Chronic shingles on eye 2x/year

[Roni]

I've been getting shingles on my eyelid 2 times/year for the last 4 years. I started getting them in my early 30's. I've been to eye doctors and general practitioners & they all say they've never seen anyone get shingles like this in the same spot on the eye twice/year at such an early age. No one can help me. They give me a prescription for acyclovar & something for the neuralgia and send me on my way. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I'm worried about losing my eyesight someday.

[Jenna]

I'm very late, but I think I'm getting Shingles on my eye now. I'm very scared and worried because I swear I'm dying. What kind of symptoms do you get when you have an OB?

[arlene]

I am 49 years old and am having my 13th outbreak of shingles. My outbreaks are on one side of my buttocks. They have been in the same place every time. I have heard of people getting it on their eyes. I have been tested for HIV and it was negative. So far me and the DR think it may be stress realted. So I take ativan when I feel stressed and it does seem to stop some of the outbreaks but when I am really upset it doesn't stop the outbreak but it lessons the size of the outbreak. I take Valtrex when the blisters appear and it really helps lessen the time of the outbreak and the pain and itching. I hope this helps you. Are you sure it is shingles and not pink eye? Either way don't rub them and keep your hands very clean. If you have to touch your eye, use a kleenex, throw it away and wash your hands thouroughly.

[Candace]

I got shingles at the end of July in my ear and head. I was sooo stressed and I think that is why I got them. I also got Bells Palsey with it. I got the shivers and soooo tired. Anyone else get so tired they could hardly move? Anyway now every time I get stressed my ear starts to itch and get red and maybe hurt some. Also my mouth drooped the other day. They come and go. I don't know how long this goes on but it has truly done me in. I think I am pretty tough but not this time! Was good to here other people got so cold also. Anyone else just keep getting all the symptoms everytime they get stressed? Or is it just the same outbreak I'm not getting over?

[Missie]

My 12 year old daughter has shingles on her left eyelid for the 2nd time. The first time was last May when she had to be hospitalized because she was in danger receiving damage to her eye. It seems that hers is stress related. The first breakout occurred afer the state mandated testing at school. The second breakout occurred after semester exams. The doctor told us that she would most likely continue to have breakouts on her eyelid when she is stressed. This time we noticed the symptoms early and caught it before her eyeball was in danger.

[Toni]

I have Shingles again, for my 4 time this year and a total of 12 times in the past 10 years. I have not figured out what triggers them for me. I too get them on my buttocks, my right front thigh and my right eye lid and the right side of my nose and upper lip. I take Valtrex and keep a script handy to get filled as soon as I start feeling the burn coming on. I do have a comprimised immune system. That could be part of my outbreak reason. I also have advanced Disk degeneration in my spine with 7 ruptured disks. I get regular Epidurals and sometimes I breakout with Shingles following my injections, but not always. I do not have a lot of the Neuro-pain as I used to with them. "Thank God" for that break! I feel for anyone who does, it is horrible pain. I have been on Valtrex now for 7 days and they are beginning to subside and fade. I only hope they don't return for a while! Merry Christmas to all of you and the best in the New Year.:-))

[Trish]

Reading all of your messages is not very encouraging to me. I am recovering from shingles on the left side of my head, face and eye. It has been the worst pain I have ever had. I am so concerned about me eye. I have been seeing the Opthamologist about twice per week. I am so concerned about my eyesight! I see where many of you have had shingles over and over. I do not want them again. I can't go through this pain and numbness repeatedly. I wish you all the best. I will definitely say a prayer for you all. Let me know if you find anything that helps prevent recurrence.

[Gail]

I got shingles on my left eye and head. Very painful. this was in Oct 08 and I have had 2 more outbreaks since. I have started L-lysine and it seems to be helping. It helps boost your immune system.
Try it, its an amino acid that the body does not get much in food anymore. Hope this helps.

[phi]

Roni wrote:

I've been getting shingles on my eyelid 2 times/year for the last 4 years. I started getting them in my early 30's. I've been to eye doctors and general practitioners & they all say they've never seen anyone get shingles like this in the same spot on the eye twice/year at such an early age. No one can help me. They give me a prescription for acyclovar & something for the neuralgia and send me on my way. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I'm worried about losing my eyesight someday.

If you have shingles on your eyelid you are probably safe. The virus lives on a nervous track. The nerves of the eye itself is complete separate in origin from the eyelid. I have had Shingles on my eyelid and on my face several times It doesn't spread to different parts of you body by rubbing it. Get a titer to make sure it is shingle and not simplex. They are very different. Get a doctor that will get you Valtrex the first day of your outbreak, the Neurotin for nervous pain is only need if indeed the pain is unbearable. Neurotin can make you dizzy and fall asleep on the job. Employers are not always understanding about this.

