Shingles Are for Houses
Remember, a couple days ago, when I mentioned having a rash?
Turns out, it’s shingles. Lucky me!
Now I know I’m technically older than I was on Monday, but . . . according to the documentation, most cases are in older people. As in (depending on what you’re reading) 50 or 65 or older. The word “elderly” is frequently used. Um. I’m 41 years 2 days old. I am NOT old! (Although, Mom said when I mentioned this that I’ve “always been an old soul.”)
Really, this is a birthday present I would just have soon forgone. (Sigh). Reading about it is a little worrying, too, since all the articles talk about extreme pain, sometimes needing nerve blocks, which in some cases doesn’t go away for a year or more . . . um, I didn’t need to know that. Really, it feels more like sunburn, although it hurts more today than it did yesterday with some twinges like the way newly-healed skin can pull, but with a little burning… (ahem). Anyway, I’m now on an anti-viral medicine which hopefully will help.
For those of you who don’t know, Shingles is a nasty trick the chicken pox virus plays–after you’ve had the chicken pox, usually as a child, the virus lays dormant in your nerves, until, for whatever reason, usually a compromised immune system (which I wasn’t aware I had, except for the asthma), it reactivates and travels along one of the main nerve “lines” and erupts into this blistery rash. (And, please note that I did not show you a graphic picture of the way my shoulder looks right now. I didn’t want to offend anybody’s sensibilities.) You cannot pass shingles on to anybody else, but it IS remotely possible that a person with shingles could infect someone who has never had the chicken pox with chicken pox. Go figure.
Now, in happier news, did you see the lovely “review” of my calendar that Amy posted? Wasn’t that nice of her? I’m so glad she liked it! And don’t forget, you can get one, too. I added some Chappy shirts into the shop, too . . .
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House Calls
I’m so sorry, Debbie! If it makes you feel any not-so-old, Lori had shingles soon after we graduated high school. I love you!!
Funny (okay, not really funny …), but your post title reminds me of one of mine: http://needleadd.blogspot.com/2005/10/not-just-for-roof.html . You have my sincerest sympathies. I know what you’re going through. And, for the record, I’m even less old that you are (and my first bout of shingles was two years ago). I do have a bit of a weakened immune system, though.
I heard somewhere that lack of regular exposure to chicken pox (as in, not being around kids all the time) increases a person’s likelihood of developing shingles, as that’s what keeps our immunity strong enough to fight the dormant virus and keep it dormant. This makes me strongly anti-chicken-pox-vaccine.
I hope you get better quickly. I think getting on the anti-virals quickly really helps. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Woe! Hopefully the medication helps whack it back. (Hey, I had premature bone thinning when I was 30, so….)
Sorry about the shingles! Would it help to tell you that I got it when I was 21? The worst part? It erupted along my bra line. That was a rough couple of weeks for this ample-bosomed girl…
Get better soon!
Sorry to hear about having the Shingles! I know how you are feeling. When I turned 30 I had to have my gallbladder removed. I felt really old because that is associated with the “older” individuals too. Hope you feel better soon. Hang in there!
My brother-in-law had shingles on his face around his eye when he was in his early thirty’s. I’m sorry to hear that’s what your rash is; I hope the meds helps it clear up quickly!
Oh the shingles – they do suck. Had them early in my last pregnancy and couldn’t take anything. Hope the meds help, and I hope yours isn’t too painful, mine was pretty awful, but it passed moderately quickly!
Ow! I got them early in my forties, too. A week after quitting smoking cold turkey! How is that for a cosmic joke? Fortunately, my aunt recognized the rash for what it was and I got on the anti-viral meds right away. It’s nasty…..I really feel for you!
Bummer about the shingles…and if if makes you feel any better, a friend of mine had shingles her sophomore year in college, at age 19. Feel better!
Ouch! I’ve had 2 or 3 bouts with shingles. The first came before I was 40 so those descriptions linking it to the “elderly” are just wrong.
so sorry to hear that you have this – and yes.. you CAN give the chicken pox virus to those who have never had it (since that is essentially what it is).. only really need to avoid pregnant women who’ve never had it (at least that is what I was told)
My Mom gets this too – and sometimes it isn’t too bad.
You might check out some herbal things that help build the immune system against viruses (like astragalus) – but talk to you local health food store people – they will know.
I send wishes for a speedy healing.
Well that’s not good at all! Hope you feeling better soon.
Sorry to hear about your problem, but, um, even 50 is pretty young! Not in the least old. Now, my great Grandmother is 92, that’s old. Okay, now, my sister had shingles several years ago, before she was out of her 40′s, and she had them too. So, I guess they can hit at any age. Hang in there, take your medicine and get well soon!
Sheri in GA
Oh no… just reading about it and I can feel the pain all over again… I was 27 or 28 when I got it.
The pain did go away after about 3-4 weeks, but I was soooo tired I slept about 22 hours a day and the itching was the worst thing for me… ever. The pain killers I got were 5x stronger than those I got for my broken ankle.
Now, nearly 10 years later, I still do get cases of the itches in the region where I had it (my waist) when I’m stressed out. I’ve learned to slow down as soon as I start to get those bouts of itchiness
Just try to go with the flow and get lots of rest !!!
Cheers Eva
Oh NO! I’m so sorry to hear that. Please get well NOW!
Shingles are nasty. Here’s hoping yours go away very quickly. And if it makes you feel better, I know several people under 40 who’ve had them.
Ugh, I’m so sorry! Hope you feel better soon!
oh no!
( What a crappy present. Get better soon, k?
Oh crap. I hope the anti-virals work well for you.
I was floored. I know shingles can be “caught” by almost anyone at almost any age, but jeez, on your birthday? That sucks. You have my sympathies and support, although I’ll be you’d be really happy with a cure.
That sucks! I remember my Nana had them and she was absolutely miserable.
I sure hope it doesn’t take a year for you to get rid of it! In the meantime, just to be safe, I’ll be keeping my distance. I’ve never had chicken pox.
I would like to say that I am 30 (31 in a couple weeks) and got my first case of the shingles when I was 22. Yes, 22. And have had them about 200 times since. OK – maybe not that many, but enough that I can now tell BEFORE the sore appears. Seriously.
That said – did they give you valtrex? it is THE BEST medication for it. will start to reduce the pain within 6-10 hours in my experience. If they didn’t give you valtrex and you are still having pain call them for pain meds. Seriously, shingles HURT a lot. I push through it because I have now had them so many times, but most people go on serious pain meds for them.
Oh – as for the way – usually autoimmune, but it can be brought on by stress.
My brother had a simultaneous case of mono and shingles his senior year in college when he was trying to work on his art show. You have my sympathy.
Oooh, yuck to shingles. I had them when I was in my 30′s…I thought I was having appendicitis and my husband, toddler and I spend some lovely hours in the ER until they ruled it out.
Fortunately, after that first night they weren’t too bad.
You probably know this…but the virus actually hides out in your spine and the site of the shingle outbreak indicates where in your spine the virus was hiding. I think that’s kind of cool, even if shingles aren’t.