Getting “old people” health problems
Posted by Humble_Cactus@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 37 comments
45M Currently experiencing my first and very hopefully only bout with shingles. It’s pretty fucking awful.
I had mild chicken pox as a kid, and even a varicella booster when I enlisted in the Army. Never gave it much thought, but I guess age catches us all.
I know the virus is the same virus as chickenpox, and stays dormant in the spinal nerve roots, and is triggered by stress or illness.
I’ve been doing more high-intensity trail running and strength training in the past few months, and I guess work has been a little more challenging. I also havent felt super great in the past week, and I finished a 6mile pre-work run on Wednesday AM. On my way to work I noticed my lower back and right hip/flank were really sore, but wrote it off, maybe a hip pack rubbing?
Well, soon came the burning nerve pain, the blisters and the sensitivity to touch. It’s right at my waist, where my pants sit, so unless I wear them as high as Steve Urkel, or as low as Christina Aguilera, it feels like road rash on top of a sun burn on top of a bruise, in a 6” wide stripe from my spine to the front of my leg.
That’s it. I just wanted to complain. Thanks for listening. I hope this never happens to you.
blood_bones_hearts@reddit
My sister and daughter have both had flares and it's miserable.
Sis had chicken pox the good old fashioned way by our parents making sure we all got infected as kids. Shingles got her when she was pregnant so that was a lot of fun for her.
My daughter did have the vaccine but anti-vax neighbor invited her over to play and didn't tell me her kids had chicken pox until afterwards (she definitely knew at the time of the playdate). We think she got a really mild case we didn't notice and then got shingles on her hand and up her arm at 14.
Plus don't forget how covid is depressing people's immune systems and a lot of old viruses are making themselves known again by taking advantage of that. I'll honestly never understand how people train and grind and watch their health except for covid. But we live in a world of bad information so....🤷🏼♀️
Our parents didn't know better when they were purposely giving us chicken pox and I worry what the fallout for today's kids will be with covid. 🫣
On_my_last_spoon@reddit
Go to the doctor! There are medications for this to lessen the symptoms and length of illness!!!
Humble_Cactus@reddit (OP)
Unfortunately, my PCP says the antivirals are only effective in the first 48 hours after symptoms present. So, the window kinda closed on Thursday night/ yesterday morning. I wasn’t even sure what was going on until Thursday night when I brought up the pain and rash to my NP wife, and as soon as I said all my symptoms out loud, I went “oh, hell…this is shingles”. (I’m in healthcare too)
On_my_last_spoon@reddit
Oh no!!!!
Deep-Ad4351@reddit
I know if you’re immunocompromised/had cancer they will give it to you. My doctor insisted I get the vaccine last year and I just got my second shot back in July/August.
rinky79@reddit
Thanks to a lifetime of sports, I now have "moderate to severe" narrowing of the L4/L5 foramin, the space where the nerve root comes out of the spinal cord. My right leg is tingly most of the time and every morning starts with 20 minutes of excruciating pain. The orthopedist who introduced himself by assuring me that they prefer to avoid back surgery if at all possible, is going to try a steroid shot but after seeing my MRI results, recommended at least consulting with a neurosurgeon right away. Outstanding.
Adventurous_Pin_344@reddit
I literally have NEVER heard anyone say "I had shingles, and it wasn't so bad." EVERYONE says it's absolutely miserable. I am going to do everything in my power to avoid it. Hopefully I can get vaccinated before I get it!!
Humble_Cactus@reddit (OP)
I definitely have one of the milder cases, but it’s still really un-fun. The worst part is that literally nothing eases the symptoms. Not pain meds, not heat, not ice…not even whiskey. It’s exhausting to just “hurt” all the time.
Spartan04@reddit
I really wish they'd change the shingles vaccine guidance for those of us that are still under 50 but are old enough to have had chicken pox due to the varicella vaccine not being available yet when we were kids.
I hate that I have this time bomb of a virus in me and it's a race between whether it becomes active again or I get to 50 and get vaccinated first.
Funny enough when I recently booked a vaccine appointment at the pharmacy for some other vaccines the system asked if I wanted a shingles vaccine even though it knew my age. I know that they're recommended for people under 50 that are imunocompromised, which I am not, but I did consider adding it to see if they'd give it to me anyway.
unlovelyladybartleby@reddit
I asked my doctor and they prescribed it. It was easy and I got it when I went for my measles and TDAP booster
Humble_Cactus@reddit (OP)
One of the joys of being a xennial- too old for the 1995 approval of the chickenpox vaccine, but too young for the shingles vaccine. Ugh.
JollyJeanGiant83@reddit
Yeah I've heard stories about shingles that scare the hell out of me. I will gladly take the vaccine the moment I'm allowed to.
maggie320@reddit
I saw my poor mother go through it. They first thought it was MRSA. The only thing that helped east the pain for her at first was Capsaicin rub believe it or not.
