Barbara WintroubI have Shingles, and they are truly miserable. For those of you who don’t know what Shingles are, they are called adult “chickenpox”. For those of you who had chickenpox as a kid, you now have the virus in you and could get Shingles at any time.I recommend the Shingles shot. The new US health care plan allows anyone over 60 to get the shot on their insurance plan. If you are on Medicare, I am not sure if the shot is covered. Check for yourself.Anyway, I didn’t realize I was stressed out, but I do tend to push myself to the limit. About three weeks ago I began to break out. Google enlightened me, and off I went to the doctor.
There is not much they can do for you except an antivirus med within the first 48 hours, calamine lotion, ice packs and pain meds. I’m tough, I don’t need pain meds. Au contraire! I hurt more now that the spots are going away. The science hasn’t proven I now need the shot. So, I might not get one.
The effects of a shingles attack can last months or years. At first I tried to rest. Oh good, I can dwell on my pain…wrong! I continued to play tennis, Pickleball, take spin classes, work, go to movies etc. But I always wound up on the sofa resting from the virus in my system.
A few days ago I found myself crying uncontrollably watching not a sad movie but IRONMAN Triathlon. Here was an athlete with no legs, one woman Tara who had weighed over 300 lbs, a woman diagnosed with cancer, 78-82 year old women and men competing in this world famous event. What drove them to do this 17 hour grueling event?
Get out of yourself and find something you can dedicate yourself to. When you have a compromised body situation, look for anything that piques your interest that you can get involved with. Donate time, work with seniors or children, or animal shelters or do Ironman, whatever.
You have to make a decision: be a “Humpty Dumpty” who all the kings men couldn’t put together again or be an “Ironman” of some sort and keep moving forward. I realize how difficult aging is becoming. So many changes in our lives at this point, especially with body breakdowns. I still believe in “Suit Up and Show Up” and “Move It or Lose It”.Wishing good health to all.
Tip of the Day* Drink lots of water, flush the bad stuff out of your system.