Here I am about to go on vacation again and some freak health incident happens to me, once again.
I have shingles.
I had the chicken pox when I was two years old, thanks to a friend at gymnastics.
I knew shingles was a thing that typically old people get, and I NEVER suspected I would get it because I am a young healthy person.
Truth is, one in three get shingles in their lifetime and it is more common in elderly but does develop in young people as well. Usually it manifests itself when your body is under some degree of physical or emotional stress.
Am I stressed? Typically I like to think of myself as a care-free person, but I do get stressed. I am in the first six months of my first job as a registered nurse, I was working over a month of night shifts and then suddenly switched to days, and I recently applied to graduate school which stressed me out for some reason. So I guess I am, but I didn't feel too bad.
It all started on a Sunday, I had a headache and a stiff neck. I was finding it really hard to sleep because of my recent night to day business. Then on Monday, I was at work. I finally got my period, it was almost a week late. My right breast hurt so bad. My back hurt right by my right shoulder blade. I thought I had an infected cyst or something in my breast... I had a headache. I didn't feel terrible but I didn't feel good.
On Tuesday I had off work, I felt SO tired... I remember saying to my boyfriend "I don't know why I am so tired". My back still hurt, and I was getting a red bump. I felt like I was getting a cold or something.
Then on Wednesday I was at work, my back hurt on another level. It felt like I had gotten bit by a narly spider or something. I had some of my co-workers look at my back. I had a quarter size rash. I was nauseous, dizzy, itchy, and in pain. I was taking ibuprofen like crazy. My right arm was starting to go numb. My back pain was radiating around my shoulder blade. I looked up shingles, and BAM I knew I had it. I left work early at 6 PM and went straight to MedExpess. The PA looked at my back for 2 seconds and said "Yeah, you have shingles". She talked to me about postherpetic neuralgia, in hopes we were treating this early enough. She gave me Valtrex. I started it that night, thank god I went to the doctor ASAP.
I had off work Thursday and Friday. I didn't feel sick, but I was in pain. I was taking ibuprofen around the clock. Friday my pain started to spread. The original site was growing. I noticed a new cluster by my right breast. My back clusters were getting raised and bubbly. My right arm felt like I had hit my funny bone and it would not stop. My back felt like I had been stung my a bee. My right breast was numb.
I decided to call off work Saturday and Sunday.
Today is Saturday, I felt like shit. I am dizzy and nauseas. I took Zofran, you know it's serious when I take Zofran. I was in line to get a smoothie and thought I was going to faint. I was getting hot, my vision was blurring. I thought to myself "oh god these teenagers are going to have to call the paramedics" lmao. My right arm, breast, arm pit, back, butt cheek, and inner thigh are now all feeling this "icy hot" burning sensation. It feels like I jumped into a pool after being in a hot tub. I am still itchy where the clusters are.
The PA told me I would feel better by the time I leave for vacation on Wednesday. I feel like it's getting worse. I still have another day off work. I work Monday and Tuesday before I leave, hopefully I feel okay.
Has anyone else had shingles at such a young age?
Update: I went on vacation. On Wednesday and Thursday my pain was the worst it was EVER. Excruciating. Still, I didn't feel "sick" I just felt in pain! Thankfully from Friday on my trip was seamless. I still get little twinges and the bumps are still noticeable but I feel 99.99999% healed.