Sunday, September 1, 2013

Procrastination

Last Sunday, I woke up with two spider bites above my eye.  I took some Benedryl thinking it would relieve the swelling.  
Monday morning I woke up with the spider bites swelling a little more; sent the hubby to town to get a fresh bottle of benedryl, as mine was due to expire.  In my mind I thought perhaps the pills I was taking were loosing their potency.  
 Tuesday morning I woke up to more spider bites and my lymph nodes swollen and tender to the touch.  

I can't have this I thought; I have an upcoming knee replacement surgery, and have to be infection free. 
 Luckily, I got in to see the doctor, who informed me my spider bites were not spider bites, but shingles. 
 Oh dear, I procrastinated too long about getting the shingles vaccination!!!  

The doc did say that because I  didn't procrastinate and came in early,  the virus was caught  in time.  The pills he was prescribing for me would make my recovery speedier.  

He did send me to the eye clinic, because shingles of the eye can cause blindness.  And was concerned that it may effect the implant I had due to cataracts.  There I was given a salve to put in my eye.  

Its a week later; my shingles symptoms are clearing up nicely. 
 Luckily I did not experience the pain, and itching most folks have with shingles.   

"You should see the other guy!!"


And that's the way it is.........................

26 comments:

  1. oh, no!!! my neighbor has had the shingles again recently - her 3rd bout with them! thank goodness yours were caught early!

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  2. Oh, Muffy, that looks so painful! My mother had shingles in her eye, but it cleared up. Hope you're better soon.

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  3. I am thankful you got help early. John had shingles and they are so painful.

    You mentioned apple crisp in your comment on my post - let me know when it is ready!

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  4. these are awful, and now i wonder why you thought it was spider bites.. i would not have though of shingles, did not know they can go in he eye, but would not have though spider either. now i will get my shingles shot so thanks

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  5. oops, forgot to say i am SOOOO SORRRy you have this, i have heard from others they are very painful. hope the meds work quickly

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  6. So sorry to hear this. Sounds miserable and scary too. Good thing you got it treated early. Shingles is an awful thing to deal with. Hope you are all better soon.

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  7. yikes! hope you are soon over this and that your knee surgery will go well.

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  8. Hi Muffy...I hope the other guy looks twice as bad lol!!
    So sorry for you to have this happen, but at the same time I have never heard of shingles in the eye area, and it is good to know about these things!!
    Thanks for sharing, and hope your back to yourself soon, and that knee surgery goes well!!

    Grace

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  9. I saw the spider bite reference and wondered why you hadn't moved out of the house while it was being fumigated. I have heard that shingles are painful (and it sure looks it) and can linger so you are lucky to have gotten help early. I had the shot after my neighbor got them a couple of years ago.

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  10. Merciful Heavens. That looks terrible. So glad you didn't wait around. Might not hurt to get the shot anyway since they can come back. Feel better soon.

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  11. That looks painful...so glad you took care of that! Please take good care of yourself and give our regards to the Mister! We hope it is completely gone when time for your surgery! Hugs. Loretta & James

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  12. Oh my goodnes.....you won't believe this but the same thing happened me 2 years ago, but on my back and around to one side of my stomach. I thought it was spider bites too. I had to take a week off of work and I was put on acyclivir ( not sure correct spelling) and it was not bad at all.
    Yours looks very sensitive and I hope you heal quickly.
    Did you feel funny for about two day before it showed itself? ...I did.
    Hugs
    Earlene

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  13. I have never heard of it being around the eye ! I do hope you have speedy recovery !

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  14. We had a neighbor that got them in his eye and it wasn't diagnosed right away, he suffered but came out ok. So it is a good thing you went to the DR. Even if you get the shot you can still get them just a lighter case. I had the shot My Dad has had shingles numerous time...he has never had the shot. His DR says he need to have it about six months after he clears up. I hope your recovery is uneventful:)

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  15. Oh, you poor dear. My sis has had the shingles and she says how miserable and painful it is. Thank God you caught it early. Hope it doesn't delay your surgery and good luck with both recoveries.
    Life is still good

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  16. So sorry to hear about this. I just got a prescription for a shingles shot on Friday. Guess I'd better get it done soon!

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  17. Oh, my goodness, you poor thing, glad things are getting better... fast!!!!

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  18. Ouch ! It hurt just looking at that ! Next time I'm in to see the doc I'll have to ask about getting vaccinated.

    I hope you heal quickly with no after effects.

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  19. You poor thing!!! Glad your case of shingles wasn't as bad as some! Mike and I have both had the shingles vaccine.

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  20. awwww muff, that looks so very painful!! I think it will be a waste to get the vaccine in the future, I have been told that once you have shingles, the vaccine will never work. And once you have had shingles, you are more likely to get them in the future!!

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  21. I am so happy to hear that it's clearing up, it certainly seems to be something that a lot of people are getting. And you were fortunate that you didn't get the itching.

    Take very good care of yourself.

    Jen

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  22. Shingles .... ugh! Glad you caught it in time to get some relief. I have heard that you have to be careful when it is around the eye. My shingles were on my back and under my armpit. Not fun.

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  23. I am hearing so much of shingles lately! This sounds and looks like a horrid thing to endure. Amazing it didn't itch and wasn't painful. They say that if you've had chickenpox, you've got the virus already, right? I can see it is not a fun thing to deal with. Hope it goes completely away and stays away, especially since knee replacement will be enough to worry about.

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  24. My Doc begged Hubby and I to get the shot. I was the same as you. Should I or should I not.

    She said the outcome of shinkles is really a horrid sight. Oh my look at you.

    I had like six people who have has shingles and they said to me. Carol Ann take it and your hubby.

    I convinced my other friends alos. They did the boot. Oh yes the pain is terrible they say and the itch and yes you can go blind. Oh thank the Lord you made it.

    Oh I am so glad I did.

    I am glad yours has been caught and your going to be fine.

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  25. Oh so sorry to hear that but glad that you are going to be fine.
    I haven't had the shot but I've never had chicken pox so I think I don't need it. Maybe I should double check!!

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  26. Ouch...that looks painful. Poor girl. I am glad it was not a spider. Get well soon.

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