VZV WTF?

[surrey_sucks]

Last week, on Thursday I think, I noticed a couple of itchy red bumps on my arm and back (and one on my ass as well), and thought that I had gotten bitten by fleas. On Friday, I noticed several bumps on my back, on my left shoulder blade, almost forming a ring, and more bumps on the inside of my left arm, near my wrist. Also, the skin on my upper

Comments

[opium]

valtrex is fuckin expensive but it's a miracle drug. i use it for cold sores. when i took it daily i didn't ever get them, but now the gov't doesn't pay for my prescriptions so i take it rarely. only if i can feel it coming on.

[surrey_sucks]

Apparently, it is expensive. Luckily I have medical coverage under UBC's student plan, so am only paying $26, but without it, a week's supply is $136.

[snooze]

Is it because you never got chicken pox as a kid?

[qousqous]

As I understand it, only people who HAVE had chicken pox get shingles.

Also, people who haven't had chicken pox can catch it from people with shingles.

[snooze]

I just looked it up on wikipedia... I never knew the chicken pox virus could manifest itself again at a later age as shingles. I thought it was a one shot deal. So much for parents who have "chicken pox parties" to get it out of the way. :/

[qousqous]

Well, if you catch chicken pox as an adult it can be much more severe than when you have it as a child, which was the idea behind chicken pox parties. But there's a vaccine now so there's not really any need for any of that any more.

[mellybrelly]

That's crazy! Hope it goes away quick!

[unkle_social]

I've known a few people in their late 20s who got shingles. Apparently it's brought on by stress.

[surrey_sucks]

Yup, it is brought on by stress. I am chronically stressed, but I just had midterms. School is literally making me sick!

[wished4this]

my cousin has shingles right now too

[surrey_sucks]

How old is your cousin?

[wished4this]

23?