Steroid side effects are for long term use. There are some mild short term side effects. You might feel a little jittery if you take them. It all depends on the dose and for how long you take them. If you happen to be diabetic, make sure to test often. Glucocorticosteroids can increase your blood sugar.

I’ve heard many stories about younger people having shingles. Even teens. One thing you can do is have the shingles vaccine to try to prevent it from happening again. In most cases though, you don’t really see repeat bouts unless your immune system has been weakened by disease or chemo or something. They believe the shingles outbreak activates antibodies against future outbreaks.

Just make sure to take the Valtrex until the rx is done. It’s the best chance for preventing post herpetic neuralgia, which can be quite painful. Some people are prescribed pain meds to help with that pain. Try a lidocaine patch, too. It’s not a trivial thing. I’m hoping your doctor knows that.

Do you have any of those stinging, stabbing pains at times? Mine would be so sudden that I’d sometimes yell out “ouch!”

Have you had the blood tests to find various viruses that might be dormant in your system? Have the diagnoses of shingles been just visual or has someone sent a sample in for testing?

I’m just curious. I had read someplace that if shingles is recurring, other things need to be looked at.

It really stinks, doesn’t it!

Beth