Advertisement

My story, my diagnosis: Nancy's story

Updated on October 16, 2024

Nancy experienced a shingles infection in January of 2018. In this video, she shares her story, including her initial symptoms, her visit to the emergency room and how the shingles rash spread to her eyelid, nose and mouth before clearing up.

Medically reviewed in April 2020.

close transcript modal

Transcript

00:00
My name is Nancy Collier and I'm 58 years old. Shingles is a virus that originates from the chicken
00:06
pox. The outbreak started in January of 2018, the first week. The first pain I felt was fire, like a match was laying
00:16
on my face, and severe itching. I saw a medical tent in about three days after the fire feeling started.
00:23
I wasn't sleeping, I developed shingles inside of my mouth, I couldn't eat for maybe three days.
00:30
I work a full-time job. It was very hard to concentrate and get through the day. The shingles developed on top of my eyelid
00:36
and they asked me to go to the emergency room because they said that shingles can cause blindness. But I kept the cream on my eyelids
00:44
and that went away rather quickly. On the left side of my nose, were the shingles developed, I can feel nerve damage.
00:51
It doesn't feel the same as on the right side of my face. To this day, I don't feel like the feeling has come back completely.
00:58
I really hope the shingles has not come back and the vaccination is something I look forward to.
01:04
As soon as you feel the first tingling and suspect that you may have shingles, get to the doctor
01:10
immediately. That does slow down the process.

Featured Content

slideshow

6 questions to ask your healthcare provider about shingles

Learn the answers to who is at risk, who should get vaccinated, and other key shingles questions.

article

Getting a flu shot? Get the shingles vaccine, too

Getting the vaccines together is safe and you can get both at the pharmacy.
article

Tips on getting your second shingles vaccine dose

Skipping the second dose of the shingles vaccine might mean you have less protection against this painful rash.
article

What you need to know about shingles

Understand your risk for this painful and highly contagious rash—anyone can catch the virus that causes shingles.
article

Getting the shingles vaccine at your pharmacy

Learn how a trip to your local pharmacy can protect you against a painful shingles infection.