My Shingles Diary

Here are the events that lead up to me finally admitting that I had shingles and not a bacterial infection.

Event 1: Fun in the Sun

It was back to school shopping and we took a week long vacation on Oahu, Hawaii and stayed in Waikiki. Although I am a Native born, Hawaiian, I felt like playing tourist.

Yeah! I know there was fear of the H1N1 virus out there, amongst all those folk from the mainland, but what they hey. There is a vaccine and if we got sick, well, we'd just be sure to get the medicine.

Waikiki was fun. That was the first time I, being born and raised in Hawaii, actually went surfing at Waikiki Beach, renting an 8 foot board from the Beach Boy Surf tent for $10 an hour. My son, a 9 year old was hooked, he enjoyed it so much we went back there 3 days in a row.

So, that meant, I had to be there 3 days in a row in the hot sun.Okay, I thought, not bad, I've been in the sun longer than that before.

Event 2: Back to School, Not so Cool

So, as soon as we got back from our tiring vacation it was back to work. For me, it was at the school as a college adviser. Daily talking, visiting, and planning began a hectic week.

I was peeling from the sun exposure. I was fatigued from the sun exposure and late nights out on Oahu with family and friends.

Event 3: Walk With Me, Relay For Life All Nighter

Fatigued and tired, I pushed myself to the limit by participating in the local Relay For Life that very Friday. My husband and I was in charge of the electricals. So, we had to be there early to set up and in the end to breakdown.

Shared a watermelon with a friend. Didn't realize until 5 bites later that she had a cold sore on her lip. YIKES!

We had a blast. We were also in charge of the games from 2am to 3am that morning. It was fun.

But, my body was in for a rude awakening. The Saturday following the event I decided to stay up all that day and not rest or else I would feel yucky. I did. By 5pm, I was floored. I could not move.

Day 1: The Shingles Symptoms Begin

Sunday, after Relay I could hardly move. It was as if a freight train had run me over. I could hardly think. I was dreading Monday, when I would have to go back to work.

I didn't realize that I was being attacked by a virus. The shingles symptoms were starting to appear.

Day 2: Shingles Bump Appears

A raised bump is on the right side of my forehead. No big deal. It's just a pimple. I get those all the time with my oily skin.

Off to Work.

I feel weird. There is a slight tingling sensation on the right half of my face. Am I experiencing the beginning of a stroke? A small tender bump appears just below the bottom of my earlobe.

It must be another pimple.

Day 3: Shingles Bump Gets Larger

Interesting. The bump is bigger and I see no white head forming yet. Oh well, must just be a stubborn one.

The bump under my earlobe is getting larger also. What in the world?

And, the tingling feeling is all over the right side of my brain (scalp)

Day 4: This Does not Look Like a Pimple

I have a meeting with the staff. I cover my forehead with my hair as it looks so gross.

After luncheon with my Aunt I decide to go home to wash my face, it's so humid and I feel oily. Maybe that is why the pimple is getting larger.

Staring into the mirror I notice little bumps forming around the bigger bump. Oh my gosh! Are those pimples? What's happening to me. It looks gross. Very tiny black dots are in the center of these pimple looking bumps. But, I've been washing my face like I've always done. It must be infected.

Or, these may not be pimples at all.

I show a few people around work. One old woman says, "it might be shingles". What is shingles? I brush that off and say, nah it might be an infection.

Another middle aged woman says, "that almost looks like what I get when I get a cold sore on my lips". What? A cold sore on my forehead. How is that possible?

So, I send my husband to the drug store to purchase a cold sore treatment from SunMark. Good for cold sore/fever blister and topical antiseptic. I rub it over my sore as directed, it stings and pusses. Ouch!

Day 5: Shingles Virus Still Alive

The drug store over-the-counter antidote is no working. I really need to see a Doctor who is affordable since I do not have medical coverage.

I utilize HMSA online care service. I get a Dr. for $40 for 10 minutes. Click on the link below for more details about that service. The Dr. prescribes me an antibiotic since were having technical difficulties, the video is too grainy.

I utilize CEPHALEXIN, the Dr. thinks I have a bacterial infection and then he prescribes me a viral medication just in case it is shingles.

My husband picks up the antibiotic, but, does not want to purchase the viral medication because it's over $300 without insurance coverage.

I think, what the heck. I think the antibiotic will do. Besides, I don't have shingles. (I'm in denial) Find out more about HMSA Online Care Service.

