Shingles - what a relief! ...sort of
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 2:37PM ;)
I took this picture as I was driving home from the doctor's office a bit before noon. It was the first morning that my car thermometer registered in the subzeros in our neighborhood, where it read -2 (-19C). In downtown Wasilla, where, in times of cold, it is always significantly warmer, it registered in the upper single digits some places and all the way up to 11 in others.
These past three nights and days, I had been wondering if maybe I had reached my end. That's how great the pain in my chest was. Each night after going to bed, I had hit the point where I was ready to get up and dash for the emergency room and would have done so if my insurance company had not forced me out by raising my premiums so damn high. Then there was all that strange stinging and burning on my skin.
I did not think I would have a heart attack, and yet I thought I might.
Sometimes I thought, "I just overdid it, this time, tough it out for a week or so and it will go away."
Then, last night, I discovered a horrible, ugly, rash curving around the left side of my torso.
This morning, I went to the office of my doc. She was booked solid, but a PA who is working with her took a look and he quickly diagnosed "shingles."
Shingles, for those who may not know, is the chicken pox you had as a child rearing up once again, but in a more brutal, painful, way. It is a herpes virus and never goes away. Once you have chicken pox, it is there for the rest of your life. It can attack you at any time, expecially when you are exhausted and under stress.
It had never sprung out on me like this before. The PA said it undoubtedly happened because of all the work stress I have been under, all the nights with little to no sleep. He gave me some prescriptions, but said it won't go away until I am able to rest up.
I hate these shingles, but, I am great relieved. I half expected to be hospitalized in the cardiac unit.
He said I will probably have to endure this for two weeks although hopefully the meds will help.
In the meantime, I cannot pick up little Lynx or Jobe, or give Kalib a hug.
I could give them chicken pox.
Reader Comments (16)
Glad to know you're ok. You may want to ask your Dr. about the shingles vaccine, and for the little ones (not Lynx yet) there is a chicken pox vaccine also. Rest up and get well!
I feel for you, they are very painful. Got them for the first time in my life when I was 60...diagnosed myself on line, finally went to ER because pain was so bad. They told me that I had waited too long, but did give me pain meds, which helped me sleep. There is a vaccine for shingles, but you have to be 62.
So sorry to hear that you have Shingles. I had them and they aren't fun. Take it easy and feel better soon.
A sign that you need to take better care of yourself and try to get more rest (sleep). I know how horrible shingles can get.
I'm really sorry to hear about this but relieved it's nothing more serious (although pain always feels serious). It must be tough to hear that the remedy is rest when you've been chasing that flickering light for so long now. I hope you manage to catch up with it soon. Take care, Bill. You have a lot of friends wishing you well.
Ouch, I had shingles like a year and a half, maybe two years ago? it wasn't that bad for me but I gimped around quite a bit.
Shingles is awful. I had it on my right eyelid, eyebrow, forehead and scalp. I first felt it on a Saturday and went to the ER on Monday but they thought it was just a rash. Went back on Thursday because it really hurt and that time a different PA immediately diagnosed it correctly. It went away in about a week once I started taking the meds. Hope you feel better and get some rest. Ann
never had them , but hear they are painful...hoping for speedy recovery !!
Ouch! I have not had them, but Mother has, and I know she was most uncomfortable. Rest, rest, rest, if you can. I am sorry.
Wishing you a quick recovery and lots of well needed rest Bill! Take care of yourself please!
Hi, Sorry you're suffering with that painful condition. I typed in " shingles, natural cures,' in the search engine, & Wow! There are detailed testimonials & exact information about simple,
quick remedies that do not involve medicing, using ordinary things we all have in the cupboard or
very easy (& cheap) to buy. I sure hope you check these out & get well fast. There are also
info about keeping it from returning, again. I never had it, but my best friend did, & from what
I recall, the doctor & the medicine didn't seem to help much. Finally, after about 6 weeks, she got better, but it was a rough time for her. Hope you get better fast. Best Wishes.
Everyone who is as hard-charging as you worries about the physical problems they're nurturing for themselves while putting one foot in front of the other to meet life's deadlines. I'm sorry to hear shingles was what your body brought you. I'm hopeful that the medicine, prescribed and/or natural, moves this stuff away from you as fast as you want it to. All your friends and admirers want you to feel better.
one of the most painful conditions ever! but it does go away. wishing you the best, bill!!!
I thought you were talking about your house. Almost wish you were. You can take care of them with a hammer. Shingles on your own self? Well. I've heard they're awful. Take care of yourself.
Stress...that damn bitch. Sure lets you know in a big way when it's time to take a little better care of yourself. I'm so sorry for your shingles, so happy it isn't your heart. Please take care. We all love and admire you.
Thank you for the good words, everybody. It means a lot. It will soon pass.