I felt completely overwhelmed. A small bump on my stomach and a nagging pain in my ribs led me to Google, and, well, the results were concerning: shingles. With a mix of hope and apprehension, I made an appointment to see my doctor, convinced it would be nothing serious.
But, it turns out Dr. Google was spot on. My doctor took one look at me and confirmed, “I’m sorry, but you definitely have shingles.” She explained that I had been pushing myself too hard while marathon training. “This isn’t a mild case,” she warned. “Your body is signaling that you need to take a step back.”
The painful viral infection, which presents as a debilitating rash and nerve pain that can linger, comes from the dormant chickenpox virus in your body. It tends to flare up when your immune system is compromised or when you’re stressed out. I was taken aback. Shingles? I always thought I had years before I needed to think about that—after all, I’m only 43. Leaving the doctor’s office, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of sadness; I dreaded what the coming week held as the rash worsened.
When I shared my diagnosis with friends—most of whom are ambitious women in their 30s and 40s—they almost all had similar stories. Take Ahna, for instance: she was juggling planning a school talent show, managing multiple church events, training for a marathon, and working full-time while raising two kids. And then there was Kyna, who was balancing a hospital research job with studying for the MCAT. Veronica had just started a demanding new role and was already facing workplace drama. Kinsee, meanwhile, was trying to manage work during the pandemic while caring for her kids and overseeing their remote schooling. (Interestingly, she mentioned she had shingles twice again afterward.) One friend even got shingles in an unusual spot—her vulva, of all places. “I couldn’t sit for a month,” she recounted.
They too were feeling the weight of what many consider just part of everyday life—having to hold everything together amidst overwhelming demands. Many of them echoed something familiar: their doctors linked their shingles to stress. “My doctor said it’s due to my stress,” Ahna shared. “Once you get shingles, it makes you more prone to future outbreaks, so I need to keep stress levels in check.” Easier said than done.
I’ve taken to calling shingles the “scourge of millennial women” (and some young Gen-Xers) because we’re stuck in this tricky age bracket. If you’re 50 and older, you can get the shingles vaccine, while those 30 and younger have likely received the chickenpox vaccine, which reduces the chances of developing shingles. Yet women aged 30 to 50 often find themselves bombarded with stress from raising school-age kids, caring for aging parents, and juggling demanding jobs—all while feeling like the world is in chaos.
Shingles cases have been on the rise across all age groups since the late 1960s, but particularly among those in their 30s and 40s. A 2016 study noted that cases among Americans under 50 quadrupled from the late 1940s to the early 2000s, and this trend has persisted through 2019. A study from March 2026 even found that younger adults with chronic conditions—such as depression, diabetes, asthma, and lung disease—were at a higher risk for shingles than healthier adults in their 50s.
Interestingly, women experience shingles more than men at virtually every age, with the most significant difference occurring among millennials. Jennifer Moffat, a microbiology and immunology professor at SUNY who has researched chickenpox and shingles for decades, explained that this is partly due to women having more susceptible immune systems and leading more stressful lives.
After receiving my diagnosis, I rushed to the pharmacy to begin a weeklong course of Valtrex. If taken early enough, it can help halt the shingles rash from spreading. A few days in, I noticed a ring of red bumps forming along my ribs, radiating to my back. It felt like tiny needles were stabbing me constantly. I took ibuprofen round the clock, struggling to get any sleep. I had to cancel my marathon plans but otherwise tried to maintain my usual routine—parenting and working while reminding myself to just take it easy.
Weeks went by, and the shingles just wouldn’t let up. While the bumps began to fade, the nerve sensations persisted, alternating between pain, itching, and this irritating tickling feeling. Imagine trying to relax while someone is constantly tickling your stomach.
The typical course of shingles lasts over a month, but for some, the pain can be a lifelong burden. If the rash appears on your face, it might even affect your vision permanently. Given how painful and debilitating shingles is, some researchers are advocating for giving millennials access to the vaccine.
“I believe everyone who wants the vaccine should be able to get it,” said Moffat. “Anyone under 50 interested in avoiding shingles should talk to their doctor about eligibility.” But why isn’t the vaccine available for younger people? Moffat speculated that this may partially stem from the fact that decision-makers tend to be male, and thus not necessarily connected to the women who are most affected.
Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt Health, pointed to a cost-benefit analysis as part of the problem. The risk of developing shingles rises significantly after age 50, he said, making it hard to justify insurance coverage for younger individuals. “The incidence of shingles is so low in that demographic that, well, the juice ain’t worth the squeeze,” he stated, likening it to not giving yellow fever vaccines to those not traveling abroad.
Furthermore, if younger individuals received the vaccine, they might require boosters later, a situation that hasn’t been adequately studied. Vaccinating all 30- and 40-year-olds would be a massive undertaking, especially since the shingles risk is relatively low for them. In fact, Schaffner noted it’s been challenging even to encourage older adults to get vaccinated. As of 2024, only one in five eligible 50-year-olds completed both vaccine doses.
The reasons behind the rising shingles cases remain unclear, but Schaffner shared a theory connecting it to the chickenpox vaccine. “When chickenpox was more common, those who recovered would frequently encounter the virus without getting sick, thanks to their previous exposure, which bolstered their immune system.” Nowadays, with fewer cases of chickenpox, those boosts are less frequent, leaving us more vulnerable to shingles.
The chickenpox vaccine effectively reduces the likelihood of getting shingles, meaning the increase in cases may also be a temporary situation. Soon enough, individuals who never had chickenpox will start reaching their 30s and 40s, likely putting a dent in shingles prevalence.
For now, though, people like me continue to battle. Here’s what I wish I had known through this ordeal: prior to the rash, you might feel symptoms on one side of your body—typically your ribs, neck, or face (though it can rarely appear on arms, legs, or even genitals). The sensations can range from burning and tingling to itching or extreme sensitivity. I noticed my ribs were tender to the touch. One to five days later, a rash appears. It’s critical, Moffat emphasized, to start an antiviral medication within 48 to 72 hours of first noticing the rash. The longer you wait, the more extensive the spread. Plus, if you’ve had shingles before, you’re at a higher risk of recurring episodes, and there’s evidence that it may run in families.
She encouraged everyone—even those under 50—to consult their doctors about the vaccine. Most insurance plans cover it for those 19 and older who are immunocompromised, which can include various conditions. Even without insurance coverage, you might still opt to pay out of pocket. The cost ranges from $470 to $600 for both doses, though discounts and coupons are available.
As for me, six weeks later, I still occasionally feel like someone is tickling my ribs, particularly when I’m trying to sleep. With my marathon ambitions now a distant memory and having endured the most challenging two months of my life, I can confidently say I’d have happily paid that amount to avoid this experience. But I’m making an effort not to let it stress me out.
