Shingles and a virus: A warning

My third week of November began with what appeared to be a rash on the left side of my chest and under my arm. I thought, perhaps, it was an allergic reaction, but no. Too much of the year is in the rearview mirror for yardwork to be responsible. My wife did change our laundry detergent, but the rash was actively spreading. I made a appointment to see my primary care physician. He very quickly diagnosed my condition when I removed my shirt. "You have a shingles outbreak."

I am in the age bracket for that sort of thing, so that wasn't surprising. We, my doctor and I, discussed getting the shingles vaccine during my annual checkup in March, but he said the vaccine supply varies and was not available then. "I'll get it later." Well, as your can read, the shingles got me first. For those of you who haven't endured that illness, avoid it if at all possible. The hypersensitivity of your affected skin makes sleeping difficult and even soft clothing can be very discomforting.

I am classified as a essential employee in the transportation industry so, shingles can be dangerous to small children or people who have not previously been exposed to or vaccinated for chickenpox. I stayed home for two weeks mostly confined to our home with just a few forays to the grocery store during which I always wore a mask.

Following my two weeks of absence from work I was expecting to enjoy a week's vacation. The Advil I was taking for the pain was more effective than the narcotics my doctor prescribed and the blistering was healing as well as can be expected. However, I began to feel unwell again, beyond the shingles. I didn't think much of it at first because it felt like the beginning of innumerable bouts with my allergies I have endured since I was a little boy. The difference was the chills I experienced caused some fairly dramatic shaking. It was so violent I sort of laughed to myself about it while being simultaneously concerned about the abnormal degree of the shaking. There I was holding an electric toothbrush that I was involuntarily using like a manual brush. I had to hold my right wrist with my left hand to control the shake while I cleaned my teeth.

We have been repeatedly advised at my place of employment to self-evaluate our health before reporting for duty, so I decided to consult my physician. He agreed that it would be prudent to test for COVID-19 even though the likelihood of infection seemed low. And frankly, we should rightly assume infection and be proven wrong rather than the reverse. That is just the world we live in right now.

I got the swab up my nose last Tuesday afternoon after my morning consultation. That swab is no picnic which is one more reason to avoid the virus. The medical staff advised me the results may take just a couple of days or up to week depending upon the workload at the lab. Fine, I advised my employment supervisors and waited.

I have been anxious to return to whatever passes for my normal life, even the office. Confinement has definitely worn thin. With that in mind I signed up for access to my medical records hoping to know the result of my test before the doctor called. Last night I checked-in and a notification of the result was sent to my doctor, but the alert did not say yes or no. It was just an alert that the results were returned. "Good," I thought. "I will know in the morning." As expected, I received a call this morning, first thing. Even before the official office opening. I tested positive.

I have not lost my sense of taste like Will Parkinson, who also recently tested positive. Thus far, I just have a persistent, moderate cough, a feeling of stuffiness around my nose like nasal congestion though my breathing is normal, and a slight headache. It has not worsened nor has it improved. It feels like a persistent, low-grade flu. Hopefully, it will remain that way.

My point here is this: Although the risk of infection based on your living situation may seem small or even non-existent COVID-19 is a contagion that finds a way even in the presence of safeguards, so please wear your masks and continue to take appropriate precautions. Everyone's health depends on it.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have some leave of absence paperwork to complete for my employer and report to the local department of health. Best wishes to you and your's.