Psychosomatic
Besides being one of my favorite English words, "psychosomatic" describes that which I'm suffering now: shingles.
I didn't know people under 50 could even get shingles, but apparently anyone who's been under increased stress (see previous post) or with a weakened immune system that has had chicken pox is susceptible.
Stress? Nah. Not me.
We had an estate sale on the family farm this past weekend, and as it turns out, my aunt who came down to help out had a case of shingles misdiagnosed as an insect bite. We rushed her to the emergency room where they diagnosed her correctly and sent her home with medicine. They told her to avoid anyone who hadn't had chicken pox. I had, so I didn't worry.
Even though most of the medical sources I've consulted say that shingles is not contagious, I've no doubt got it myself.
It started last night with an innocent itch, which by this morning had bloomed into a nice pink splotch. I called my doctor, who squeezed me in for an appointment and confirmed my suspicion.
So now I'm on a regimen of anti-viral drugs and have a follow-up in a week. The bad news is that I have all the symptoms of an infection: headache, fatigue, mild nausea. The good news? The rash hasn't spread since I took my first antiviral pill.
Wish me luck.
Besides being one of my favorite English words, "psychosomatic" describes that which I'm suffering now: shingles.
I didn't know people under 50 could even get shingles, but apparently anyone who's been under increased stress (see previous post) or with a weakened immune system that has had chicken pox is susceptible.
Stress? Nah. Not me.
We had an estate sale on the family farm this past weekend, and as it turns out, my aunt who came down to help out had a case of shingles misdiagnosed as an insect bite. We rushed her to the emergency room where they diagnosed her correctly and sent her home with medicine. They told her to avoid anyone who hadn't had chicken pox. I had, so I didn't worry.
Even though most of the medical sources I've consulted say that shingles is not contagious, I've no doubt got it myself.
It started last night with an innocent itch, which by this morning had bloomed into a nice pink splotch. I called my doctor, who squeezed me in for an appointment and confirmed my suspicion.
So now I'm on a regimen of anti-viral drugs and have a follow-up in a week. The bad news is that I have all the symptoms of an infection: headache, fatigue, mild nausea. The good news? The rash hasn't spread since I took my first antiviral pill.
Wish me luck.
4 Comments:
Ick, get better hun! and let me know if there's anything you need.
Oh! That's horrible! And, for some reason conversations about people getting shingles popped up two other times this weekend. Maybe it's a regional thing.
Good luck! And, I didn't even know they *made* anti-viral drugs. :-)
Ooooh how that sucks. Sorry to hear about the shingles! Get well soon.
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