When life throws you a curveball ... not my best day!

[linda9389]

So on Friday I stupidly wore my sports bra all day, having done pilates in the morning. On Saturday I woke up to tenderness and a rash, which I put down to the tight elastic. It was a pretty angry rash but I struggled back into a sports bra and did my weekend run anyway.

Antihistamines and creams all weekend, but it still looks (and feels) angry today and is far too sore to wear any sort of bra unless I stay absolutely still (wearing no bra and moving around is NOT a pretty option, but was absolutely necessary to do any work today - disguised under two layers of baggy fleece ).

Managed to elicit a GP appt this evening and he confirmed my fears (which I thought were just me being over-imaginative) - I have shingles!

So, it looks as if I will be pre-dosing on painkillers just to get into a sports bra for the Great South Run, let alone for anything else. Hoping it won't wipe me out any more than I am right now. I was very aware of the possibility of injury before the event, but I hadn't considered something like this!

Pooh! (well, you have to laugh ...)

[Hidden]

Oh, ow! You poor thing. Ive heard shingles is painful too. Hope it clears up soon. Sports bras are wonderful for stopping the bounce, but can be uncomfortable. So far I’ve been lucky, but I keep seeing photos and reports of chafing after running on the Run Mummy Run Facebook forum. How long till your run? And how long as estimate till the shingles goes away? Xx

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Hidden]

I don;t think my lovely shock absorber bra did any damage - and may even be more comfy than my normal ones just now. Sounds like it will be 3 to 4 weeks to heal, but maybe 2 if I'm lucky. The race is in 3 weeks time. Unless it gets worse, I'm not planning on letting it stop me!

[Hidden in reply to linda9389]

There’s a good chance it will be healed by then, then. No, I didn’t mean your bra did it, it just made me think about it. Mine is pretty comfortable too, but I’ve seen so many people complain about chafing. Hasn’t happened to me yet, even in the heatwave. Fingers crossed for you anyway x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Ah. OK. I see what you mean Mine has been really good too. I feel very guilty now suspecting it of having been the villain here

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to Hidden]

I thought that shingles was a thing that only older people got, but at the age of 52 I got shingles under my arms, (I think the tennis player Andy Murry got shingles not so long ago) it was not so much painful but just sheer sore IF anything rubbed against my underarm, I suppose it will be worse for some women in sensitive areas of their bodies. I am 72 now but two years ago when I got my flu jab they asked me if I wished to have an inoculation for shingles, I got the jag just to make sure that I did not get shingles again despite the doctor telling me when I was 52 that I would never again get shingles, so hopefully, I am now double protected.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Ooh. That sounds a sensitive spot. I definitely like the idea that I won't get it agan. I'm 57 which the GP said meant he wasn't at all worried about me

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

I don't think you will get shingles again Linda, the doctor has told you that, the doctor when I was 52 told me the same thing. That inoculation jag I got two years ago was only for people in their 70's.

[SueKen Half Marathon]

Oh no! Poor you, on so many levels!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SueKen]

On the wrong blooming level!

[ancientrunner Half Marathon]

That's rotten. Hopefully by the GSR it will be more comfortable. Rest up as much as you can, lots of fluids. May be better with the shock absorber - in particular if the seams are les likely to rub and irritate the rash, otherwise maybe stick some gauze or something across any seams.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to ancientrunner]

Thank you! That's what I want to hear - that it will be improved by 21st October rather than worse. And I was sure that, if I posted here, one (or many) people would tell me it would be fine and then I will absolutely believe it and then it will become a self - fulfilling prophecy

Hubby on his way home - I think I should rest now and let him make dinner

[Millsie-J]

Oh so unlucky!

I have had shingles, i think the pain is variable from person to person. Also mine didnt take too long to clear so you may well be able to run the event 👍🏼

Look after yourself. Hopefully the GP advised you to steer clear of pregnant women.

The jab is for those 70 yrs + .

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Millsie-J]

Seems like it is very common. I'm definitely going to think positive and get rid before the run. And if all else fails, there's paracetamol and ibuprofen

[AnnieW55]

From the NHS website:

“Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infection of a nerve and the skin around it. It's caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.

It's estimated that around one in every four people will have at least one episode of shingles during their life.”

I had heard that it was the chickenpox virus and if you’d had that the virus stayed with you to reactivate when/if it wanted. Wasn’t sure if it was an old wives tale - possibly not.

[Millsie-J in reply to AnnieW55]

Yes, you have that right👍🏼

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

It's not a very discriminating club it seems! will let almost anyone in

[BlondeAmbition72 Half Marathon]

That’s really unpleasant, you poor thing. Wishing you a speedy recovery 🤞🏻

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to BlondeAmbition72]

Thank you It will go and hopefully I'll be fine for the GSR, but for now I might just take a few days off the running

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Oh no! Rest up a bit Linda and I'll be sending healing vibes your way! Hopefully you will be recovered by the time of your run🙂.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Thank you! I've decided to abandon my plan and rest for a week. I'd rather get from start to finish slowly than not at all. My head knows I can do 15k so that must be half the battle. If I lose some of the fitness I was working hard to gain, then so be it. As soon as the pain starts to ease off and I have a bit more oomph I'll get back out there 😀

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Sounds sensible Linda - good luck ☺

[LittleNell83]

Oh no. That's awful. Lots of TLC I think.

I had heard that Shingles is often stress related so make a 'me' session regularly x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

It must be the stress of coming home after a lovely holiday 😀

I'm just going to do essential stuff for the next week and skip running til I have more energy and am less sore. Could be a remarkably slow GSR 🙄

[Hidden]

Hope you are feeling better soon , shingles oooh ouch, I would take some time out just to give yourself time to recover, even a 1 or 2 week break shouldn't affect the fitness etc you have built up ..

Be kind to yourself and you will be back raring to go 😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. That is exactly what I'm hoping. Fingers firmly crossed 😀

[Sqkr Half Marathon]

Oh my, yes—you don't really consider being hampered by something like this! On the plus side, I guess if you do still feel rubbish after some recovery time you can still tackle the GSR—just with a sensible head on, and soft padding! What I would say is careful of ibuprofen in terms of painkillers, it can be jolly brutal on the stomach post-run, as I learnt to my horror 🤢 Maybe I was just unlucky but I wouldn't wish that afternoon on anyone! Nothing like train and street sickness to burst your bubble. 😔

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Sqkr]

Ahh yes. I think I remember reading that post 🤢. I'm maxing out on ibuprofen and paracetamol just now and not wearing anything up against it. Running isn't on the agenda yet but I do have more energy than earlier in the week. Various friends have stated categorically that I shouldn't do the GSR for all sorts if creative reasons (they probably think running is bad for your knees too 😀) but I'm not listening to them. Just listening to me. And I'm saying I will be there - it will be a PB (I haven't run more than 15k to date)... and it might be very easy to beat next time 😂