Top 10 Things I Learned About The Shingles Virus 

Nice to see a man admit this was the worst pain experienced. I am a shingles survivor and could not agree more.

I pray for all who suffers from this virus. God Bless

My wife has shingles for 6 weeks now... terrible in pain... I am scared this is going to be a long recovery...... She has taken all those meds you talked about... This is the worst sickness she has ever gone through... Please Pray for her recovery...

😢i have shingles. And it hurts like hell!! This video was good made me realize im not the only one.

I had shingles in 2019. It felt like the longest heart attack!! It is as you described & more!! I STILL have the nerve pain & even have nerve damage. Even gabapentin doesn't always control the pain. Shingles is NO joke!!!

Very good especially about Gabapentin. Shingles is the worst pain I have ever had. It was horrible. I'm still dealing with Shingles. I hope it will stop pretty soon. In my 5th week now.

I got in in 1979, when I was 27 years old. Lasted 2 months the bad phase and the nerve pain and numbness in my left shoulder lasted 30 years. No treatment in those days. One night my husband actually pulled me back from the balcony as I was going to throw myself off. I just couldn't stand the pain anymore. My doctor, close to retirement, said it was the worst case he had seen in all all life. Will never ever forget it. It is so common that anything that can be done to prevent it or mitigate the symptoms is great. Thank goodness there have been improvements in the 45 years since I got it.

I got a shingles shot in my 60s and then the two shots at 65 and I still came down with a bad case of shingles. Likely I start the antiviral right away is the worst pain I have ever had and I’ve had kidney stones and I’ve given birth to five children with no drugs, this is no joke. I wish the commercials on TV or truthful and told you can still get shingles even if you’ve been vaccinated.

I just broke out with the shingles rash last week. I however felt really crappy the whole week before that. Weird headache, chills, fatigue, and muscle aches. I was convinced it was Covid. I tested negative on several Covid tests. I woke up last Friday and the left front bottom of my ribcage felt like I was punched. The pain was continuous and throbbing. I felt the area and noticed there were bumps under my left ribcage. I went to urgent Care and sure enough it was the start of the shingles. I am on day four of antiviral medication. My rash has grown considerably and it's nasty. The pain is still awful especially at night WHEN I'M TRYING TO SLEEP and in the mornings. "I do" wish this on my worst enemy. It's miserable.

Thank you for your helpful video. I just got diagnosed with Shingles today, thought it was poison ivy but nope, SHINGLES! Sorry you had to go through it yourself. God bless you & your family, & God bless everyone suffering with this wicked virus! 🙏❤

Excellent presentation. Pain the worst ever. I was treated within 48 hrs but damage was done. Pregabalin prescribed - Terrible reaction to it in combination with a painkiller. It shut down my gastric tract. Great difficulty swallowing both fluids and solids. Four months later still struggling, and still have residual pain.

I'm currently having a shingles outbreak, and I agree about the chest heart pressure and the pain. thanks for your observations.

Try having a bath using 1 cup Epsom salt and 1 cup bi- carb soda. Use a blend of good quality essential oil of Lavender and peppermint diluted with a carrier oil and apply to painful areas. Found to be helpful, also up your vitamin c and Zinc.

Thank you so much! This was very clear and informative. You’re the first person I’ve seen that described the pain like I’m experiencing.You gained a follower. I’m glad you’re feeling better and I’m on meds and on my way.

Very well explained, clear information. Thank you very much for sharing. I feel bad you had to go thru this pain. Happy you're better !

Very informative! You should consider doing more of this kind of content. You explain things in a way that’s really easy to understand. Thank you for sharing your experience.

My grandmother has shingles on her face on her left side. She was in her 80s. She was a trouper. It was awful. So glad you are feeling better. Love and Light!

I’m going through this right now. I went to the ER, thinking it was my kidney before the rash broke out. I did have a UTI, so the Dr. prescribed an antibiotic and sent me home. A week later the rash started, so I went to Urgent Care and was diagnosed with Shingles. The pain hasn’t let up yet and it’s been two weeks. Taking the Gabapentin does very little. I’m still taking the antiviral medication and praying this stops soon. Kathleen A.

