So you may have already heard, but I got the Shingles a few weeks ago. It was pretty heinous, and I’m still not completely past all of the symptoms. It turns out that the Shingles is way more common in young adults than you might think. Which is weird, because doctors and insurance only offer the Shingles Vaccine to adults over age 50. Sometimes (MOST times) I don’t understand anything that the insurance world stands for — but that’s another post.
ETA: An awesome follower who also experienced Shingles, let me know that one of the reasons insurance and doctors won’t give the vaccine to adults under a certain age is because the vaccine has a shorter life to it than most other vaccines, meaning we’d have to get more frequent boosters as we get older. And as we get more boosters of the Shingles vaccine, they become less and less effective. While Shingles SUCKS at any age, it’s more dangerous in the elderly, so we really need to hold off to be vaccinated for as long as we can. Thank you to that follower for your feedback and sharing this important piece of information!
The Story.
Here’s what happened. My side was really hurting me for about 5 days, when I decided to book a massage (obviously). It just was super sore and felt like I really pulled a muscle. Then, one Sunday morning, I noticed one weird spot on my lower side. Me, being totally uneducated in the world of Shingles, I assumed it was a spider bite, and I went about my day. Then Adam came home from work (yes, on a Sunday), and I asked him to take a look. And when he looked he said, “Do you know it’s all over your stomach?!” You know, under the baby poochy fat part that you can’t see yourself?! LOL That was when I decided it was time to take a trip into the immediate care office.
I thought only old people get Shingles.
Not true! Apparently I had classic symptoms of Shingles. Muscle pain, tiredness and then the rash, of course. I mean, who knew that you get the Chicken Pox as a kid and it lies dormant in your body for so many years until you’re STRESSED (yup!), and then it can turn into Shingles!?
Thankfully, I caught it really early, so I was able to go on anti-viral medication to reduce the severity. But let me tell you…it ain’t no joke! Talk about itchy and painful x1000. It was a really rough week over here. I could barely walk, and it killed when either of the kids even pretended to touch my stomach.
What it could’ve been…
It could’ve been a much worse case than I got, but it would’ve been even worse if I gave my kids Chicken Pox because I didn’t get them vaccinated for Shingles. Wouldn’t that have been a terrible experience that could’ve been completely avoided?? I don’t often hop on my soap box over here, but I feel SO INCREDIBLY STRONGLY about vaccinating our children, that I just had to.
Call me controversial for opening Pandora’s Box for those anti-vaxxers out there, but I’m pretty sure most of you out there are on my team, you know, the team that wants to save our kids lives from totally preventable diseases. 😉
Anyways, I survived the Shingles, but #themoreyouknow, right? It’s pretty common, not just for old people, and you’re not immune if you’ve had the Chicken Pox. So vaccinate your kids people, de-stress and I pray that it doesn’t happen to you!
Shingle lady, signing off!
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BezH” Refuah Shleimah!!!! 🙏♥️
I was born with a very weak immune system and had the chicken pox three times as a kid.
Then when I was in my late twenties, as a new teacher in my first year in my own classroom I got the shingles… It was not fun and B”H I caught it early too!
Wow! I can’t imagine how HORRIBLE that must be. It’s because of people like you that it’s so important for us all to provide herd immunity for you. I’m so glad you caught it early and I hope you never get it again!