One morning, I think it was Monday, I noticed something odd behind my right knee, like a scratch. It's been a really cold April and I have not been wearing shorts or a bathing suit. I couldn't think how I could have gotten it. The next morning, it had moved up my leg and multiplied extensively. Was it some sort of allergy? I had eaten lamb chops and celeriac and parsnips recently, but not for the first time. 
I called my doctor's office. These days, I never get to speak to anyone right away. A nurse called me back. "We don't have any appointments today. You need to go to urgent care." "Urgent care? I hate urgent care. They are quacks and weren't even covered by my insurance the last time I went." "I'm sorry you had a bad experience with urgent care, but we can't see you today." "What might it be?" "Maybe some kind of infection." Google told me that in most cases, whether you go to your PCP or Urgent Care, you will need a referral to a dermatologist. Using my doctor's massive health care system's online portal, I uploaded the photo and asked for a referral. I have yet to hear back.
The next morning, it didn't seem to be getting better, so I drove the 20 minutes to urgent care, thinking I wouldn't be very late to work. Surprise! Urgent care doesn't open until 8 am...good thing it wasn't urgent. The nurse was a man, the nurse practitioner a woman, they were wonderful. She knew right away it was shingles, and regretted that my doctor hadn't been able to see me the day before, because I could have started medication then. She was sympathetic and a little surprised that I wasn't in excruciating pain, which is apparently the more common reaction. She said if it didn't hurt yet, it was unlikely to start. She also said it was connected to the nerves and would stay on that side of my body. She gave me prescriptions for an antiviral medication and pain patches.
Then I drove back to the pharmacy, another 20 minutes. No, the prescription wasn't ready. I would have to wait 20 minutes. I realized I didn't have water with me and wanted to start taking the medicine, so I bought a bottle of water (even though I hated to) and eventually got the antiviral, for a $20 copay. They didn't give me the pain patches.
Then I drove to work, where I was more or less fine all day. Today, it has spread to my buttock and more intimate areas. It is irritating, but not really painful, except as it dries up. I told my volunteer boss I couldn't come in after reading the material they gave me that said I should stay home.
The funny thing? I was scheduled for a shingles shot 2 weeks ago, but when I showed up, they said I shouldn't get it at the same time as the COVID booster. Plus I was at the wrong office and had a Zoom meeting at 1:00, so no time to go to the further office. After all this is over, I will make my 3rd appointment for a second COVID booster. Every time, it is a fairly involved process of answering a lot of questions. I would think they could use some of the information from the cancelled shot...Life...
