We have another blizzard on the way. It isn't a huge problem for Taciturn and me, but please pray for our brothers and sisters in North Dakota who frantically attempt to stave off the fury of Mother Nature's flooding. They are supposed to get some snow as well.
I went back to work Wednesday afternoon. It wasn't really busy but I had a nursing student with me so I had to teach as I worked. I was able to leave on time and get to bed at a reasonable hour for the evening shift--0030 Thursday morning. Yet, it has taken me two days to recover from eight hours of work. You can tell I have not worked or done much else for a while.
The discipline I'm attempting to develop of writing first thing in the am remains. I had to get up earlier than I would have liked Thursday morning in order to see my neurologist for the myasthenia gravis like symptoms I have, but I did take the time to do my morning pages. Life is getting into a rhythm; get up, get a cup of coffee, go back up to my bedroom to sit in the rocker and write, then I pray. After that it is time for breakfast and all else. I like this rhythm. I usually wake up with my head full of things to write so that is why I write first before I pray, so I won't lose it. Sometimes I cannot write fast enough!
A huge insight came to me Thursday morning while I wrote about the resentment some of the undereducated women at work have toward those of us who were able to and did the hard work of earning a degree (that came from writing about the nursing student--she has a really hard life but she still pursues a degree). Then I realized that I am guilty of the same thing in another discipline. Interesting how things can get worked out, or you see things as you write that never would have entered your head otherwise. As I sit and type now, I am smiling and shaking my head. Once I gave myself permission to write, all kinds of stuff is pouring out in torrents.
Ruth has an interesting post today about how we as adults no longer feel we can do the creative things we did as children. Those things come under the heading of "Time Wasters." It is fascinating to read the unfolding of her process as she journeys with The Artist's Way. I'm almost as excited about her journey as the one that I'm starting to undertake. I bought my own copy of The Artist's Way and will start it tomorrow.
The leftover main patch of blisters from my shingles has developed into impetigo from my scratching. Taciturn warned me about scratching those while he rubbed Bactriban cream on them after my shower this am. They are just right of center on my upper back; while I can reach them to scratch, I can't reach them to rub lotion or cream on them!
We are going to go to a home show a bit later this am, have a bit of lunch then stock up at the grocery store. We haven't been on a full grocery trip for 3 weeks, and the larder is getting bare! I have pizza dough rising at present for Saturday night pizza. I made my own sauce a couple of weeks ago and I'll get it out of the freezer to thaw shortly.
Tomorrow afternoon that blizzard is supposed to roll in. I'm sure I'll have another episode of blizzard baking. That's ok. Life is getting pretty good right now. And the scent of fresh bread baking makes it even better!
Showing posts with label shingles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shingles. Show all posts
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Coming Back Up
My shingles pain is suddenly much more manageable. I slept all night long. I did not awaken in pain to feel my way into the bathroom for codeine. And-- I just finished my first workout in almost three weeks! Mind you, I walked only half of the time and distance of my usual workout, but that isn't the point. The point is that I got on the treadmill and walked at all! (For those of you who know Weight Watcher activity points, I earned 2. Grin.)
My doctor's excuse covers tonight and tomorrow night at work. I'm glad--I'm still not anxious to go back, and they easily found someone to take my place. I'm not scheduled again until Wednesday afternoon. But, I think if I had been forced somehow into going in, I could have done it.
My friend PB dragged me out yesterday to eat sushi. I felt yucky yesterday morning and would have not gone out, but she said, "You have to eat, don't you?" It took sushi, something I always will have in my life somehow, to get me out of the door. Once out, I began to bloom. Yesterday afternoon, I realized that I felt like a well person feels, as opposed to an ill person. I have my friend to thank for getting me to that point.
Today is a marvelous day to feel well! The sun is shining, it is warm with a breeze, my windows are open, and the birds are singing. I will take the library book I picked up yesterday out onto the deck with a nice glass of wine later to read. I'm doubly glad that I don't have to shut everything up to nap in preparation for work.
Truly this is one of those days that deserve the carpe diem motto. Especially since all good things must come to an end--there is a blizzard watch in effect. The weather prognosticators say that we could get a foot or more of snow on Monday and Tuesday. Ah well, it is March, the time of the spring blizzards.
Time to go to the library for another book. I bet I'll have plenty of time to read. The book I plan to get I've had on hold for a while; The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, which is highly recommended by Ruth. It came in yesterday after I'd already been there.
