I shake my head in...what's the word? Not disbelief--I had a feeling these blisters and itchies meant I have shingles. Maybe it's a feeling of oh well whaddaya gonna do? Shingles is actually herpes zoster (isn't that a nice name?), the very same virus that causes chicken pox. In fact, it's Chicken Pox 2.0 because you only get this if you've already had it the first time around. Shingles usually doesn't appear until you are over 50 and usually they reappear after you've been sick with something else or are majorly stressed or otherwise have a compromised immune syndrom. Because the virus hides out in your nerves for all these years, when you get an outbreak there might be a little or a lot of pain involved. I am knocking on wood. So far it feels like green flies walking all over me and now and then taking a bite here or there. The doctor prescribed an anti-viral drug which works best if you start taking it within 72 hours of noticing symptoms. For me, that was Saturday and I think I just squeaked in by a hair. Sometimes my eyes itch and sometimes it feels like there are blisters or something inside my eyelids. Sometimes I get tingling or burning. This is just so weird! In addition to the medication, I'm supposed to stay out of the sun which is a very big drag. More on shingles here.
Posted by Cassie at May 7, 2007 03:29 PM | TrackBackOh dear, my closest pal had Shingles, it was absolutely dreadful, I'm so sorry you're going through this.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery