So yesterday afternoon on the bus on my way home from work I felt a very odd sensation that felt like a small but painful electric shock in my chest... didn't think too much of it until it happened a 4 or 5 more times that evening. Went to sleep but didn't sleep well at all, but didn't really know what was going on. So I go to work the next day and the "zaps" kept coming and got more frequent and more painful. It also seemed like the pain was migrating as well. Instead of being by my sternum all the time it was sometimes under my armpit and sometimes in my back by the spine. What the heck?!
So it is getting bad enough that I decide to schedule a doctors appointment for that day...
where they found TRIPLETS....oh, my god...two were hidden underneath my ribs!! (Niels wrote that and it is categorically NOT true - despite how many times Clare Reuter cursed me with twins or triplets)
I am talking to the doctor, describing my symptoms and feeling completely insane because I am talking about stabbing pains and electrical shocks that migrate through the left side of my chest. She reassures me my heart and lungs are fine and asks me if I have ever had chicken pox. I tell her that yes indeed I did and a viscious case at that... then I proceed to say, "funny that you should mention it though because these shocks remind me of when my grandma had shingles." and doctor sweetly respond, "thats because YOU have shingles." What?!?! Only old people get shingles! She says yes, typically older people but also people with compromised immune systems including pregnant woman - and though it is not that common that is indeed what i have.
Hmmm, so ok what next. She prescribes me a high dosage of antivirals(which luckily are as safe as tylenol for baby) but says she cannot give me the steroids and pain killers she would give other people - so we just have to hope that the acylcolvir works or I am in for one hell of a time with lots of pain (and apparently a blistering rash) that could linger for a very long time. Awesome! She does say that i am lucky I came in so early because the antivirals are really only effective if administered within 72 hours of the first onset of symptoms.
We shall see what comes - But I talked to a couple people (like Jess and Jana) that had shingles too and said it was horrible! Can't wait!
