Jim

Shingles

I have been diagnosed with shingles, so, at least temporarily, my training is changing.

What is Shingles?

After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus lays dormant in your nervous system. And in times of stress or when your immunity is low, it triggers an infection following a nerve resulting in a rash of blisters, and possibly nerve damage.

Symptoms

Symptoms of shingles include burning or shooting pain, tingling or itching, chills, fever, headache, upset stomach, and rashes or blisters that develop on one side of the body, usually on your face or around your waist. 

National Institute on Aging

Links for More Information about Shingles

The CDC recommends that healthy adults 50 or older get two doses of the vaccine Shingrix, 2 to 6 months apart, unless they currently have shingles, are pregnant, or a test shows they have immunity.

My Timeline

  • Tuesday #1: just felt some back soreness (thought it was from exercise) on the right side
  • Thursday #3: new pain on the right side of my chest
  • Saturday #5: developed rash/blisters on my chest
  • Sunday #6: discovered more rash/blisters on my back
  • Sunday #6: saw the doctor who prescribed valacyclovir and because it was within 72 hours of developing the rash/blisters, it is hoped it will minimize both the illness and subsequent nerve damage
  • Friday #11: rash/blisters darkening – still feel sore and uncomfortable
  • Sunday #13: last dose of valacyclovir
  • Friday #18: blisters all gone but pain persists
  • Monday #27: pain persists but more noticeable at night

Training

I actually noticed the soreness when trying to do my stretching one morning. I still try and stretch every morning and hoping that as the infection progresses, I can stretch like before. And, at least in the early stages, while uncomfortable, I can still stretch.

For the past few weeks before the shingles appeared, I had been doing Freeletics bodyweight workouts every morning. Other than the 3-days I was away from home (visiting the doctors in Kathmandu), I’ve been able to continue my morning workouts. In addition, I also started adding some power-walking.

My biggest fear after the rash/blisters are gone is the possibility of nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia) which is the most common complication of shingles. The condition affects nerve fibers and skin, causing burning pain that lasts long after the rash and blisters of shingles disappear. For most people, nerve pain improves over time according to the Mayo Clinic.

So, once the rash/blisters are healed, and the pain is manageable, I’ll begin my 6-month ultra training plan!

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