Are you ready for this?
Now I have shingles. WTF? I have never even had the stupid chicken pox. So here I sit, home from work until I can get a doctor to say I am not contagious. I come into very close contact with about 150 people a day and for some reason, many of them like to hug me. Makes me wonder how many did I infect last week before I knew what was wrong. I really just thought I was having a rash from a new drug. SHIT!
Anyway, my affirmation from a couple journals ago about my Christmas spirit has changed. I just don't have it in me. I am not in the Christmas spirit and I have given up. Maybe next time.
Anyway, my affirmation from a couple journals ago about my Christmas spirit has changed. I just don't have it in me. I am not in the Christmas spirit and I have given up. Maybe next time.
Replies
Didn\'t think you could get shingles without having had the chicken pox....but what do I know. I had shingles when I was around 40 -- it was the most horrible thing ever. I couldn\'t move without being in excruciating pain for a couple of weeks. They have better medicine for it now, didn\'t have anything for viruses back then. You want to get to the doctor ASAP to get some viral medication.
Hope you are feeling better soon Colleen, you\'ve had it real rough.
Sending love, Terry
Good grief girl!!!
My SIL has them right now too. I don\'t know much about it other than she\'s in pain.
I\'m sorry you now have this crap to deal with. I don\'t blame you....I\'d cancel Christmas too!!!
Love you!
Found this info on line...
Shingles occurs when the virus that causes chickenpox starts up again in your body. After you get better from chickenpox, the virus \"sleeps\" (is dormant) in your nerve roots. In some people, it stays dormant forever. In others, the virus \"wakes up\" when disease, stress, or aging weakens the immune system. Some medicines may trigger the virus to wake up and cause a shingles rash. It is not clear why this happens. But after the virus becomes active again, it can only cause shingles, not chickenpox.
Go figure, stress can bring it on!
So Colleen, have you been under any stress lately???
My goodness!!!!
Oh Colleen, my heart goes out to you. I have heard shingles is very painful! I\'m so sorry. Love and the gentlest of hugs, Linda
It\'s very possible you had such a mild case of chicken pox you weren\'t aware of it...or you could have been very young...
Did ry put you on Zovirax to make it less?
So sorry dear friend
Marylou
Colleen, you cannot have shingles unless you have had chickenpox. If you don\'t recall having them, you probably had a very mild case that no one recognized as chickenpox. I have recurring shingles. You cannot give Shingles to another person. A person who has never had chickenpox can catch chickenpox from you, but not Shingles. And the person has to come into direct contact with the fluid from the blisters. Once all the blisters are crusted over, the contagious period is over. Mine occur on a part of my body that is covered with clothing, so I have never had to worry about infecting anyone else. I wouldn\'t worry too much about whether you infected anyone! Most people these days either have had the chickenpox or have had the vaccine. I do hope you feel better soon and can get your Christmas Spirit back. I love you!
Stress can really mess with the immune system. Perhaps you had a very mild case of chicken pox and didn\'t realize it. No matter, it is no fun to have Shingles! Wish I could be there to give you a big hug - Shingles or not.
All you can do is the best you can do over the holiday season.
Love and hugs, Marlene
What part of the body did you get the shingles? I had it on my face years ago. I thought I had a sinus infection.. I caught it in time for medication.. It could of made me go blind, if you get it on your face.... GEEEZZZZ Colleen WTF is right.... Take care of yourself, You have 8 months to get better for the Boston retreat!!!!!! Yipppeee! XOXO Kelly
Sending prayers, strength and kisses to you hoping you feel better soon!
Oh, Colleen... My step mother had them years ago and her case was so bad that even when the wind blew or sheets at night touched her skin it hurt terribly.
This just feels like a mountain of sorrow for you dear Colleen and it\'s too much for one set of shoulders to handle.
Hoping, praying, holding you tightly in my heart and prayers each and every day.
Love YOU and am SO SORRY!!!!!
Gentle hugs that won\'t hurt.
XO Joanie
Oh Colleen...I can\'t believe this. It is like you just get hit with so much more than the average person. It makes me wonder exactly what kind of super woman you are because there is no way a regular old person could survive all you have had to get through. Shingles????? Geez.....I hope there is medicine you can take and that this thing doesn\'t last long. I am sending you tight, tight hugs....Hold on, get better and come to Boston in August because our retreats would not be the same without you!!!! Love, Anne