Still Alive

Posted on July 26, 2014July 26, 2014 by Dusty Roads

Hi everyone. I’m still alive and kicking. I think I hit the “painful” stage of the shingles. The more the rash heals (its almost gone) the more I have the “phantom” pains. They are like they are buried deep and the “cramp” starts in the lower abdomen and runs around my side to my lower back. One friend of mine said they sound like contractions. Since I’ve never given birth I can’t speak to that. Some are fairly mild but then one will hit that doubles me over and takes my breath away. Also can’t stand my clothes rubbing on my waistline. The doctor took pity on me and gave me lidocane patches. They help some but don’t eliminate it completely.

But speaking of doctors, mine is doing something that really concerns me. Her office has been making appointments for me without asking me first. Last week it was with the physical therapist who had the good sense to call me. PT is on the agenda and we found a time that worked.

Yesterday I got a letter telling me they made an appointment for me with an eye specialist. I already had my annual eye exam and the specialist they made it with is terrible. I went to him once and will never go back again. Of course it’s the weekend so I can’t make my feelings known until Monday. Maybe that’s a good thing because right now I’d probably yell at them. I think they are being very presumptuous. I need to nip this trend right now!

I am not senile and I am quite capable of handling my own appointments. I could understand the PT. My doctor told me they would be calling but this eye exam…not gonna happen.

Well a friend of mine had a birthday this week so I’m going to try to have a nice lunch with her. Fingers crossed my aches and pains behave.

Health Update

Posted on July 20, 2014July 20, 2014 by Dusty Roads

2014 will have to go down in my personal history book as the worst heath year ever! I still haven’t kicked the shingles. They itch like crazy. To top it off I developed a pinched nerve in my left hip/ leg. It appears to be the sciatic nerve. It was bad enough that I couldn’t stand for more than 5 minutes and forget walking. Very painful.

I had my normal doctor’s appointment ans she gave me a topical ointment for the shingles but so far I don’t see any improvement. She also gave me a muscle relaxant for the pinched nerve and that has been a life saver. The only problem with that is that you can’t drive when taking it. It makes me sleepy but the label warns of dizziness. As a result I haven'[t been anywhere or done anything worth talking about.

I did have to go to a customer appreciation event for work. It was a very painful experience between the shingles and the pinched nerve. It was held at a restaurant in Harvard Square. As I was driving there I thought it was like driving in 3rd world country! Tons of bicyclists darting every which way and pedestrians that paid no attention to the lights. I hadn’t been to Harvard Square in a long time and when I used to go I took the “T”.

I think it’s been about 3 weeks with the shingles so I hope they clear up soon! I’m ready to get back out and about!

Stuck at Home

Posted on July 5, 2014July 5, 2014 by Dusty Roads

You’d think that being stuck at home with these annoying shingles that I’d have plenty of time to write. Not so. I’m not sure if it’s this disease or the meds they have me taking, but I am exhausted by the end of my work day.

I finish up at 6 pm, fix dinner and by 8 pm I am falling asleep on the couch. If I’m not asleep, the ache in my back from the shingles sends me to bed so I can stretch out and once in bed ..that’s it, I fall asleep even with the TV on!

I can say I should be well rested once this is over.

For those who have asked, so far I’ve only had 1 bad day. ( Night actually) Most of the time I have a dull back ache. I joke that now the lower back on my right matches the constant ache I have on mt left. The result? I am walking better than I have in months.

I had one bad night. That night I had the back ache but also my right shoulder hurt, the rash burned and I had, of all things, an ear ache in my right ear. I finally broke down and took some Aleve and that took care of it. When I woke up the next morning I felt better than I have since this started.

I must be on the mend because I’m getting tired of being cooped up. Shingles are not contagious so there’s no real reason why I can’t go out except that my rash is right on my waistline and my clothes hurt. Plus the rash oozes and I don’t really want that stuff on my good clothes. But I’m getting sick of being sick.

Being stuck here in the house I see everything that needs to be repaired.

The kitchen has reached the point of no return.

It needs to be trashed, gutted, torn out and completely replaced. I hate to think of the expense and disruption to get it done but the plastic in the drawers is failing and can’t be replaced. To fix the drawers is to replace that whole cabinet section. I think they are the original cabinets from the 1970’s so I guess it’s time for a change.

The recliner part of my couch finally died. Another thing that’s giving up to old age. I spent about $400 on the couch back when I lived in Norwood, MA. It moved to Randolph MA with me where I spent 6 years. Then it came with me when I moved here to Taunton 7 years ago. So I’m estimating the sofa is 14-15 years old. For a discount couch, that’s a pretty long life. I’d like a recliner and a love seat to replace it. We’ll see what my paychecks look like with the bonuses I get now in my new position.

One things’s for sure, if I don’t get back to my normal routine soon, I’ll be in the poor house! I’ll be happy with the changes but my wallet will protest for the foreseeable future!

Good Sunday Morning World

Posted on June 29, 2014June 29, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I knew I might miss a post here and there but not for the reason that occurred. I was expecting to post less because of my busy work schedule not because I got sick…sort of.

On Thursday I felt a little “off” but since I work from home it was easy to soldier on in a pair of sweats and a “T”. I didn’t have to get all dressed up for an office. Thursday night I was soooo tired As I sat on the couch I felt a little “prick” in the middle of my lower back. I thought maybe I’d gotten a bug bite. I reached behind and could feel blisters and they were damp. Poison ivy crossed my mind but it didn’t itch and I hadn’t been in the woods in 2 weeks? I was mystified.

Friday morning when I got up the rash had spread and my back ached. So now my right side hurt as much as my left side which always hurts these days. Oh Joy. 🙁

I decided if it didn’t go away overnight that I’d go to urgent care first thing in the morning.

Well, Saturday morning I was at urgent care by 10 am. The rash had spread and was now all around my waist. It felt tight and my back ached a lot now. It was a 2 + hour wait to be seen but eventually a very nice young woman came in with her charts. After one look she asked me if I’d been sick, had chills or a fever or ever had chicken pox as a child. No, No, No, YES! and my brain had the answer before she cheerfully announced that I had a classic case of shingles. (sigh)

I can expect 1-2 weeks of this before the rash has run it’s course. Hopefully that will be the end of it although pain has been known to linger for up to 4 weeks. She gave me an anti viral drug that will hopefully minimize the duration. It makes me sleepy.

Although other than the pesky back ache the pain hasn’t been bad, she said that could change (Oh Great, something to look forward to) and if it does to let them know and they would prescribe something for the pain.

So far in 2014 the stars in my financial house are shining brightly but the ones in the house of health seem to have taken a vacation.

So this weekend is flying past. Another beautiful weekend is passing me by. I expect I’ll take it easy at home today so probably won’t have much to share this week. So sorry folks. I’ll post what I can 🙂

Lets hope this is the last heath issue for 2014.