Humble_Cactus@reddit (OP)
I’m absolutely certain that shingles was the final straw for my grandmother’s passing in 2011. She was in her 80’s, and had a syncopal episode (low BP, passed out and fell) and a mild heart issue. The stress of recovery flared up shingles along her ribs, and since it hurt to breathe or move, she got pneumonia. She went from going to church, to her memorial service in that church in 3 weeks.
wisdomseeker42@reddit
How miserable. I have actually asked my doctor to give me the shingles vaccine because it seems I get all the outlier stuff like this, and she said I am too young. My life is concerningly stressful. I really hope you recover soon and it doesn’t get worse. Pretty sure we were supposed to feel young forever…
poptartsandmascara@reddit
I’ve done the same. I begged for the vaccine after two bouts of shingles. Doc says you have to be 50. I have plans to celebrate my 50th at the pharmacy getting the shot lol
Large-Inspection-487@reddit
Yesssss. Me too girlie. I got shingles at 18 and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
_HickeryDickery_@reddit
It’s only a matter of time before they lower the age for the shingles vaccine because none of us are getting natural immunity boosts from being around children who have chickenpox anymore because all of the kids are getting the chickenpox vaccine now so now we’re going to start seeing more people in their 30s and 40s getting shingles outbreaks.
Humble_Cactus@reddit (OP)
One of the joys of being a xennial- too old for the 1995 approval of the vaccine, but too young for the shingles vaccine.
poopy_poophead@reddit
I had a heart attack and got a stent in my heart. I am a 47 year old, 180lbs dude in not terrible shape, but not great shape. I considered myself to be in ok health.
I was just stressed and depressed and shit. I have had my weird mid-life crisis since then where i have recalibrated my life, quit my job and have started focusing on being content instead of trying to run the rat race.
I just ate a steak and had a few beers and now im gonna go home and do some crochet and watch a movie or something, then goto bed. I am 100x happier now than ive ever been.
Humble_Cactus@reddit (OP)
I feel you. My wife and I have good jobs (physical therapist and nurse practitioner), so we can be pretty flexible. As soon as our teenage boys are out of the house, we’re going part-time, or taking intermittent contract jobs. We’ve talked very very seriously about moving to a tiny coastal Oregon town, or a territory like the Virgin Islands or Guam.
slappy_mcslapenstein@reddit
GERD is the bane of my existence lately. I take omeprazole every day and just purchased a wedge pillow for the bed. Fucking heart burn is no joke when it wakes you up in the middle of the night.
NoContextCarl@reddit
In my early 30s I started noticing this intermittent small red patch right on my tailbone. Burned, itched like hell. Flared up maybe once or twice every year or two. Ending up being shingles.
So you can get it fairly young, or be one of lucky ones and never get it at all. I'm not even technically old enough for a shingles shot but I do a maintenance dose of Valtrex and it hasn't flared in forever.
ParticularYak4401@reddit
I had it 10 years ago in my late 30s. I know I can’t get the vaccine but they just need to lower the age for getting it. I would think that if we had chicken pox as kids we should be able to get the shingles vaccine in our 40s. Ironic that they are now recommending colonoscopies in your early 40s but not yet the shingles vaccine.
d-wail@reddit
This is a time for a good dress! Seriously though, I hope you feel better soon, shingles are terrible.
Humble_Cactus@reddit (OP)
Damn cultural norms. If dudes could wear dresses and not be judged, I’d 100% be in.
ttw81@reddit
I got it my early 30s. It's hellish.
Worth_Concert_2169@reddit
My 43 year old spouse got it this summer. I didn’t even know it was possible to get it before we were 70. I hope you heal quickly.
username_Kelly@reddit
My friend got it at 38. Ten years later, her back still has spots that feel like they’re on fire.
glueb@reddit
Got shingles at 32, I'm 44 now. A coworker got it recently (also in his 30s) so I went and paid out of pocket for the vaccine. I don't want to go through that again. The pharmacist gave me crap about it because I'm under the recommended age. I think they need to lower the age.
SilentSerel@reddit
My friend got it at 38. They definitely need to lower the age.
Dry-Broccoli3096@reddit
I’m lazing around today because I got my (first dose) shingles and pneumonia vaccines yesterday; I’m soon to be 46 but immunocompromised due to RA treatment. Not super fun (shingles arm is especially sore) but I’ve had both illnesses and don’t want them again. I had shingles over 2 years ago, mild case, got on antivirals right away which is key as others have suggested.
abermel01@reddit
I have witnessed shingles first-hand and dread it like the plague because it is horrible. Sending wishes for a quick recovery your way ❤️ Please check in with your loved ones as you work through this illness. Don’t let anyone downplay how bad shingles pain is - ever. I’m not trying to sound overbearing or dramatic but the possible long term pain caused by shingles is associated with an increase in suicide risk. However you feel about the pain you are in - IT IS VALID! I’m sure you aren’t going to end up trying to unalive yourself but it’s always a good idea to make sure you have a support system in place when you’re dealing with serious illness 🫂
No_repeating_ever@reddit
I had it in 2023, right before my oldest graduated high school. I was still 41. Absolutely miserable.
Jolly-Persimmon-7775@reddit
Had it earlier this year too. 44f. Ice packs will be your best friend for awhile.
ChristyFarmer@reddit
I had shingles right at the beginning of the pandemic. Felt like I cracked a rib. Definitely getting the vaccine as soon as I’m able to. Don’t want to go through that again.
tardis_smash@reddit
I had shingles at age 45, earlier this year. If you're already taking them and it's not too late, call your doctor and get on antivirals ASAP. My shingles experience sucked but was mild (especially compared to some of the shingles horror stories you read on here), likely due to starting antivirals the moment I was diagnosed. I don't have any residual nerve pain, for which I'm incredibly grateful.