mommakitty's Journal

Stress
Aug 02 2009 11:09

Last Friday morning I woke up with an ear ache and stiff neck.  It continued to get worse, but managed to control it with Ibuprofen and hot compresses.  Sunday morning I had these "things" on my neck.  They were little pustules, many of them.  I had an appointment scheduled for a regular check up on Tuesday.  The stiff neck, ear ache and new pustules continued.  By the time I got to the doctor I now had something happening to my ear.  I had woke up that morning with what looked like a red potato stuck on my head where my ear used to be.

In the doctor's office, the male nurse took my vitals, made a funny face and said he'd be right back.  Two minutes later my doctor came in and said "Tonnie, you need to go into the hospital."  He told me my temperature was 103.7 F.  After he examined me, he said it looks like I have a bacterial infection and that I have shingles!  Holy Moly batman!  I really did not feel like my fever was that high.  I thought it might be right around 100 F or so.

I agreed that I should go to the hospital, but wanted to go home and get some things, like my chemistry book, phone charger, etc.  He told me, absolutely NOT.  I was to go immediately to the hospital.  Do not go home first.  The severity in which he said this made me think that I better obey, even though my rebellious side wanted it "my way."  I hate not being in control of myself.

So, from Tuesday afternoon until Thursday afternoon I was in the hospital.  I couldn't come or go from my room even though I was ambulatory because I was now contagious.  I was irked because I had all this time and no way to get to my chemistry book to study. 

Shingles are stress related.  That is the one question everyone asked me; was I having any stress issues?  Well, yes.  Chemistry class is trying to kill me.  I had studied and studied and still didn't understand all the conversion formulas (lots of algebra).  I had been worried about taking a test.  A stupid test...........

By Thursday morning my temperature was back to normal, but a lot of the pustules had burst and now my neck was an open wound.  I could go home if I agreed to let someone from "wound" care come in and bandage me up.  So, I agreed.  What choice did I have?

This nice lady came in with this pad that measured 5" x 10" to place over my wounds.  By the time she got done taping and wrapping me up, I was just shy of being a really ugly mummy.  Then she wanted to put this stocking over my head cutting a hole for my mouth and eyes.  The top of the stocking had a knot in the end so if this didn't add an even more interesting depth to my already goofy bandaged appearance, nothing else could have.  When I finally looked in the mirror, all I wanted to do was cry.  How was I supposed to get on the bus and go home with that get-up on?  So, I started laughing; there was no point in crying.

I made it home without too many strange looks.  Everyone said that shingles can be painful.  Well, I have to agree, but it's not the sores that are painful.  It is the muscles related to the affected nerves that are killing me.  I can only sit at the computer for about 20 minutes or so before if feels like my neck and shoulder is on fire.  This is making homework hard to finish.  I think my window of pain-free is closing now.  Time for the hot-pack and let everything rest before I start up again.  I will be calling the doctor tomorrow and asking for advise.

Tonnie