The Uninvited Guest: How Shingles Disrupted My Plans and How I Manage It

Today was supposed to be a very busy day, with an event at my children’s school followed by a wedding later that evening. All these plans have been canceled as I follow my body's orders to slow down. Instead, I find myself sitting at home in cozy sweats, sipping a warm drink, and writing. Let me tell you why that is.

Why did I have to cancel plans?

Ever extend an open invitation and then quickly regret it because the guest shows up too often or at the most inconvenient times? Well, that has been the case with me recently, and the uninvited guest is none other than the shingles virus. To be honest, there was no official invite – it kind of invited itself.

Shingles can sometimes be an easy guest to have, but at other times, it can be a real nightmare. Once the virus enters your body, it never leaves – hence the open invite – and for many, it can remain dormant inside your body without you even knowing it’s there. But then, when life gets busy, you're feeling sick with a bunch of other viruses, and you're sleep-deprived, shingles decides to make an appearance. And once it does, it can take many weeks for the scars to heal.

The last few days have been quite busy between:

• Planning birthday celebrations for my daughter – there were many to ensure she celebrated with family, friends, and classmates
• Making multiple trips to various stores to get cakes, gifts, and paper goods
• Attending hair appointments for the upcoming wedding

Additionally, doing my nails, which I always do myself, can be stressful because I somehow always mess up one of them. Then, there was the holiday event at my children's school that I have helped organize and run for the last 6 years. I am disappointed that I can’t be there, especially on such short notice.

How are shingles and eczema related?

Now, you may be wondering how all of this is related to my eczema. It's true that many people without eczema can get shingles. Certain medications used to treat eczema seem to be linked to an increased risk of shingles.¹

In my case, it's JAK inhibitors. So, when shingles appear, I have to stop taking these medications. This creates an even greater challenge. Not only do I have to cope with the pain and discomfort of shingles, but I also have to manage my flaring eczema.

How have I managed shingles?

While I can’t stop the shingles from showing up, here are some things I do once it’s here:

• Always carry my prescribed medications. I always carry my prescribed medications in my purse. This includes antiviral pills and a cream that combines antiviral and hydrocortisone. I’ve found that even a few hours' delay can make a difference, so having them with me at all times is essential. The earlier I start the medications, the less the shingles will spread.
• Rest and destress. Rest is important to give your body time to heal and destress. So, while I was supposed to be at my child’s school running the event and attending a wedding tonight, instead, I am choosing to slow things down.
• Avoid scratching. As hard as it is, I avoid scratching. I know the pain can be intense at times. I have found that applying an ice pack and just patting or tapping the area is better than scratching. This helps prevent the skin from getting infected and reduces scarring.
• Gently clean the affected area(s). What I have found helpful is to gently rub the blisters while showering. This helps to remove any loose skin without causing too much pain. When dry, touching blisters can cause a lot of pain, bleeding, and scarring, so it’s best to address them when they’re softened by water.
• Get the shingles vaccine. One other thing that I have already done is get the shingles vaccine. Since being vaccinated, I have noticed that when I do get shingles, the blisters are more contained, fewer, and the healing process is significantly faster than in years past.