My mother had it years and years ago. It's very very painful (she would tell me over and over). I believe it's the Herpes Zoster Virus or something like that. It's when you have the chicken pox virus (Varicella) inside you but you don't get chicken pox. At least that's what I've believed all these years.

But I seem to remember someone telling me that you can only get it on one quadrant of your body at a time. Like if you have it on your face, you can't get it on your leg,( now why on earth do I remember this stuff, it's probably wrong!!!).

Also my Aunt Josey had it in her eye and the lady across the street from me had it in her eye also. The lady across the street is now 97 and she still talks about it. She had it for years.

Now how on earth can shingles last for years. It's a virus so I gather antibiotics don't help, right?

Melody