By the way, I have continued all week with my pledge to put pen to paper each day. Yesterday I sat down thinking, "I have nothing to write about," then wrote four pages. Once I gave myself permission to do this, it has gotten much easier. And Taciturn, bless him, is beginning to recognize my need for the space in which to do this. If I respect the process, I believe he will as well.
My doctor's excuse covers tonight and tomorrow night at work. I'm glad--I'm still not anxious to go back, and they easily found someone to take my place. I'm not scheduled again until Wednesday afternoon. But, I think if I had been forced somehow into going in, I could have done it.
My friend PB dragged me out yesterday to eat sushi. I felt yucky yesterday morning and would have not gone out, but she said, "You have to eat, don't you?" It took sushi, something I always will have in my life somehow, to get me out of the door. Once out, I began to bloom. Yesterday afternoon, I realized that I felt like a well person feels, as opposed to an ill person. I have my friend to thank for getting me to that point.
Today is a marvelous day to feel well! The sun is shining, it is warm with a breeze, my windows are open, and the birds are singing. I will take the library book I picked up yesterday out onto the deck with a nice glass of wine later to read. I'm doubly glad that I don't have to shut everything up to nap in preparation for work.
Truly this is one of those days that deserve the carpe diem motto. Especially since all good things must come to an end--there is a blizzard watch in effect. The weather prognosticators say that we could get a foot or more of snow on Monday and Tuesday. Ah well, it is March, the time of the spring blizzards.
Time to go to the library for another book. I bet I'll have plenty of time to read. The book I plan to get I've had on hold for a while; The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, which is highly recommended by Ruth. It came in yesterday after I'd already been there.
By the way, I have continued all week with my pledge to put pen to paper each day. Yesterday I sat down thinking, "I have nothing to write about," then wrote four pages. Once I gave myself permission to do this, it has gotten much easier. And Taciturn, bless him, is beginning to recognize my need for the space in which to do this. If I respect the process, I believe he will as well.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The last day
Of the antivirals is today. Hurray!
Yesterday I visited the occupational health nurse of my hospital as instructed to see if my shingles were healed enough for me to be allowed to return to work. The infection control dept would rather I stay home at present. Anyway, she viewed my not at all healed shingles and pronounced that not only do I need to take more time off, my case of shingles is the "worst" she'd seen in a long time.
Great! I love those kind of accolades!
I go back on Monday for another inspection, and since today the rash is starting to crust over, I'm sure from the hospital's point of view I'll be released. I'm scheduled to work all night the next night, but if I feel as punk as I do now, I may ask the doctor for another few days off. The occ health nurse made it clear that the ultimate responsibility for how long I stay off rests with me and my physician.
Taciturn returned home yesterday. He says the visit to Baltimore went much better than he had anticipated, very little arguing. He also said that the Angry White Man is showing unmistakable signs of dementia, examples of which I won't go into here. But that may explain why he has gotten so much meaner to me over the last few years.
Anyway, back to real life! Please pray for Arkansas Hillbilly and his wife as they sweat out a weekend awaiting for some tests to be run on their unborn child. They can't get into the doctor any earlier than Monday. Ugh.
Yesterday I visited the occupational health nurse of my hospital as instructed to see if my shingles were healed enough for me to be allowed to return to work. The infection control dept would rather I stay home at present. Anyway, she viewed my not at all healed shingles and pronounced that not only do I need to take more time off, my case of shingles is the "worst" she'd seen in a long time.
Great! I love those kind of accolades!
I go back on Monday for another inspection, and since today the rash is starting to crust over, I'm sure from the hospital's point of view I'll be released. I'm scheduled to work all night the next night, but if I feel as punk as I do now, I may ask the doctor for another few days off. The occ health nurse made it clear that the ultimate responsibility for how long I stay off rests with me and my physician.
Taciturn returned home yesterday. He says the visit to Baltimore went much better than he had anticipated, very little arguing. He also said that the Angry White Man is showing unmistakable signs of dementia, examples of which I won't go into here. But that may explain why he has gotten so much meaner to me over the last few years.
Anyway, back to real life! Please pray for Arkansas Hillbilly and his wife as they sweat out a weekend awaiting for some tests to be run on their unborn child. They can't get into the doctor any earlier than Monday. Ugh.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Enforced Rest, Part III
The shingles continue, along with the attendant discomfort. I think the new breakouts are over, but some of the blisters are in places that make it difficult to wear normal female clothing and to do some activities of daily living I'm used to doing. Info beyond that crosses into the realm of TMI. I do not think all of the blisters will be open and crusted by Wednesday, though, when I'm supposed to see the Occ Health nurse. My physician wrote for a week off, and told me she would write for more if I need it.
