I can now testify that shingles are literally a pain in the butt, because that's where I have them:
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| Somewhere on my butt. Do you know how hard it is to take a pic of your own butt? One that's in focus, I mean?? |
Shiver me shingles!
Evidently the virus decided to follow my sciatic nerve, hence the embarrassing location. And no, you cannot catch the shingles by reading a blog about them. Which alas does not eliminate the voice in my head shouting 'Unclean! Unclean!' like someone from the movie 'Ben Hur.' Or was it 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'?
Anyway, if you suddenly find yourself scratching all over, remember that the shingles usually attack only one side of the body.
Look, I wasn't expecting to contract shingles even though I had chicken pox as a child. Even though I am reaching that milestone age when the virus often decides to stage a comeback. Even though my stress levels may have been elevated. (Even though I read somewhere that shingles are often associated with stress, but evidence of a connection is not conclusive.)
Look, I have muted many a Tv commercial hawking some anti-shingle product, which is why I expected the pain to make me eligible for some emergency pain-killer meds. Unfortunately though, my pain level isn't high enough to qualify for the really good stuff. Ok, this one shingle occasionally feels like a nickel-sized drop of acid eating its way through my skin, but it always backs off before I can even find the doctor's phone number on call log.
So I am taking a course of a Famvir generic which has the unusual, unfortunate side effect of making me crack bad jokes about the virus. In fact, most of my discomfort derives from the itching, which can be treated with oatmeal preparations and Claritin.
So here I am itchin' 'n' bitchin' my way through this totally new but unwelcome experience. Fortunately after a few days of meds, some of the welts have faded even though the pain and itching emanating from them mysteriously have not.
I have also discovered one positive: The shingle on my ankle can predict the weather -- like those fuzzy cards that turned from pink to blue. In this case, purple means rain, while a pale pink and scabby appearance predicts fair and dry weather.
Your experience may differ.
Bottom line, I'll get through this. It's possible my immune system is giving me a warning, so I vow to aim for healthy choices from now on.
You should too. Also -- check out the vaccine.
Time for more meds ... I should also go close the windows -- ankle shingle is purple.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/shingles/
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