Shingles - (A story in 3 Parts)

This is Part Three of my "I'm stuck inside with the Shingles" series. Part One can be found here and Part Two is here.

Driving back from the Bruce Peninsula, I had convinced myself that I had a shellfish allergy and that it would only get worse with time. I quietly resigned myself to a life without oysters, clams, shrimp, mussels, lobster and, my personal favourite, Alaskan crab. 

The next day, the rash was worse...much worse. I made a trip to the Urgent Care clinic at the hospital near my home and was quickly diagnosed.

• The good news...shellfish are staying on the table
• The bad news...I had shingles.

It isn't as painful as I have heard it can be for many. I have described the feeling as a mild, localized sunburn. I am on medication (1000 mg of Valacyclovir - 3 times a day). The biggest downside is that I am stuck inside while beautiful summer weather taunts me through the windows. I can't use sun blocking chemicals on my skin & I don't trust my T-shirts to be dependable sun protection. 

So, I'm watching movies, playing video games and making up for an absence of physical activity by writing blogs and preparing for school in September. I figured I would burn up some boredom by sharing a few recollections that frame this experience - hence the previous two blogs.

As you might imagine, I have learned a lot about shingles in the past few days. 

• It is the chicken pox virus. When you get the pox (which I had as a kid) the virus just lies dormant amid your nerves.
• It is usually triggered when your immune system is compromised ... but sometimes, as in my case, for no discernible reason.
• It travels along your nerves and is always localized to one side of your body (for me the right of my torso).
• It can affect your neck and face ... which is reason for concern because scaring or damage to the eyes and ears is possible. (Whew!)
• It begins as redness, becomes an angry rash with a raised texture and then pustules form. (This is the stage I am in)
• The pustules will eventually burst and leave behind itchy scabs that you should not scratch. (I am not looking forward to this!)

There is a vaccine, Shingrix, which is recommended for adults over 50. However, it is only free if you are over 65 in Ontario. Although, I suspect I have coverage through my health benefits. If you live in Ontario, here is all the information you'll need. 

Breakout in Boston (A story in 3 parts)

This is Part Two of my "I'm stuck inside with the Shingles" series. Part One can be found here.

In 2010 when my wife and I vacationed in Boston, we gorged on seafood at every opportunity: Lobster, Oysters, Shrimp and, of course, New England Clam Chowder!

I had purchased a new Under Armour T-shirt at an outlet mall on the way through Massachusetts. It was a hot, August day and my back began to feel a little itchy - particularly under my backpack. I dismissed it. It was probably just the fabric (likely still covered in factory chemicals), the heat of the day and the friction of my backpack.

Found a picture - Boston, Under Armour, Clam Chowder

When we got back to the hotel room, I lifted my shirt and innocently asked my wife, "does my back look red?" 

I can't remember exactly what she said, but it was obvious from her reaction that there was a problem. I went to the bathroom mirror to look. My entire upper torso back & chest were covered in small, red lumps. It was like I was forming a suit of red, blister armour. 

Trying to be optimistic I said, "Maybe I'm getting super powers...should I use them for good or evil?"

It must be the seafood. Other members of my family have a shellfish allergy - maybe I'm suceptible too. We debated a trip to a hospital but, with the exception of a mild burning sensation, I was fine. We had purchased traveller's insurance but you instictively know that you are just inviting red tape and paperwork. Plus, we were about to head to Fenway Park to see a Red Sox game.


The next day we travelled to Salem and learned about the witch trials. I also snapped this picture of one of the original houses and noticed later that the light makes it look like there is a ghost in the bottom right window.

We returned to London and, over two or three days, it disappeared. I did go in for an allergy test and the doctor concluded that I had a mild response to shellfish and dust - but nothing that should have caused a massive reaction. I was taking antibiotics when in Boston so he suggested that this may have compromised my immune system and made me more susceptible.

So, as I hiked along the Bruce Trail last Tuesday, I began to reflect on the pain I was feeling on my back and side.

• It couldn't be a sunburn, poison ivy or an injury.
• Our friends are pescatarians...so we had devoured a lot of seafood - including shellfish.
• I must be having that reaction again.

It must have felt like deja vu for my wife when I lifted my shirt and asked her to look. It wasn't as bad but, there was certainly a red rash forming. This time, there were no antibiotics involved. Perhaps I was allergic to shellfish. That was a depressing prospect.

I'm not...that story in Part 3

Seven Story Archetypes & Shingles (A story in 3 Parts)

This week, while visiting friends at their lakeside, cottage retreat in Red Bay, Ontario we decided to go for a hike. We visited The Corran Ruins and Spirit Rock Trail just outside Wiarton. It's a great spot and the Legend of Spirit Rock is a story that I will certainly share with my students.

Historians detail many variations of this tragic tale, often called the Winona Legend. This version I like best involves a enemy warrior being captured by a tribe residing along the cliffs that surround a great bay. While the chief deliberates a potential ransom, his daughter falls in love with the handsome brave. Learning of this forbidden liaison, the chief, in a fit of rage, has him thrown from the highest cliff. That night, while her father laments his hasty decision, she escapes to the and hurls herself from the same rocky outcrop so that she can join her lover in the afterlife. The legend goes that, "on stormy nights, when lightning flashes in the sky, two silhouetted figures can be seen embracing on the ledge.

I'm always fascinated by story archetypes that flourish across time, space and through the lenses of multiple cultures. In his book, Why We Tell Stories author Christopher Booker identifies seven basic plots.

• Overcoming the Monster 
• Rags to Riches 
• The Quest 
• Voyage and Return
• Comedy
• Tragedy
• Rebirth

Within each, are a myriad variations and some... The Lord of the Rings for example contains elements of all of them. The version of the Spirit Rock story I shared is the star-crossed lovers variation which has been told countless times. 

• Romeo & Juliet
• West Side Story
• Casablanca
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Titanic
• Brokeback Mountain

As we hiked the trails, which included an antique spiral staircase down the side of a cliff face, I began to notice that my back and side felt sore. It was as if I had a sunburn that was isolated to a swath of my upper torso. I quietly began to do a little self-diagnosis as we walked.

• I had worn a T-shirt most of the time, and sunblock when I didn't.
• I did not brush by any poison ivy ...also, T-shirt!
• I hadn't had a clumsy accident with my back as the victim

Then, I reflected back to a trip to Boston I took in 2010 and a frightening allergic reaction I experienced. 

That story, in Part Two.