They diagnosed her with the infection and prescribed an antiviral.
The first few days werent bad, but then the pain ramped up.
It was agonizing, she says.
Iana Kunitsa/Getty Images
People describe shingles as a rash, but its so much more than that.
It was the only thing that helped.
Theyre in the minority, but people of any age can be impactedeven kids.
If youve ever had chickenpox, you could get shinglesso dont write off potential symptoms.
Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is an infection that causes a painful rash.
Its due to the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.
To that end, anyone whos had chickenpox can get shingles.
Generally, this is harmless.
But if your immunity is compromised at one point or another, the virus can reactivate and cause shingles.
Unfortunately, this can happen more than once.
About 10% of people with shingles go on to develop another shingles infection.
Still, people of all ageseven childrencan get shingles.
Emotional stress may also affect immunity, making you more susceptible to viruses in general, including varicella-zoster.
Shingles symptoms tend to be mild in the beginning but worsen over time.
Although many people associate shingles with a painful rash, other symptoms can crop up before the bumps.
Over time, the blisters burst, ooze, and scab over.
This phase lasts about two to four weeks and is incredibly painful.
After touching your rash, wash your hands to lessen the chance of it spreading to others.
Shingles complications are rare but quite serious.
However, this is quite rare.
The pain is believed to be triggered by the damage that the herpes zoster virus inflicts on the nerves.
This causes them to send erratic impulses, which the brain interprets as pain.
Shingles can also affect your eyes.
This can lead to pink eye, inflammation of different parts of the eye, or even vision loss.
This complication is most common among older people and those with weakened immune systems.
Getting an official diagnosis and starting treatment early may help you recover more quickly.
If you think you have shingles, see a doctor, stat.
You must take the antiviral within three days of the rash developing, so act quickly.
And for itching, try a cool, damp cloth, oatmeal baths, or calamine lotion.
There are proven ways to reduce the risk of shingles.
This vaccine is two doses.
Its also recommended for younger people with compromised immune systems.
But you may have had a mild case of chickenpox and not realizedand are subsequently at risk of shingles.
That said, your healthcare provider can confirm if you may be a good candidate for the shingles vaccine.
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