No, not these shingles (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Nearly everyone around me is coughing, hacking, coping with runny noses and sore throats, battling the flu or a stomach bug.
And where once I would have been a lemming for fear of standing out, these days, I am my own person.
And it seems I have shingles.
Not the kind on the roof, although we have those too. I mean the virus resulting from the reactivation of the chicken pox virus that plagued me many years ago. (I still have the scars from where I didn’t listen to Mom’s instructions about not scratching.)
I’m lucky; it’s a pretty mild case centered around my right hip and lower back. It’s causing some discomfort and a little hitch in my walk, but I figure if I wear the right heels, no one will be the wiser.
I’m not contagious and while I should keep a lid on too much exertion, the doctor says, I can go about my normal activities while the virus runs its course. I just need to listen to my body, make sure I rest when I need to, eat right and all that other good stuff I keep trying to be better about.
I was more than a little disappointed that she didn’t prescribe chocolate, but what can you do?
Perusing the web (I shouldn’t, I know), I was struck by two sobering bits of information: A great deal of information about shingles is found on senior health sites (sigh) and they all agree that stress triggers it.
Stress? What stress?
Pushing on a Rope 
So sorry to hear about your shingles. I have hear they can be very painful. Feel better soon. I believe ice cream would be a good cure (served to you of course)
Posted by Jacquie | January 23, 2013, 10:31 pmOf course! You coming down to scoop?!
Posted by Terri S. Vanech | January 24, 2013, 7:14 amShingles is the pits but does eventually. Only problem is that it can recur 😦
Posted by Roly | January 23, 2013, 4:33 amSo I’ve been told. Gotta just roll with the punches. Thanks for reading — I enjoy your posts, too!
Posted by Terri S. Vanech | January 23, 2013, 6:53 amI had shingles about 10 years ago, and Bill had them in his late 30s. And they are contagious!! I gave Jonah the chicken pox, as he reminds me periodically. I didn’t realize what they were for the first day — thought it was sunburn on my upper arm and shoulder. He was living with us, and next thing I knew, he was sick. We were a charming pair! And chocolate will make you feel better!!
Posted by Karen Waggoner | January 22, 2013, 8:37 pm🙂
Posted by Terri S. Vanech | January 23, 2013, 6:53 amFeel Better!!!
Posted by Mike Colaluca | January 22, 2013, 8:16 pmThanks, Mike!
Posted by Terri S. Vanech | January 22, 2013, 8:38 pmAw, poor baby. Hope you recover quickly. I hear ya on the chocolate. That would’ve been a nice prescription. Unfortunately, it only cures other ills. Like the moody blues!
Posted by Anka | January 22, 2013, 6:21 pmI’ve used it for that purpose many times! Thanks for the good wishes.
Posted by Terri S. Vanech | January 22, 2013, 8:38 pmShingles sure seems to be going around – even among the younger set like you. Sounds like you’re handling it well and I’m glad to hear that. As for chocolate – I’m all for self-medicating. 😉 Reia from http://www.southcountrysides.blogspot.com
Posted by reiadm | January 22, 2013, 5:53 pmOh, Reia, I self-medicate. A lot!!! The dark chocolate has all those antioxidants, after all!
Posted by Terri S. Vanech | January 23, 2013, 6:56 am