Parenting: Caught in the Crossfire of Shingles
When my mother hit the age of 43, I was a self-assured college student, and to my youthful perspective, she seemed hopelessly ancient. She was a chain smoker of menthol cigarettes, glued to her shows like Hill Street Blues, and reveled in Eric Clapton’s music on a stereo system that was nearly the size of a compact car. Yet, my friends couldn’t help but disagree. “She’s so young!” they’d exclaim, as their parents were already in their 60s, far too conventional to indulge in any smoking and still wary of Clapton’s past with a band called Cream.
Fast forward to today, and I find myself at 43, navigating the trials of motherhood with two self-assured kids of my own. I like to think that, thanks to a little help from Miss Clairol and my stubborn battle with blackheads, I still appear youthful. My wardrobe remains youthful, as I’ve stuck with the same Converse sneakers and hoodies that I once mocked my mom for wearing. And my behavior? Let’s just say I still enjoy a good laugh over my kids’ jokes, even the ones involving bodily functions.
But today, I received a diagnosis for something I believed only plagued the elderly. A painful condition has taken root on my back, and it’s excruciating.
As a child, I recall the whispers of concern surrounding my grandmother’s struggles with shingles. I envisioned her skin flaking and peeling, reminiscent of the very shingles that protected our roof during storms.
While waiting at the pharmacy, I often find myself perusing the informative pamphlets about shingles prevention. These brochures, showcasing senior citizens looking concerned or even panicked, suggest that shingles is a topic well worth discussing with one’s doctor, as recommended by Merck, the manufacturer of the shingles vaccine. I used to think shingles was exclusively an issue for the older crowd—until I spotted a hot, lumpy rash on my back and asked my husband for his opinion.
“Oh my God,” he exclaimed in a dramatic fashion.
“Whoa, Mom,” my teenage son chimed in, scrutinizing the situation. “That looks awful. Are you dying?”
“Gross,” my tween daughter added, wrinkling her nose.
With my family’s lack of support, I turned to the one source that never judges—Google. Entering the phrase “hot rash back lumpy,” I was met with an alarming conclusion: shingles.
Shingles? I can’t be that old! But when the nurse practitioner at the Minute Clinic took a look, her first word was “herpes.”
Herpes?! I’m far too old for that!
“Herpes zoster,” she clarified. “That’s the medical term for shingles.” Damn it.
I called my mom. “Hey, how old were you when you first had shingles?”
“Shingles?” she replied, sounding confused. At 65, after raising two kids and doting on four grandkids, she seemed to regard herself as immune to such ailments. “You must be mistaken. I’ve never had shingles. Your grandmother, however…”
I gritted my teeth during the drive to the pharmacy, where the Merck pamphlet seemed to mock me from its stack by the blood pressure machine. (By the way, mine was 166/72. Is that bad for someone my age?) The pharmacist, who was as pale as he was balding, apologized for the necessity of filling my prescription with a brand name instead of the generic, which was out of stock. “What, did everyone get shingles at once?” I joked, hoping to demonstrate that I still had a sense of humor about my predicament.
He shook his head and whispered, “We’re out of the generic valacyclovir because so many people have come in for, well… you know… outbreaks.” His tone hinted at a shared understanding, drawing me into a club I never wanted to join.
With a touch of sympathy in his voice, he remarked, “It’s pretty painful, isn’t it?” I nodded, my eyes welling up. I asked him for recommendations to ease the discomfort. “I like Aveeno oatmeal baths and calamine lotion,” he suggested.
I bought both, adding a six-pack of Ensure just to play it safe. It seems that life has a way of surprising us, often when we least expect it.
If you’re curious about more ways to navigate the complexities of motherhood, check out this insightful blog post. And if you’re considering home insemination, take a look at this reputable retailer for at-home insemination syringe kits. For further information on the process, WebMD offers an excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination that you might find helpful.
In summary, navigating the unexpected challenges of adulthood can often feel overwhelming. Whether it’s dealing with shingles at an unexpected age or juggling the demands of parenting, embracing these moments with humor and resilience is key.
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