r/shingles • u/Slow_Vermicelli6604 • 2d ago

First Time Shingles Just got shingles, first timer

Last Saturday I went hiking in a poison ivy dense spot, which led me to believe the rash I had gotten on sunday was poison ivy. The rash is on the left side of my body, and a spot going around to my back. Its painful.

This Friday at 10 pm the headache started and it is awful

Sunday( today) the fever started. I did teledoc and they said its most likely shingles.

The pain of the rash is uncomfortable but I can handle it. But the headache... is unbearable. Please share your experiences with me.

6 Upvotes

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2

u/NullEquipment 2d ago

Did you start valacyclovir?

1

u/Slow_Vermicelli6604 2d ago

The teledoc doctor said it was too late since my rash showed up 7 days ago. Right now I have been taking a lot of advil and tylenol

3

u/Buris 2d ago

I would recommend valacyclovir, you can drastically reduce the chance of Post Herpetic Neuralgia by using it. And trust me, that was one of the worst things I've ever felt in my life.

1

u/Slow_Vermicelli6604 1d ago

I am going to my doctors office today and will talk about it. My fever and headache finally went away around 6pm but came back around 2am. The headache has been so debilitating. Pain 8 out of 10.