Shingles...and I Don't Mean on a Roof

After days of pain I decided to go to urgent care and discovered that I have shingles! Since returning from Boston the pain has gradually gotten worse and over the weekend I developed a rash on my neck and left shoulder. Thinking it was some weird poison ivy (that hurt!) I tried to deal with it. How long could it possibly last? Finally yesterday I could take no more! The doctor told me had I come in a few days earlier he could have given me some medication to help with the rash, pretty much shorten the virus. Go figure! So now I am riding it out. He prescribed me vicodin which really helped me sleep. I'm not sure if it was the medicine or maybe I am healing but I didn't wake up as stiff as I have the past few mornings.

The reason shingles appear is unclear, possible cause is a weak immune system. The doctor asked me if I had been under a lot of stress lately and I just laughed! Let's see, I'm a teacher who is off for the summer and I just got back from a lovely vacation in Massachusetts. If the doctor considers deciding what book to read next, what time I'm going to go to the pool/shopping, and what time I'm going to wake up in the morning stressful, then YES I'm under a lot of stress! In fact, Tom said this is the least stressful he's seen me. I guess this virus was just waiting to rear it's ugly head!