexic. Nobody should ever have to go through all of this and nobody should ever have to go through as many years as it's taken me to get to where I'm at at 37 years old when I've been complaining about this now for over a decade. I get it take some times a lot of the wrong answers of trial and error to get to the right ones but the answer has been there the entire time they just wouldn't listen period no I'm not the one with the medical degree but I am the one that does listen to my body and I know my body and I know what I normally able to do and what I'm not. At 37 years old I should not be like a hermit in my room 9 to 17 days out of every single month dealing with what I'm dealing with because of this endometriosis. oh unless not forget the thyroid that I've been getting tested for for I don't even know how long now and I knew there was something wrong with my thyroid . Example in September recently I had blood work done for my thyroid by my primary care doctor period my primary care doctor said that my thyroid was borderline but not enough to be on medication. Fast forward a month and a half later at my gynecologist appointment trying to get my hysterectomy scheduled and my thyroid is over highly elevated and I need thyroid medication. I'm just so beside myself it's no wonder I'm suffering through this right now and it's very depressing and I'm breaking down as I try to say this right now because it is emotionally draining and stressful and it's probably not the best thing that I'm stressing out or crying about this now but I have shingles on my face all the way down the left side covering my entire left side of my scalp which is where it started. I thought it was just dandruff it first and it started out as the front of the left side of my forehead just feeling tender and then my left eyebrow started to swell but was no change of color to my skin yet then my eyeball started to hurt just the whole eyeball, within a matter of 2 days after having my 15-year-old look at the top of my head for me I ended up with it all over the side of my face and I literally ended up in the hospital having to get Acyclovir & steroids & everything else you can think of oh let's not forget the die in the eye and the ultraviolet light because then they found them in my left eyeball period but I went to a specialist that day and he says that they're not in my eyeball but I feel them there. now I feel like I'm going to have to go back to the ER and subject myself of being around covid people while my immune system is at its lowest hoping I don't lose my eyesight or my hearing because of this. To anyone out there who's dealing with this, I feel for you and you are so not alone😭

[marytzy]

I'm only 14 and i got shingles pls lord save me it's really hurts