Under the Weather

I knew something was up last Friday when I felt a stinging, tingling sensation above my left eye and had a very bad headache.  We were on our way home from Tucson where the Hubs met with his urologist.  Saturday morning I had what appeared to be two little blisters and intense itching.  I put some cortisone cream on them.  They got worse! Sunday I coated them with Neosporin and a band aide and went to church. The headache continued on and nothing, absolutely nothing touched it.

I went to work on Tuesday (Monday was our 4th of July holiday). The head still hurt, the rash was horrific and just above my eyebrow.  I went to the doctor's that evening.  I have SHINGLES!!!  On Wednesday, per the doctor's orders I went to see my opthomologist.  He noted swelling on my eye lid but no actual shingles in the eye.  I'm to return next Friday for a follow up appointment.

I have three prescriptions: one for shingles that's taken 5 times a day for 7 days; one for pain as needed; and a salve for the area.  I hadn't gotten the vaccine for shingles - I wasn't quite 60!  SIGH!!!

I cannot read well as my left eye (my dominant eye) is blurry.  It is now swollen 2/3 shut every morning when I wake up.  And I can't seem to get enough sleep.  This couldn't happen at a worse time due to work efforts and an upcoming audit.

Perhaps this is a "not my will but Thy will" situation.  The articles I've read indicate that stress can be a factor in developing shingles... I don't think it's work, more than likely it's been the kidney stone saga on the Hubs end.

This is all for now,  perhaps I can write/add more later.

Saturday, July 9, 2011:

The Shingles still look horrible and the itching comes and goes and when it comes, it is with a vengeance!  My left eye has been prone to swelling when I wake up from sleeping. The other day is was so swollen and probably 2/3 closed. It was so swollen it was odd looking out from my own eye.  It was as if it had been framed by skin - MY SKIN! 

This experience is new to me and very disconcerting!  My bangs have grown out, so they cover the affected area, but they make me itch horribly.  I have a salve the Doctor prescribed, but it is so... sticky it's almost like putting tree sap on it.  The best relief thus far is Ocean Potion for sunburn. It has a pain reliever, aloe and quells the itch for awhile. 

The problem now is that I get tired so easily and my left eye is blurry, blurry, blurry!  What am I to do come Monday?  Perhaps it will be better by then and I can return to work unscathed! We'll give it a test run tomorrow at church.  According to the articles I've read, we're past the contagious point.

Hugz,
Tamara

Today's Devotional

TODAY’S VERSE

“Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: ‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’ Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”

Numbers 6:22-27

TODAY’S THOUGHT

You probably recognize these verses as a Doxology that is sometimes given at the end of a worship service. It was really given to Moses from God Himself so he could bless the children of Israel. I pray the same for you today: May you have the assurance that God will bless you and protect you. May you sense the smile of God deep in your heart, and experience His graciousness to you. May the very favor of God Almighty fill you with strength. May knowing how He loves you and wants to bless you give you all the peace you will need to get you through this day. Know this, God Himself loves you so much and He is the one who will bless you this day!  ~Amen!

TODAY’S PRAYER

Father, who am I that You would bless me? And yet, You have said that it is Your desire to do so. So, Lord bless me today. Bless me till my heart overflows with the realization that I am Yours and You are mine! Thank you, dear Father. In Jesus’ name I pray  ~Amen!

Tamara