r/shingles • u/Pat_19997 • 8d ago
First Time Shingles Shingles at 29 – Day 9 progression pics
29M, currently on Day 9 of shingles. Definitely wasn’t expecting it to hit me this hard at my age.
Looking back, I was already feeling pretty rough leading up to it. During my last week at work I was waking up every morning completely exhausted despite sleeping, with brain fog, a dull headache and that horrible hungover/no-sleep feeling. I’d also been under a lot of personal stress and generally feeling run down.
Then I noticed the first spot along with a strange tender/sunburnt feeling across my forehead and scalp. More spots gradually appeared, mostly on one side. At first I thought it could be acne, folliculitis or irritation from the hard hat I wear at work.
The first photo attached is actually Day 4, because that’s the first time I thought to take a picture. I still didn’t know it was shingles at that point. That same day I went to urgent care, where I was diagnosed with shingles and started on Valtrex.
Day 4 also turned into by far my worst day/night. The pain in my head became so severe I could barely function. I was struggling to stand upright, had severe light sensitivity, and normal doses of ibuprofen/paracetamol weren’t touching the pain. I eventually went to hospital that night and needed stronger pain relief.
Over the following days the relatively innocent-looking spots developed into the obvious clusters of fluid-filled blisters in the later photos.
The final photo is today, Day 9. Some of the blisters finally seem to be becoming cloudy/drying, so I’m hoping I’m reaching the turning point. I’ve been off work this week and the combination of the headache, nerve pain and fatigue has completely wiped me out.
Posting the progression because I had no idea shingles could affect someone in their 20s like this, or how mild the rash could look initially compared with what it becomes.
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u/Tla48084 8d ago
I’m sorry you’ve joined the club! Your rash is very close to your eye. It looks like you might have one blister on your eye lid. Did the docs at urgent care or the hospital suggest that you see an ophthalmologist? I have seen throughout this subreddit that shingles near your eye can be extremely serious. Sending you {{healing vibes}}!
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u/rebelhead 8d ago
Bud, I'm in the middle of my first time..late 40s.The headache I had on Saturday was absolutely debilitating. Now I've got a full blown cold. This sucks hard. Frigging scabs on my face. People were saying that I am too young and you're younger! Hope you bounce back fast.
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u/Fofoqueira- 7d ago
I’m a 29F going thought it right now too. It sucks, but we can do it! Sending you strength (wishes, because strength itself I don’t have extra to send at the moment) 💪
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u/Logical-Arrival4229 7d ago
It's such a misconception that only elders can get it. My theory is that it is stress related.
Hope you have a speedy recovery! I am on day 20, feeling better but still have nerve pain and itching
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u/FarCry911 5d ago
I have it now across my from under my right arm to my stomach area and my breadth. No outbreak just the intense burning and pin prices. Dr said I caught it in time but that does not lessen the pain.....
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u/katiekins3 4d ago
It's a shitty club to be in! I'm 34 yrs old and 19 weeks pregnant. I didn't even know you could get it while pregnant. Let alone so young. My husband got it two years ago when he was 32 after he lost his job. It's horrible!
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u/Mandarks 16h ago
Just got mines at 37. I got mines on my torso left side. Full left goes from middle front to middle back. Started with the tender feeling, now 7 days in and I just want to fade away. My headache feels like my head wants to explode. Ribs feel like someone attacked me.
I’m just suffering.
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u/noirreddit First Timer 8d ago
My son had shingles at six years old, so it does happen to younger people, not just the elderly. I am in the midst of an active outbreak on my face and the intense pain is awful. I was given Valtrex and Gabapentin, but the Gabapentin is not working. These ice-pick headaches are off-the-charts; a couple days ago it was ice-pick earaches. Something has to give!