Shingles and swollen eyes

[sublimegirlly]

I am 22 years old and recently came down with my first case of shingles on my upper back on my right shoulder blade, which spread slightly to my right side of my chest. I had it for a week before i figured out what it was. So I was extremly cautious and did not touch it except to clean it with apple cider viniger and put an anti itch cream on it. Within a few days of putting apple cider vinigar on the affected areas and drinking applecider vinigar with water throughout the day, the pain and itching started to disappear and the blisters started to scab over. Then after I began "healing",  I started waking up with swollen eyelids on both of my eyes!!! This persisted for a few days and then went away for a few days and now this morning i woke up with very swollen eyelids again! Please help me to understand if this is an after effect of shingles or what might be going on. I am normally very healthy, I don't smoke or drink and I have never had health problems until now. I am very upset about the apperance of my eyelids and am not sure what to do.

[mbergthold]

I currently have a 2nd bout of shingles in my left eye.  The first was approx 5 months ago.  The first sign is the eye watering almost constantly & some itching.  Then it gradually swells shut and sores begin.  The earlier you can start an antiviral drug the better.  A preventative/OTC med is L-Lysine, available at Walmart in 1,000mg tablets for less than $4.  Research it on the web.  I take 10 or more during an outbreak & it helps your immune system fight it off.  I also take one tablet daily, which apparently didnt stop it for me.  I now know I am in the 29% that get a 2nd or more out reak, so will get the vaccine when this clears up.

[sublimegirlly]

No, I was never treated with antivirals for the shingles. By the time I found out what it was it had been over a week, and I thought from what I read that it would be to late.
But good news is I went to the doctors this morning... $125 later she answered some questions.... I definitely had shingles but they are done now and almost completely healed, I don't have shingles in my eye thank God, and my swollen eyes is likely do to some type of allergic reaction.... What exactly she could not say, neither could I. So she gave me a steroid shot and that was it. At least I am not going crazy researching on the Internet and pray the steroid shot helps and these swollen eyes dont return again. Thanx for your response.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

This does not sound like shingles of the eye.  You should see an EyeMD.   Were you treated with antivirals for the shingles?

Dr. O.