Shingles (Not the house variety)

The last few days we spent in Ann Arbor, I could tell that I had quite an ache both on my back and my front. I thought I had pulled a muscle or something but could not seem to get any relief and decided that in time it would go away. About the last day we were there I could feel some bumps under the skin in the sore areas and thought, "Oh no, I have or am getting shingles." When we got to Fayetteville the first thing I said to mom after we got the car unloaded was that I thought I had shingles and did they have an urgent care nearby. HW2 found one in the phone book and we went over there. My early diagnosis was correct, I have Shingles. They now have an antiviral pill that you can take for a week and with a strong anti -inflammatory can control the flare-up.

Shingles occur because you have chicken pox as a child and the virus remains dormant in your body for the rest of your life and in people over 60 about half of the time, result in a case of shingles. It is not particularly infectious to others which is good news. It is painful though and I was glad to get the proscribed medicine and resulting relief.

About 6-7 years ago I participated in a blind study sponsored by the government to see if a vaccine could be developed to prevent shingles. Half of us were given a placebo and the other half a vaccine. We had to call in monthly for the next five years to relate if we had shingles. I now believe that I was in the placebo group. It was fun to participate in a study that could potentially help others. I believe that a vaccine is now available to prevent shingles and encourage anyone over 60 that had chicken pox as a child to get the vaccine.

I have wondered why the name for this disease since it brings to mind shingles for the roof or siding of a house. Anyone out there know why?