I am uncertain as to what the precise cause was that triggered the shingles virus within me. 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.
I immediately conducted a Google search for images of shingles. I instantly recognized that it matched my symptoms of the Shingles in my 30s. 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 the Shingles. Fortunately, I was able to receive medication promptly. This prevented 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. It can also occur if their immune system isn’t in top shape. Anyone who has had chickenpox will have a sneaky virus called Varicella zoster virus (VZV) hanging out in their nerve cells. It’s just biding its 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 in your 30s, it’s less likely to spread like wildfire.
Symptoms
The first symptoms I experienced was severe itching. The itching never ceased in the beginning. Once the bumps started to blister, the itching changed to burning. The blisters burned like fire. It hurt so bad that I had to place ice or something cold on the infected areas. The burning also made it hard to sleep, so I really didn’t sleep well during this time. Shingles was hard to deal with because it is painful. I would recommend to speak with your physician about what is safe, (such as creams) to place onto the infected area to ease the burning sensation.
Vaccine for Shingles
The vaccine for Shingles is currently known as the Zoster vaccine (Shingrix). Only two doses of this vaccine is recommended to fully protect you. I asked my Physician about receiving the vaccine, but by the time she physically saw me again my shingles had healed. She informed me that because I was so young, that the virus wouldn’t hurt me as much right now. Due to only two doses of the vaccine being allowed, she didn’t want to jeopardize me getting the vaccine so soon in case the shingles came back when I reach a more advanced age. She felt that I may need the vaccine(s) at an elder age if the virus returns, and felt that I should hold off on the vaccine for now. After speaking with her to get her insight, I agreed with the decision. The vaccine is more effective in individuals over the age of 50.