Sunday, September 02, 2012
没吃蛇 , 就生蛇
My immune system is breaking down under the pressure & stress of hectic schedules and anxieties. Shingles (aka 生蛇) found me!
Last Saturday 25Aug2012 morning, I felt my back very itchy and slightly painful – it looked like rashes (I thought it was just normal skin infection). I consulted a GP who diagnosed it as Herpes Zoster (生蛇 in Chinese) and prescribed a special (特效药) tablet (acyclovir) – 2 tablets 5 times a day over 5 days (that’s 50 tablets!). After 4 days, the itch & pain did not seem to subside and I consulted another GP who reconfirmed the earlier diagnosis. Miraculously, on 5th day, the rashes subsided mostly. Now, I’m on Chinese Medicine to clear (清) the virus and also balance (调理) my body. Looking back, during the first few days, I had no idea what shingles is and how serious it is until I spoke with my colleagues. Further research on the net revealed: http://www.medicinenet.com/shingles_picture_slideshow/article.htm
Shingles is an inflammation of sensory nerves. Symptoms are itchy and painful blisters. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is not related to the sexually transmitted herpes virus disease. Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After an individual has chickenpox, the virus lives dormant in the nervous system and is never fully cleared from the body. The virus ‘wakes up’ when one’s immune system is weak. The blisters follow the path of an individual’s nerves and the Chinese believes the illness is fatal when the rashes spread and form a band round the body. Before the blisters ‘dry’ or crust over, Shingles is contagious and can be spread to anyone who has not had chickenpox infection or chickenpox vaccination. But instead of developing shingles, the person develops chickenpox. Once an individual has had chickenpox, he cannot catch shingles (or contract the virus) from someone else. Once infected, however, he has the potential to develop shingles later in life. Shingles on the face or near the eyes, may cause loss of vision.
My recovery is fairly quick (thanks to early treatment). Through this short illness, I get to know Mr. Shingles but most important of all, a strong signal for me to slow down and pace myself! 
