I wanted to bash my head against the wall to stop the pain

For almost two weeks, I endured excruciating pain that no medicine could alleviate.

- Salma Khalik

When the doctor told me the pain was likely to be permanent, I felt all hope slip away. It was just too much to bear.

My nightmare began on the afternoon of Oct 23, when I felt a pain on the right side of my mouth and jaw, and my right ear. There was also a blister on my chin.

The next morning, I went to the polyclinic where I had registered for Healthier SG.

The doctor suspected it was a dental problem affecting the nerve and suggested that I see a dentist. I booked a dental appointment for the following day.

Early that afternoon, the polyclinic doctor called to say that the fluid-filled blister on my chin could be a sign of shingles. While she still felt that my pain was related to a dental issue, she advised me to watch out for signs of shingles and to return immediately if necessary.

By late afternoon, two more fluid-filled blisters appeared.

I returned to the polyclinic and saw a different doctor. Doctor 2 looked at the blisters and said they were not shingles. He also thought it was a dental problem.

However, the next day, the dentist gave me a clean bill of health - but I was still in pain.

I was back at the polyclinic the day after on a Saturday morning - now with a cluster of painful, weeping blisters on my chin, jaw and cheek, as well as transparent bubbles on my tongue. There was a sharp pain in my ear.

I saw a different doctor. When I asked if it was shingles, Doctor 3 said confidently that it was not.

I asked again if he was sure. If it was shingles, I would have to start on antivirals to catch the 72-hour window, in which they would be most effective in reducing pain and shortening the period of infection.

There is a vaccine for shingles, but it is expensive, costing around $720 to $950 in Singapore for the two doses needed.