Herpes Doctor

Hi, everyone,

About 3 days ago, my mother discovered a really itch bump in her eyebrow, and put some cortizone on it. The next day, the bump had transformed into 3 large sores (about the size of a pencil eraser), which were darkening and had puffy edges. Her eyelid had swollen as well, so she made an appointment with the doctor for the next day. She was diagnosed with shingles, which we weren't really sure about. He prescribed Valtrex, which she is taking. Now, a row of raised dots are starting to appear on her eyelid, and the characteristic pain is starting. However, she called her mother and asked whether or not she had ever had chicken pox, and her mother said that no, she had never had it.

Long story short, is it possible to get shingles without ever having chickenpox, and if not, what are some common misdiagnoses that shingles can be confused with?

Many thanks,
Betty