Shingles

A lot of people live with pain. I am fortunate that I have an illness from which I am recovering. There is nothing like the way I have been feeling to make me appreciate good health. In the past, I have heard about “shingles”. My son-in-law says it sounds like it should be the name of a sexually transmitted disease. But then again, I remember that my friend Fredda’s mother-in-law suffered with it as well as both of my parents and an elderly neighbor down the street.

I have an ugly red rash that spans my abdomen, left side, and lower back. It would be great if someone would release me from what feels like an elastic band tightening around my waist and grab what feels like a dagger jabbing into my stomach. After talking at length with my doctor as well as researching “shingles” on the Internet, I have an abundance of information. Those of us who had chicken pox as children still have this virus lurking in our systems. When we’re worn down or stressed, it can activate and attack a nerve path on one side of our bodies. Typically a burning rash appears along this route. I haven’t figured out where the name “shingles” comes from, but I do know that overwhelming exhaustion is part of this sickness and the way back to feeling good is lots of rest and strong anti-viral medication.

The cherry blossoms blooming pink and deep rose outside my bedroom window, the early sunshine in the morning, and the longer days are each beacons of spring. My grandson at 12 months old is running around my yard in his new brown high top shoes. I know I’m not contagious but I’m keeping my distance from him, because who really can be sure about how this disease is transmitted. He must be surprised that his grandma isn’t picking him up and squeezing him every two minutes. Maybe he’s just happy to be throwing a tennis ball to our dog and muddying his hands in our garden.

A benefit of slowing down is realizing that this life is too much of a whirlwind. It’s not terrible to learn to pick and choose the meetings and events that are critical to attend. After two weeks, the rash is finally retreating. I continue to pace myself but as I become stronger, I hope I won’t forget to savor the good moments and remember to appreciate the value of slowing down. It’s been a treat to have friends and relatives visit with good wishes, meals, flowers and chocolates. In some ways, it’s been a throw back to decades ago when neighbors did ring doorbells with soup and stews, ran errands for one another, and chatted at length over fences.