Diagnosis Shingles = Too Much Stress!
I pride myself on walking the walk, not only talking the talk when it comes to being healthy. So it was quite the bombshell to find out I had shingles last week. It’s not that shingles is a chronic disease or something fatal (in most people, at least), but it’s more the realization that when pushes comes to shove, I wasn’t taking care of myself on ALL fronts, only on some.
Healthy eater? Definitely. I go out of my way to buy and prepare fresh, whole foods that support my body. Exercise? Yes, that too, although recently my knee’s been bothering me from a few too many Step classes. Sufficient sleep and stress management? Well…that’s where things seem to break down.
If you’re not familiar with shingles, it’s a manifestation of the chicken pox virus that so many of us had as children. The virus stays in your system and can rear it’s ugly head during periods of emotional and physical stress. Older people with weakened immune systems are especially susceptible, so I didn’t really have a reason to think I might be at risk. But the reality is that any of us, regardless of age, can be candidates if we’re not taking proper care of ourselves in all aspects of our life.
In my case, I have to attribute it to my non-stop work hours, logging 50-60 per week. And to be honest, it didn’t seem over the top at the time because I love what I do and I’m so passionate about working with my clients and all my related activities, that it seemed pretty normal. After all, isn’t that what entrepreneurs do?
But by body thought otherwise in a big way. What started as a stiff neck and then a rash morphed into an immune system breakdown and a big ‘ol message clear as day: SLOW DOWN NOW. Not next week or even next month, NOW. And you know what? This little wake up call is a welcome relief — I’d rather have some pain and discomfort now if it means I can avoid a more serious ailment with long term effects later on.
The good news is that I have a relatively mild case of shingles and I’m grateful to not be experiencing the retched pain so many people do. But my concept of resting — a few days off before resuming my normal activities at full speed ahead — just isn’t going to work this time. I’ve had to scale back my activities and actually rest, for what will end up being a good 10 days – what a concept!
I always say that so much of great health is a combination of prevention and turning our radar ON to tune into our bodies (which, by the way, I’ll take a little credit for because I did go to the doctor right away and that means we caught it early). What a powerful lesson for me in the need to take better care of myself on all levels now, and too examine some areas where I need to make changes.
What about you, have you mastered self-care in all areas of your life? What areas could use a little review and tweak of your activities to practice true prevention? Please give it some thought and share your experiences. Let’s all practice better health together!
Filed under: Slowing Down, Tuning in
One lifestyle change that make a big difference is good sleep hygiene. As a busy person, it can be difficult to establish a consistent (and sufficient) sleep pattern. But it really affects my energy and stress level!
You are SO right about managing sleep and getting sufficient amounts. That’s definitely one area that i need to work on because I haven’t been making it enough of a priority.
Your comments and reinforcement are so helpful for me, Thanks!
Thanks for the tip. I’ll check it out, keep the great work up.
I’m suffering from a recurrence of shingles, so I’m hearing the message loud and clear again: REST! I, too, eat well and exercise, but I continue to push myself to achieve more. I’ve got to deal with not running on full throttle to achieve, but rather, concentrating on the most important activities of the day, and leaving the rest for tomorrow. That’s the hardest part of resting–feeling that I can’t produce as much, or God forbid, that I’m not living up to my potential. I’ve got to work smarter, not harder. What really needs to be accomplished today? What can be delegated? What can wait until tomorrow?
Wow! This article really spoke to me. I have been burning the candle at both ends for over a year now, and in June my body just decided enough was enough. I am very healthy – I eat right, I exercise 5 days per week and take care of my body. However I just have had too much on my plate. So in June, I was diagnosed with Mono (at 33 years old), rested (sort of) and got over that in August. Then I went right back to my old ways and then came down with Shingles last week. Apparently I didn’t hear my body’s first message loud and clear.
It is just so hard to retrain yourself to slow down, when you have been a full speed ahead girl your whole life! I don’t know what to do with downtime!!!!!
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Great article, Im 19 and got the shingles, with a very supportive and loving family to me it was a wake up call to take better care of myself. I was stressed about nothing wasnt exercising and eating out alot also the weather was depressing all the gloom and snow, I grew up on a tropical island so I was used to alot of sun. Anyways I believe that positive energy, exercise, and ALOT of fruit and Veges can cure shingles, it did for me, I still get a few pains every now and then but I see it as a reminder from God to take care and stop stressing! Extremly thankful not to have it worse like others.. Thank you for your article, very positive!
Chicken pox is one hell of a nasty disease, it ruined my flawless skin a couple of years ago..”.
Chicken pox is one hell of a nasty disease, it ruined my flawless skin a couple of years ago.;,`
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Thanks a million for sharing your experience. I share your experience in many ways. I eat well, exercise, have a generally positive attitude and have a very ambitious side to me. My job is very demanding, stressful and can often be very rewarding. I have had shingles for over a year now, they come and go, with severe localized pain and a few blisters from time to time. On many occasions I have left work an hour early, taken off for whole afternoons, gone into work late, because I am in so much discomfort. I have on occasion, taken a day off. This is demoralizing in some ways. I always feel bad for doing this, but feeling like crap forces me to rest. I really want to keep going but the reality is that I cannot. This last week I ended up getting a bunch of blisters, my period and this sore/itchy throat/ runny nose thing that was going around the office- all at once. I was a miserable mess. Went to see my doctor and he offered valtrex and pain drugs- vicadin. The vicadin really helped me get through the first day. I have used the vicadin at night so I can go to sleep. So far, I have taken three days off from work to recuperate. I feel guilty about staying home to rest. I know this guilt is toxic so I am trying to let go of the guilt. It’s very hard to do. Shingles is teaching me to slow down, listen to my body and to be humble (not in control). I need to learn to accept that I cannot do everything I want to do, and sometimes I have to do what needs to be done, even if that means resting/doing nothing, not being productive and resting. This is a learning experience for sure.
chicken pox is nasty, it can leave blisters on your skin.;;
Easier said than done
my first bout with shingles was in October 2010 when I was overwhelmed with work stress. I am 32 and an over-achiever. I want to help grow our program and offered to train out of town while simultaneously training in our home office. So now, 3 months later, I’ve started training in 3 locations simultaneously and have been feeling shingles symptoms again. At first, I thought it was just postherpetic neuralgia (which is pretty bad since my shingles was diagnosed too late) but today I see spots on my leg- same leg as last time, but different location. I plan to go to the Dr again tomorrow. If it is shingles I may quit my job. They promised to hire a trainer months ago and haven’t yet. I have 3 small children, I cannot live with this pain.
I was just diagnosed with shingles. A bad case of it too. It started out mild but keeps growing. For those with bad pain, I found a heating pad great help. I was told cold would help too, but I feel muscular pain so heat is what I am currently doing for my pain. For all those suffering, sending quick healing wishes to you all.
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