My mom was diagnosed late last night at the ER with shingles. She has a rash on her face and excruciating pain all along her eye and forehead and side of her skull. The poor thing is hurting so much. I am a big believer in the power of prayer AND modern medicine. She is taking the antiviral medicine and pain meds, but I wonder if I could ask for your prayers. The last year and a half has been filled with medical issues and lots of pain for my mother... she's been through H-E-double-hockey-sticks, and I feel so helpless and so awful for her. Thanks in advance.

That is awful, I had them twice and it wasn't fun. As I understand it, stress can be a trigger.

I hope she feels better ASAP.

How horrible for her! Just as an aside, remember that shingles is actually the chicken pox virus. Anyone who hasn't had it or been vaccinated needs to stay away from her.

I hope she feels better soon.

My mom had them a few years back and it was horrible to see her in so much pain. Sending prayers to have a fast recovery and that she doesn't continue to have medical issues.

Prayers heading her way!

Sorry BS Hope the outbreak doesn't last long.

Prayers headed her way Burnt.

God bless you mom burnt s...

My mom had them and she got acupunture for them, she swears it helpd.

Just an idea

That is horribly painful, uncomfotable and irritating. Shingles patients are, I swear, the toughest people on earth! My prayers for her swift recovery and relief!

Prayers for your mom BurntSienna!

Prayers from Texas for the pain to be relieved. My dad had them and shingles are terrible.

Thank you all so much, and God bless you for your prayers and kind words. I took the days off Monday and Tuesday to be with mom. Difficult is not a strong enough word for watching her be in excruciating pain. I'm back at work today, exhausted, and praying for a short duration for her. Thank you all again.

Prayers for a short duration. A friend of mines mom has been fighting the shingles for about 5 months now. She is 83.

Continued prayers for your mom Burnt, and prayers for strength for you....

Thank you all so much. I think we're getting her on a better schedule for the medicine and her pain may be lessening a teensy bit today. She's on an antibiotic and a steroid now cuz her eye is almost swollen shut. But the opthalmologist said so far no major complications with her eye (she has to go back to follow up in a couple weeks). Thanks for the kind words and prayers.

Burnt, I am so glad she is being followed by an opthamologist. My sis in law's mom has permanent eye damage from shingles because she was too stubborn to be seen by the eye doctor.

Oh dear, prayers are coming. I feel bad for her being in so much pain. Hope it subsides soon.

Thanks, TINK, I'm going to share that story with her. She thinks I'm completely overreacting and forcing her to go to doctors for my own amusement. Where's that eyerolling BOL smiley?

Thanks, Justin, and happy birthday!

Thank you all so much for your support and prayers. It's been a very very long month, but just recently, there is definite improvement. Still lots of pain and lots of maddening itching and sharp, excruciating blasts of pins and needles pain as the nerve endings heal, but improvement nonetheless.

so good to hear that your mom's doing better. take care, i know what the shingles pain is all about (unfortunately)

My husband turns 60 this summer. I'm going to push him to get this vaccine. I know it's pricey (my parents got it a year or two ago), but well worth it.

I'm so glad you're mom is doing better. I used to work for a man that got this on his face when he was in his 50's. It was just awful for him.

Thank you both! Skittles, please talk him into it. If he has insurance, find out if they pay for it (most insurance companies pay at least half, many pay all). I'm not old enough yet for the vaccine, but my current insurance pays for the vaccine 100%. I asked at Walgreens and CVS pharmacies for the cash price and it is $220.00. Worth every penny. 5 DAYS of the antiviral and nerve pain medications were more than $200.00 (and we are in WEEK 6 now). Add to that the initial ER visit cost (we didn't know what it was), followup doctors visits, visit to the eye specialist, pain and suffering... the $220 vaccine is cheap!

Burnt - how's your mother doing? I'm now seeing commercials about the shingles vaccine.

Mom is doing much much MUCH better, thank you so much for asking! She gets flashes of intense "stabbing pins and needles" pain that lasts a minute or two at a time that happens maybe 10 times per day and occasionally wakes her up. There's also a maddening itching sensation on her face and scalp pretty much all the time. Doctor says all of this is very good news as it means her nerves are healing rapidly. Other than these issues, she pronounces herself "almost better" and is eating and sleeping lots better, which makes all the difference to her mood (and mine!). We keep seeing the shingles commercials, too! I think it's great. If people go and get the vaccine and avoid this horrible experience, I think the commercials have done their job.