anyone has had shingles before?? just wondered if can describe the feeling....of them...

I have this wierd thing going on....certain areas will get itchy...a bit tingling at first..then real itchy...I start to scratch then a rash shows...bumps like...hard to explain....so far doesnt look like pics I peeked at online of shingles not the bad pics but kindof like small versions of it..not so bad looking.....

few years back once my dr seen a spot on me, looked it over and asked for me to let her know if get more of them..that it looked a bit like a shingles spot...but nothing developed...but a few of these look like that one from years ago....uggggg thanks for any info or help...sarah

Shingles will get very painful within about 4-5 days of erupting. Your skin will feel likes it's on fire. And I mean ON FIRE.

It looks like a red bumpy rash, irregular in shape. Everyone will be different in severity, just like the chicken pox.

If you think you might have it, I suggest you go see the doc. ABX should be rx'd and you may need some pain meds for the burning. If it's anywhere near your eyes, it can damage your eyesight.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/s...s/shingles.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/shingles/...e.htm#symptoms

Hi Sarah~ I've had shingles and I agree w/FG; you'll know if it's a possiblity. I first thought I had a cracked rib, as the pain was unbearable. I had a crusty raised rash on my ribcage that was huge.

This was 33 yrs ago, right after I got married. The pain lasted for months. Now they have better meds for it. Like FG said~ it's extremely painful as it's nerve endings involved. Good luck.

I had shingles just before or while I had mononucleosis in 1995/96.

It was extremely painful for me. It was on a very sensitive area on the upper part of my chest. I had to put washcloths in my bra to keep the bra from irritating it.

I actually have a scar going across the right side of my upper chest where the bumps and rash was. The bumps looked like really ticked off chicken pox. Bigger than any of the pox that I had when I had chicken pox when I was 5.

Yes, I've had them too. The first sign is a tingling sensation in an area which follows an invisible line as it travels along a nerve.

If you can get antiviral medication in the first 48-72 hours of the very first blister occurring, you can virtually guarantee a milder dose, with less after pain.

Get thee to your doctor Sarah if you even suspect shingles. They can be really painful if left untreated even for a few days.

Get thee to the Doc, right away and get some Valtrex in your system.....the sooner, the better.

thanks all,
well the rash are real small dots..actually a bit smaller or same size as a chicken pox....well if continues today I will get to drs..thanks all, sarah

Shingles tend to come out into blisters after the tingly stage Sarah, so anything that looks like a blister needs to be checked out.

I hope it turns out to be just an itchy bite, and nothing more serious.

Someone in another thread mentioned sand fleas and that they are inland
also.........My brother got them this summer(the bites) when he was
on vacation. he was nowhere near the beach. annoying little
buggers huh??

HOpe you stop itching soon......

I don't think I have ever been bitten by sand fleas. I was bitten by chiggers , though. They itch like crazy. At first, I did not know what they were. They looked like innocent little red dots until I noticed they moved! Too late ! I ran for cover.

This is what I know about shingles. It is not much. There is a vaccine for shingles which is recommended especially because as it was said it is a condition that is extremely painful. Also, those of us who had chicken pox are susceptible of getting shingles. Isn't that the pits?

However, it is not recommended for those of us who have ms. It is also a new vaccine, which makes a double no for us.

I am wondering though, in general, should our children be vaccinated agains shingles since most of them had the chicken pox?