An Australian radio host has detailed the debilitating viral infection she contracted during a luxurious Bali holiday.
Jodie Oddy, who co-hosts Nova 919’s Adelaide breakfast show with Andrew Hayes, opened up about her recent holiday from hell in which she came down with a case of shingles.
Taking to Instagram, the Channel Ten reporter shared a photo of herself relaxing in the resort’s beachside pool, while the next picture saw her lying in bed covered in a red rash across her chest and shoulders.
‘Insta V Reality. Shingles for the win,’ she captioned her post. ‘Good thanks.’
Jodie later revealed the pain was so horrific that she went straight to emergency the moment she returned from the getaway.
‘I got off the plane and went straight to hospital,’ she told the Adelaide Advertiser.
‘They did all the tests and I was told it is definitely shingles.’
Several fans took to the comments to wish the star a speedy recovery, with many sharing their own experiences with the viral infection.
An Australian radio host has detailed the debilitating viral infection she contracted during a luxurious Bali holiday
‘I have had shingles twice the most painful experience worse than anything I have had,’ one user wrote.
‘Oooh that looks like it hurts love. You poor thing! Take care x x,’ added another.
‘S**t that’s brutal all the feels hun nurse here shingles is sooo painful,’ one commented.
Jodie appeared to be living it up in Bali before coming down with a case of shingles.
The radio star was seen lounging by the pool, enjoying an evening cocktail with her husband Greg, and watching the AFL from inside a sports bar.
She even kept up with her fitness regime and was seen posing with other gym-goers after a sweaty workout.
Jodie Oddy, who co-hosts Nova 919’s Adelaide breakfast show in with Andrew Hayes, opened up about her recent holiday from hell in which she came down with a case of shingles
Jodie’s infection comes after the announcement that millions of Aussies can now get a free vaccination for painful shingles.
People who are classified as ‘moderate to high risk’ aged between 18- 64 now qualify for the immunisation.
Those now eligible include patients who have underlying health conditions, such as HIV or stage five kidney disease, or those receiving certain treatments.
Since November 1 last year, two doses of the vaccine were free for over-65s, and Indigenous Aussies over-50 under the National Immunisation Program.
An extension of the federal government initiative means that immunocompromised, patients aged under-65 no longer have to fork out $560 to receive the jab.
‘Making the shingles vaccine free for more Australians is not just good for their hip pocket, it’s also good for their health,’ federal health minister Mark Butler said.
The new eligibility is the result of medical experts pushing for the change.
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of varicella zoster virus – which is the same childhood virus that causes chickenpox.
The viral infection is often painful, with sufferers covered in a rash of blisters that typically appears on one side of their body
The rash can also be itchy.
Shingles can also be debilitating, as along with sharp, jabbing pain, patients also have the potential to develop post-disease complications.
Most people suffering from shingles can expect symptoms to last two to three weeks.
But they can also experience nerve pain for months.
Almost all adults aged over-50 carry the inactive virus that can trigger shingles, while one in three will develop the viral infection.
Those who are immunocompromised have a two times higher chance at developing the virus.
Patients are urged to speak to their GP to check if they are eligible.