RunawaySpoons
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It's nighttime here so I can't get a medical opinion yet so, crowdsourcing opinions in the interim:
I've just had flu, my body is over the aches and pains and all that remains is fatigue and a minor cough for clearing some mucus.
~24-36hrs ago a patch along my jaw started itching. I thought it was just a silly outbreak of spots ('acne' but not, those type of spots) but scratching it earlier today I realised it was weeping and then I realised they must be blisters of some kind. Didn't think much of it, I thought if it was a cold sore kind of outbreak then just leaving it alone and making sure not to spread it would probably be okay, and then if it doesn't start to clear up maybe check with a doctor next week.
But my throat being sore made me think of pain then shingles. I don't think my throat is connected, it's just the train of thought I had.
So: can you have an outbreak of shingles without it hurting initially? If not then I probably don't need to get a medical opinion yet. But if it is possible, maybe I should, just in case (pharmacists in England can deal with shingles so the Dr's surgery being closed at the weekend isn't a problem there).
DodgyMerchant
It varies from annoyingly itchy to disabling
bemibet
When I had shingles it itched a bit but wasn't that bad. I was lucky.
IAmJustAChairForCats
Yep
Sherpafish
Go to the pharm within 72 hours. After that the anti-virals are innefective.
J3lek
I had shingles in my 20's it didn't hurt and it wasn't even itchy. I had a physical already scheduled on like day 6. the doctor immediately recognized it as shingles. I had to take a prescription herpes medication.
horseman05
Sounds more like Space Herpes.Have you been around any sick Space Aliens?
RunawaySpoons
Not to my knowledge, but now you mention it … 🤔 XD
MidoryMoon
When I had shingles, aspercreme was a miracle. Consult a doctor first, of course.
scoutMoonDiver
Shingles can vary in intensity. You must be very careful when you have shingles on your face. It can cause damage to your vision and/or hearing. And you must avoid being around anyone who is pregnant.
DomDom6666
Yeap, I had shingles last year. Little bit burny sensation at first, then the real pain starts.
kurastwolf
As someone who had shingles at 20, yes. Mine never hurt at all until like day 5 (during treatment and wrapping)
chackstar
If it is shingles you need to see a doctor asap if you want the anti-virals she prescribes to work.
TheMoonBnuuy
for me, shingles was just basically itching, lots and lots of itching
It is unusual for shingles to be anywhere near the face, it's usually somewhere on or near the waist
RunawaySpoons
Both my parents have had it on the face - my mum right by her eye, and my dad down one side of his face with a second patch down his neck onto his shoulder.
Glad you got away with just itching ('just' - I know itching is infuriating, but you know what I mean).
scoutMoonDiver
It is not rare for shingles to occur on the face and when it does it can cause damage to your vision.
TheMoonBnuuy
I didn't say rare, I said uncommon. There's a huge difference.
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TheMoonBnuuy
between 10-20% occur on the face, 60-75% occur on the torso...
I'd call those numbers "uncommon" for the face.
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TheMoonBnuuy
Shingles can occur anywhere on your body. It typically looks like a single stripe of blisters that wraps around the left side or the right side of your torso. - Mayo Clinic
The shingles rash most commonly appears in a single stripe around the left or right side of the body. The rash can also occur on one side of the face. - CDC
The most common place for shingles to occur is in a band around one side of the waistline. - National Institute of Health