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I was hoping to do a more cheerful post for my once-a-month catchup post -- but this will have to do. There's something comforting about complaining about one's ailments, isn't there? ;-)
The deal is, I have a lovely case of shingles. It hurts, ugh! I had shingles once, years ago, and I don't remember it hurting like this -- itching like the dickens, yes, but not hurting. Truth be told, I'd rather have hurting than itching, so I'm glad about that part -- but even so, constant pain just isn't very fun, is it?
So these shingles are the last and final straw in a journey of two weeks where I have been trying to get used to a new blood pressure medication. I'm usually pretty tolerant when it comes to medication, but if there was a side effect with this new one, I experienced it. Some of them went away after a few days, but some stuck with me. By the end of the first week I was thinking that if I had to choose between living the rest of my life with an annoying cough or have high blood pressure, I'd choose the high BP. But I wanted to give the med a full month, to give it a chance to work and in the hopes that the cough would clear up.
The cough did get a bit less annoying, but I felt pretty run down in general, and I wasn't sure if it was because I was having my sleep disturbed by the cough, or if it was another side effect. Then, during the second week, I noticed I had a funny "pins and needles" sensation in my back and on my right side, which grew to be fairly irritating. It felt better after exercise and the application of warmth, so while I noted it on my "list of things that might be wrong with taking this medication," I also considered the possibility that I had carried groceries awkwardly or lifted something too heavy, and had a pinched nerve or something. (I have one of these in my lower back which affects my leg, and it did feel the same as that -- but I do believe the word "shingles" may have also crossed my mind as a possibility!)
So this past weekend, I came down with a bad cold and high fever at the same time -- and then the blistering appeared, and I threw in the towel. I have stopped the medication, so we'll see what happens -- it may take a few weeks for it to get out of my system. In the meantime, I deal with the pain of the shingles and slight fever I get in the evenings.
I plan on staying away from the Center where I work for the rest of the week, and I hope I can manage it. I feel like I was just as busy today talking to people on the phone as if I had actually gone in! Which wasn't very relaxing, but maybe they'll have the idea now, and let me be. ;-) I have to admit, a rest from all the things that are pressing is probably going to be good for me, and sometimes those kinds of rests can only be obtained when one is officially sick! Think I'd rather be sick than have shingles, though. ;-)
Funny, it seems like it's been forever that I've been going through all this, but it's only been 17 days since I started taking that medicine! Ah, well! I'm hoping to touch base with my doctor soon and talk about how to proceed -- but for now, I'm just sitting with my ibuprofen and my heating pad and praying that the shingles will run their course in the very near future.
Aside from my health issues, I'm actually doing well. My work at the Friendship Center is keeping me very busy, but it's also very rewarding -- which is probably why I have been overdoing it and wearing myself out! I'll try to talk about some of the things I've been up when I get out of complaining mode. ;-)
The deal is, I have a lovely case of shingles. It hurts, ugh! I had shingles once, years ago, and I don't remember it hurting like this -- itching like the dickens, yes, but not hurting. Truth be told, I'd rather have hurting than itching, so I'm glad about that part -- but even so, constant pain just isn't very fun, is it?
So these shingles are the last and final straw in a journey of two weeks where I have been trying to get used to a new blood pressure medication. I'm usually pretty tolerant when it comes to medication, but if there was a side effect with this new one, I experienced it. Some of them went away after a few days, but some stuck with me. By the end of the first week I was thinking that if I had to choose between living the rest of my life with an annoying cough or have high blood pressure, I'd choose the high BP. But I wanted to give the med a full month, to give it a chance to work and in the hopes that the cough would clear up.
The cough did get a bit less annoying, but I felt pretty run down in general, and I wasn't sure if it was because I was having my sleep disturbed by the cough, or if it was another side effect. Then, during the second week, I noticed I had a funny "pins and needles" sensation in my back and on my right side, which grew to be fairly irritating. It felt better after exercise and the application of warmth, so while I noted it on my "list of things that might be wrong with taking this medication," I also considered the possibility that I had carried groceries awkwardly or lifted something too heavy, and had a pinched nerve or something. (I have one of these in my lower back which affects my leg, and it did feel the same as that -- but I do believe the word "shingles" may have also crossed my mind as a possibility!)
So this past weekend, I came down with a bad cold and high fever at the same time -- and then the blistering appeared, and I threw in the towel. I have stopped the medication, so we'll see what happens -- it may take a few weeks for it to get out of my system. In the meantime, I deal with the pain of the shingles and slight fever I get in the evenings.
I plan on staying away from the Center where I work for the rest of the week, and I hope I can manage it. I feel like I was just as busy today talking to people on the phone as if I had actually gone in! Which wasn't very relaxing, but maybe they'll have the idea now, and let me be. ;-) I have to admit, a rest from all the things that are pressing is probably going to be good for me, and sometimes those kinds of rests can only be obtained when one is officially sick! Think I'd rather be sick than have shingles, though. ;-)
Funny, it seems like it's been forever that I've been going through all this, but it's only been 17 days since I started taking that medicine! Ah, well! I'm hoping to touch base with my doctor soon and talk about how to proceed -- but for now, I'm just sitting with my ibuprofen and my heating pad and praying that the shingles will run their course in the very near future.
Aside from my health issues, I'm actually doing well. My work at the Friendship Center is keeping me very busy, but it's also very rewarding -- which is probably why I have been overdoing it and wearing myself out! I'll try to talk about some of the things I've been up when I get out of complaining mode. ;-)
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no subject
Date: 2010-02-16 01:11 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-02-16 01:42 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-02-16 02:05 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-02-16 02:16 am (UTC)From:I am so sorry to hear you are laid up with shingles. I had my shot. I am glad I did because the nurse described graphically what it entails and it sounds horrific and I think she said 65% of people get them.
***HUGS***
no subject
Date: 2010-02-16 04:36 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-02-16 05:42 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-02-16 08:18 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-02-16 11:53 am (UTC)From:Hope you are feeling better soon.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-16 11:55 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-02-16 01:04 pm (UTC)From:If it's been less than 72 hours since the outbreak, there's some sort of medicine your doctor can prescribe that will lessen the intensity and duration of the shingles. Ask him also about Lidocaine patches; they really helped my pain. Also there's an over-the-counter supplement called L-Lysine that seems to help with the prickles now, as well as later if you have residual pain.
But yes, Advil/Aleeve alternating with Tylenol helps some.
Take good care!
*gentle hugs, hot tea, and prayers*
no subject
Date: 2010-02-17 03:18 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2010-02-18 06:02 pm (UTC)From: