At Your Appointment

Shingles Appointment Guide

Ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment. Answer two questions below to personalize your appointment guide.

• Have you or your loved been diagnosed with

  1. Yes, diagnosed
  2. No, undiagnosed
• Will this appointment be an in-office visit or an online/telehealth appointment?

  1. In-office visit
  2. Online/telehealth appointment
Submit

Top Questions Your Doctor May Ask You About Shingles If you’re having a telehealth appointment, it's helpful to keep these things in mind. Test your computer or smartphone to make sure you can log in without difficulties. Since the doctor can’t examine you in person, be very specific about your symptoms. Print this appointment guide or write down your questions so you remember what to ask, and consider having someone sit with you to listen in. Have your medicines with you so you can show the doctor the labels and doses, and if you are interested in a specific treatment, be sure to ask about it.

• Please describe the symptoms and issues you’re having that led you to schedule this online appointment. Start at the beginning of this current episode and tell me how and when things have changed and progressed.
• Do you have close contact with a pregnant mom, newborn, or someone with a weakened immune system?
• Are you having any pain in your face or around your eyes?
• Are you having any balance or hearing problems?
• How would you rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst pain ever?
• Describe your symptoms. Are you having pain, burning, numbness, itching, or sensitivity to touch? Where are you having symptoms? Do you have headaches, fatigue or fever?
• What other medical conditions do you have?
• What seems to make your symptoms better or worse?
• Have you ever had chicken pox, a chickenpox vaccine, or a shingles vaccine?
• What other medical conditions do you have? Any immune disorders? Are you receiving immunosuppressive drugs?
• What medications do you take, including cancer treatments?
• What side effects are you experiencing?
• What treatments have you tried so far?
• What new symptoms are you experiencing?
• Do you have close contact with anyone who has never had chickenpox or chickenpox vaccine?

Top Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Shingles Many people forget to ask important questions at their doctor's appointments. You may want to print or write these questions down before your appointment so you remember to get the answers you need.

• Do my symptoms mean I have shingles? How does a person contract shingles?
• How do you diagnose shingles?
• Could another medical condition be causing or contributing to my symptoms?
• How do you treat shingles?
• What should I do if my symptoms get worse?
• What treatment do you recommend? How long will it take to work and improve my symptoms?
• What are my options if my symptoms do not improve on this treatment?
• How long will my symptoms last?
• Can I get shingles again? Can I give shingles to others?
• Should I get the shingles vaccine? How long should I wait to get it?
• Could another medication help control my symptoms better?
• Are my new or different symptoms related to shingles?
• What is the best treatment plan for my shingles?

Print View All Questions

Was this helpful?

40