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Need Your Roof Fixed?; Stitch has the shingles!
Topic Started: Jul 9 2010, 09:42 PM (420 Views)
StitchInTime
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Soul_Of_TOM
Yes, folks, I got the diagnosis today, and I've got them front and back!

I didn't realize I had it on my back too until just now, when I decided
to check because I felt a bit of itching, and of course it's in a spot
that I had to look in the mirror to see. It's not a spot I can
reach either; so, I could not scratch it if I wanted to, not that
it would help or anything. And darn it, I can't put anything on
it either because I can't reach it. How annoying is that!

I was slow to recognize it, but I think I made the 72 hour window for the
antiviral drug. I only wish I'd gone in sooner, as I could have
got started on it sooner and maybe suffered less.

I wondered why I was getting all this mid-chest and mid-back pain,
and then, bam, on Wednesday morning I noticed a red rash.

But it wasn't bothering me then, and the humidity and so forth
made me think that it was related to that instead. Plus,
I wasn't going to go out in that if I could avoid it, because it
really aggravates all of my other conditions.

This past year or so has been very stressful; so, I knew
that something was coming, and I had a funny feeling
I would get this some time, and here it is.

I guessed what it was this morning, and looked it
up on the Internet and it looked like I was right.

When I went to the walk in clinic, I showed it to the
nurse and told her what I thought it was, and asked
her if I got an "A," and she said, "yes."

The real killer so far is the price tag of the antiviral drug,
which is $110 Canadian. Not much for some, but quite
a bite for me; however, it's supposed to help it go down
faster, reduce the severity, and decrease the risk of certain
complications; so, I decided it's worth it
and forked over the cash.
The Untold Doctor Who

As Wide as the Infinite Sky

:sssmob:

Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish! What's a StitchInTime?
It is a wrinkle, a glitch, a hitch, an irrepressible hangnail in the fabric of space-time that can't be clipped.
- S.C.L. Eiler

When the moose shows up on your doorstep, we'll know that all is lost. - wombat (June 11, 2007)

Brigadier: You know, just once I'd like to meet an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets. (Robot)

Sarah Jane (about the Fourth Doctor): He sometimes talks to himself, mostly because he's the only person who knows what he's talking about. (The Ark in Space)
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JayBee
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Heart_Of_TOM
I've had chicken pox; so I know it's possible and it's something I've always dreaded getting.

So... I don't envy you one bit, Stitch. :console:

I do, however, have a ton of sympathy. Fingers crossed that the anti-viral does its job and does it fast. Do keep us posted.
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StitchInTime
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Soul_Of_TOM
Thank you for your good wishes.

So far, it feels kind of like a sunburn, which I suppose makes
some sense given the inflammation and blistering that goes with it.

I get a lot of pain anyway from my fibromyalgia and
lately my low back because of the humidity, which is
probably the reason I barely noticed it, as I am on
acetaminophen already every day, which was also the pain
reliever recommended by the telehealth nurse I talked
to before I went in to see a doctor.

The doctor said calamine lotion could be used as well,
though that doesn't help with my back since I can't
reach it.

So I'll just try to relax and keep busy and think about
something else.

As they say, "this too shall pass," and as I am fairly healthy
otherwise, I'll probably weather it.
The Untold Doctor Who

As Wide as the Infinite Sky

:sssmob:

Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish! What's a StitchInTime?
It is a wrinkle, a glitch, a hitch, an irrepressible hangnail in the fabric of space-time that can't be clipped.
- S.C.L. Eiler

When the moose shows up on your doorstep, we'll know that all is lost. - wombat (June 11, 2007)

Brigadier: You know, just once I'd like to meet an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets. (Robot)

Sarah Jane (about the Fourth Doctor): He sometimes talks to himself, mostly because he's the only person who knows what he's talking about. (The Ark in Space)
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bonnie
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Soul_Of_TOM
I hope you recover from the shingles real fast, Stitch. Do keep us posted on how you are faring.

:console:
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Gold Usher
Soul_Of_TOM
Oh what a miserable time to get that Stitch!

With all the heat and all...

Go pink with Calomine..it will help.
"We joked that in the future, when you were born you would be assigned a telephone number and if you didn't answer the phone, you were dead"

Martin Cooper-inventor of the mobile phone
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StitchInTime
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Soul_Of_TOM
Thank you Bonnie & GU. :bye:

Well, my maternal grandfather had it, my former boss had it, and one
of my customers had it; so, I am not that surprised that I got it.

Perhaps it's best to get it over with early, while I'm still
fairly young and the body can probably put the jack back
in the box or the baby back to bed, or whatever it takes.

It's actually not that bad so far. The main thing seems to be
to wear loose clothing so that there's nothing pressing against it;
it gives it room to breath I guess. The instructions for the medication
also say to drink lots of fluids, which makes sense to me, as I think
you are supposed to do that if you get a sunburn as well. It
certainly cools the body down, which is what's needed in this weather
too.

