To be honest, I didn't realize shingles was such a scary disease.

I had only heard people say, "It comes when you're tired," so I thought it was no big deal. But after experiencing it myself, I realized it's definitely not something to take lightly.

It started off feeling just like a cold. I felt chilly, thought I had a fever, and had no energy at all.

I thought, "Oh, I must just be tired lately," and brushed it off. I had household chores to do and kids to take care of, so I just endured it.

But strangely, one side of my body kept feeling tingly and painful. Especially around my side, it felt like sharp stabs, and even a light touch would cause a burning pain.

I didn't realize at the time that these were early symptoms of shingles. I thought it was just muscle pain, so I tried using a pain patch and even got a massage, but nothing helped.

In fact, the pain kept getting worse. At night, I couldn't even sleep properly.

A few days later, I noticed red spots starting to appear on my skin. I thought, "What is this?" but within a day or two, they turned into blisters.

They even formed in a band-like pattern. It was only then that I felt something was off and went to the hospital.

The doctor immediately diagnosed it as shingles. He explained that anyone who has had chickenpox in the past can get it, and it can reactivate when your immune system is weakened. I was in a state of sleep deprivation and high stress at the time, so I fit the criteria perfectly.

The most important thing is the timing of treatment, he said. It's crucial to take antiviral medication within 72 hours of the rash appearing. Fortunately, I went to the hospital within that time frame and got my prescription right away. I was really shocked to learn that if you miss this window, it can lead to long-lasting pain, commonly known as postherpetic neuralgia.

Even after starting treatment, the pain didn't go away immediately. The area where the blisters formed continued to sting and throb.

Even the slightest brush of clothing hurt, and I felt sensitive to the wind. Thankfully, since I took the medication quickly, it gradually improved over time. After about two weeks, the blisters started to scab over and slowly healed.

What I felt most strongly after going through this is that "this is not a disease you can just tough out at home."

In the beginning, it looks like a cold, so it's easy to brush it off, but once the pain starts, it's already spreading along the nerves, so you must seek medical treatment.

Especially, starting treatment within 72 hours is really important. If you miss that, I've heard the pain can last for months or even years.

I've also learned that prevention is really important. Shingles doesn't just end after one occurrence; it can recur.

In the U.S., the Shingrix vaccine is the most widely used for shingles prevention.

It's generally recommended for adults over 50, and in cases of weakened immunity, younger individuals may also consider getting vaccinated.

It involves two doses (given 2 to 6 months apart) and is known to have over 90% efficacy.

Depending on insurance, many people find that their costs are reduced, so they often proceed after consulting with their primary care physician. The vaccine is reported to have over 90% effectiveness.

It's usually recommended starting at age 50, but I've heard that these days, people with weakened immunity or high stress are also getting vaccinated early.

Now that I've recovered a lot, I've become much more mindful of my lifestyle habits. I try to get enough sleep and avoid overexerting myself.

No matter how many household chores there are, I've learned that I shouldn't ignore the signals my body sends.

If you ever feel strange pain or tingling on one side of your body, don't just brush it off.

Especially if you start to see something on your skin, it's best to go to the hospital right away.

Shingles can be managed effectively with prompt action, but if you delay, it can lead to a long and difficult recovery.