Notwithstanding my having been a vegan for twelve years (I'm 75 years old), I just found your website due to my having erupted in my own case of Shingles. My case began on my forearms (yes, both sides); a friend suggested that the slight itching might be hives, something I'd heard of, but never seen. So, I went with that. Eventually, there were rashes around my waist and down my legs that made me question my first amateur diagnosis. Soon, I was getting splitting neural pains, from the top of my head to my jaw and then, the crowning glory, half (yes, only one half) of my head turned bright red, then broke out into an exciting display of blisters on the top of my nose and surrounding one eye, both of which became quite swollen, with the eye closing. Finally, after the typical 3 week waiting period with my Senior "Advantage" plan, a doctor agreed to see the old man with the funny face. And two weeks later, I'm still waiting to lose the the evidence that covers my face and eye. So, thank you for sharing your experience with this condition. As you say, it's a painful event, and one that, if one is unlucky enough, can blind and/or follow one through the end of life. Your discussion will inform and may calm others who find themselves caught with this condition. If this tome is annoying, at least you've gotten a new subscriber out of the experience. Thanks, again.

I think Stress is the major cause of a flare up with shingles’ every time I get stressed out about something I get shingles “ and I have been really stressed for the last couple of months…

I’m 34 an was just diagnosed with shingles today lol. Was shocked to hear that with my age.

Thanks Chuck. We appreciate you for sharing your insight. Stay well 🌼👍🏻😊

Thank you for your share 👍 I am having shingles and got diagnosed 5 days ago. I m 44 years old and have auto immune disease. 2 weeks before I develops pain with left abdominal to back. When the pain starts feel like stabbing so after all of sudden I see little reddish mark on my abdominal but not big. After two days later I see more red look like patch spread most of my left tummy. It is unbeilable pain but itchy with constant back pain, leg pain. I had to run to urgent care and got antiviral VALTREX, LIDOCAINE (external cream ), CAPSAIiCIN (external cream) with iboprofen . Today is my 6 days with shingles and still painful and develop sever headache too. This is totally new to me but whoever has weak immune system and had chickenpox at the childhood, please talk about it before get this nasty painful disease.

Thank you.I have shingles now.I have a Dr. appointment today and I feel better going in more informed.

glad U R feeling better❣️

Thank you for sharing your experience. I have not had shingles although in Jan.2022 my father did. He had his in his eye. I really appreciate your explanation of how severe the pain is. I've always heard they are painful but, your simple honest explanation resonated for me. My dad was irrationally angry with me and at the time I couldn't understand why he was acting so out of character. After listening to you I feel relieved to know that instead ofof

I am a on day 8 post shingles out break of blisters. I couldn’t help but chuckle at your descriptions of how BAD IT FELT “scale of 15 at times” is so factual. I can so relate to your pain… thank God my condition is improving BUT MAN IT IS ROUGH!

Thank you so much. I have had shingles for around 2 months now. I am in misery as I am typing this comment. I’m so disgusted with what’s going on with me now! I can’t stop this involuntary jerking movement. I feel especially at night time my brains are going to explode. Also the itching, tingling and I have had four surgeries and 2 children, nothing can compare to the pain and suffering I’m going through.

I'm a 42 year old male who works a highly stressful job in the hospitality industry. When you described your situation it was spot on to my story. However, it spread down and traced the nerve from right palm to the right side of my scalp. It's been 8 days for me and the blisters have stabbed but the nerve pain is constant and crippling. Very serious stuff. It does feel like a pulled muscle or pinched nerve in the beginning but it is occpanied with fever so beware. Yea even at 42 years old it can happen.

Thanks for all this info. You answered a lot of questions I've had.

Thank you for a very descriptive video. I am at week 2 and the pain in my shoulder bottom neck and inside elbow is unbearable. I. Never knew shingles could be this serious!

Thanks for the down to earth approach to shingles.. You come across as the friendly neighbours family doctor.

Great info presented so well. Thank you!

Yes-very informative. You explained in simple terms.

Take care, Chuck. I look forward to your next cooking video!

I will try to get my partner to watch this,as i have shingles now, every move i make is painful, even not moving is painful, sleeping sitting is very difficult, it's terrible, so i can't do my job. I'm sure she thinks I'm exaggerating. Thanks for sharing

Thanks for sharing. Useful info for people who had or going through or never shingles

I have shingles started with a sore eye then backpain then spots on my left hand side of back thought I was having heart problems with chest pain worst pain I have ever had I have all the symtons you speak about thank you

I am having a shingles outbreak right now :( its been hell for me. Its on the right side of my neck, right ear, and chin, and back of my head. Your video is the most informative video I have seen on Shingles. Thank you so much for your advice.

I’m 29 I experiencing shingles to this day ….I had no idea what this was .till I saw vid and everything thing you just said was exactly what I’m going through .I can’t imagine the worst cases

Glad I found this video. I am on week 5 post Shingles. Your scale of 15 is may be, on the soft side. My entire right side rib cage was affected. It has been H.*LL . . . . . . I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I will be looking at the vaccine in order to prevent a recurrence.

