Tired Of The Coronavirus? Let Me Tell You Why I’m Quarantined.

Vaccines aren’t just about measles, you cute little anti-vaxers, you. Or do you want to play Russian Roulette with Shingles?

I’ve seen beautiful shingles in my life. I think my favorites are fishgill shingles on old Victorians up in Mendocino. The variety of decorative shingling ideas can help you while away many hours on Pinterest.

Especially if you are quarantined in your house, with a case of the shingles.

I’m about to tell you my sad story with this virus as a cautionary tale, in case you had a bout of chickenpox in your past, and have neglected to receive the two-part shingles vaccine.

I vividly recall my chickenpox ordeal. Or, I should say I remember the aftermath. I have unusually good recall for events in my childhood, but I only remember coming out of the fever-induced coma when I was four years old or so when my brother Frank told me I had the pox.

Several days were lost to me when I was so sick I was delirious, so I don’t recall the lesions or other symptoms.

Frank sat on the bed when I woke up and teased me about exercising my legs because I hadn’t walked for a week. He was my buddy, back then, twelve years older and always making me laugh.

Fast forward sixty-some years, news of a vaccine for shingles circulated in the news. This was around 2008, and I was a prime candidate for shingles. It’s the same virus that causes chickenpox. That disease isn’t cured, exactly. It runs its course and then goes dormant. For years and years and years.

Shingles can raise its ugly head at any time, but most cases occur after the age of fifty.

According to my doctor, no one knows why it surfaces or what causes an outbreak. You just wake up one day with the miseries.

So when I heard of the vaccine, I rushed to my doctor and got the shot. I’d seen co-workers suffering from an outbreak of shingles, or rather heard about it after they were able to return to work. Every account of shingles came with details of the misery of pain and itching, and more pain. Much more pain.

When I got my shot, I believed I had dodged a bullet.

Years later, a newer and better vaccine came on the market, a two-step affair. The best advice was to get the vaccine, even if you’d had the first shot.

I dragged my feet, maybe because it was expensive, though I didn’t go to the trouble of finding out if my insurance covered it. It was always on my to-do list, like sorting all my old photos. One of these days, I’d get around to it. I wasn’t scared of shingles. I’d had the first shot, after all.

And then, last week, I had this itchy spot on my torso. I thought it was related to a mole I’d had removed. It was redder the next day, Friday, so I decided on Monday I’d call the dermatologist.

Saturday, I woke up with spots. Itchy. Red. I had an actual rash. Clearly, not from the mole thing. My daughter suggested shingles, but I dismissed that idea, but looked on the Internet, just in case.

OMFG. That’s what it was, so I canceled everything for the day. I’m usually a shut-in, but I had a meeting with my writing group and a party that night. Great timing. Instead, I hightailed it to the ER.

Shingles.

I was given two anti-viral pills on the spot and a prescription for a week’s worth. See my primary care doctor if the pain got bad enough to require narcotics. WTF?

And come back if it gets worse. Wait, I’m taking medication.

It seems shingles are unpredictable, as this virus goes.

Maybe the meds will work, maybe they won’t. Maybe I’ll get worse, maybe this is contained because I had the previous shot.

My Medicare will take a huge hit for the advice that boils down to: Who knows?

I seem to have a mild dose of it. I haven’t had to ask for pain meds or use Benedryl or lotion for the itching. I found a silky top in my closet that’s loose enough not to bind my skin and doesn’t irritate the spot when it touches. I had to go out to vote and that was hard. Clothes are painful against my skin.

Other than that, I’m contagious until it all dries up. So I’m ordering in and answering the door with gloves, though I wash my hands the few times I’ve been out in public.

I’m writing all this, not to ask for sympathy but as a warning.

As shingles attacks go, mine seems uncomfortable but mild, and very inconvenient. But I’ve taken it on as a mission to warn anyone suseptible to an attack to get the vaccine.

With all the stuff going around, do you need to play Russian roulette with something as miserable as shingles? I’ve had colds and flue, and I can tell you, this is worse.

My advice is to call your health professional and find out if you’re at risk. If you are, pony up the money — unless you have great insurance — and get the shots. You will have done a real solid for yourself.

I’m an editor and writer on Medium with Top Writer status in several categories. I’m also an editor for the publication, Rogues Gallery. I’ve published 55 titles on Amazon and edit for private clients. If you’d like to hire me as your editor for fiction, non-fiction, or business writing, please contact me here. If you’d like to read more of my work on Medium, click here to sign up for my newsletter. I’ll make sure you don’t miss a word. Thank you for reading.