Do you think it’s possible for a Mom to get postpartum shingles? Here’s my shingles experience and how to know if you have shingles too.
If you asked me how being a stay-at-home-mom feels, I would tell you that it’s wonderful and amazing to be able to work from home with my daughters. If you asked me what it’s like to have both an infant and a toddler, I’d tell you it’s not as hard as I thought it would be. However, based on my current mental and physical state (pointedly the rash I just found), I was lying about how life is going.
Being a stay at home mom with an infant and a toddler is causing me to lose my mind. On most days I think I have it together but then I go and do something like leave the gas burner on all day and realize I’m wrong. I don’t have it together. Not even a little bit.
You know that saying, “I’ve lost my marbles,” is a real life thing. Except in my case, I’ve lost two different sets of brand new hair bows.
This is my surprisingly scary experience with shingles.
My short term memory has become useless. On more than one occasion, I have to feel the towel for wetness that’s hanging in the bathroom to make sure that I actually showered that morning and didn’t imagine it. I go to the store and forget what I’m supposed to buy. Then I buy things and lose them. Perhaps the inability to function is from sheer exhaustion, or maybe it’s part postpartum hormonal stuff I got going on. Either way, even though I post photos of myself looking put together, I am far from it.
Apparently when you’re stressed, exhausted, and guilty of losing your marbles, your immune system takes a beating. Starting almost a week ago, I thought I developed a skin allergy towards my breastfeeding disposable pads. Both of my breasts felt prickly, itchy, and irritated. However, after I stopped using the pads, I couldn’t shake the uncomfortable sensation that something was poking my boobs. By Wednesday, I noticed a weird array of bumps, a lovely little rash, on the bottom of my left breast towards my chest bone. It looked like poison ivy and even though I’ve not been outside without a shirt on rolling in the woods, I thought maybe, somehow, I contracted the rash.
Read more Postpartum Confessions here.
When I brought Ailey to the doctors on Thursday on suspicion of an ear infection, I showed the pediatrician my rash. I figured she would be able to shed some light on my random poison ivy looking splotch. She didn’t know what it was, but suggested I use Hydrocortisone Cream until the rash cleared up. She, however, warned me that if it looked like the bumps were bubbles or the rash started oozing, I call my doctor immediately. She didn’t say why though…
By Thursday night my whole body hurt. I felt bruised and sore from the top of my head down to the tips of my toes. My left ear hurt terribly and I figured I was now getting the virus both Annabelle and Ailey have been passing back and forth between each other over the last month. “Maybe I have an ear infection too,” I thought. I called the doctor Friday morning in hopes I would have an antibiotic for the weekend.
Well, I got myself an antibiotic all right. I got myself THREE prescriptions because apparently that poison ivy rash was never a rash.
I have SHINGLES.
Now how in the hell does a young person get shingles you may ask. Well, it’s not just for old people (like I thought). Anyone who has had the chicken pox virus can get shingles when they’ve worn themselves out. And that’s just what I’ve done. I’ve not only lost my mind, but I’ve worn myself out so bad that I’m now a leper.
As of now my “shingle” is contained to one area. The first thing I asked my doctor was, “Can I touch my baby if I have shingles?” I can touch my baby, but I have to be extremely careful she doesn’t come in contact with the blisters from the infection. Currently I have the shingles blisters covered with gauze. If my baby comes in contact with the blisters, her doctor says she may contract chicken pox. She hasn’t had her chicken pox vaccination yet at 2 months old.
Can you breastfeed your baby when you have shingles? As long as the baby isn’t coming in direct contact with a shingles blister – then yes. My blisters are too close to my left breast so I cannot nurse her on the left side. My doctor told me to pump to avoid clogged milk ducts and mastitis. I’m happy to report that the pediatrician said my breastmilk is building up her immunity, but it won’t protect her from the virus. So I have to be VERY careful!
Want to read more of my surprisingly scary health stories? Check out this one!
How do you feel while having postpartum shingles?
