Not just for roofing anymore.
I’m pretty sure I’ve got shingles again.
Shingles is the chickenpox virus. If you’ve had chickenpox as a kid, that virus never really leaves your system, but instead lies dormant there. In something like 1 out of 10 people, it can flare up in adulthood. It travels along the nervous system and causes little points of redness and blistering, which is exactly as gross and unpleasant as it sounds. There can be associated fever, and general unwellness, and residual pain which lingers for months or years along the nerve which the virus hits. It can also be dangerous in people whose immune systems are compromised, or who aren’t at peak health, or our more mature citizens. Fortunately, it’s not contagious.
I had it once before, in my early to mid 20s, on my ear and side of my neck, with no fever or unwellness – just icky rash. That’s a bad place to have it, because it can cause ringing in the ears or vision loss, since shingles travels along the nerves. I first went to a quack at a Doc-in-the box who diagnosed it as contact dermatitis. My own regular doctor, whom I saw after realizing that this guy didn’t actually help me, was pretty ticked off at the first doctor. No damage done, thankfully.
A couple of weeks ago, I got it again in various places, but none were anywhere dangerous, and I decided not to seek treatment. And it went away. But a couple of days ago, I had another little recurrence in between the pinky and ring finger of my right hand. Really inconvenient, because it’s near where I’d normally hold my yarn. Needless to say, the area is covered and I’m not holding my yarn there now. But now I’m getting some pain down the back of my hand and forearm. That’s not good.
So tomorrow I’ll make an appointment with the doctor. Like I say, it’s a virus, so even if the symptoms go away, it’s still there – but maybe we can cut the duration some.
Up until now, I’ve chosen not to give the new chickenpox vaccine to my daughter. Ever since she was given one new-at-the-time rotavirus vaccine as an infant, then never offered the boosters because they found a potentially life-threatening complication with it, I’ve tried to be very conscious of ‘new’ medicines and my daughter. I was thinking of it as a shot she didn’t really need, since chickenpox is a common childhood illness, but I’m rethinking that now. It’s a common childhood illness that’s still getting me in my late 30’s. For tonight, all I can do is take some ibuprofen, take it easy, and limit the knitting and typing. This is partially my body’s way of saying I need to de-stress, and I’m going to listen to it.
Thank all gods for the medicines they have now for shingles. My grandfather was broken out for months all along one side of his torso, to the point where it was painful to wear clothes. Unfortunately, this was a few years before he developed Alzheimer’s and wouldn’t wear clothes much of the time…
My son got only one pertussis (whooping cough) dose with his baby shots. He developed a high fever with a seizure, and they said he shouldn’t have that part of the shots any more. Now, of course, whooping cough is an issue again — the kids next door had it this past year and were out of school for a month each. Anyway, I know what you mean about childhood vaccines. I tend not to think about possible downsides till they want to give it to my kid. Then I’m all over it.
Thank all gods for the medicines they have now for shingles. My grandfather was broken out for months all along one side of his torso, to the point where it was painful to wear clothes. Unfortunately, this was a few years before he developed Alzheimer’s and wouldn’t wear clothes much of the time…
My son got only one pertussis (whooping cough) dose with his baby shots. He developed a high fever with a seizure, and they said he shouldn’t have that part of the shots any more. Now, of course, whooping cough is an issue again — the kids next door had it this past year and were out of school for a month each. Anyway, I know what you mean about childhood vaccines. I tend not to think about possible downsides till they want to give it to my kid. Then I’m all over it.
I had shingles 2 years ago when I was 29. The doctor said it was uncommon in folks my age. Isn’t it mostly stress-related? I had chicken pox when I was little too. 🙁
I hope you can get something to help it – I was at an anime convention when it started and was worried all weekend and then in a lot of pain as I had it across my mid-section.
Wow, if you have shingles then you definitely have to be careful around your daughter huh?
I had shingles 2 years ago when I was 29. The doctor said it was uncommon in folks my age. Isn’t it mostly stress-related? I had chicken pox when I was little too. 🙁
I hope you can get something to help it – I was at an anime convention when it started and was worried all weekend and then in a lot of pain as I had it across my mid-section.
Wow, if you have shingles then you definitely have to be careful around your daughter huh?
I’ve been lucky not to get it in big swaths across my mid-section like most people do. More in scattered bits here and there, which are generally small enough that I can cover them with a bandage of some type.
I do have to be careful around her! Fortunately, it’s just the blister fluid that actually has the virus, which can spread to people who haven’t had chicken pox, so I’m keeping them well-covered. She and her father are also going out of town this weekend, so that’ll help!
I’ve been lucky not to get it in big swaths across my mid-section like most people do. More in scattered bits here and there, which are generally small enough that I can cover them with a bandage of some type.
I do have to be careful around her! Fortunately, it’s just the blister fluid that actually has the virus, which can spread to people who haven’t had chicken pox, so I’m keeping them well-covered. She and her father are also going out of town this weekend, so that’ll help!
Oh no! I’m so sorry. 🙁 My sister came down with shingles when she was pregnant with her first child, not a fun time.
Oh no! I’m so sorry. 🙁 My sister came down with shingles when she was pregnant with her first child, not a fun time.