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Herpes virus, cold sores and shingles warning

(21 Posts)
ayse Wed 29-Jan-25 08:14:05

I’ve been a bit run down after the broken patella. A couple of weeks ago I had a cold sore that went away after treatment with Aciclovir ointment. Last week my right eye became very itchy and sore so off to the pharmacy and given some antibiotics for conjunctivitis. At the time I could feel a couple of tiny lumps on my eyelid but the pharmacist couldn’t see anything. Monday afternoon DH looked at my eyelid and couldn’t see anything but I asked him to look again. Finally he said he could see something that looked a bit like an ulcer. Alarm bells rang so I checked on NHS website about cold sores on eyelids.

I completed an e-consult request via email Monday night. Yesterday about 13.00 the surgery called and gave me an appointment for 2 hours time. I took it and saw my usual GP. She asked about the eyelid, had a look at the eyelid, put dye in my eye and searched about in my eye with a light. She was looking to see if there was any ulcer in my eye. I now have a prescription for anti-virals (Aciclovir) by mouth, five daily over five days.

The GP thought I may have shingles on my eyelid. Apparently this can be very dangerous for the eye. I’ve been advised of my eye runs a lot, or bright light become a bother that I should go straight to eye casualty at our local hospital.

So this is just a heads up concerning the Herpes viruses and possible consequences of taking no action. I just feel lucky that all seems well atm but I’m keeping an eye on it!

Sparklefizz Wed 29-Jan-25 08:33:39

Sorry to hear that ayse.
Have you had Shingles in the past? I am recovering from Shingles myself which has affected my Trigeminal Nerve and my ear/hearing, and has left me with tinnitus and deafness in one ear.

It's a truly horrible condition and can be even worse for eyes. I hope you've caught it in time with the antivirals (side effect of those for me was a bad headache 24/7 which lifted once I stopped them).

Good luck with your recovery. flowers

NotSpaghetti Wed 29-Jan-25 09:55:12

Thanks for the info.
I'd not come across this before.

Hevs Wed 29-Jan-25 09:56:13

Sorry to hear this. If it were shingles, prompt treatment is really important with a really high dose of antiviral eg Aciclovir so good you did go to the GP.

The Herpes Virus trust does a brilliant cream for cold sores - Lomaherpan. Totally natural and it really does help/work, especially if you use at the first sign of a problem. Hope you are better now.
herpes.org.uk/shop/lomaherpan-cream-for-genital-herpes/

Indigo8 Wed 29-Jan-25 10:03:44

I have had the Herpes Zoster vaccination but I gather it does not offer total immunity.

Sparklefizz Wed 29-Jan-25 10:57:44

You're right Indigo8, it doesn't. I had both doses of the Shingrix Shingles vaccine and 3 months after the 2nd dose I developed Shingles. It's not a live vaccine so the vax didn't cause Shingles.

ayse Wed 29-Jan-25 11:07:41

Sparklefizz

Sorry to hear that ayse.
Have you had Shingles in the past? I am recovering from Shingles myself which has affected my Trigeminal Nerve and my ear/hearing, and has left me with tinnitus and deafness in one ear.

It's a truly horrible condition and can be even worse for eyes. I hope you've caught it in time with the antivirals (side effect of those for me was a bad headache 24/7 which lifted once I stopped them).

Good luck with your recovery. flowers

Yes, I’ve had shingles in the past but fortunately it was mild as it was caught early. I’m talking the antivirals now and I’ve had no reoccurrence of anymore eyelid problems. I think it is caught in time. It’s rather concerning that we aren’t told about these possible problems with shingles. I had no idea it was possible to loose sight or hearing from shingles.

I just wanted to let others know about the danger to eyesight with the shingles virus in the eye. I hope your tinnitus and hearing will improve. Thank you for your contribution 💐

ayse Wed 29-Jan-25 11:09:25

Hevs

Sorry to hear this. If it were shingles, prompt treatment is really important with a really high dose of antiviral eg Aciclovir so good you did go to the GP.

The Herpes Virus trust does a brilliant cream for cold sores - Lomaherpan. Totally natural and it really does help/work, especially if you use at the first sign of a problem. Hope you are better now.
herpes.org.uk/shop/lomaherpan-cream-for-genital-herpes/

It’s difficult to know if it’s shingles reoccurring or cold sore in a different place. I’m so glad my GP is on the ball. Thank you.

