Shingles: Not Just For Roofing

Something about this time of year, brings out the crazy afflictions to torment my body with glee.  Last year it was the scabies/bed bug/poisonous hydrangea assault, this year it's an even more exciting failure on the part of my immune system.

A little over a week ago, I developed an insanely itchy spot on my back, right around the area where my sports bra sits.  My first thought was, oh no, not the hydrangeas again...  But there was no visible rash, so that didn't seem right.  The next suspect was my new deep conditioner which contains macadamia nut oil.  When I was a child I had a horrible hivey reaction to macadamia nuts and couldn't eat them for years.  But then I thought I'd grown out of it, and have eaten numerous macadamia nuts since then--most of them covered in copious amounts of chocolate.

Even though it seemed like a stretch, I cut the conditioner out of my life for a couple of days.  And then the rash appeared.  Next thought--could it be my laundry detergent?  But that's stupid--I haven't changed my detergent in months, and this is just another in a long line of "free and clear" detergents that I have to buy because of my sensitive princess skin.

So, by Saturday night, when a second rash had broken out just above the original rash, I was stumped.  It was then that I turned to Dr. Google.  I typed in my symptoms, raised red bumps, itchy, slightly painful to the touch.  There were a number of potential causes, but the one that stuck out to me most and turned up the most returns?  Shingles.

The first person I remember having shingles, was my grandmother.  I remember my parents saying that it was kind of like chickenpox, and it generally crops up mainly in older people.  Then, when my mom was going through chemo and radiation for breast cancer, her immune system was depressed, and she got a very severe case that actually included her eye, which still has some slight nerve damage five years later.  I've also had a couple of younger friends get shingles, for causes unknown to them, racking it up to "maybe stress?".

So, I posted a message on facebook: "I just Google diagnosed myself with shingles. Quick, someone tell me I'm insane and that's totally not it!"  Initially people tended to follow my instructions and told me it was probably nothing.  Then, when I posted my symptoms, the tide turned and by later that night and Sunday morning most people were telling me "hie thee to the doctor before this gets exponentially worse!"

Initially, I resisted since the base clinic was closed and the last thing I wanted was to spend all day in the emergency room. But by then the pain had become more intense, and painful swollen lymph nodes had risen just behind my armpit on my back.  Fortunately, a friend told me that there was a nurse referral line I could call, and after I spent a few minutes talking to the nurse, she agreed it was probably shingles and got me a referral to a walk-in clinic just down the road.

About an hour later, I had my diagnosis confirmed, and was at the pharmacy, waiting to pick up my antiviral and the pill for the nerve pain.  I've been taking the medicine for a couple of days now, and the rash has gotten a bit worse and definitely more painful since Sunday, but I'm hoping I've reached the turning point and it will start getting better now.  I'm pretty sure I have a fairly low-grade case, but saying that, I can't imagine a severe case.

Because the rash is on my back, it's uncomfortable to sit back against chairs--even fluffy pillows--or lie on my back.  And even when I'm not putting pressure on it, the feeling alternates between intense itchiness and stabbing pain--like someone is standing behind me, pricking me with multiple needles at once, over and over again.  And wearing a bra is tantamount to strapping myself into the Iron Maiden.  I'm also utterly exhausted--I think a combination of the virus and the pain medicine.  Afternoon naps are a necessity, and I'm still able to sleep like a baby through the night (as long as I don't roll over onto my back).

So, anyway, that's been my excitement for the week.  That and talking to Colby and knowing that he's a-okay and will be home soon.  Now I'm going to make my diseased body a cup of tea, enjoy some quality time with Regis and Kelly, and likely fall asleep about 30 minutes after I take my drugs.  I'll also be checking the mail for my doctoral degree in Internet Diagnosing.  I'm becoming a real pro at that.

Comments

[Becky]

Ugh - I had shingles about a year and a half ago and they are the worst! My mom said that if you have the right combination of stress and hormones (it was right before my monthly visitor), it can cause a breakout.

It was awful, but it's a good think you went to a Dr. when you did because the medicine is most helpful 24 hours after a breakout.

Anyway, you have my sympathy!!

[A Super Girl]

That sucks! I've known a couple people come down with shingles. I thought it was one of those diseases like the mumps that never came around anymore. But now that I've heard so many people get it, I think it's here with a vengeance!

[Sara]

Oh man that's horrible! I don't know much about shingles but I do know that it's even worse than chickenpox so I feel for ya! Hope you get to feeling better and glad to hear that Colby is a-okay. :)

[Jen]

You poor thing! I didn't know people our age could get shingles and I'm sorry it happened to be you.

Try to get comfy and I hope you feel better soon!

And hooray for your hubs being safe and coming home soon!

[Kate P]

Oh my gosh, that sucks. I hope everything gets better soon.

[Thoughts Appear]

Owwww...that sounds painful and tiring! I hope that medicine kicks in fast and you feel better soon!

[McLain]

Angela, oh my goodness! Wow. I'm so glad you were able to get in and get some meds! Hope you're feeling better soon!

[Lynndaue]

Oh, ouch. I had them my sophomore year of college and they SUCKED. And I had to take herpes meds for them. That always makes a girl feel special :-) I hope you feel better soon!