Health & lifestyle

What exactly is Shingles?

YOU have probably heard of chickenpox but have you heard of shingles?

Shingles is a serious disease caused by a reactivation of the chickenpox virus. If you’ve had chickenpox you can develop shingles.

Shingles causes a blistering rash and one in 10 people experience nerve pain, which can be severe and can last sometimes months or even years.

What causes shingles?

If you have had chickenpox, the inactive virus stays in your nerve cells near your spine. When shingles develops, it’s because the virus has become active again. Usually, a person will only get shingles once in their lives, but it can sometimes occur again if the person has a weakened immune system.

What are the symptoms of shingles?

Shingles presents as a skin rash characterised by pain and blistering. It can affect any part of the body, but usually appears on one side of the face or body. Symptoms include: • pain • a burning, tingling or itching sensation • a stabbing sensation • sensitivity to touch • numbness in the affected area of the body • sensitivity to light • fever and/or headache • fatigue

See your doctor as soon as possible if you are experiencing any shingles symptoms, as the sooner you start treatment, the more effective the treatment is.

To prevent passing the virus on, keep the rash covered with clothing or a dressing and always clean your hands after you touch the rash or change any dressing.

How is shingles treated?

Shingles gets better without any complications in many people. In others, several complications can occur.

Shingles is generally diagnosed by a doctor, who will usually examine you and may test the fluid from the blisters.

There is no cure for shingles, but it can be treated with antiviral medication.

Treatment works best if started within three days and should ideally be started within 24 hours of the rash appearing.

Can shingles be passed on to others?

You can’t catch shingles from another person with shingles, but the virus responsible for chickenpox can be passed on by someone with shingles, to a person who has not had chickenpox (disease) or been vaccinated against it. This can happen when a person comes into contact with the fluid from the blisters.

*Source: Queensland Health

Rag Review

BY THE RUSTY FORK

I MUST say, I was a little hesitant when Mrs Fork told me that we were meeting mates in the Cooroy Business Park.

Yet, I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived at 20 20 Distillery. This little gem opened its doors in December and draws on the abundance of fruits found on the Sunshine Coast to create their signature gins and whiskeys.

They pride themselves on delivering high-end spirits made from high-quality ingredients, including locally sourced raspberries and plums with spring water sourced from Cooroy Mountain.

Their single malt whiskey is distilled in a traditional copper pot which sits pride of place in the middle of the bar. Being an accustomed gin drinker, it was hard to make a choice from the extensive menu.

With offerings such as Holy Quandong, Pink Sauce and James Bond, I decided to let someone else do the thinking and opted for a “Gin Flight”.

Mrs Fork and I sampled four half serve samples of these gins which were served with paired garnishes and tonic water on the side. It was a good introduction to taste a few of the gins made at the distillery.

The Gin Flight is delivered with a quick masterclass from the very knowledgeable staff.

Besides providing for lovers of gin, there is also a selection of beers (including Cooroy Bitter) and fruit sodas.

Also on offer are refreshing gin seltzers (gin with fruit flavoured soda), and a good selection of charcuterie and tapas.

It’s a friendly space where you would feel equally comfortable coming from work in your high viz or being in your glad rags. And we love the Distillery Dog Rehydration Station for fourlegged friends!

As it was too good to leave behind flavours of crushed raspberries, we purchased a bottle of Pink Gin which has become a favourite for an afternoon tipple.

As the weather warms up, I’m sure 20 20 will become a good choice for a relaxed Sunday afternoon session.

The tasting room is open every Friday from 3pm to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 8pm.

Service 10/10 Food 8/10 Atmosphere 7/10 (dim the lights a little, boys!)

Individual Eye Care Solutions.

We provide guidance to enhance, transform and preserve your vision through:

Decades of clinical experience Advanced Diagnostic Equipment Behavioural Optometry for all Ages

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Mobile Service at Cooroy 19October to 9November2021

Freescreening also at 90 Goodchap St, Noosaville Early, late and Saturday appointments

We are locally owned and operated and use Australian made lenses and Australian designed frames

Living with Lyme disease really sucks!

BY LEONIE SHANHAN

LYME disease, ever heard of it? Apparently, it is not in Australia! Yet it’s estimated 500,000 people are suffering from it including many who live on the Sunshine Coast.