So far the A/C is working, and I bought a new A/C earlier in the
year for backup; so, I think I'm okay there.

But yes, going out is not very nice in this heat and humidity. Mostly
though it's just tiring me out and making my low back ache.

The answer seems to be fast walking indoors whenever I can,
which makes the body feel better and me feel more
energetic.
The Untold Doctor Who

As Wide as the Infinite Sky

:sssmob:

Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish! What's a StitchInTime?
It is a wrinkle, a glitch, a hitch, an irrepressible hangnail in the fabric of space-time that can't be clipped.
- S.C.L. Eiler

When the moose shows up on your doorstep, we'll know that all is lost. - wombat (June 11, 2007)

Brigadier: You know, just once I'd like to meet an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets. (Robot)

Sarah Jane (about the Fourth Doctor): He sometimes talks to himself, mostly because he's the only person who knows what he's talking about. (The Ark in Space)
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pattie anne
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Administrator
dear stitch -

bad show. i have a foam back brush i can mail you if you think that will help in applying the calomine lotion. please advise.

:wub: pattie anne
"And as for Tom Baker, well, I'll always be the Doctor,
won't I?" Posted Image
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toms no 1 fan
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Soul_Of_TOM
:grouphug: stitch sorry to hear you have shingles get well soon take care
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wombat
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Soul_Of_TOM
Thanks for reminding me about the link between humidity and back pain - wondered why mine had been so bad of late.

Hope the drugs kick in soon!
"Go on, ask me why! Ask me!"

"Save the bickering until we're out of here!"
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donnarose
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Heart_Of_TOM
Oh, I'm *so* sorry, Stitch!

My mom had shingles several years ago and really suffered. I am so sorry you are in pain!

Prayers that the meds work and that you have a speedy recovery!
A person's a person, no matter how small. ~Dr. Seuss, "Horton Hears a Who"
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StitchInTime
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Soul_Of_TOM
Thanks for the best wishes and support everyone. :bye:

pattie anne,Jul 10 2010
01:46 AM
dear stitch -

bad show.  i have a foam back brush i can mail you if you think that will help in applying the calomine lotion.  please advise.

:wub: pattie anne

Hmm. That could work. Thank you.

My calamine has gone creamy because
it's so old; so, for tonight, I was able to get some on with
the help of a tongue depressor and a mirror, but it was pretty awkward
and time consuming.

Do you still have my address PA?


The Untold Doctor Who

As Wide as the Infinite Sky

:sssmob:

Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish! What's a StitchInTime?
It is a wrinkle, a glitch, a hitch, an irrepressible hangnail in the fabric of space-time that can't be clipped.
- S.C.L. Eiler

When the moose shows up on your doorstep, we'll know that all is lost. - wombat (June 11, 2007)

Brigadier: You know, just once I'd like to meet an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets. (Robot)

Sarah Jane (about the Fourth Doctor): He sometimes talks to himself, mostly because he's the only person who knows what he's talking about. (The Ark in Space)
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Foxy
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Heart_Of_TOM
Fingers crossed that it goes away soon...my neighbor in Savannah had them and she was so miserable. *gentle cyber hugs*
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To quote a certain friend of mine...."I'm foxtastic!"

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Proud member of Team Foxy and Club Wombat

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wombat
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Soul_Of_TOM
How are you healing, Stitch?

:console:
"Go on, ask me why! Ask me!"

"Save the bickering until we're out of here!"
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StitchInTime
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Soul_Of_TOM
Slowly, slowly, the big painful blisters are succumbing to the
treatments,
though there's no telling how long the pain will last.

Meanwhile, I am becoming quite adept at this calamine lotion spreading
enterprise. I considered trying a paint roller at one point because
the area almost formed a belt, four inches wide at the widest point,
and from the mid line of my chest, all the way around to the mid line
of my back (rolls eyes). Then somebody else said that she had used
a paint brush instead, to good effect, but as I didn't feel like going
out in the heat to get one, I decided to stick with my original method.

Again, thanks for your support. :bye:
The Untold Doctor Who

As Wide as the Infinite Sky

:sssmob:

Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish! What's a StitchInTime?
It is a wrinkle, a glitch, a hitch, an irrepressible hangnail in the fabric of space-time that can't be clipped.
- S.C.L. Eiler

When the moose shows up on your doorstep, we'll know that all is lost. - wombat (June 11, 2007)

Brigadier: You know, just once I'd like to meet an alien menace that wasn't immune to bullets. (Robot)

Sarah Jane (about the Fourth Doctor): He sometimes talks to himself, mostly because he's the only person who knows what he's talking about. (The Ark in Space)
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bonnie
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Soul_Of_TOM
I hope the pain goes away very soon!
:console:
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