Friday I started the antivirals and got some Tylenol with codeine for the pain. Normally I don't need the strong pain medication during the day (I'm taking Motrin) but I certainly do at night. The pain might be the factor that determines when I go back to work--if I can't drive due to taking codeine, I'm sure my nursing judgment would be at risk.
Taciturn is on his way back from Baltimore. His original plan was to return tomorrow; bad weather along his travel route has changed that. He now says he should be home on Wed, but says that Thursday may be more realistic.
I told him that next time, he needs to fly, whether or not he "likes" to fly. It is ridiculous to have seven or eight days of travel time for a three and a half day visit.
I spoke with Only Son last evening. He too is broken out in a rash, although from his description I'm sure it is a viral rash and not shingles. He is broken out on his knees and his elbows, but has no pain or swelling, just an itch. When I say "just an itch", though, he really was miserable while we spoke. He likened the itch to Chinese water torture. He had some cortisone cream; I told him to pick up some Benadryl as well as calamine lotion.
GS#1 in MO had his birthday party this past Saturday, although his actual birthday is not until Wed. Only Son related that after he had opened all of his presents and had cake and ice cream, he pleasantly told all of his guests that "you can go home now." He wanted to play with his new toys in peace! GS#1 is not a mean little boy; he just says what he thinks. He doesn't mean anything malicious. His teachers, taken aback by his frankness at first, now know that is just how he is and think it is funny.
And prayers for our blog brother Bosco Peters and his family in the tragic loss of his daughter. I absolutely cannot imagine the depth of his grief.
Friday I started the antivirals and got some Tylenol with codeine for the pain. Normally I don't need the strong pain medication during the day (I'm taking Motrin) but I certainly do at night. The pain might be the factor that determines when I go back to work--if I can't drive due to taking codeine, I'm sure my nursing judgment would be at risk.
Taciturn is on his way back from Baltimore. His original plan was to return tomorrow; bad weather along his travel route has changed that. He now says he should be home on Wed, but says that Thursday may be more realistic.
I told him that next time, he needs to fly, whether or not he "likes" to fly. It is ridiculous to have seven or eight days of travel time for a three and a half day visit.
I spoke with Only Son last evening. He too is broken out in a rash, although from his description I'm sure it is a viral rash and not shingles. He is broken out on his knees and his elbows, but has no pain or swelling, just an itch. When I say "just an itch", though, he really was miserable while we spoke. He likened the itch to Chinese water torture. He had some cortisone cream; I told him to pick up some Benadryl as well as calamine lotion.
GS#1 in MO had his birthday party this past Saturday, although his actual birthday is not until Wed. Only Son related that after he had opened all of his presents and had cake and ice cream, he pleasantly told all of his guests that "you can go home now." He wanted to play with his new toys in peace! GS#1 is not a mean little boy; he just says what he thinks. He doesn't mean anything malicious. His teachers, taken aback by his frankness at first, now know that is just how he is and think it is funny.
And prayers for our blog brother Bosco Peters and his family in the tragic loss of his daughter. I absolutely cannot imagine the depth of his grief.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Enforced Rest, Part II
I never, ever call my parents to tell them when I am having surgery, did not call when I had a breast biopsy, usually don't tell them when I am sick. The reason is my mom goes to pieces for example, when I have a cold, thinking I will die of pneumonia. Then she doesn't take her insulin, then she gets sick, and it is all my fault.
As I've said before, she was not like this before her strokes. She always was a worrier, though, and never understood those who do not worry excessively, as she sees it as a sign of great love. Since she has been ill, she has taken it to the nth degree.
(Now, I've never had major surgery. If I was having brain surgery or open heart surgery, I would tell her if possible prior to the fact. With the minor surgeries I've had, I wait until I get the lab results then tell her I'm just fine. She doesn't like that, but oh well.)
But yesterday afternoon I got out my new headphones for my Skype telephony program on the MacBook and gave the parents a shout. Mom thought I was calling to brag about my new kitchen (I got all new appliances last week, which is another post), then said "HUH?" when I told her about the shingles. Shingles they know about as a friend of theirs, long deceased, had recurrent complicated shingles. "How did you catch that?" was the question, so I got to educate. My brother ME, who was an independent duty corpsman in the US Navy for many years, popped in from work about that time and we talked about it as he had seen ~ 25 cases in clinic. "Get on the antivirals!" he thundered. "I will, tomorrow!" I replied.
