Former 'Bachelorette' Ali Fedotowsky Is Diagnosed With Shingles At 36
Former Bachelorette star Ali Fedotowsky shared surprising news on Instagram with fans on Thursday: She has shingles.
Shingles is a painful condition that impacts one out of every three people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It happens when the varicella zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, reactivates in a person’s body after they have already had chickenpox.
Former Bachelorette star Ali Fedotowsky shared surprising news on Instagram with fans on Thursday: She has shingles.
Ali, 36, started off by saying that she decided to speak out after fans had noticed that she’d been hiding her face in posts lately.
“I don’t really know why I wanted to hide it. I think it’s mostly because I didn’t want the added stress or pressure of the Internet while I was trying to rest and heal,” she wrote in the caption. “In fact, stress is likely the reason I got #shingles."
Shingles, in case you’re not familiar with it, is a painful condition that impacts one out of every three people in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Also known as herpes zoster, it’s a painful rash that develops on one side of the face or body. The rash looks like blisters that usually scab over in seven to 10 days and fully clears up within two to four weeks, the CDC says, noting that people can also get a fever, headache, chills, and upset stomach with the virus.
Shingles happen when the varicella zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, reactivates in a person’s body after they have already had chickenpox, the CDC says. Worth noting: You can’t get shingles from someone who has the condition.
The reason why some people get shingles is unclear, but it could be due to lowered immunity to infections as you grow older, the Mayo Clinic says. (Shingles is more common in adults over 50 and in people who have weakened immune systems, the Mayo Clinic says.) Shingles can have complications, including vision loss, neurological issues, and nerve pain.
While shingles is more common in older people, Ali said that, “based on my DMs, I’m realizing it’s getting more and more common in younger people.
“From what I understand you get it from a weakened immune system due to stress or other health-related issues. (Which I’m looking into),” she continued.
Ali shared video and photos of her rash. “I remember I kept itching my head and felt this electricity underneath my skin (my nerves acting up),” Ali wrote, adding that she’s “soooo grateful” her doctor diagnosed her early and got her on the right medication.
Treatment usually involves antiviral medicines like acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir, and OTC or prescription pain medication, the CDC says. Wet compresses, calamine lotion, and colloidal oatmeal baths may also help if you’re struggling with itching, per the CDC.
“It was a day before I even had a tiny little pimple-like spot on my face which I wouldn’t have thought twice about…and days before I had multiple spots that ended up causing swelling and blurred vision in my eye,” Ali said.
“So needless to say, I’m trying to limit the stress in my life and hoping my vision clears up,” Ali said. She also points out that she’s “grateful” that the swelling has gone down.
“I hope my story will help others detect it early,” Ali said. “I didn’t even think it was possible to get it at my age.”
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