Shingles (Virus, Not Roof Material)

[Skeeterbait]

The herpes virus that causes chicken pox and shingles lives in the nerve path and follows the nerve.  The facial nerve on each side exits the skull thru a tiny opening behind and below the ear lobe.  If you have the virus in that specific nerve, when it is active it causes the nerve to swell in this opening pinching off the nerve and causing facial paralysis.  This is Bell's Palsy.  Sometimes the nerve regenerates fully and sometimes it doesn't.  Wasn't fun but you get thru it.    I have a droopy eye lid and lopsided smile and loss of some cheek feeling because of it but those things are not debilitating. Much worse for a woman emotionally.

[Tom Threetoes]

My wife is fighting the shingles now. She developed a small rash on her right side that turned to small blisters. The doc gave her some ointment and pills which is starting to dry up the rash but now there is some discomfort in her side. I had them several years ago but must have been lucky because I never had any pain just the rash. We've about decided to get the shots when she heals up.

[letsgohunting]

Had you been stressed?

[2eagles]

I was never too concerned about shingles. My doc said I should get the shot at age 60 if my insurance paid for it.  I did last month.  No side effects at all.  End of story.
(I don't remember if I had chicken pox as a kid.  Mom's gone and my dad wouldn't remember.)

[dirtnap]

Had them when I was in my mid 20's.  My case wasn't that bad.