Day 6: The Shingles is Spreading Fast

The next day I am wondering why my antibiotic is not working. The Shingles is now encompassing a large area of my forehead, crawling into my hairline and starting down my face into my eyebrow and I think it's going onto my eyelid.

My eyes are itching and tingling.

You can tell where the Shingles is going to appear because the area tingles and itches.

I need to get medical help fast. Luckily, I hear about a Dr. who charges $40 bucks for an office visit. I'm excited. He also has an appointment today at 11am. YES! Thank you God for hearing my pleas.

I see the Dr. and immediately he says, "you have shingles!" Oh crap. Is shingles an outbreak here? I saw the sign on the counter in the lobby about it. Another surprise. He has the medications, I don't have to pay the drug store $300 for them. He has them at an extremely large, large discount like $25 bucks. Enough for 5 days.

Thank you, thank you Doc. You don't even know how grateful I am. But, will it work?

Days 7, 8, 9: Feeling Not So Fine

Okay, so the story here is I take my medications religiously throughout the weekend hoping for it to go away before work begins on Tuesday.

Yes, luckily for me I have to work on Tuesday because my hours got cut at work. Not so lucky because less money in the budget.

The viral medication, ACYCLOVIR, for the herpes virus infection is taken every 6 hours. I didn't care if that meant waking up at 3 in the morning. I had my alarm clock going around the clock to remind me.

The antibiotic, CEPHALEXIN, just because I started it yesterday, it had to be continued even if I didn't need it. But, it's okay, I think I had a yeast infection anyway.

Day 10: Will This Ever End?

Okay, I think my shingles are not spreading anymore, but it's still looks horrible. One of the scabs from the large sore fell off because it was rubbing against that hat I was using to hide my sore. Is it really worth it to hide this thing.

It's right on the top of my head. Earlier today, I decided to not care and a woman asked if I got hit.

No pain in the early morning. Yes!

1:00 pm- PHN attacked for 1 hour, not as bad as normal. Could still walk around at work trying to hustle for our workshop tomorrow.

A little PHN attack at 7pm.

Day 11: Shingles Puss is Crusting; PHN Attack

After treatment with pure aloe vera directly from the plant the shingles sores are scabbing and a few of the smaller infected sores are starting to go away.

4:30 am- I had a brief PHN attack that lasted for 5 minutes this time. Is this the last day or what? Took the last Virus pill, Acyclovir.

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm- Had a busy day at work, it's hot and humid. Had a PHN attack that lasted 3 hours. Immediately took ibuprofen which does not necessarily work for the nerve pain, just the pain of the aftershocks.

Noticed that small bumps on the neighboring vein line was appearing. Is that shingles again?

Finally received PHN No More and Shingles No More therapeutic oils created by Forces of Nature. Rubbed PHN No More on nerve endings and soles of feet as instructed. Put Shingles No More directly on the almost heeled shingles sores and the new ones, then rubbed them on the soles of my feet.

Ooops! Got some Shingles No More oil too close to my eyes. Trying to rub some onto the shingles appearing close to my eyebrows. Or is that a pimple? Gosh I'm paranoid and confused.

4:30 pm- the PHN shocks have subsided, but, was that due to the therapeutic oils or was that the end of a pain session that I normally get, usually between 2 to 3 hours long.

Took a homeopathic pill created VAXA called virexin. It is recommended to take at the first signs of a cold, or flu symptom. I know this is the end of the viral infection, but when I saw the little bumps forming again, itching and sore, i was afraid of this happening again.

What Day is it ? Shingles Not Gone Yet?

I am heading towards my 3rd weekend with the shingles problem. Shingles takes a toll on your body both physically and emotionally. Mann! I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

I will be posting my photos soon. As soon as I can get them downsized for web pages.

At this point I've been dealing with both PHN and Shingles sores for the past 3 weeks. Last week Sunday, I tried going on a family trip to the park and it ended abruptly with PHN attacks. We had to leave the park and come home. During this week at work, I worked for only 3 hours each day because the pain started to come back.

I am happier because the PHN pain has subsided. I am now within a 1 to 3 pain range. I am no longer rubbing the PHN No More oil on my scalp. I don't believe that it works. The only thing that works is rest and relaxation. For me, that means wasting my time. I am such a workaholic, this makes me have to calm down and do none strenuous and stressful work or else risk getting an attack.

I still hide my forehead, although it's looks like a flat bruise because the color is purplish, the scabs are gone. It's still trying to heal so I am using aloe vera, straight from the plant and an antiseptic for sores.