Up on the Housetop

Nope, no reindeer paws or Santa Claus. This housetop has to do with shingles.
Nope we're not re-doing our roof.
I have shingles! And they are PAINFUL!

What is shingles? (copied and pasted from WebMD)

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a viral infection of the nerve roots. It causes pain and often causes a rash on one side of the body, the left or right. The rash appears in a band, a strip, or a small area. Shingles is most common in older adults and people who have weak immune systems because of stress, injury, certain medicines, or other reasons. Most people who get shingles will get better and will not get it again.
You can't catch shingles from someone else who has shingles. But a person with a shingles rash can spread chickenpox to another person who hasn't had chickenpox and who hasn't gotten the chickenpox vaccine

What are the symptoms?

Shingles symptoms happen in stages. At first you may have a headache or be sensitive to light. You may also feel like you have the flu but not have a fever.

Later, you may feel itching, tingling, or pain in a certain area. That’s where a band, strip, or small area of rash may occur a few days later. The rash turns into clusters of blisters. The blisters fill with fluid and then crust over. It takes 2 to 4 weeks for the blisters to heal, and they may leave scars. Some people only get a mild rash, and some do not get a rash at all.

It’s possible that you could also feel dizzy or weak, or you could have long-term pain or a rash on your face, changes in your vision, changes in how well you can think, or a rash that spreads. If you have any of these problems from shingles, call your doctor right away.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I am one to handle pain pretty well, but let me tell you, this is painful. I didn't know it was shingles so I didn't call the doctor, so I can't get an antibiotic for it. You have to catch it right away within 2 days to get treatment. They could give me something for the pain but I said no. For now. The pain seems to be getting worse, and the dr. said to call anytime if I needed something.
Right now I'm feeling like someone is pushing my shoulder down with all their strength and I'm trying to push it back up. And that someone else is punching me in the arm real hard and they're not stopping. It also feels like I have the achy body that you get from the flu. Also, like I'm being strangled on one side of my neck. Real fun!

Prayers welcome! Thanks.