Don't breathe near me...

[mumsisdaughter]

I have the ultimate combination of non-lifethreatening but bloody awful ailments atm.

A very heavy head cold and shingles. Woe is me!

Abridged version of a telephone consultation with my GP: It sounds like shingles.
Me: What do I do?
GP: Nothing. Once the rash has appeared, it's too late to do anything.
Me: How long does it last?
GP: Maybe a week, maybe longer. It might spread. Just keep away from people with an immune deficiency and pregnant women.

It's a good job it's this time of year, when I quite like sitting by the fire and reading. Rang Mum and Dad to explain why I won't be calling round for a while. Dad's on anti-cancer treatment so his immune system is weak. Mum did her usual concerned routine. She's 79 and I'm 58: I guess you never stop being a parent :D

Comments

[saffronlie.livejournal.com]

That's quite awful. My poor boyfriend got shingles last year, and as I somehow escaped getting chicken pox as a child we were worried for a while that I'd get it from him. I think the risk for others is pretty low; someone would basically have to rub their face in your rash (although I did rub cream on my boyfriend's before we knew what it was!) but of course you won't want to compromise your dad in any way. Take care of yourself and I hope you recover soon.

[ukashi-goshi.livejournal.com]

Oh no! D: I hope you get better soon. *hugs*

[secret-savior.livejournal.com]

Get better soon, mumsy! =(! My uncle had shingles a few years ago and it hit him pretty hard, but he'd just had heart surgery not long before so he wasn't in the best shape at the time. I'm sorry you're not feeling well!

[versailles-rose.livejournal.com]

That's HORRIBLE! I hope the stuff doesn't last long and you feel better soon!

[i-sanguinity.livejournal.com]

Yikes! Hope you feel better soon.

[sparkly-69.livejournal.com]

(((hugs))) get well soon!!!

[mumsisdaughter]

Thanks. Hope you feel better soon, as well :)

[mumsisdaughter]

And you. Thanks :)

[mumsisdaughter]

I'll recover, I know. It's the not knowing if it will get worse before it gets better that's the nuisance. Thanks :)

[mumsisdaughter]

Thank you!

[mumsisdaughter]

Thanks a lot :)

[mumsisdaughter]

I'm keeping warm and trying not to scratch :) Thanks.

[hw-campbell-jnr.livejournal.com]

Oh dear! Feel better!!!

[zhonghua2000.livejournal.com]

Ugh! My stepdaughter had shingles when she was about 25 and this after 2 bouts with Chicken Pox as a child. They weren't fun at all. Feel better, quick.

[cloudsinvenice]

That's rotten luck - I hope you're feeling better soon, and that the pile of books besides you is awesome. <3

[mumsisdaughter]

Thanks. The cold is clearing. The rash aches :(

[mumsisdaughter]

Thanks. The rash hasn't spread any further but it does ache so. I had chicken pox 50 years ago. Apparently, the virus hides out in the spinal chord and can reappear at any time. :(

[mumsisdaughter]

Well apart from TVL, I've read 'The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher' by Kate Summerscale: fascinating insight into the murder of a Victorian child and the ensuing detective work and media frenzy. Now reading 'The Seven Daughters of Eve' about there being only seven different types of mitochondrial DNA and what this means about our ancient past: looking forward to finishing so I can visit the website and offer my spit for analysis! When I'm better of course :)

[cloudsinvenice]

I still have The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher on my to-read pile; I'm looking forward to it. And oooh, really curious about that book on Mitochondrial Eve! I've always wanted to get my DNA tested, too...

[mumsisdaughter]

Bryan Sykes

ISBN: 0-593-04836-9

[cloudsinvenice]

You are awesome, thank you! :) I'll be requesting this at the library next week!