When my friend had shingles, it was so bad that she presented at the emergency room saying that she was having a heart attack.
Like LandingGear, I too understood that it was caused by having had chicken pox as a child, not by stress. It's a virus that apparently stays dormant for many, many years. Or so I was told.
Originally Posted by
Landing Gear
Also, as a reference point, if Techgirl took Vicodin for pain, that was some pain. I was prescribed this drug once--when I broke a bone.