If you google SHINGLES, you’ll read it is a very painful virus. To be honest – I am blessed with just one infected area, so even though my whole body aches, I only have one spot that hurts. The pain on my chest is not debilitating, but it sucks. Whenever something accidentally touches the gauzed over patch, it hurts deep inside. The doctor says the virus hits upon your nerves, so you can only imagine how it feels.
According to the Mayo Clinic, pain is usually the first symptom of Shingles. Shingles symptoms usually affect only a small section on one side of your body. These symptoms may include:
- Pain, burning or tingling
- Sensitivity to touch
- A red rash that begins a few days after the pain
- Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
- Itching
Some people also experience:
Mayo Clinic
- Fever
- Headache
- Sensitivity to light
- Fatigue
How long does it take to heal from shingles?
I don’t know how long I will be avoiding newborns, old people, and unvaccinated kids. They say shingles lasts for a couple of weeks, but I’m hoping since I caught it so early, maybe it’ll go away sooner? It’s so interesting to discover that although shingles may occur postpartum, there is likely no increased risk for most Moms, and it’s not a common experience. (source)
I don’t know though. I don’t for see my stress level going down what with the holidays approaching and my toddler’s attempts at acting like a teenager escalating. I just hope now that the shit hit the fan, I can begin cleaning it all up. And maybe I’ll just find the sets of hair bows I bought for Ailey.
UPDATE: My shingles pain subsided within a week and the rash was gone soon after. Apparently it is not common to catch shingles twice, but I did! The second time I was diagnosed with shingles was while I had the Coronavirus in 2020. My experience with shingles wasn’t as extreme and my rash was only on my shoulder. However, it was still painful!
Lauren says
Oh my goodness. Shingles is awful. My sister (who yeh, is in her 20s) got it a few months ago – stress induced. Terrible. I hope you feel better soon!
Kelly says
Oh no, Caitlin!!! I’m so sorry!!!! I can only imagine what you’re going through and how stressed you must be to get shingles. ::( Is there anything that can be done to help lighten your load right now? Are you getting any sleep? Sending prayers of healing and peace to you!!!
Lisa says
I’m so sorry! That sounds awful. I’m glad you got it checked out early and I hope you feel better soon.
Brianna Tucker says
My husband is 31 and he just got Shingles in September. He does alot of overseas traveling and the doctor just said it was to much at one time. It was the worst pain I have ever seen him in and they had to hospitalize him for his high fever for extreme headache that he had for 4 days. They didnt’ tell us why until he was in the clear but apparently the fever and headache are signs that shingles is turning into meningitis ?!?!? Luckily he is fine now and the scaring is still healing but it wasn’t fun! Bless you girl with shingles and a newborn!
Kerri says
Shingles isn’t any fun! I am only 24 and I have had it twice in my life already. The doctor couldn’t believe it the second time, since it is highly unlikely to get it twice before the age of 22! Be thankful that it hasn’t spread. Mine was all over my back, shoulders, stomach, etc and I was in excruciating pain. I hope for a quick recovery for you!!!
Whitney Jordan says
I”m so sorry to hear you have shingles!! I’ve had them TWICE and they’re so bothersome. I really only thought elderly people got them and did the same thing where I asked a doctor what my weird rash was. Hope that it clears up quickly because shingles are no fun!! Thinking of you!
mary says
Bless your heart! My bil had it on his head and they said if it would have reached his eye he would have gone blind! Prayers for a quick recovery and less stress.
Hilary says
YIKES! Ouch! I have never had the chicken pox and I’m too old for the virus. The OB looked at me like I was crazy when they drew my blood during my pregnancy and noticed that. I hope you feel better soon! Can they give you anything for the pain?
Lisette says
I am so sorry you’re going through this, friend. If I lived closer I’d be up there in a jiffy!
Nikki says
Oh gosh girl feel better! Get yourself some help and try to relax- because I know that’s easy but try!
Donna says
I feel your pain. I have been getting shingle attacks since my 20’s when I learned just what you did. I too have been lucky that it was confined to my lower back, so covered with little risk of transmission. I still get them, although greatly reduced in number and length since I had the 1st shin ghb less vaccine, I am on a wait list for the new vaccine. You have had quite a time, it will get better soon!