Martina Voss-Tecklenburg
“Shingles? I didn’t see any personal risk there.”
© F. Rossbach
There have been three cases of shingles in her family. And yet the former competitive athlete was very shocked when she herself fell ill with it in the summer of 2021.
In Germany, almost every adult between 50 and 60 carries varicella. This also applies to Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, former national player and national coach of the German women’s national soccer team. Illness, stress or even a weakening immune system due to age can cause the virus to break out again – but then as shingles (herpes zoster). Statistically, one in three adults will develop shingles during their lifetime. In addition to the typical skin rashes with blisters, those affected often suffer from very severe nerve pain – sometimes for years. Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (55) also contracted shingles in the summer of 2021 – one of the around 400,000 cases here every year. She talks about her experiences at BRIGITTE:
Ms. Voss-Tecklenburg, you are physically fit and have always done a lot of sport. Have you ever thought you might get shingles?
Although there have been three cases of shingles in my family, I didn’t see the personal risk for myself. I am active, in the middle of life and felt fit even at the time of the illness. I was very shocked that I got this disease.
Were you particularly stressed at the time?
I was on vacation, so actually in a relaxed and stress-free situation. I was lying in the lounge chair and suddenly had the feeling that something had stabbed me in the back. I didn’t take it seriously at first. Two days later I was in massive pain and wasn’t feeling well at all. I then went to a doctor and was diagnosed with shingles.
What happened then?
The symptoms changed dramatically in the first few days. After the initial itching, burning and stinging, there was a rash that spread from the back down the back to the stomach. It hurt so much, I had nerve and movement pain. I wasn’t feeling well physically at all, I had a general, total malaise. I was used to pain from football, I’ve had a lot of injuries. But it really shocked me that shingles affected me so much, I really suffered a lot. I also couldn’t sleep at night, I woke up sometimes and didn’t know where to go, how to deal with it or what to do. I went to the doctor almost every day to deal with the pain.
How long did the illness affect you?
I struggled with the illness for almost nine months. After the external symptoms subsided, it still continued to affect me. Feeling this nerve pain again and again while moving was the worst. I was treated well and supported with medication.
What did you find particularly bad about your shingles disease?
A big challenge was dealing with the pain and having the energy to fight it. And then also having to deal with this illness over a long period of time, which also affected my movement and the perception of pain in everyday life. And it was a challenge that I was on vacation at the time of the illness, so I actually wanted to have a good time. I couldn’t enjoy the vacation or find peace for myself. I noticed that it took a lot of energy to deal with this illness. Since she accompanied me for a long time, it was always very present in my mind. That’s why I can only say that shingles is a serious illness.
That does something to you, doesn’t it?
The experience of my own illness has definitely changed my awareness of the risk of developing shingles. I try to make people aware of this in everyday life and would like to let other people know that shingles is a serious illness. And that people who have had chickenpox are at risk of developing shingles and should therefore talk to their doctor about it as a preventative measure.
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg is also a guest at the digital one Reading event shingles prevention by BRIGITTE & GSK on October 12, 2023 at 6 p.m and will report live about their experiences there. So if you would like to experience it exclusively and personally or perhaps have your own questions for the other shingles experts, then take advantage of the opportunity and get in touch until October 9th via guertelrose-aufklaerung-leserevent.de for the latest BRIGITTE talk.