This was very helpful. Thanks!!!!

Many people get shingles on both sides of their bodies. I've had it on both sides, and my doctor told me that many of his patients also get them on both sides. Eating a plant-based diet rich in nutrients is great, but my plant-based doc told me to stay away from cruciferous veggies and high-sugar fruits as well as black beans and kidney beans. He said to eat white beans, lots of dark leafy greens, and potatoes. He advised limiting my grain intake. When I followed his advice, my shingles dissipated right away. One thing that really helped with the mental anguish was eating lots of mushrooms. Sounds odd, but it worked for me.

I had shingles in my 20s...left upper back and shoulder, and you're right..WOW the pain. I still remember not being able to wear bra or even a shirt over my shoulder. Thankfully it was summer and I could wear strapless tops! Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to leave the house! Glad you made it through! When mine started, I knew right away what it was (lots of pain early on) because my dad had had it on his forehead. Yes, we were worried. This was 50 years ago for me...not a lot of treatment for it back then!

I got shingles about 5/6 weeks ago. I’m on a targeted therapy treatment for metastatic breast cancer and had a mastectomy about 16 months ago and I understand that shingles can be common in people with a low immune system. Before the rash appeared I had pain all across my chest and ribs on the operated side and generally felt bad. I thought my tumours had come back but it proved to be shingles, so while better than the alternative, it has been very very painful as it spread across the scar tissue from the mastectomy. The rash has almost totally cleared up now but I’m still having the stabbing pains which is not fun. I just hope I never get it again. I’m glad to hear you have recovered from it now and thanks for sharing your experience of it.

I had it in my 30's. It was horrible. I'm 63 and have never had it since, thankfully. I didn't find out what it was until after it was over. I went to a Dermatologist because it left me with scars and he told me that's what it was. You pretty much described what I went through to a tee, except I also had a fever. Very painful for sure.

excellent description about Shingles

I'm going through this now, and the pain is the worst I've experienced in my life. Thanks for the info.

Good video, I’m on the shingles bus too and your descriptions are right on. Ouch !

You described my experience! Thank you for posting.

I’ve got it now. Right hip to knee. Just had surgery 2 weeks ago and was trying to recover and then my leg began to ache. I couldn’t figure out where the pain was coming from or why! 7 days later small bumps which continued to spread and still are. Pain is unbearable! Anti viral medication and Gabapentin. Luckily had a few left over pain killers and 1 of those with the gabapentin I do get some relief. If you’re reading this and suffering call your doctor! This is no joke and no one deserves to suffer. Thanks for sharing your story. Glad I found you.

I found out definitively by having a Varicella- Zoster Ab IgG lab test. It came back as positive for IgG antibodies specific to VZV. I had no symptoms of chicken pox, but my siblings had chicken pox.

I got shingles when I was 8. I'm 33 now. I'm so scared to get it again. It was a horrible experience. I had a rash on my torso from my belly button to my spine on my right side. I appreciate the video. I subscribed and will check out other videos.

Im in my 30s and on day 4 of having shingles... its some of the worst pain ive ever had. I have flu like symptoms for 24 hours now and feels like its getting worse! its not just on the surface of my skin, which I can deal with, its deep in my body and aching me all over. thankfully I caught it on day 2 and got some meds for it so lets hope it starts to feel better!

Thank you for this video. I'm 39 and have almost exactly the same symptoms as you described earlier for the last ~8-9 days. Went to Urgent Care 3-4 days ago and the dr sent me home saying it "muscular." Today, went to Urgent care bc the pain would not go away. The second I saw this dr she diagnosed me with shingles within 10 seconds. Makes sense. I really hope this is just a couple weeks-type of thing and not chronic as you mentioned. Thank you again for the informative video.

Hi Chuck happy new year 2022. I'm looking forward to your new video.

Hey Chuck I'm glad you are feeling better, I have had shingles 3 times and I must say milder than you, but still not fun, my doctor says take the vaccine and I guess I will, fun fact I had shingles before I became plant based vegan which was 12 years ago, I think my immune system is much better now. I also did the potato rolls for Thanksgiving, they where great! Thanks for being you and all you do!

My daughter had it when she was 2. I am sorry that you had to experience that.

Perfect description of shingles . I'm going through it right now and it ain't no fun .

Thanks for sharing. So glad you are recovered. I have that 10+ PHN pain after shingles. You helped me feel not alone.

