Back in March I had my first case of shingles on the right side of my head. My ear hurt to the touch and I had a terrible headache and earache, along with pain on the right side of my throat (like a sore throat but more "stabby"). I initially thought it was just a bad ear infection and even my doctor thought the same and prescribed antibiotics. Nearly a week later I wasn't any better, and NOW could see inflammation and a rash on my ear. I decided to go to an ENT and that's where I was diagnosed with shingles. I was given a Valtrex prescription and it eventually cleared up.
Fast-forward to yesterday, when I awakened to the sore outer ear, slight throat soreness, and tingling on the exact same side of my head. It felt exactly the same as before, but....milder. It didn't really even hurt that much, but it was definitely a less severe version of the same attack. I was worried it would eventually spiral into something worse, however, so I went back to the ENT. She prescribed Famvir this time for me to have on-hand, but said to wait a day or so before taking it, and only take it if the symptoms got worse. Well, I went to bed and all day today I've been totally fine. MAYBE a slight bit of residual tingling, but even milder and more fleeting than yesterday. And no rash, at least so far.
Does this sound possible? I've never heard of shingles just "passing" after a day, but maybe it can. I'm a little edgy that I'm not taking the anti-virals and warding off a potential bad outbreak in the days ahead...at the same time I also don't want to take them if I don't have to.
Anyone else have it happen where you start to get shingles symptoms, but they just subside on their own and never get worse or present with a rash?
Thanks!