Wow I can't believe that it has been almost three years since I created this blog when I had shingles and I am still getting views and comments! Well I was very fortunate that my shingles did not leave any permanent damage (no postherpatic neuralgia or obvious scarring). The doctors told me that picking at the blisters would cause scarring, and I kind of picked at them, but not much scarring is left after almost three years. I've attached a photo of where my blisters used to be..you may not be able to tell where they once where! Anyways, I hope this blog serves useful to those with shingles and trying to see a "mild" case of them on a "younger" person. I remember googling shingles and finding pictures of shingles on older people and to much severe degrees.

Well Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!!!!

Shingles scars

I am so relieved and grateful that I don't have severe postherpatic neuralgia from my bout with shingles about two months ago. I think I'm fully recovered! I don't have any discomfort in the spots where I had blisters, BUT I have been noticing discomfort in my left armpit. This is the same discomfort I felt when I had my blisters. My lymph nodes aren't noticeably swollen. The pain only noticeably occurs when I am stressed out. The semester is ending so lab reports and exams have been keeping me busy. Maybe it's nerve damage? It's a possibility. I've asked a few people and they don't really know...Well here are some pics of my scars. I remember being told that shingles doesn't leave scars if I let them heal properly. As hard as it was, I resisted popping most of my blisters. I still have scars and they look like they'll be there for a while. I'm really fortunate this isn't on my face nor anywhere really visible. Yahhhhhh...I'm so glad I don't have those monsters on my skin. My heart goes out to anyone who battle shingles long term or widespread. I had a small, mild case that cleared up fairly quickly and it feels like it took over my life--a mere fraction of what others deal with.

I still have that band where the tape was at. That band is slowly going away.

about two weeks ago:

about 10 minutes ago:

getting sick?

I think I am getting sick!!!!!! I've noticed at night when I go to bed and in the mornings when I wake up that my ulva and/or soft palate is sore. My left ear feels funny........... I CANNOT afford to get sick this week!!! My immune system must really suck. I don't even want to imagine how easily I will get sick when I'm older. I had the flu a few months ago, shingles a few weeks ago, and now I'm coming down with a sore throat and possible ear ache. I thought I was a pretty healthy 21 year old. I exercise regularly (well not the past month because of shingles), but my sleeping habits are horrible. I really need to set my circadian rhythm to 24 hours. I take my DAT...oh gosh. If I don't do too well then I will be even more stressed!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want to think about that. more studying.


FYI PHN sucks
tootles

Day ?

No more shingles. No more nasty blisters! I do have PHN, but I'll take that than having those blisters.... I'm really lucky to not have a complicated case of this. I'll be posting less frequently. I hope whoever lands on this page finds the pictures useful so you'll know what to expect although it was pretty straightforward. Well tootles

Day 15: Contemplating going to the doctor

Sunday, Day 15: I had tiny red spots in my left armpit along with a dull pain the previous day. I planned on going to Solantic of MinuteClinic if my symptoms persisted when I woke up on Sunday. I couldn't tell immediately when I woke up so I decided to wait until the afternoon. After looking up the prices online, I decided to just wait until Monday and go to school for free. Luckily the pain didn't increase nor was it noticeable. No needle like pain, just a lot of itchiness at the Momma cluster and around it. My back cluster does not bother me whatsoever. Neither does my belly button cluster. Sometimes when I'm sitting the bottom of my spine will get sore. This may be from slouching, but one good thing I got out of shingles is good posture. It was less painful when I sat up straight so I sat with good posture for about two weeks. Now I'm trying to keep it up. 

Day 14:....uh oh

Yesterday I took finished my antiviral. I thought my shingles were gone, but I don't know. My skin has been feeling tingly all day...ughhhhhhh. I also have very little pain in my left armpit. I also went swimming this morning. 

Right after I went swimming I took at shower. While taking a shower I noticed a burning sensation in my left armpit. It went away and I didn't notice it throughout the day, but I notice it now. It doesn't hurt when I press it and I don't feel my lypmph node swollen, but then again I didn't feel my lymph node swollen when my shingles were in its prime. 

Well throughout the day I noticed that my skin is tingly. Maybe because I had antivirals in my system every 5 hours, my shingles was significantly suprressed. Now that I don't have any medicine, maybe the virus is still active. I'm going to the doctor on Monday! ughhhhhhh! I hope I don't have it again =[ 

Day 13: No more shingles

So Day 13 was basically the same as the day before. No pain and no itchiness. Scabs are all off except for a tiny one lol. The skin is acutally not "raw" as it looks. It's actually pretty hard compared to the surrounding skin. I hope I don't scar!