I do NOT want to go through what I have been through for the last 8 weeks EVER again! Shingles also called Herpes zoster, or zoster is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes varicella or chickenpox. After an individual has chickenpox, this virus lives in the nervous system and is never fully cleared from the body. Anyone who has ever had chickenpox is at risk for the development of shingles, although it occurs most commonly in people over the age of 60. My doctor informed me they can develop at any age. Mine started in my upper right back shoulder and ran down my entire right arm to my hand. The pain was deep down in the nerves. I was beyond crying, I was wailing. Gerald had to rush me to the ER in the middle of the night. I was unable to do anything with my right arm. Gerald had to do everything for me, he should be given a badge of honor for all he did! My sister JoAnne was a big help too. She had to take off from work to take me to my third visit to the doctor, pick up prescriptions and take me to the store. I couldn't of made it through without them. I was in excruiting pain for most of the 8 weeks. The pain began to taper off around week six. I weaned myself off of all the medications (I had seven at one point) except for the pain pills. I didn't know I should of not stopped those "cold turkey". I was taking a strong morphine based narcotic. Practically hours after stopping the drug, I went into withdrawals. I don't know which was worse, the actual shingles or going through withdrawals. At the time I didn't know what was wrong with me. Gerald looked up what I was on and told me "you are going through withdrawals, did you know that what you are going through is worse than a heroin addict going through withdrawals"? Really? Oh great! I now have empathy for a drug addict who has to go through rehab! Praise God that He got me through it and I am pretty much back to normal now, whatever "normal" is. If any of you have had the chickenpox, I encourage you to talk to your doctor about getting the shingles vaccine. Typically the vaccine is for people aged 60 and over but some doctors will give it to you sooner. I am so thankful my pain didn't last longer than it did because some people deal with the post pain for months sometimes even years! A BIG Thank You to sister's JoAnne and Jan and my good friend Anita for checking up on me daily during my ordeal.
Earnest came home for Thanksgiving. He had a whole week off and Gerald took the week off too. It was nice to have them both around because I was at the tail end of my ordeal and still needed help with some things. They were both a big help as we had The Junction boys over for a Thanksgiving luncheon on that Tuesday. Thanksgiving was quiet here, then we had a second Thanksgiving at my sister JoAnne's house on Saturday.
On Friday our nephew Ryan had to have emergency surgery to remove a kidney stone the size of a lima bean. Poor guy, he would of never passed it. Hopefully he is feeling better this week!
Happy Belated Birthday's and Upcoming Birthday's
November: Stephanie (our beautiful sweet niece)
December: Zachary (our very talented track star nephew)
Grandma Yolie (our beautiful step mom and grandma)
Little Miss Maylee-1st Birthday! (our precious little great-niece)
Hope you had and have wonderful birthday's!
