Although Gill wasnt sure what was going on with her health, she knew something wasnt right.
It was just a little sore, tender spot, Gill says.
This is precisely what happened to Gill.
Adrienne Bresnahan/Getty Images
Thats especially true if the patient is young and otherwise healthy.
If you notice these five early signs of shingles, seek medical care immediately.
Getting prompt treatment can ease your recovery and help prevent complications.
Head pain or migraines can signal many different viral ailments, including shingles.
Then, usually a day or so later, the rash appears near the face or the eyes.
Others with shingles experience photophobia, or light sensitivity, when the infection affects the area around the eyes.
At times patients will mistake this for a migraine or eye strain, Dr. Markus says.
Developing shingles near the eyes can also impact your vision or cause discomfort in the ocular area.
Gills biggest concern about her shingles diagnosis was her eye health.
She describes these lesions as similar to really bad cold sores.
If youre feeling fatigued and stressed, your immune system might be dipping down, Dr. Rossi says.
This was precisely the case for Gill: I got shingles around the first Trump inauguration, she says.
I literally was in bed from the stress of the new administration.
Dr. Markus says early shingles symptoms can sometimes mimic signs of the flu or common cold.
Gill recalls having a moderate fever when she was sick, even though thats not a typical symptom.
In some cases shingles may even prompt gastrointestinal symptoms.
Preventing shingles
The best way to avoid shingles is to get theShingrix vaccine.
Shingles is preventable, Dr. Markus says.
The vaccine is quite effective at preventing shingles and its complications, says Dr. Markus.
It will sort of buzz a little bit, she says.
Its giving me a little warning, like, Oh, youre about to get a cold.
Shingles can happen to anyone, which is why early detection and treatment are so important.
Its actually remarkably common among my friends and colleagues because we work in a high-stress environment, she says.
Dont let that scare you, though.
Get more of SELF’s great service journalism delivered right to your inbox.
