What are you all up to

I just read up on the NHS age groups for the shingles vaccine and it says 70 or 78 but over 80s are less likely to benefit. Horrible thing to get, our son had it at 16 and then it lies dormant I believe. So sorry to hear about Husky's wife.

So sorry to hear about your wife husky. So very painful. It must be really miserable for her. I had shingles many years ago and qualified for the jab aged 70. OH qualified at 79 so hopefully we are now both covered. I think I remember the nurse telling me that you can only get shingles if you have previously had chicken pox and that you can't catch shingles from someone who has chicken pox which was a relief to hear as we always worried about getting shingles when our grandchildren had chicken pox. 

OOPS At least you'll be able to take the mask off after tomorrow, and hopefully MIL will have got rid of the bugs before she & your OH get back from their trip.

Sorry to hear about your wife's shingles, HD.

That's a lovely looking cocker that your son has just got, Goldie. The family will have lots of fun with him.], I'm sure.

I think I remember the nurse telling me that you can only get shingles if you have previously had chicken pox.

I find that surprising as I understood that it was the same bug that caused both conditions. Having had chickenpox as a toddler I assumed it would have provided some sort of immunity.

CY. Apparently the chicken pox virus lies dormant and can then be triggered off again as shingles for various reasons - low immune system, stress etc. You can certainly get shingles more than once.

Information from the NHS website relating to shingles:

What is shingles?
Shingles (also known as herpes zoster) is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus.

After people have chickenpox – usually as a child – the virus travels up a nerve root and lies dormant (inactive) inside you, near the spine. Later in life the virus can reactivate and cause shingles. Why this happens is not completely clear, but the immune system weakens as we get older making it more likely for the virus to reactivate.

Shingles tends to occur more often in older people and is usually characterised by a painful rash on one side of the body, which develops into fluid-filled blisters that can be painful and itchy.

Yes, it's like the herpes cold sore virus, it sits there on the nerve endings but early treatment can reduce the worst effects.

What a change today, beautiful sunshine, blue skies and no wind

Another coat of varnish applied and the plastering done.

OH made a trip to the British Red Cross shop with various donations of furniture we no longer need/want.

The pile for the charity shops in town is growing too, I will win this battle yet, I am on a mission to de clutter ................ again.

Quick cuppa and catch up on here then off to the nurse for my pneumococcal injection.

Yes the best way to deal with shingles and help reduce the horrible pain is to recognise it early and get treatment, I was fortunate that I got in straight away with my Dr once I'd informed the receptionist that I suspected it was shingles. The tablets help fight the virus that causes it, the idea is to stop it spreading through the rest of the nerves. You only get it on one side of your body at a time though, using the spine as the mid line.

You can get shingles anywhere on your body though. Very good friend of ours had it on her head and another friend had it on her face. This caused the nerve system to go haywire and if she smiles only one side of her mouth moves but downwards. A pretty dreadful and painful condition and having had it twice I can't wait for the jab (but will have to).

Early start this morning as I acted as taxi to Manchester airport. Couldn't believe the amount of traffic on the M56 on the return route to North Wales at 6.30 in the morning. Like rush hour. Dreadful weather with very heavy rain and I don't know how there wasn't an accident as I saw at least 4 collisions narrowly avoided but only by quick thinking evasive manoeuvres.

Decided to do some shopping on the way home. Not often I'm sitting outside a supermarket waiting for it to open these days.

Like TG, started on a big clear out, took some stuff to the sales room, makes a change from the charity shop trips but probably won't bring in much money after all the fees etc. Came back with several empty boxes which I will attempt to fill up again, this might clear a space to redecorate a bedroom but at present we can't do anything till we get ourselves sorted. Why we've got so much must be from years of moving and never really parting company with things that looked ok in one home but not in another...

 Edit..It's very quiet on CT, is everyone booking holidays?