thanks jan. i just didn't have an understanding of shingles in auto immune disease. my mother was stuck with it after the removal of precancerous breast tissue, my father out of the blue. his first eruption was classical, on the crown of his head. he, we didn't know what it was and by the time it had almost reached his right eye and the pain was bad enough we went to various doctors to stop the spread, give eye drops so that he wouldn't lose his sight. it was scary as hell and his delay in treatment (that's his MO.) led to post herpetic neuralgia. mother's was clearly stress related and my father and her were both forced into different hospital concurrently for his knee replacement and the discovery that the margins in her first surgery were not enough to condemn the other cellular abnormalities and that she would face a second operation before radiation. no chemo, thank god. but, with them in her underarm all the time her shingles were diagnosed before the tingling had even taken full hold.

with shingles that reoccur and your obvious sensitivity of the condition, and the back up anti- virals, it's still awful, but you sound prepared. this is why you're not freaking out like i am. and i'm glad. shingles scares me so badly. i hope it's short and well ass kicked soon. i just wasn't thinking about the long term effects of an auto immune disorder in that capacity. stress, in both cases of my parents' outbreaks was the number one culprit.

jan, it's massage, meditation lavender bath salt time, babe. it's you time. family is love, is a rock, but you can't tie the rock around your leg and sink. you need self love. JAN time. imo, this is a serious case of too much selflessness and not enough self care.

wanna come to hot ass texas and have some saunas, massages and free meditation?

just like you are in this group, you're a giver.

you need a taking and a taking vacation. i'm a really prideful bitch, but jan.... people need you and you can't help them if you don't diligently help yourself.

there's your lecture. the end. think about it. i'd love a house guest. we're a really granola town. i want you to have a break and that sounds like what you need more than anything.

not thrilled.... want to do more... feel helpless you, superwoman. quit it. you minimize everything jan. do you realize that? i'm serious. you do. i'm a proud and once independent woman. i do it too, but if you can't get a break enough to heal....

guess what happens.... the same thing.

hurting for you, with you, jan.

ps if you trust me, would you please dump this out in a pm. i know family stuff. please open up to me. i'm sick you you not validating yourself. you're worth the work, the truth and you deserve to have a safe place to talk. please write me, just a little.

It most definately does, i think stress makes us tense up, even if we dont realise it. Calm mind, calm body i always say to myself. After the event thats stressed you, be kind to yourself, treat yourself to something naughty, ( chocs or something) i mean! lol, love susie x