I received a Varicella vaccination after giving birth to my youngest child. The next morning I woke up to find a small cluster of fluid-filled blisters on my left cheek, close to my mouth. Thankfully, I was already in the hospital. I called for the nurse, who in turn called for my doctor. The doctor arrived an hour or so later, and gave me the diagnosis of shingles. I had never even heard of such a thing, and I was devastated. These bumps and blisters were causing unimaginable pain, and it gave me burning and tingling sensations all over my face. The hospital staff brought me some cream to put on it, but it only irritated it worse.

After an agonizing wait to fall asleep, I again woke up to find that my shingles had spread very rapidly. Not only were there nearly twice as many affected areas, they were breaking and leaking fluid. Every time that the air would blow my face would burn. As if I hadn’t already been experiencing enough low self esteem due to the pregnancy, now my face is cluttered with blisters. It looked as though I was infested by the plague! After about two weeks, the blisters and pain eventually subsided, but I was left with deep scars and scabbing. Now, two years later, I am currently experiencing a another episode of shingles symptoms in the same spot. Though not as painful as the first occurrence, the process of healing is the same so far. The blisters showed up with no indications. The red and yellow tinged blister are clustered and breaking, as did the first infection.

Coincidentally or not, this new infection happened within twenty-four hours of receiving a tetanus vaccination. I have not spoken to a doctor about the possible connection between the virus and the vaccinations, but I certainly feel that there is one. My blisters and scabbing are slowly disappearing, but the memories of living this way are still fresh. Shingles has given me so many scars and it is hard to look in the mirror right now. hopefully, just like the first time, my self image will return to normal soon.

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