I don't know if what the nurse told you was 100% true. I had a horrible case of chicken pox at the age of 8 (it ruined my summer) and my XH says his was mild. Yet our first outbreak of shingles was horrible in both cases.
I had been talking to my doctor about getting the vaccine, which they won't administer until the age of 50. BTW, I understood that it was a crap shoot and an expensive shot. And I broke out with it the weekend I turned 50. Once you get it, the vaccine is useless.
One thing for you, since you've not had shingles. If you are able (and IF you come down with them), once the outbreak happens get to the doctor post haste and ask for antivirals. They lessen the severity of the outbreak, but are only good if you get them early into the process. I have horrible reactions to them (they consider an allergy or a resistance), so I can't take them. God help me if I get ebola or the like.
I insisted on spending the first week at home to hang around in fleece. I happen to love it too. Only it wasn't fun, and it came at a horrible time at work.
Here's to a shingle free life for all of us!
And Job... I was horribly cranky myself with both cases. It is, bar none, the most painful condition. It feels like a severe case of rug burn on the inside of your skin and the outside. You can't get even comfortable, let alone neutral. Sleep was my only escape, if temporary. I'm just grateful the entire episode lasted 6 weeks. My XH's lasted 3 months. And a former late priest friend had it for more than 6 months (on his face, no less). UGH!!!
Good luck, and happy birthday for real today!
Betsey
p.s. There really is no place like home, eh?
"There are only 2 ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
