So some of you may already know because I was being so diligent about trying to catch up with my reading & commenting, hubby & I moved back to Winnipeg, MB, Canada last week. This started with hubby getting laid off from his job 3 weeks before his 65th birthday. Another Alberta bust due to the huge drop in oil prices in the boom & bust cycle! His first reaction was to try to find another job with one of his contacts from his old job – my first reaction was I’m tired of this boom & bust cycle, I want to go back to Winnipeg where all our kids & families live. Guess who won?
Hubby was very understanding about the limitations I face with COPD & arthritis so we hired movers to not only move our furniture but also to come in & do some of the packing. But of course I insisted on helping some & pottered around with some of the boxes. But I was trying very hard not to overtire myself because I tend to get sick when I get overtired. For instance, once we made our decision to move back to Wpg. we made a very quick trip from Edmonton to Wpg. (15 hour drive each way) to look for a place to live. We spent 3 days in town looking at as many apartments as we could manage, trying to find the one we wanted which of course was the last one we looked at! The morning we were to drive back to Edmonton, I awoke with a very sore throat. By the time we got home, I was sniffling, sneezing & coughing as well. I fought the good fight on my own for 2 full weeks before I had to ask the doctor for help with antibiotics to get rid of the sinus & lung infection.
This time, even though I was really careful not to tire myself out, I awoke yesterday morning with a huge swelling on the left side of my neck including my lymph gland. Behind my ear is swollen, under my ear is swollen & it continues down to my collar bone & around to my spine. And it hurts something fierce! I can barely turn my head to the right or left & Extra Strength Tylenol is not touching the pain.
Now, here’s a problem – I moved to a completely different province only 4 days ago! I do not have a physician in this province or this city! I do not have a health card for this province (although in Canada the provinces honor other province’s health cards for up to 3 months). So I had to go to a walk-in clinic & sit & wait & wait & wait. I was lucky enough to find a very nice doctor who does not accept private patients, he only accepts walk-in patients. He was kind together we discovered the rash all over the top left side of my head that I was only just becoming aware of because I was more concerned with the pain in my ear & neck! But now the rash has appeared it feels like someone is shooting the top of my head with electric shocks a lot!
If you didn’t guess from my title – I have Shingles! For those of you who don’t know what Shingles is all about, here is some info. for you. From the Mayo Clinic website:
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles.
The signs and symptoms of shingles usually affect only a small section of one side of your body. These signs and symptoms may include:
- Pain, burning, numbness or tingling
- Sensitivity to touch
- A red rash that begins a few days after the pain
- Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
- Itching
Some people also experience:
- Fever
- Headache
- Sensitivity to light
- Fatigue
Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. For some, it can be intense. While it isn’t a life-threatening condition, shingles can be very painful.
This picture is very similar to the rash I am currently sporting on my scalp & the edges of my forehead.
So, here I am, even more laid up than usual while hubby tries to put our new apartment together, mostly by himself. And since it hurts a lot more to wear my glasses (which I need to write), I’m going to leave it here for now. More later . . .
photosfromtheloonybin
May 27, 2015 @ 04:31:40
Oh nooooooo!! As if you don’t have enough to deal with medically, now shingles?!? I am so very sorry you are having to go through that because I have heard how nasty shingles can be. I am sending healing thoughts your way, and I truly hope you don’t have to suffer with it very long. Get better soon!!
LikeLike
benzeknees
May 27, 2015 @ 22:43:50
Thank you Cindy! Right now it feels like someone is trying to hammer sharp tacks into the top of my skull!
LikeLike
Carrie Rubin
May 27, 2015 @ 05:40:08
So sorry to hear it. 😦 Shingles are so painful. And what a time for you to get them. I hope your recovery goes smoothly.
LikeLike
benzeknees
May 27, 2015 @ 22:44:56
Thank you Carrie! The doc put me on anti-virals right away for 10 days but so far it doesn’t seem to be making any difference.
LikeLike
Carrie Rubin
May 28, 2015 @ 06:08:22
Unfortunately viruses don’t have the same quick response to meds as bacteria do. But hopefully the drug will overall lessen your pain and the duration of your illness. My husband had them as a teen which is quite unusual. But he still remembers the pain!
LikeLike
Life With The Top Down
May 27, 2015 @ 06:43:24
Yikes! Stress does not help the situation. All the best to you for a smooth transition and recovery.
LikeLike
benzeknees
May 27, 2015 @ 22:45:39
TYSM! The transition is going to take a bit longer than I had hoped with this new complication!
LikeLike
Ron
May 27, 2015 @ 07:53:26
Benze, I absolutely think you made the right choice in moving back to Winnipeg so that you could be closer to your family. With all that you and your husband been through, it’ll be great to have your family close by for support. So sorry to hear about getting shingles. One of my other blogging friends had the same thing happen earlier this year, so I know all about it and how painful it can be.
