Three Cheer for Herpes!!
Posted 18th January 2008 by Mandy Nelson - Dandysound, tagged stress, yoga, shingles, croup, no sleep, positive outlook
Ok, not really, but that got your attention, didn't it? Sigh, I'm dealing with pain from shingles due to stress. If you've read my last few notes then you know the kids have been sick w/ ear infections and then croup since New Year's Eve and I have not gotten a good nights sleep or a good nap in since 2007. To top it off, my mom is in the hospital with an unknown intestinal blackage and hernia and, I'm going to be very selfish here, I miss out on date night to the Cs game tonight b/c she's our sitter. Waaahhaaawaaahaaa.
Sigh, so in this lack of sleep, caring for everyone around me and worrying about those who are sick, worrying about work and trying not to be disgusted by the fact that my toilets could be cleaner than they are, my dormant herpes zoster decided to jump up and down on my hip and remind me that I'm not super mom and I, too, need a break.
I'm lucky; I have no rash so no long healing of scabs that lead to scars. It's just the pain, and the pain this time isn't nearly as bad as it was when I got full-blown shingles 10 years ago. It will pass. We'll all be healthy soon. Work will get back on track. And fairies will come in to read bedtime stories and make beds and entertain clingy whiny children. Bwaahahhahaa, I almost peed my pants for a second there.
Of course I have an upside. My yoga practices this week have been hard to dig my heels into. Very hard because I'm tired. But, in the end, they are bringing my body back to me and my mind. Yoga is a centering force for me. Today I"m going to experiment with clingy children and yoga. Perhaps I can market it?!!? I should take pictures...Today is the new day I've been waiting for since the start of this year. It will be healing, enlighting, and strong. Starting now.
8 comments so far...
this is the first time my mom has ever had them and she is having a hard time - i may just have to send her over here to read your stories! THANK YOU!
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Kate on 19th January 2008
My first bout was when I was 23 and I'd scratched the rash so bad the docs at the teaching hospital had no idea and said it couldn't be shingles b/c i was too young. I went back to the ER 3 DAYS IN A ROW! I thought I was seriously going to have to have my entire hip cut off. And all they could give me was pain killers that made me puke. Lovely!!
Hubby and I think I got it from osmosis. His BIL got it and he's all the way across the country. Well, I looked it up online to see what it really was and w/in two days I had it. I was really stressed then and again this time, of course. But again, I'll blame it on someone else. My dear WIM friend Kate, of the Rhino Avatar Kates, told me a few days ago that her mom has it. I swear I get things others get out of empathy!
I've read about it on the face or in the throat and girl, that sucks! Let promise each other that we'll never have a recurrence. Oh, have you noticed that if you look it up online most sources say you can't get it more than once?!!? I'd send you a hug but I really don't want to be touched right now ;).
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mandy Nelson - Dandysound on 19th January 2008
Pain like the dikens and your whole body aches.
Was my second round too, got them in college on my waist. Thought I had contracted a sexually transmitted disease. When the nurse told me I had a form of herpes, I looked right at my then boyfriend and cired "This is all YOUR fault! I just knew something freaky would happen if we used that scented oil! Now I'm going to die and never have babies, you bastard."
His jaw remained unhinged long after the nurse explained that it was chicken pox that remains dormant in your spinal chord and can surface when stressed. At this point I looked at my boyfriend and screemed: " I am NOT stressed. I'm really not. I think I have PMS though."
Sweet guy.
Married someone smarter though.
He never did have a whitty comeback for any of my rants.
Feel better soon, Mandy. I'll write a special note for you soon about the year I've been having for 2 years.
Aveeno baths are soothing. And drink electrolites. You can make it yourself. Don't drink that crappy gatorade. Recipes are on line.
Sending hugs your way with the knowledge that this isn't catching and we didn't give each other an STD via the internet.
Flag as inappropriate Posted by on 19th January 2008
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Uhura on 18th January 2008
Virtual Tequila!
Let me know how the yoga/clingy kid thing works for you... I'm thinking you could create a few modified poses, like "downward facing child," and "conniption pose" and "nap pose"...
PS -- You're not selfish. You're disappointed. And that's allowed, even for supermoms.
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Lylah M. Alphonse on 18th January 2008
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mandy Nelson - Dandysound on 18th January 2008
Flag as inappropriate Posted by mamajama on 18th January 2008
Fairies WILL come and this will get better and clingy children yoga sounds just awesome:)
Flag as inappropriate Posted by Nataly on 18th January 2008