I am a 29 year old man.I have shingles. I recently had surgery on my appendix and I think that is what brought it on. The shingles rash is on my left cheek and it hurts SO bad! My doctor gave me Zovirex and a pain medicine. I have a couple of questions about the whole thing.
1. I thought the only symptons of shingles is a painful rash. I have a really bad fever, I hurt all over and I have been vomiting. I also am so tired that I am on bedrest. Is this normal?
2. Should I cover the rash with a gauze pad to protect or should I let it breathe? Everyone who is in contact with me has already had chicken pox so that is not an issue. My wife says I should let it breathe but I want to cover my shingles up because it makes me feel ugly and I am really embaressed about it.
3. Does shingles mess with your emotions or something? I have been feeling extra sensitive and I have been crying over things that normally would not make me cry...is this normal or I am just an altogether freak?

4. Has anyone out there had shingles? If so what made you feel better? I am weak and miserable so any advice would be really appreciated!

Thank you!

Unfortunately, shingles is one of those things that lies dormant is your nervous system for years and can then occur at times of stress, so I would say that having your appendix removed could have bought this on.

Anyway, yes, it can be very painful and make you feel very low and very unwell and you may well have a fever with it. Vomiting is not usual, but if the pain is very bad, this can sometimes upset your stomach a bit and make you feel nauseous and vomit.

Sorry that you are feeling so awful, but hang in there and it will pass and you will feel better.

You wife is right about covering it up. It is best left to the open air really if you can.

Also, I am into alternative medicine and the homeopathic remedy RHUS TOX is indicated for shingles and this may help you to feel better more quickly in conjunction with the other med you are taking for this. It has no side effects and will not interfere with anything but could help you to feel a lot better generally. You can get this from any healthfood store in a 6 or 30x potency and take three a day for two to three days, letting the tablets dissolve under your tongue.

I gave Rhus Tox to a friend of mine you had shingles. She had already been to the doctor who had given her Acyclovir tablets, but she took the Rhus Tox anyway and she got better in half the time and was feeling a lot better within 3 days rather than the normal.

Give it a try and hope you feel better soon.

i had shingles and all is true it was very painful and was told not to cover it and take it"s course with medicine and time it was over and left with a scar from it, mine was on my back and cause by stress. i know i went through alot of tea shirts from continue bleeding.

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