Sharing five prodromal symptoms experienced before a shingles diagnosis.

Sharing five prodromal symptoms experienced before being diagnosed with shingles and hospitalization. Additionally, I have prepared information on immune-boosting foods and preventive measures that are helpful for shingles prevention if you are interested.

 

Shingles is a disease that occurs when individuals who were infected with the chickenpox virus during childhood have the dormant varicella-zoster virus in their bodies that moves along the nerves and remains in the nerve ganglia. When the body's immunity weakens, the virus travels down the nerves to the skin, causing inflammation there, or in severe cases, the inflammation can spread throughout the body.

 

Because it is a disease that can occur when immunity drops due to stress, I included symptoms caused by stress experienced before the diagnosis of shingles.

 

✔️The first symptom is eyelid twitching.

 

I had severe under-eye twitching for a few weeks before the diagnosis.

It was a time when ongoing family worries and overwhelming work at the hospital overlapped. At first, I experienced intermittent twitching under my eyes, and later it worsened to the point where others could notice and tell me. Even after taking magnesium, there was no improvement, and when I went to the hospital for an MRI, the results showed no abnormalities. Looking back later, I realize that stress was at its peak, which likely caused a decrease in my immune system and was a precursor to shingles.

 

 

✔️The second symptom is tinnitus.

 

Tinnitus has also started. When I lie down to sleep, I hear a very loud ringing sound, making it difficult to fall asleep. Tinnitus is one of the conditions where the cause is often unknown, and there is no definitive treatment.

The shingles affected my ear, but I think it was a prodromal symptom indicating a decrease in immunity caused by stress.

 

✔️The third symptoms are headache and muscle pain.

 

Tinnitus and mild ear pain accompanied by headaches and muscle aches appeared. It is said to be a symptom caused by the virus spreading along the nerves. I neglected it, thinking that the headache was due to poor sleep caused by the tinnitus and that my ears were not feeling well.

It was a prodromal symptom of shingles.

 

✔️ Fourth fatigue and fever.

 

Initially, I experienced mild ear pain, followed by headache, fatigue, and fever.

It is said that this happens because the virus reactivates inside the body, triggering an immune response.

At the time, I thought it was just a cold, but it turned out to be an early symptom of shingles.

 

✔️ Fifth symptom: ear pain.

 

Initially, I experienced mild ear pain, but since I had never had otitis media before, I thought it was just a cold or something minor and neglected it. When I woke up in the morning, I felt a sharp sensation inside my ear and it was so painful that I heard a ringing sound, so I went to the hospital immediately.

After listening to the symptoms at the ENT clinic and examining the inside of the ear, they said it looks like shingles and advised going to a larger hospital.

This was the final warning sign of shingles, indicating that you should go to the hospital quickly.

 

Foods and Preventive Measures Good for Immunity

 

Vegetables rich in minerals and antioxidants

Vegetables are rich in antioxidants and minerals, helping to strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation.

If you have shingles, I recommend consuming plant-based foods such as carrots, broccoli, spinach, and cabbage.

 

➡️ Chicken rich in amino acids

 

Chicken contains abundant amino acids, which can help boost resistance against the shingles virus. In particular, the lysine and arginine components found in chicken may help alleviate shingles symptoms. However, it is advisable to avoid and limit intake of fatty parts.

 

➡️Vitamin C intake

Vitamins are essential nutrients that play a crucial role in boosting our body's immunity and are beneficial for preventing shingles. While it is good to consume vitamin C through fruits, since it is easily excreted through urine, supplementing with vitamins in the form of supplements is also recommended.

 

➡️Stress management

 

Above all, stress management is important for shingles. When stress accumulates, immunity decreases, so managing stress helps prevent shingles. I also healed in nature and exercised to manage stress.

 

I was hospitalized because I only had a slight itching sensation in my ear, so fortunately, I did not have severe rashes among the shingles symptoms. However, since I experienced difficulty with other symptoms, I am working hard to prevent shingles from recurring, as it can relapse at any time.

 

Shingles is a disease that can affect anyone.

 

Just be aware of the warning signs that you might otherwise overlook.

I hope this helps prevent shingles.

It is my hope.