Exercise and Shingles

[livingkennedy]

Over the past 2+ months I've been working out more than I have in the past two years, and I've lost over 25 lbs making steady progress. Unfortunately, about a week ago I came down with Shingles.

From everything I'm reading, Shingles generally hits people over 50 (I'm 30) and can be brought on by a weakened immune system. Doing a little research, I'm finding that weight loss is often associated with stress hormones being generated due to a caloric deficit, and those hormones also weaken the immune system.

Does anybody else have a similar experience? I'm going stir crazy and feel like I'm losing good weight loss and fitness momentum, but I do not want to extend my suffering or temp a reoccurrence..

[Ripples]

Seems that shingles is affecting younger people more often. https://healthbeat.spectrumhealth.org/s ... er-adults/
I'm an older adult who has not contracted HZ (nor have I had the shingles vaccine), but my 24-year old niece did. Luckily she had a mild case.

While stress can affect the immune system, so can a diet lacking antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables.

Best wishes for a quick recovery and good health.

[MPx]

I had shingles in my 40s - cant remember when exactly - rash down my left arm and around my middle. The bad bits were the rashes were painful if touched or brushed with clothes and it looked unsightly. I was told its the same virus as chicken pox and herpes and once its in there it can (re)attack at any time. It was suggested to me that mine was stress related - seemed like the pat answer to me since they knew I had a stressful job. But I had a stressful job from my thirties until I retired and I only got shingles the once so its obviously selective in what stress it reacts to! The good bits were I was signed off work for a fortnight and told I really mustn't come in (infectious) - this was before technology made working at home easy; I didn't feel even vaguely unwell; I had loads of things I wanted to get done at home and was able to get stuck in unfettered. So overall a positive experience! Returned to work after 2 weeks still feeling fine and the rash completely disappeared within a month. Sympathy if yours is turning out worse.....but if you're feeling fine I'd say carry on your training and don't worry about it.

[livingkennedy]

Seems that shingles is affecting younger people more often. https://healthbeat.spectrumhealth.org/s ... er-adults/
I'm an older adult who has not contracted HZ (nor have I had the shingles vaccine), but my 24-year old niece did. Luckily she had a mild case.

That's a really interesting article, I was born in the mid 1980's so I'm definitely part of that demographic. Can't remember the last time I was around a kid with Chicken Pox - must have been childhood. Interesting how our relationship with diseases change as society changes. We basically quarantine ourselves outside of work and school.

he good bits were I was signed off work for a fortnight and told I really mustn't come in (infectious) - this was before technology made working at home easy; I didn't feel even vaguely unwell; I had loads of things I wanted to get done at home and was able to get stuck in unfettered. So overall a positive experience! Returned to work after 2 weeks still feeling fine and the rash completely disappeared within a month. Sympathy if yours is turning out worse.....but if you're feeling fine I'd say carry on your training and don't worry about it.

Cracking me up! Of all the commentary on Shingles, this is the sole positive experience. Honestly - if these were the days before laptops - I would absolutely be doing the same. I have a headache, sure, but without work I'd be having a great time overall.

[Cyclist2]

I had chicken pox when I was a kid, so I'm in that pool also. I watched my mom suffer with shingles around her torso one time; very painful, uncomfortable ordeal but she made it. I generally avoid vaccinations, so I figured if it hit me I'd be able to tough it out UNTIL, I learned that it can appear anywhere, including your face. If it gets into your eyes, that is serious and could lead to blindness. So I got the vaccination. I had a weird reaction - the left half of my head hurt but the right didn't. Lasted about a day.

Knowing it can possibly infect your face, I'd recommend the vaccination. It's a one time deal and most people have no reaction (I guess I was a lucky one). Peace of mind vaccination.

[livingkennedy]

I was one of the folks lucky enough to get it on my face, left eye going up over the scalp and onto the ear. Hoping I got treatment early enough to prevent any lasting damage to my eyesight or hearing, but I'll feel much more confident they're intact once I'm no longer symptomatic.