What I thought was a Spider Bite was Actually the Shingles

I am uncertain what the precise cause was that triggered the shingles virus within me, but it happened while I was attempting to conceive. When I first approached my physician about it, her initial question was, “Are you currently pregnant?” I responded with uncertainty, as I had not taken a pregnancy test at that point due to it being too early. Several days later, I discovered that, thankfully, I was not pregnant. Initially, I had suspected a spider bite and proceeded to apply alcohol to the cluster of bumps forming on my shoulder. As I examined the wound, the thought of shingles crossed my mind. Without hesitation, I immediately conducted a Google search for images of shingles, and I instantly recognized that it matched my symptoms. My physician later confirmed the diagnosis. This was quite a shock as I am in my 30s, and it’s not common for someone in their 30s to get shingles. Fortunately, I was able to receive medication promptly, preventing the spread of the infection. My physician informed me that catching shingles within 48 to 72 hours greatly increases the chances of preventing its further dissemination.

According to Healthline.com, shingles can happen to younger people when they’re under a ton of stress, or if their immune system isn’t in top shape. Anyone whose had chickenpox will have a sneaky virus called Varicella zoster virus (VZV) hanging out in their nerve cells. It’s just buying it’s time until it decides to make a grand entrance. The good news is that shingles usually isn’t as harsh in younger people compared to people who are over 60. So if you do end up getting shingles while in your 30s, it’s less likely to spread like wildfire.