While others are still in blissful mood occupying our new and spacy office at Metrocity in Matang here in the state capital, I have been badly down with shingles for nearly three weeks.
This is the second time that this viral infection got the better of me – I first had it while studying in Lower Six in 1973.
What started as a minor laceration later developed into a very painful rash covering half of my abdomen and into the middle of my back.
An old Iban belief had it that shingles – locally known as kayap –completely encircles one’s body – that could be fatal. On both occasions its length only covered half of my body; that has perhaps resulted in my prolonged existence in telling this tale of misery. Put simply, this goes to say, “I live to tell”.
Upon checking with Google, I found out that shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus – the same virus that causes chickenpox.
After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in the nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles.
This actually confirms what Dr Faizal Ghazali of Faizal Clinic in Kota Samarahan told me on my second day of having the dreaded infection when I went to seek treatment at his clinic.
He assured me that shingles is not a life-threatening condition but it could be very painful which I found out to be true in my case over nearly three weeks. As I write, I still feel the nagging pain.
I remember when I got infected in 1973, it was below the stomach. Probably it could be attributed to my learning to cycle within the Sibu Methodist School compound under the watchful eyes of our warden Mr Ling.
I needed to learn cycling because during every school recess my female classmates Rohani (now Datuk Seri), Ivy Ngui and others would “bully” me to go to Kampung Nyabor to buy Malay kuih.
I was lucky enough to own an old bicycle in my second month in town, courtesy of my eldest brother Edward who won a billiard game. The loser, also his friend, instead of paying him RM30, traded in his bicycle for the cash instead.
Upon getting the very painful rash then (46 years ago that was), I decided to go home to our Saratok longhouse to seek treatment. My grandma who was at home when I reached the longhouse said it was truly kayap.
She watered the rusty blade of my late great granduncle and namesake Tawi Bungin’s parang ilang – I was named after him at birth – and used the water to cleanse my “rashes”.
Iban belief was that the blade that had been bathed in enemy’s blood could help to cure shingles.
Tawi’s two head trophies (now buried) were testaments to his war conquest. But it was my uncle Ujih Untan (now deceased), dad’s first cousin, who cured my kayap just by spitting the juice of betel nut and sirih on it.
He was said to have dreamt of being bequeathed such curing power by our legendary folklore hero Keling of Panggau Libau (The Raised World). Ujih, who lived until the ripe age of 95, also had a head trophy as proof of his prowess in battle.
This time around I was introduced by my adopted brother, JKR pensioner James Buang, 72, to another war hero Ajai, who is under the employment of the Christian Ecumenical Centre in Jalan Stampin, Kuching.
Ajai also used the same healing process as Ujih and thanks to him I am almost totally cured.
According to sources, Ajai who once served in the armed forces, was involved in a number of encounters with the enemies and killed a few of them.
However, hitherto, there has been no confirmation whether he was bestowed with any curing power such as Ujih’s. Anyway, I do believe so if his sirih-pinang spit out on my shingles was anything to go by.
According to a research, almost every one out of five people in Malaysia will develop shingles also known as herpes zoster, in their lifetime.
Anyone who has recovered from chickenpox may develop shingles; even children can get shingles.
However, the risk of shingles increases as you get older. Most people who develop shingles have only one episode during their lifetime. However, a person can have a second or even a third episode – I pray that there is no third episode for me.
On the positive side, shingles cannot be passed from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles, the varicella zoster virus, can spread from a person with active shingles to cause chickenpox in someone who had never had chickenpox or received chickenpox vaccine.
The virus is spread through direct contact with fluid from the rash blisters caused by shingles, Dr Faizal explained to me.
A person with active shingles can spread the virus when the rash is in the blister-phase. He or she is not infectious before the blisters appear. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer infectious, the doctor pointed out.
He added, shingles is less contagious than chickenpox and the risk of a person with shingles spreading the virus is low if the rash is covered.
Many people comprising family members, relatives and friends wished me speedy recovery. Some even called me offering to treat me to meals including lunch and dinner.
Their concern really lightened my pain. However, I had to decline quite a number of such meal invitations as my appetite level has been at its lowest during the last few weeks.
Nevertheless, hereby I would like to record my thanks and appreciation to all concerned friends and relatives, especially to brother James and Ajai.