Very helpful thanks ,All the very best frm England

Bless you’re heart🙏🏻thank you Sir

I had it about 46-47 years old. I was lucky but it was on my face and of course that was a risk. They gave an antiviral. I did well and thank God no lingering pain.

thanks for your video. very helpful.

Thank you for the information. My husband and I got our first Shingrix shots today

Very helpful information! Thank you so much for sharing your shingles experience. Two of my friends got it. One on her eye and the other on the side of her face. Her face is now paralyzed on the right side. Please get your shingles shot. I did not get mine although my eldest daughter begged me to get it and now, I am suffering the consequences. It's no joke. It is so painful. I too thought I was having a stroke when i felt the stabbing pain on my right side and ribs. The shots are out there! Do it! I also suffer from heart disease and am 74 years of age. This is nothing to fool around with and is preventable.

Into my 18 th day with the painful horrible Shingles. Thanks for your video

Getting shingles is no walk in the park. Having known people who had it, I got Shingrix 2 years ago. Thank you for taking the time, going into details to educate and warn us. It is so nice to see you Chuck, knowing you are fully recovered!

I just met a person that suffers from shingles, it affected her face. and she has had this condition for 23 years! I have no knowledge of this condition so I couldn't offer her any solutions. Sounds so horrible. She makes herself busy with volunteer work to deal with her pain. In other words, she believes you can't hold two thoughts in your mind at the same time, I suppose. Thanks for the knowledge!

Shingles to kidney stone pain is incomparable. I've had both, You do not want kidney stones.

I’m glad you did this video because children can die from chick pox. It’s no laughing matter I lost a niece who was sent home with slight fever . Her fever shot up and she had a convulsion. And she died in the hospital doctors couldn’t save her she was 9 months old. If you have shingles stay away from children it’s contagious to the kids that never had chicken pox

Interesting information. Thanks

I got the shingles vaccine at 70 but I'm now 73 and I have shingles

New subscriber here, thanks for this outstanding video mega thumbs up

Brilliant video thank you 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

My husband had shingles for years. Periodically, throughout the year, he would have a terrible, painful attack. Then he became a vegetarian and the symptoms went away completely. He never had a shingles attack again. No physician will listen to me when I tell them this. They act like it's "quackery." It inspired me to go vegetarian myself (I do eat dairy and fish). Every chronic ailment I had went away, too, and has never returned. I believe that the contaminants (man-made) in beef/pork/lamb/ poultry are poisoning many of us. Do I miss meat and poultry? (I used to love a great steak and roast chicken, like most people do.) But now I can't stand to eat any form of animal flesh, except, once or twice a week I'll have some tuna or salmon and I eat eggs. For years - I've been healthy and symptom/pain free.

Just found out, I got it. I'm at the starting point. I'm experiencing with back pain, right now. My dad had, now I got it. Never had chicken pox. I been exposed around, my older siblings

Mine started with pain in my right hip. I was applying heat packs and thought I had given myself 2nd degree burns when the blisters emerged. Meanwhile I was touching them and it spread as I was unaware I had shingles. I am in the middle of it now and feel like I’m in hell. Yes I would compare the pain with childbirth 😢

I went through the same symptoms-back ache, etc. The back symptoms were interesting to say the least. The blisters go from my back, down my right arm, to my hand. The neuralgia is painful. Looking forward for that to go away.

I'm 42 and have it now on my genitals and buttox and I feel crap I'm female so as u can imagine not nice to have these blisters in this area, the pain is about 7 but the headache and chills I have is the worse, I'm unable to sleep but I'm so tired I'm glad your better now

Had shingles in mid February, its the worst pain tht i had in my life. Rash disappeared in 6 days the after effect is worse. The damage nerves is painful u got lot of pinching pain, it feels like an inflammation inside, your energy is low. The pregabalin is good to release the pain, but should not addicted to it. I am doing exercises like walking, yoga stretching helps a bit. I am 56 never had this pain in my life..i have seen that it can last for years to be totally healed😢, but i am being positive n know god is great🙏

I know they say you can never have shingles on both sides but I did. It was the third time I'd had them. Neither of the first two times was very bad. The third time was not a patch but a straight line on each side of my chest. Yes it came in waves and also gave me a bad headache. My 17 year old grandson got chicken pox from me. He was also very sick.

I’m 25 and just had an episode of shingles. Felt horrible like I got hit by a truck on my back. Had fever and a week later had blisters on my ribs. Never thought I’d experience it at such a young age.