However, the Australian Government won’t recognise it or allow GP doctors to treat those affected, leaving them with multi-system health symptoms and treated like lepers.

As a Sunshine Coast local, I am best known for my organic gardening and Edible School Gardens Programs.

But I have been dealing with Lyme disease for more than seven years, after getting one tick bite at Wamuran and another at Cooran.

Some of my symptoms include severe chronic fatigue (I couldn’t do my school gardens work any longer), brain fog, flu-like symptoms, feeling like I had thousands of bugs crawling under my skin, pain, heart palpitations, and many more.

There are 150 different symptoms with Lyme disease, and it often imitates other diseases like MS, Alzheimer’s, Fibromyalgia, ADHD and more.

After sending blood to the USA to confirm that I had Lyme disease, I started researching Lyme and looking for natural treatments to heal my failing body.

What kept me going was my decision to find solutions to not only heal myself from Lyme disease but also to help others who have little support in this country.

Part of this support is my new book, ‘Lyme disease Sucks, the trauma, the truth & the triumph’ which describes my journey and all the different treatments that I tried - many successful, some not.

The book gives a ‘toolbox’ of symptomatology, healing techniques, tools, treatments, routines, life skills and healers.

Is this book only for people who suspect they have Lyme disease or actually have it? Definitely not.

This book ‘Lyme disease Sucks, the trauma, the truth & the triumph’ was written to give people an understanding of what a ‘Lyme life’ looks like, so they can give compassion and support to those suffering.

Most of all this is a story of courage and hope. See more online at: www.Leonieshanahan.com.au

Leonie Shanahan with her book “Lyme Disease Sucks”.

BreastScreen mobile service returns

THE BreastScreen Queensland mobile service will visit Cooroy from 19 October to 9 November 2021, to enable women in the area to access free, high quality breast cancer screening. BreastScreen Queensland Sunshine Coast Medical Director, Dr Alison Roper, said that finding breast cancer early, when it is smaller, means that women have more options for treatment. “Early detection can literally save lives.” Women between the ages of 50 and 74, are strongly encouraged to have a breast screen every two years. In the Noosa Hinterland, only 52 per cent of women in the 50 to 74 year age group are having regular breast screens, compared with the Sunshine Coast average of 55 per cent. Less than 47 per cent of women in the 50 to 54 year age group are taking advantage of the free breast cancer screening provided by this mobile service and at six permanent locations across the Sunshine Coast including Noosaville, Gympie and Nambour. “Studies show that women in the 50 – 74 year age group benefit the most from regular breast screening, but the free service is also available to women aged 40 – 49 and over 75 years,” Dr Roper said. The BreastScreen Queensland Program is provided free to women aged 40 years and over, with no doctor’s referral needed. To make an appointment call 13 20 50, or visit www.breastscreen.qld.gov.au.

Help Carol raise money for breast cancer research

COOROY Chamber of Commerce Secretary, Carol Christensen, is hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

The event will be held at Saw & Mill Cooroy on Friday 29 October at 7.30am.

Carol told the Cooroy Rag they will have a stall at Octoberfest on 9 October at Saw & Mill to promote the Pink Ribbon Breakfast.

“We will be selling tickets for the breakfast and taking orders for Buttercup Cupcakes (to be collected at the breakfast) as well as selling raffle tickets and raising awareness that early detection can save lives.

“At the breakfast, we will auction some items as well as have a guest speaker.”

Carol said Saw & Mill, Cooroy RSL and Cooroy Hotel are all helping by donating a percentage of their schnitzel’s sales for the month of October.

“So, grab a schnitzel for breast cancer. As I keep saying, we live in a great community.”

Anyone who would like to donate prizes for raffles and auction items to help make a real difference to Australians affected by breast cancer can contact Carol at secretary@ cooroy.com.au.

Donations can be made to Carol’s fundraising page at: https://fundraise.nbcf.org. au/fundraisers/carolchristensen.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible with a receipt via email.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is Australia’s leading national body for funding game-changing breast cancer research and its funds are raised entirely by the Australian public.

Research is the best way to prevent death and improve how breast cancer is diagnosed, managed and treated.

NBCF is working towards one goal: zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030. Together we can help them get there.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given for the NoosaCare Inc Annual General Meeting 2021

DATE Wednesday 13th October 2021 TIME 2:30pm start HELD Carramar Community Centre 186 Cooroy Noosa Road, Tewantin