For anyone who has suffered from the Shingles, how long did it take for you to get over it?

Oh, @SQUEEKY2, still being plagued? So so sorry!
My lesions lasted about a week before they really started to diminish, with all the anti-virals and steroids I was taking. But the crushing fatigue went on for 4–6 months.

I hpe you are done with this soon, it can be miserable! :-(

The rash is just about gone, but the pain and fatigue is horrible, I can only put in 3 shifts instead of my 4 I am just completely worn out after that.
And this Sunday will be the end of week three.
I have to say 4 to 6 months of fatigue scare the hell out of me.

It can take weeks to months. It’s a bit different for everyone. Try to get as much rest as possible and limit stress as best as you can.

Thanks @Aethelwine that isn’t an easy task being a transport driver and heading into the winter driving season.

I was going to say it might not be easy with all the crazy drivers out there, but I didn’t want to remind you of them. :)

I wouldn’t call it “suffering.” Uncomfortable for sure. I went to the Dr. I don’t remember what he prescribed, but it seems like it only took a few days to go away.

You were lucky, @Dutchess_III, to have a mild case, early caught and treated. Sounds like @SQUEEKY2 got a nasty one.

@Dutchess_III Did you really just try to tell the OP how bad his pain is? He knows that all too well. You have no clue what he’s experiencing. You also have no empathy.

@SQUEEKY2 I’m sorry to hear you’re in so much pain. I hope the fatigue fades soon.

No. I described my own pain @Hawaii_Jake. And per his question, how long it took for me to get over it.

My answer is I often had weeks or months afterwards that the area would feel like I might be getting another eruption again. Usually, the feeling wasn’t constant after it healed, but fairly present.

Sometimes, I did get another outbreak just a few months later. My symptoms are not very severe, mostly horrible itching and a feeling of inflammation in the area that’s uncomfortable. Sometimes I get “pins” and achy in my upper legs.

There have been times I feel totally healed, no symptoms, for months or even years, and then I’ll feel like I’m getting another rash, and then I get lucky and it doesn’t get full blown. The area might even get a little red, but I still get lucky.

I think I asked you before, but I don’t remember your answer, are you taking medication for it? The medication at the shingles dose can cause a lot of fatigue. You might be confusing your exhaustion for the disease when it’s the treatment, or maybe a combination of both.

When I have an outbreak I take a half dose when I have to drive and function. For instance the Valtrex dose is 1,000mg twice a day. I ask for the 500mg pills and I take 500mg in the morning if I will be driving, and 2 pills (1000 mg) at night. I do take the full dose the first few days if I can to get a “loading dose” in my system, but after that I don’t worry about taking the half dose one time a day, and the full dose the other. Another option would be to take 500mg 3 times a day.

That’s Valtrex dosages. If you are on a different med the mg may be different, but the idea behind the method the same.

If you are not taking medicine I recommend you do if your symptoms are so extreme. Talk to your doctor. I’m not a doctor, I’ve just had shingles for many years many times, and during the early years I wasn’t prescribed medicine and now I usually take it when I have an outbreak, so I’ve exoerienced it both ways.

I’ll add, my first outbreak lasted over 3 weeks, and then still lingering symptoms for months.

I was lucky. I often am.

How you feeling now @Squeekster?

The rash is about 90% gone and the pain is starting to ebb off a bit, but the fatigue is crazy I can only do 3 of my four shifts, the company seems understanding for now and gets someone else to do my fourth run.
I am starting into my 4th week.

This advice may seem oversimplified, but when I went through the severe fatigue stage I really did feel better if I ate the most simple, high quality foods (fresh steamed veg, simple organic grains, simple meats and fish, almost nothing processed) and took a quality vitamin every day. As much rest as I could swing and some slow walks in the sunshine.
Really, that sounds almost moronic in it’s good sense and simplicity, but it was boring as hell. When I deviated from that (oh, god, PIZZA!) I would immediately have a setback, and lose days of progress.

Survive the frustration, @SQUEEKY2, eventually you’ll be back to your old self!

Hang in the @SQUEEKY2. We’re pulling for you.

How are you feeling, @SQUEEKY2? I’m guessing the lesions have probably cleared up by now, but how’s that fatigue?
I hope you are all better, soon if not already.

Hi @canidmajor I am heading into week 6 the pain has eased up quite a bit, the rash is about 95% gone, but the fatigue is still at full strength, but working through it.

It will pass! It takes a while, but hang in there!