Chen Shucheng, 76, Recalls Shingles Ordeal: "[So Painful] It Felt Like Being Bitten By Thousands Of Red Ants"

It may be over 10 years since Chen Shucheng suffered from shingles, but the painful memory is still fresh in his mind. 

It was recently Shingles Action Week (Feb 23 – Mar 1), and to raise awareness about the painful condition that can affect almost anyone, three veteran Mediacorp actors, Shucheng, 76, Richard Low, 73, and Zhu Houren, 71 (aka The OG Gang) came together to share their experiences.

Shucheng revealed that he had shingles more than a decade ago. He was on holiday in Batam with friends when he began feeling unusually fatigued, but initially brushed it off as work-related exhaustion.

When he returned to Singapore, he noticed small red spots on the right side of his waist. What began as only itchiness soon spread into a 10cm-wide patch that developed blisters. Mistaking it for eczema, he did not think much of it until his wife, worried it might affect his work, urged him to see a doctor. That was when Shucheng was diagnosed with shingles. 

The experience was extremely painful for him. 

“The stinging felt like being bitten by thousands of red ants,” he told Zaobao. He added that he struggled to sleep, felt constantly lethargic, and lost interest in everything, saying it made him feel “as though [he] was dying.”

He followed his doctor’s instructions to rest and stick to light meals. Thankfully, after undergoing treatment, the blisters eventually crusted over, and he made a full recovery within three to four weeks. He also considered himself fortunate that the shingles appeared on his waist rather than his back, which he believes would have been even more uncomfortable.

“Health comes first,” he advised, urging others to see a doctor at the first sign of illness, as early treatment can lead to a quicker recovery and less pain.

Richard’s experience with shingles happened 12 years ago when he was 61.

He first noticed a small, painless red dot on his left eyelid while washing his face, but did not suspect shingles, assuming it was either dirt or a mosquito bite.

The next day, the spot grew larger and became slightly swollen. Although he saw a doctor, it was not diagnosed, and he went ahead with his planned trip to China.

"On the third day in China, the red spot began to fester, forming blisters filled with white fluid. It quickly spread to my forehead, covering a large area," he recalled. 

Unlike Shucheng, Richard experienced little pain, only some swelling and itchiness, so he did not initially think much of it. It wasn’t until he met a friend who previously had shingles that he was warned to seek immediate medical attention or risk losing his sight.

He received IV treatment at a hospital in China for two consecutive days, up to three hours each day, which helped control the spread and allowed him to continue his trip. About a week after returning to Singapore, he resumed treatment and recovered within two to three weeks, though his eyelid still itches in strong sunlight.

Houren is the most fortunate of the trio, having not experienced shingles himself, crediting it to having the "strongest immunity" among them. 

However, he shared that his daughter-in-law, who's in her 30s, was diagnosed with shingles last April, three months before she was due to give birth. She noticed small, uneven, itchy red spots on her neck and being aware of the risks, promptly sought medical help.

She also consulted her obstetrician about whether she could take medication, and thankfully, early detection and treatment allowed her to recover within a week without the rash spreading. 

“To be honest, our whole family panicked when we heard about shingles, but my daughter-in-law remained calm and reassured us everything would be fine," he said. 

Houren also shared that while doctors note people over 50 who have had chickenpox are more likely to develop shingles when their immunity declines, younger people can still be affected. He makes a point of asking doctors for advice during check-ups and encourages those around him to do the same.

Photos: chenshucheng21, oggangsg/ Instagram