shingles

Yup, I have shingles now.

I had heard of it, but really had no clue what it was. I guess if you have ever had chickenpox (which I did when I was a child), then the virus still lives within you dormant and can reactivate during different times particularly when you are stressed or your immune system is weekended.
I think I got it b/c of the whole gallbladder business. I guess it was stressing me more than I realized.

I've noticed these bumps on my back about 2 weeks ago, but thought it was just a bug bite. Well I had noticed that it was sort of itchy and starting to spread around my side. But again with the whole gallbladder thing I didn't really pay much attention. It didn't really hurt I just thought I got bitten by some weird bug. Anyway, I saw my cousin Sunday night (who is a nurse) and asked her. She said to go to the doctor. I did and its shingles.

Here's the kicker... anyone who has NOT had the chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine (like my 5 month old baby girl) could get the chickenpox (not shingles). Lovely. My doctor didn't seem too concerned and told me to just to make sure it was covered up while I was nursing. I called my pediatrician just to double check and he said it was okay too just to cover up the area. But what about the last 2 weeks it has been there (from my back to side) I know Emma has surely touched it! But he asurred me that unless she litterly rolls around in it, she should be fine. So that is good news for anyone else that I see that hasn't the pox or the vaccine. My doctor even said they if they have kids that get shingles they send them to school if it is in a place that is covered by clothes like mine is. That's good.

The even more frustrating thing it that my doctor said there wasn't much he could do since I was nursing. I guess then normally give antiviral meds and he wasn't so comfortable giving those so I got a steroid shot (in my rear!) and some steroid cream... which is NOT helping the itch. But I'm calling the doctor back today b/c the pediatrician said the antiviral med is the same one that they would give to Emma if she got the chickenpox. He said if I take it, it will go to my milk but wont harm her... which I confirmed on Safe Fetus (a great website for pregnant or nursing moms that aren't sure if a drug is safe).

So this was probably way more info than you ever wanted to know, but I just had to get it out. Come back later for some sweet 5 month pictures of Miss Emmy!!

ps... I'm feeling pretty good from my surgery. Almost back to normal. :)