Are shingles the same thing as herpes?

No: You are half correct. Shingles is a herpes virus but it is herpes zoster, not herpes simplex which is the herpes that causes cold sores or genital ulcers. They are not related and you do not have an increased risk of one if you have the other.

No: Genital herpies is a different disease than shingles, however, the structure of the virus is very similar and both are named in the "herpes virus" class. Shinges is called herpes zoster and genital herpes is called herpes simplex - II (hsv-ii), however, some patients can have genital herpes infections with herpes symplex - i (hsv-i). Most cold sores or oral herpes infections are caused by hsv-i.