Possible shingles . Help!

I had shingles near my eye and ended up being blue lighted to hospital. I was in hospital for four days and even after discharge I suffered from severe nerve pain in my face for a couple of years. It's an evil infection - don't delay

I have been given advice from a pharmacist. It was to make a GP Appointment. I went straight upstairs to my GP Reception and because the pharmacist had been consulted first I got an appointment (telephone) within two hours. Luckily the telephone appointment was all that was needed as it was a wound infection not shingles.

I've never been given good advice from a pharmacist. When I was having a vaccination done at a pharmacy I mentioned how many people had vaccine phobia and the pharmacist said he'd never heard of it.

I was misdiagnosed by a pharmacist who told me it couldn't be shingles as the spots weren't in a straight line!! She gave me thrush medication to put on, it was so painful I didn't use it again and the spots turned into blisters. Ended up at the local hospital walk-in.
Immediately diagnosed with shingles and told probably too late for the anti-viral medication but given it anyway. The doctor was really quite cross for the reason I gave and said that pharmacists can often cause more problems for the patients when diagnosing. He was obviously against what the public have been asked to do.
Shingles was the worst pain I have ever felt. It was like electric shocks right across my chest and under my arm as that's how far it had spread.
So, no more Pharmacist's diagnosis for me and so glad yours gave you a might be to act on.

Had shingles twice once before vaccination the other after. First time I had the spots, second time absolutrlg none whatsoever. Could not believe it when told I had shingles, again. As otger saud, shingles is contageous especially if in contact with anyone who has not had chickenpox or is pregnant. Definitely get yourself checked by a Dr.

See this authoritative link NOW:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/

Good luck.

If you can’t get an immediate appointment with your GP you need to go to A&E. I’ve had shingles twice and the first time it caused Ramsay Hunt Syndrome (similar to Bells Palsy but unfortunately permanent). Justin Beiber has it. The quicker the treatment with anti virals the better as it’s dangerous to the eye. I hope you get better soon.

You neef antiviral within 48 or 72 hours. Urgent GP appt. needed

Shingles in the eyes is very serious and may damage your sight, I hope you are able to get a GP appt straight away. I believe shingles itself isn't contagious but you can pass on chicken pox to a person who hasn't had the chicken pox jab or had chicken pox.

As others have said this is an emergency. You need the anti-viral treatment straight away.

You probably do NOT have Shingles -- and I hope not, I had an attack a few yrs ago, like terrible sunburn, forehead and near the eye, needed urgent treatment.

What you describe sounds more like 'Blepharitis' (quite common), for which there are several treatments, though it doesn't really go away forever. But that's just a nuisance, shingles is (or can be) DANGEROUS. As folk have said, get a proper diagnosis, AND report the pharmacists to the HQ of that firm, as they are incompetent!

I too am quite surprised that the Pharmacist didn’t give you anti virals as I thought they could, in emergencies when you can’t get a Drs Appointment, however, for suspected shingles, your Surgery should make allowances and see you straight away. If it is shingles, you should have antiviral medication as asap, especially if it’s near your eye. This should be urgently seen to. I had shingles a few weeks ago and it was very painful.
You can’t go to Denmark, especially if there is a pregnant lady there too.

Please take the advice given by the other gransnetters .
Shingles near the eye can compromise your sight .
And shingles is indicative of being malnourished,overtired and run down .
You need to address these issues .
And very sorry - forget the holiday .
Who is going to care for you with compromised eyesight ?
Get Well soon .

The little ones MAY have had chicken pox vaccinations but speak to parent to see how they feel if the children get it.

PLEASE go nowhere near expectant mum or her family. This is a virus that can cause deafness (possibly blindness) and heart problems in the unborn. And mum can get it more than once, so having had it as a child is no protection (speaking from experience here)

Call your surgery and explain the emergency need for diagnosis and if they will not help go to your nearest walk-in clinic or A&E

MayBee70

I’m appalled that a pharmacist who suspected shingles did absolutely nothing about it. When I worked at a surgery we always kept aciclovir in stock because we knew how important it was to start taking it asap.

My thoughts exactly.

Wherever it is and esp near your eye, you really need to get the anti-viral meds as quickly as you can.

It's usually not serious but sometimes / rarely can get very nasty. Please take it seriously. Try to arrange to get and start taking the anti-viral meds today if you can. You have to take them early in the infection.
You must speak to your GP about your holiday etc.

It can blind you too, so emergency appointment and cancellation of holiday etc.

My shingles went into my eye and scarred the retina meaning I have poor sight in that eye. Get it checked as soon as possible and get aciclover.

See your GP immediately as it can blind you near the eyes. I had similar and was prescribed anti viral straight away. It's urgent don't delay

Definitely get the antiviral. Urgent GP appointment.

I’m appalled that a pharmacist who suspected shingles did absolutely nothing about it. When I worked at a surgery we always kept aciclovir in stock because we knew how important it was to start taking it asap.

I had shingles near my eye. It's very important to get it checked out urgently as it can seriously and permanently damage your sight.

My episode of it was very painful (shooting pains like being 'snapped' with an elastic band that made me jump and kept me awake) and the scarring lasting 12 months.

Aciclovir stopped it in its tracks. See the GP or go to another pharmacist and get a proper diagnosis and, if shingles, some medication immediately.

Aciclovir. Asap! Why didn’t the pharmacist prescribe some. And why can’t you get a GP appointment for suspected shingles. Phone 111.

Urgent appointment with GP- if it is shingles near the eye, you need to get the specific anti-viral medication as soon as possible as it can affect eyesight. My son got shingles in eye area and doc sent him to eye hospital. Fortunately he recovered with no lasting effects.
It might not be shingles but before worrying about grandchildren, get checked out.

Spots.