I’m on my 3rd day of shingles and it’s Labor Day weekend. I will be making an appointment for Tuesday. It hurts severely in my back. And everything you described is exactly what I’m going through.

I was minding my own business when I was struck excruciating pain in my left ankle. I had been cutting the grass and came in the house to take a breather. I started to get up and I couldn’t put weight on my foot. I hadn’t turned my ankle, nothing I could think off. The pain kept building until I could hardly catch my breath. I kept thinking, I need to get ahold of this because my heart was feeling like a rabbit in my chest. My granddaughter helped me to the couch. I couldn’t get comfortable for a moment. I felt like the only thing that would help was a shot of morphine! I couldn’t stay on the couch. I ask for a couple towels to cushion my knees and crawled to my stairs to my bedroom. The final challenge was getting on my high bed. I was crying an praying. I must have dozed off. 3 am, I woke with fever and pain. My entire body was hot. The pain had dulled to about an 8 on a 1-10 scale. Btw: I’ve had four babies and the pain was =. By this time I could (barely) get to the bathroom. That’s when I discovered a small patch of blisters on my “right” hip. Huh? Made no sense. I considered I may have picked up poison ivy while working in my yard? Crazy. Day six, I sent a picture of the blisters to my Daughter. My son-in- law immediately recognized it as shingles. Thanks for your video. I know my prayers were answered.

Thank u so much for the knowledge super helpful

Thanks for the info

Thanks for the video. I'm presently on day 6 of this stupid outbreak, and it's really really annoying. You're right about the stabbing pain - like someone walked up behind me and stabbed me with sewing needle (I'm guessing). The one consolation is that pain usually means you've injured something, but since this virus is in the nerve cells I know I'm not injured and so the pain is, again, deeply annoying rather than concerning. Actually, I find that physical exertion lessens my symptoms; it's at its worst at night when I'm laying still trying to fall asleep. I saw another video say that a cold compress helps; a cold beer bottle feels pretty good, so I guess I'll try the compress - in addition to the beer. ;)

Thanks for sharing, Chuck. Sorry you had to go through this and I will definitely be getting the Shingrix vaccine.

I am in my third week of Shingles on my leg. I have been taking tart cherry juice, ginger, and turmeric to help with the healing and to reduce the pain.

Thank you for this video!, After having pain in my left side and groin, I broke out in the rash yesterday while I was out. OUCH! So itchy, my nose is running non stop like you wouldn't believe, light hurts my eyes. Fatigue beyond description. I have a crazy sense of humor though and couldn't resist taping a sign to the refrigerator, saying "I have leprosy, that is the reason I have blisters on my body, " so my LTR would keep away from me! Excuse me now, I am in pain and itching on my torso so good luck to anybody who gets shingles. By the way, I called up an old school friend who knew nothing about shingles and told her about my discomfort. She thought for a minute and then told me she had a solution to my problem " Oh honey,you know whatcha gotta do? Get thrm shingles outta your blouse and back on the roof, so you'll quit itchin' and hurtin' so bad!""

Taking medication and painkillers going through it right now very painful.

I'm day 3, my rash is coming out and it's so painful to the point I can't put my clothes on, the rubbing pain is horrible but to me my non stop back n chest pain is unreal .Thank you for your advice.

thanks for the info. I am now recovery stage.

Single worst thing that has ever happened to me. I was 56 yrs old, now 59 and I am still dealing with the PNH.

Thank you for the video and sharing your tips 😄 great info

This was very helpful. I'm looking for ways to help my mum with hers, she's in a lot of pain and drs haven't been of much help.

Thanks so much for telling my story exactly with shingles .. I'm still recovering... it shocked me .. I cried like a little kid with the pain ... it's been a difficult experience on top of everything else I'm dealing with in my life .. i likened it to a monster taking over and stabbing me, poking me with a hot pointy object, and try to pull off my arm and crushing my right shoulder . Mine was under my right arm pit, my upper mid back, and down my arm ... I can't think of anything more evil .. your explanation is thorough .. it made me feel better that I'm not alone in this ..

You didn't mention getting shingles on your head, which is where I got it. On the left side of my head, under my hair, and the rash/sores traveled down my left ear and behind, down my neck and under my chin. Very painful, but I'm on the medications you mentioned, which are helping. I appreciate your information on getting off of gabapentin, especially. Thank you for sharing!

Thank you. Will have to send pictures to our Doctor and get leave from work. The doctor wasn't sure if it was flea bites or shingles, but definitely shingles. In the face, near the eye. Got to get this gone asap!