MayBee70 Wed 29-Jan-25 11:44:54

I read that it’s good to take L lysine if you have shingles as it helps with connective tissue. I was going to get some from Holland and Barrett but decided against it when I read that it can cause problems with Dupuytrans ( which I suffer from).

Tenko Wed 29-Jan-25 12:30:57

Cold sores are also linked to the herpes virus and are very contagious. If you touch your lip and then your eye , it’s very easy to transmit the virus . That’s why dentists often decline to treat you if you have a cold sore . It’s also very serious if it’s in the eye , people have gone blind . Sorry to worry you .

Eloethan Wed 29-Jan-25 13:31:45

At the first sign of shingles, people should get to their GP and get the anti-viral treatment. If this is not done as soon as symptoms appear, treatment may not work.

It is a truly horrible virus. My Mum got it in the head and was in terrible pain.

Katyj Wed 29-Jan-25 14:12:49

Goodness that sounds painful. I’ve never had chickenpox so in theory I shouldn’t get shingles 🤞 But I did start with eye herpes aged 11 I often wonder if I got this form instead of chickenpox.
It is incredibly painful, and caused blurred vision in my left eye. If you notice any difference in your vision, stabbing pains or a dislike of light don’t hesitate to get help. I’ve been attending A &E with mine for 50 years.
I only need to ask the Dr now for Acyclovir eye cream now and it usually does the trick. Hope you feel better soon.

Binijo Thu 30-Jan-25 11:57:54

Please get this seen to urgently. I had shingles 13 years ago and it went into my eye. This resulted in scarring of my retina and years of drops in the eye and recurrance of the cloudiness in the eye.. I will never be able to see clearly from this eye and find bright lights particularly hard.

ayse Thu 30-Jan-25 13:04:56

Thank you all for your comments. I’m taking oral Aciclovir and my eye fortunately seems ok.

I think this should be far more widely advertised that having treatment rapidly is essential. I’m just glad I have a GP who saw me the same day as they received the e-consult.

Luckygirl3 Thu 30-Jan-25 13:06:44

Bad luck - that sounds horrible.

Hellsbelles Thu 30-Jan-25 13:22:32

I've heard of this before , hopefully your meds will get it gone ASAP, and you will feel better soon.
My cat ( who's an indoor cat ) caught feline herpes from her mother at birth.
She has an outbreak every now and again and it goes to her eyes , she has it currently and has been prescribed Clorenphenical eye ointment .

Oldbat1 Thu 30-Jan-25 13:23:48

Glad you were seen promptly. I had shingles years ago beside my eye which didnt cause me any serious issues. It was a Saturday and I went to minor injuries where they checked and I had medication to take home. Is this shingles medication now one that Pharmacists are permitted to dispense?

queenofsaanich69 Thu 30-Jan-25 15:54:25

Thank you Ayse for your information,very interesting,I hope it
clears up & you are OK soon.

sazz1 Thu 30-Jan-25 18:09:55

I have HSV on both eyelids. I probably spread it touching a cold sore and rubbing my eyes. I spent 30 years on the wrong treatment ie amoxicillium and antibiotic eye ointment. One Easter Sunday I went to Bristol Eye hospital as GPs all closed. They did swabs and diagnosed Herpes HSV. Since getting acyclovir eye ointment I only get it once or twice in 2 years. Before with the wrong treatment it was 4+ times every year. Has never spread onto the actual eye yet. I'm now immune to amoxicillin though it has no effect as ive had so much. Get treatment at the first sign of it on your eyelid its urgent
Best wishes ❤️

MNicholson Thu 30-Jan-25 19:36:35

Hevs

Sorry to hear this. If it were shingles, prompt treatment is really important with a really high dose of antiviral eg Aciclovir so good you did go to the GP.

The Herpes Virus trust does a brilliant cream for cold sores - Lomaherpan. Totally natural and it really does help/work, especially if you use at the first sign of a problem. Hope you are better now.
herpes.org.uk/shop/lomaherpan-cream-for-genital-herpes/

Lomaherpan cream is successful to stop cold sores - and some people are using it to stop repeated shingles sores. (Repeated shingles is rare, but possible.)

4allweknow Fri 31-Jan-25 08:40:00

I had shingles about 20 years ago. Then was vaccinated as per government age schedule. Two years ago I had shingles again and was worse. I had such pain in my face and neck I contacted GP. I was flummoxed when he said shingles. Absolutely no rash at all. The second time was horrendous by comparison to first and had to have high doses of painkillers. Worst pain I have experienced.