At least I'm not contagious.

[lapis_lazuli022]

The good news is, it's not a spider bite.

The bad news is, it's shingles (aka, adult chickenpox). It's funny because when we bought our condo 8 years ago, Matt got shingles from the moving stress, so now apparently it's my turn.

Shingles is not contagious the way chickenpox is. It occurs only among people who have already had chickenpox, triggered internally by extreme stress and the accompanying immune system weakness. The only way to catch it is to come into contact with the fluid from the blisters, and even then, it will not transmit shingles. It will transmit chickenpox to people who've never had it, and do nothing to people who have.

So at least I know that everyone I saw at New Years' should be safe, whether they had chickenpox as children or not. (whew)

And at least I know that there are no rogue spiders running around my apartment, and that my arm is not going to turn plaid and fall off. At least, not from this.

It's painful. Very. Treatment is to take pain killers and wait it out, so I guess I'll be doing that.

I'm really, really glad I got it seen to. From the way it stings, I was assuming it was a spider bite. I never would have guessed.

Comments

[foreverdirt.livejournal.com]

Shit. I'm glad you got it seen to, too -- my mum had a really bad time of shingles three years ago, and it wasn't fun. Do take care of yourself. *very gentle, non-contact hugs*

Ouch

[the-ogre.livejournal.com]

Not fun a'tall.

Here's to hoping that is gets better soon

[ytaya.livejournal.com]

Ouch! Rest well! And be aware that people who've had chickenpox as children can occasionally get it again as an adult. I speak from bitter experience.

[ladycat.livejournal.com]

Oh god, that's grim. Is there really nothing they can do? Maybe something herby and naturally from flowers that would help?

Ih ope the waiting it out if brief and the itching stops. I seem to have a 3rd eye infection, so you have my sympathy!

[lapis-lazuli.livejournal.com]

Ow. You have my sympathy, too. I didn't even know you had a third eye!

[ladycat.livejournal.com]

From the looks of things I typed that comment with all 3 of my eyes well and truly shut!

[stitchinthyme.livejournal.com]

Oh, crap. I hope you're better soon.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Casey and I have both had CP, and I've had shingles. I remember what it was like, and it was horrible. :/ I'm sorry.

[zoo-music-girl.livejournal.com]

You poor thing. I'm glad it's not a spider bite, but that's still really horrible. I hope you're better soon.

And while I'm here, Happy New Year!

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

I had shingles last summer. Mine was less painful than most, and like you, initially thought "spider bite?" I found that benedryl knocked me out too much to be useful, but that some oatmeal-based anti-itch things helped me. I also slept with soft socks on my hands a few nights, as a way of keeping myself from scratching. Good luck.

[lapis-lazuli.livejournal.com]

I went one beyond socks and got myself some thin cotton gloves at the drugstore. Keeping it covered and moisturized almost all the time seems to have helped quite a lot. My oatmeal-based anti-itch lotion didn't help the itch, but regular lotion soothed the dry skin that was making it hurt more. The blisters are all easing back down now instead of bursting, so I consider that a good result.