[Sylvana]

I am 65 years old and was diagnosed with shingles in the eye and the top quarter of the left side of my head, exactly 10 weeks ago today. On my initial visit to the doctor he said it was Neuralgia, however overnight watery blisters appeared and he confirmed it was Herpes Zoster Shingles, the following day. He prescribed Valtrex, however I feel I missed the 72-hour deadline for this to be effective due to the incorrect diagnoses. The pain was and still is at times horrendous. The blisters spread halfway across my forehead, back through my hair and totally covered my eyelid and down one side of my nose. Eventually they broke and formed scabs, and for about four weeks I sat with both eyes closed, as it was less painful this way rather than straining to try to keep open the good eye. I had my sight tested twice by an Ophthalmologist during the first 6 weeks and fortunately no damage has occurred. I also visited an Acupuncturist 4 times, but I really can't say that I found this beneficial. The same week the doctor put me on stronger medication so I feel the Endone and Lyrica drugs helped me more. Even now, 10 weeks on, I am not able to wear my spectacles or sunglasses for more than a few minutes because of the nerve sensation across the nose, brow and ear, they feel like a lead weight. At one stage the glare of daylight was so hard to tolerate I had to wear a box over my head !!! in the car, en route to the doctors....The numbness and pain across the eyebrow is like having a big alligator clip clamped onto the brow and the actual eye feels like I have had an insect spray their poison right into the eye. Yes, I have the itchy episodes in bed at night that feels like ants crawling through my ear and hair. Also the burning hot needle jabs.....when o when will it all end.??? and I pray I never get it back again like some of you other poor souls that I have read about. My best wishes go out to all suffering this monstrous and terrible illness.

[Johnny Ray]

I am in my 9th month of shingles on the upper front left quarter of my head. Around the left eye but no impact on the eye proper.

I take 3x400 mg Gabapentin each day. I can do all normal activities even though the scalp, left forehead, and eyebrow are tender. At night, I may wake up with obsessive desire to scratch or run my eyebrow and head. I resist because it does not relieve anything. I have found that an icepack takes my mind away from scratching and allows me to go back to sleep.

[Coleen Joan]

Hi there, I am so glad to find this site - to have someone else to understand how I feel. I have had shingles on the left side of my face which effects my eye and goes into my scalp... I have been in severe pain for so long... I have had this condition for 1 year and two months and my doctors are stumped with the constant outbreaks. I also have not been able to lay down
flat because the pain in my head gets so much worse... I have been sleeping on the couch with pillows under my head to keep my head up at night. If I slip down in the middle of the night and wake up laying flat - I vomit all the next day. Does anyone else have this side effect?

Roni wrote:

I've been getting shingles on my eyelid 2 times/year for the last 4 years. I started getting them in my early 30's. I've been to eye doctors and general practitioners & they all say they've never seen anyone get shingles like this in the same spot on the eye twice/year at such an early age. No one can help me. They give me a prescription for acyclovar & something for the neuralgia and send me on my way. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I'm worried about losing my eyesight someday.

[Ron L]

I was recently diagnosed w/shingles on my forehead
and right eyelid. My doctor perscribed Valtrex
3-times a day and lyrica for pain. I check back--
let you know how it's going.

[Sylvana]

I'm now into my 17th week with eye shingles and although I am slowly getting better I still suffer severe pain in the eyebrow, eye socket and temple area. Any face expression involving this area feels like I have had stiffener painted on it and to touch it lightly is not pleasant. I am still on the heavy medication as mentioned above.
I am wondering when one says they get Shingles back two or three times a year, do you mean you get the initial pain and sickness then the blisters appear again, or does one only get more intense pain and one assumes they have Shingles (without blisters) back again.? Also I am interested to know if anyone has actually known or heard of anyone getting totally over Cronic Eye Shingles and getting back to normal without any trace of having them.? Interestingly enough I haven't and I would be very interested to know.!

[Chris]

I was diagnosed with shingles on the left side of my forehead and scalp. Now I have my left eye half closed and blisters on my eyebrow, and eyelid. In front of my left ear is swollen and the pain in unreal. The blisters that are in my hair goes all the way back to the crown of my head. I am wondering, since this is my first time having it and not knowing how I got it, will I get it again? Also, how long does it take to go away? I am suppose to be contagious to those who have not had chicken pox which include my own grandchildren, plus the kids at church. I hate not being to play with them. Anything that you can help me with would be great.

[MKlein]

Roni wrote:

I've been getting shingles on my eyelid 2 times/year for the last 4 years. I started getting them in my early 30's. I've been to eye doctors and general practitioners & they all say they've never seen anyone get shingles like this in the same spot on the eye twice/year at such an early age. No one can help me. They give me a prescription for acyclovar & something for the neuralgia and send me on my way. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I'm worried about losing my eyesight someday.

Hey, I once had shingles on my left eyelid, which didn't worry me because I'm blind in my left eye. But now I currently THINK I have it on my right eye which scares me since I can't see out of my left eye.

[Chris]

I'm finally over then but now I still have the tingling and the itching and the itching is driving me crazy. At least it's not as bad as it was. I pray to God that I never get them again.

[Jerry]

Shingles on the eye is indeed very rare and has the potential of developing complications. I don't know if there are medicine out there to treat it especially it is beause of stree. better search for herbal or alternative medicine. I found some good tips here and they helped me treat my shingles problem. http://www.shinglessymptomsrash.com

[smacker33]

Roni wrote:

I've been getting shingles on my eyelid 2 times/year for the last 4 years. I started getting them in my early 30's. I've been to eye doctors and general practitioners & they all say they've never seen anyone get shingles like this in the same spot on the eye twice/year at such an early age. No one can help me. They give me a prescription for acyclovar & something for the neuralgia and send me on my way. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I'm worried about losing my eyesight someday.

I am 33 years old and started getting shingles under my eye and on my eye lid at 29. They reoccur a few times a year and my doctors have all said the same thing that they have never seen it do that. Every time I have any kind of stress it happens. And it is painful. And now I get very bad headaches from time to time. So do not feel alone because I too get them reoccurring.

[Chris]

I was told by my eye doctor that getting them around the eye is the second most popular place that most people get shingles after the back. I still have the itching but NOTHING like I have had in the past.