Dear Editor:
On Sept. 27, 2013, a number of shingles appeared on my right leg.
On Sept. 30, a doctor prescribed an eight-day supply of blue pills (Valacyclovir, 500 mg). Two pills, taken three times a day.
Professional medics state that shingles form along nerve lines in various locations on the human body.
The first two or three weeks, the itch was nearly unbearable, even with topical applied treatment. As the itch diminished, the pain intensified. I had no appetite and forced myself to eat.
I believe there is a type of neurosis that accompanied my shingles. At times, my head would feel hazy. Periodically, my balance would fail. In the blink of an eye, there was no feeling in my right leg, and the leg folded (my right leg is where the shingles were clustered). I needed a crutch for balance, enabling me to walk. When stepping downstairs, a bit of phobia was present at times — fear of falling or my right leg folding.
I lost two months of my life merely existing, able to do only menial chores.
There was very little publicity about shingles immunization before I developed shingles, but a lot of warning after they appeared. There was a lot of free-flowing bogus information. Example:
1. If you had chicken pox, you can’t be immunized.
2. If you had shingles, you cannot be immunized, etc.
Avoid the water-cooler crowd gossip, and consult a competent health-care professional.
Joe Ferdais,
Elnora