As we were on the phone I was so aware of how uncomfortable I was. I leaned back in the chair and immediately sat up straight as the pressure of the chair back was almost excruciating! We spoke for over an hour then I ate sushi for dinner that I'd picked up earlier and watched some TV.
By the time bedtime came, I almost was beside myself with discomfort. I dug around in my medication drawer and came across an opiate pain medication that I had left over from my breast biopsy a couple of years ago. (Note to self--get more today!) Probably not totally safe to take, but oh well. I took one then went to bed.
I slept like a rock for ten hours. Ah, bliss!
Upon awakening this am, though, I noted a few more blistered places on my torso. At least, as Kirkepiscatoid says, it is on my torso and not my face like my grandmother's was. It gets dangerous then. I go to the doctor at lunchtime for the antivirals and pain meds.
As I've said before, she was not like this before her strokes. She always was a worrier, though, and never understood those who do not worry excessively, as she sees it as a sign of great love. Since she has been ill, she has taken it to the nth degree.
(Now, I've never had major surgery. If I was having brain surgery or open heart surgery, I would tell her if possible prior to the fact. With the minor surgeries I've had, I wait until I get the lab results then tell her I'm just fine. She doesn't like that, but oh well.)
But yesterday afternoon I got out my new headphones for my Skype telephony program on the MacBook and gave the parents a shout. Mom thought I was calling to brag about my new kitchen (I got all new appliances last week, which is another post), then said "HUH?" when I told her about the shingles. Shingles they know about as a friend of theirs, long deceased, had recurrent complicated shingles. "How did you catch that?" was the question, so I got to educate. My brother ME, who was an independent duty corpsman in the US Navy for many years, popped in from work about that time and we talked about it as he had seen ~ 25 cases in clinic. "Get on the antivirals!" he thundered. "I will, tomorrow!" I replied.
As we were on the phone I was so aware of how uncomfortable I was. I leaned back in the chair and immediately sat up straight as the pressure of the chair back was almost excruciating! We spoke for over an hour then I ate sushi for dinner that I'd picked up earlier and watched some TV.
By the time bedtime came, I almost was beside myself with discomfort. I dug around in my medication drawer and came across an opiate pain medication that I had left over from my breast biopsy a couple of years ago. (Note to self--get more today!) Probably not totally safe to take, but oh well. I took one then went to bed.
I slept like a rock for ten hours. Ah, bliss!
Upon awakening this am, though, I noted a few more blistered places on my torso. At least, as Kirkepiscatoid says, it is on my torso and not my face like my grandmother's was. It gets dangerous then. I go to the doctor at lunchtime for the antivirals and pain meds.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Enforced rest
Be careful what you wish for--you might get it!
All I wanted was a good night's sleep. But I don't like the way I will get it.
I broke out in shingles today.
Part of the reason I was not able to sleep last night was that I was uncomfortable and could not find a position that was comfortable. I took Motrin and it didn't touch it. I thought I was just being a wuss.
I talked to Taciturn around noon today and he said, "You have shingles!" after I described the pattern of the discomfort. I winced due to the memory of how very ill my grandmother was when she had shingles. "But," I protested, "I'm not broken out!"
"You will be," he replied.
I got home, started to get in the shower, and lo and behold, tiny blisters in a patch on my right shoulder blade. Feh. I called the doctor who said it sure sounded like shingles to her. Couldn't get me in today to start antivirals, though. I'll go tomorrow.
I was supposed to work Friday, Saturday, Sunday, plus Tuesday. The earliest I can possibly work would be Thursday now; after five days on the medications, I have to be cleared by the Occupational Health nurse before I can go back. I'll see her on Wednesday.
Grumble!
All I wanted was a good night's sleep. But I don't like the way I will get it.
I broke out in shingles today.
Part of the reason I was not able to sleep last night was that I was uncomfortable and could not find a position that was comfortable. I took Motrin and it didn't touch it. I thought I was just being a wuss.
I talked to Taciturn around noon today and he said, "You have shingles!" after I described the pattern of the discomfort. I winced due to the memory of how very ill my grandmother was when she had shingles. "But," I protested, "I'm not broken out!"
"You will be," he replied.
I got home, started to get in the shower, and lo and behold, tiny blisters in a patch on my right shoulder blade. Feh. I called the doctor who said it sure sounded like shingles to her. Couldn't get me in today to start antivirals, though. I'll go tomorrow.
I was supposed to work Friday, Saturday, Sunday, plus Tuesday. The earliest I can possibly work would be Thursday now; after five days on the medications, I have to be cleared by the Occupational Health nurse before I can go back. I'll see her on Wednesday.
Grumble!
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