Shingles

[pozutah]

I have had a rash the past couple days and today I woke up to a swollen 1/2 shut eye.  I called my HIV doctor cause it was scaring me since this rash was getting worse. 

They told me I have shingles.  I have started a medication for them and taking a switch off of tylenol and Ibuprofin every 3 hrs to help with pain and swelling but it is not helping much around my eye or with the itch.  Does anyone have any ideas to help?

[Ann]

If you have shingles in the eye area, you should go to the ER or your doctor and be seen in person. Shingles in the eye area can cause permanent eye problems. You may need more aggressive treatment than has been prescribed. Where your eyesight is concerned, better safe than sorry.

[Matty the Damned]

If you have shingles in the eye area, you should go to the ER or your doctor and be seen in person. Shingles in the eye area can cause permanent eye problems. You may need more aggressive treatment than has been prescribed. Where your eyesight is concerned, better safe than sorry.

++ to this. The risk of losing your eyesight if you don't seek emergency medical treatment is quite real. There is also the prospect of developing herpetic encephalitis, which can be fatal.

Get thee to the casualty department of your nearest hospital.

MtD

[GSOgymrat]

I had shingles that ran from the back of my head to between my eyes. Fortunately the emergency room physician determined that it wasn't going to my eye because, as Ann and Matty said, it can cause permanent damage. Shingles can be very serious-- the doctor considered hospitalizing me. It was quite uncomfortable and I looked like I had been in an auto accident.

Go to the E.R.

[J.R.E.]

Pozutah,

As others have mentioned, if shingles get into the eye, this can lead to serious complications, so make to get this checked out.  Shingles can lead to Corneal scarring. Wishing you the best.  Shingles is no fun, I've had them at least 3 times before, but never on the face or in the eye region.

Try not to rub you eyes.


Ray

[Dachshund]

I had shingles around my eye that resulted in a trip to the hospital. The pain is awful, you might want to see if your doc can prescribe something stronger than Tylenol for the pain. Get it checked out soon.

[pozutah]

Thanks everyone for the replies.  Also thanks for hellping me get this forum subject to the right area Ann.

I have been in contact with my doctors and they said they will see me on Tuesday unless things get worse since she is out of state right now.  I was explained that its ok to have the shingles around the eye but if vision gets effected I need to seek ER care right away.  So I hope that things dont get worse at this point. 

Thanks again everyone and i will keep you updated.  I think now being forced to take the time off from work now and having a much low stress level from it that it will help to get through this battle a bit faster.  I just hope I am not out the whole 10 days that there is talks of being out.

[tednlou2]

I'm a little concerned with the doc being out of town suggesting you wait.  I'm definitely no expert on the matter, but I thought once you have vision issues, the damage may--stress may--be done.  If that is true, then waiting to go to the ER only after having vision issues wouldn't seem wise.  Maybe the more educated folks here can advise with more educated answers (as they have) and what the ER would do for treatments/meds that you aren't getting now at home.

[Ann]

Put it this way, if I had shingles around my eye, I sure wouldn't wait until my vision was affected before I sought help.

[poz91]

I was explained that its ok to have the shingles around the eye but if vision gets effected I need to seek ER care right away.

You need to seek medical attention !!! BEFORE !!! your vision is affected... not after.

Your eye will not heal and recover like your skin will... once it spreads to the eye, you're talking scarring, cataracts, permanent damage to your vision, or worse.

And if it's already affecting the eyelid, I would not wait... go to the ER immediately!!!

PS - did your phone-a-doc even put you any medications (acyclovir 800 mg five times a day)?!

[Jeffreyj]

I have to agree with Ann, and poz91 on this one. It is better to be safe than sorry when it involves the eye. Good luck with this. Shingles are very painful as you know, and a bitch to get rid of.

[Jules36]

Im sorry you are gping through this but I do have some insight from experience.

Please dont wait to get this looked after and dont let anyone tell you to either... 4 years ago I had shingles for the first time only I did not know it was shingles... my eyes were itchy and weird and my family doctor kept giving me eyedrops thinking it was an infection.  It was shingles, they were in the back of my right eye and my eyesight deteriorated quickly.  After many visits to the emergency rooms of several hospitals and referals to the eye doctors no one could figure it out ( One eye specialists told me because I was over 30 my eye sight was going ) My perifial vision started to go and within 3 days I was blind in one eye. By the time it was discovered it was too late.  The whole ordeal from start of sickness to lost eye sight was 3 weeks.  Once the optic nerve is damaged there is nothing anyone can do to reverse it.

So please go get this looked after and make sure you tell them about your hiv status and that you think the shingles are in your eyes.  It is very serious.

Hope this helps you...
Sending best wishes

Jules

[smiteler]

i was around someone with shingles un knowingly before it was too late and
i got chicken pox and ended up in the hospital for 8 days from it.
so be aware you can pass it along very easy also.

[pozutah]

Well everyone I went and seen in ID doctor today following more face and eye swelling.  This visit went very well.  They have me a pain medication and I also seen an eye doctor to have my eye checked.  Everything is good with my eye.  I just need to let the swelling go down in my eye and face.  Then we will recheck the eye again.

Thanks again for all your advice and posts.  I will keep you all updated with how things are going as i start to heal.