Who has had a Shingles outbreak? Did you feel muscle pain, headache, and generally like it’s a bad case of the flu?
How long did that last?
I had one when I was finishing up Grad School, about 30 years ago.
Spent the day at Lake Erie with my then Fiancee when, all of a sudden, I started feeling pain like I was being jabbed with a needle all over my chest and down my sides. With this pain, started the blisters (about the size of the tip of an ink pen) over my chest, down my sides, all over my chest and arms.
I was home for the weekend, so we headed back to my Mom's house (she was an RN) and had her look at them. Within 15 minutes of that, she had me in the ER.
They diagnosed it as Shingles, and did what they did years ago, started me on a 10 day course of Acyclovir (sp?) with another 10 day refill.
I was told that If I still had the blisters on day 10, to take the second course.
I ended up taking both courses, and the blisters started receding about day 14. I was fortunate that I dealt with them early on, and was aggressive with treatment. Did not have a great deal of pain or a headache, other than the pin prick feeling. The ER doctor thought that they were stress induced, and knock on wood, I have never had them again.
I ended up taking the vaccine several years ago. Shot #2 caused some discomfort,but nothing major. The needle was nothing to me, after having had cortisone shots in my wrist prior to Carpal Tunnel surgery. Now, those are large, painful needles.
Shingles is the one thing that I won't procrastinate on. Both my MIL and Sister have had prolonged, multiple events with them, and while they came out alright, it was touch and go with them for a couple of months.