You take good care, my friend. And please know that I am sending much healing thoughts and positive vibes your way…
((((((((((((((((( You ))))))))))))))))))
And don’t worry about visiting blogs and commenting, we all understand. The most important thing is for you to rest and take care of yourself.
X
LikeLike
benzeknees
May 27, 2015 @ 22:49:05
TY Ron! I was just not prepared for this new complication at all! I thought I might get a cold again but Shingles was just not on my radar. My poor face is so swollen on the left side!
LikeLike
pouringmyartout
May 27, 2015 @ 09:48:54
oh man… I am sending you love right now…
LikeLike
benzeknees
May 27, 2015 @ 22:49:47
TY Art! I would love to claw the top of my head off about now!
LikeLike
pouringmyartout
May 28, 2015 @ 08:31:50
I could Photoshop that
LikeLike
Mark Petruska
May 27, 2015 @ 12:10:37
You poor thing! A former coworker had shingles once, and complained that it was just about the most painful thing she’d ever dealt with – including childbirth! Hope you recover quickly and without any lasting scars. I think you made a smart choice returning to Winnipeg. The problem with the boom and bust cycle is just that – it’s a cycle. For every boom, there is an inevitable bust. Hope being close to family helps!
LikeLike
benzeknees
May 27, 2015 @ 22:51:04
TY Mark! My daughter & my oldest stepdaughter came over Sat. & helped us unpack a lot of boxes & put away most of my kitchen!
LikeLike
El Guapo
May 27, 2015 @ 12:41:44
Egad! At least you’re getting care for it.
Hope it gets sorted soon.
LikeLike
benzeknees
May 27, 2015 @ 22:53:27
Unfortunately, there is so little they can do for you with Shingles. The doc has me on anti-virals but I haven’t noticed any difference. I so badly want to claw the top of my scalp (where the rash is) off but I’m keeping my hands away because I know it will just get worse & I don’t want to infect my eyes.
LikeLike
Gibber
May 27, 2015 @ 13:11:42
Oh no Benze shingles is so brutal. Such terrible nerve pain. I hope the doc has given you some good pain killers. I’m so so sorry you got this. 😦 What has the doc said?
LikeLike
benzeknees
May 27, 2015 @ 23:00:25
No painkillers unfortunately just some anti-virals which aren’t doing anything so far as I can tell. I want to claw at the rash which right now feels like someone is driving sharp tacks into my scalp & I don’t know what to do with the horrible swelling on the left side of my face! Everything hurts so much & I’m having trouble with light & sound sensitivity. Poor hubby – I’ve just about bitten his head off a number of times & I’ve been apologizing all over the place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gibber
May 28, 2015 @ 10:39:50
Oh boy Benze. Not good. Could you ask for something for pain? You know that shingles affects your nerves right? I can’t believe they didn’t give you anything. Does ice help at all?
LikeLike
Elyse
May 27, 2015 @ 16:46:46
Oh Benze, that sucks. You should be exempt from all other illnesses. COPD is plenty. Who do I talk to? Lemme at em!
LikeLike
benzeknees
May 27, 2015 @ 23:01:35
Oh, Elyse – could you please punch someone out? Anyone at all? Honestly, I’d do just about anything right now to stop the pain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Elyse
May 28, 2015 @ 05:13:00
Oh dear. I’m so sorry, Benze! I’ll go hit someone right now. A random stranger. 👿
LikeLike
The Laughing Housewife
Jun 04, 2015 @ 08:51:48
You poor thing! It’s probably brought on by stress. I know it’s from the chicken pox virus but stress lowers the immune system, making you vulnerable to attacks; and your immune system is already weakened.
Here’s hoping you get a doctor soon.
Incidentally, my freaky child, Spud, had shingles when he was six. The doctor was so impressed, he wrote him up in a medical journal 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sightsnbytes
Jun 28, 2015 @ 03:50:04
There is nothing funny about shingles. My mom just recently recovered from a bout of shingles. It hit her in mid November and it was almost April before she seen any relief. She still feels the effects of the rash, which stretched around her waist and up under her arms.
The only relief she felt was from an ointment my brother (the pharmacist) found for her. The ointment was a mixture of various hot peppers. Although it burned when applied, it did relieve some of her pain. My heart goes out to anyone who suffers the ill effects of shingles.
LikeLike
benzeknees
Jun 28, 2015 @ 09:43:00
Thank you so much for the great advice about the cream. I was lucky enough to get to the doctor just as the rash was becoming apparent & was put on anti-virals right away. Although they were extremely expensive I believe they were the reason my rash cleared up in only 3 weeks (although the area where it appeared on my head is still sensitive to touch & still swollen, there aren’t any actual open sores). I find the fatigue quite difficult though – I can still fall asleep at the drop of a hat (except in bed of course!).
LikeLike
Sightsnbytes
Jun 28, 2015 @ 03:53:16
This is the ointment my mom used. check it out…Capsaicin 0.075% cream
LikeLiked by 1 person