That’s what my mom said to me late Wednesday afternoon when I told her I’d had to make an emergency trip to our family doctor that morning. I don’t think I’ve heard that in a very long time – have you? Or have you ever?
It’s neat, isn’t it? Bless your buttons.
Kind of homey and sweet and "Grandma" sounding.
Thank goodness our doctor was in Wednesday morning and could see me. I was still having severe pain, from which I could get no relief. I spent a couple of hours Tuesday night after I went to bed (with 2 pain pills in me, but still hurting) planning my funeral, because I knew whatever I had, my demise was near. That was enough. I woke Tom up and told him to get me up Wednesday morning so that I could call our doctor and/or try to get in to see anyone. Plan B was to go to the ER.
Dr. Lefran was trying his best to get out of town by noon to drive over to Houston to meet up with his wife and two sons for Thanksgiving, but worked me in. Bless his heart! After hearing my woes and examining me thoroughly, he said he was sending me for a bunch of blood work, urinalysis and a CATSCAN to rule out kidney stones on my right side.
He then said something that sounded great, until he explained it. He said, "Well, you’re my prize patient for the day – without a doubt!"
Thinking that was sounded good, I asked, "Why?"
He replied. "It’s a rule – not coincidence or anything like that, but a rule – that without fail whenever I’m trying my best to get out of town someone comes in – just one person – with complicated symptoms and problems that I cannot figure out. Today, you’re it. By far!"
He did guess right, though, about what was wrong with me as things turned out. I have shingles! A varient of shingles. I have the severe, acute pain (and have I ever!!), but no rash. At least, not yet.
Dr. Lefran said he has only had one other patient who exhibited these same symptoms. The only way you can diagnose shingles of this type is by ruling everything else out that could be internal.
He gave me an Rx for a strong pain medication and gave me an Rx for a strong anti-viral drug to take for two weeks. I have to go back to see him next week.
I’m very happy to tell you that I’m feeling a good bit better yesterday and today. I think the anti-viral drug is working already. I only had to take two pain pills Wednesday (one when I went to bed) and one yesterday (again, when I went to bed). I have not yet had any today, so far, so am happy about that. Plus, I’ve been staying very busy and have accomplished a lot.
But, I’ve overdone it, I think, and have hit the wall. So, I’m planning on resting the rest of the day and over the weekend. No black Friday shopping for me! Tom, either. Besides, that’s what you’re supposed to do when you have shingles. Rest.
I had it once before – 20 years ago – on my left side (but, with the rash that time) and remember how extraordinarily painful it was then. Not having the rash this time threw me off. I could NOT for the life of me figure out what was making me hurt so badly and so was thinking the worst. Not that shingles isn’t bad. It is. And, you can have it more than once. It affects the nerve endings in your body, which is what causes the intense pain in whatever part of your body you have it in. It’s the same virus as chicken pox and herpes (cold sores, etc).
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving yesterday. I cooked for hours because I was so far behind since I’d been feeling so bad for so long, but our 2:30 p.m. dinner turned out perfect, so I was really happy about that.
Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts. Maybe I can get to feeling well enough to start blogging a bit more. Till then . . . Cheers & Blessings to you all! Dee
bless your heart!
sorry ya got the shingles
i had them along time ago but not as bad , had b12 shots don’t like them, but they helped
you take it easy !
hoep ya fell better soon
huggs
Thankfully I’ve not had that particular virus … yet. My friends who have gone through it say what you say, it is extremely painful. Glad you’re feeling better and next time you start planning your funeral, check things out with the doctor first! Then call me!!
I’m so sorry about your shingles! I hope you feel better soon.
My son actually (at 17) had shingles last year and he, with is very unusual high tolerance for pain, said it was the worst pain he has ever had. Glad you’re doing better. Hang in there.
You are in my prayers, hope things go well.
http://www.matthewmorine.com
Hugs, Dee! It doesn’t sound like you are resting!! Take care of yourself, gal. And ask for some help – there will be people out there waiting to bless you. Give them the chance to do that.
I hadn’t read your blog in a while so when you said the other day that you were having problems with shingles, I automatically thought about the rash. I have had a little experience with this … when I laid down it felt like a broomstick was in my back. No way could I get comfortable. I took Wobenzyme N which is an enzyme preparation for all kinds of pain. The Dr. diagnosed it based on “if it breaks out the rash will be here, here, and here”. The rash started where he said it would and went where he said but there were only about 3 or 4 blisters in the line he’d drawn out … and they all went away along with the pain. About a year later I had a similar pain in my face. Before the day was over I got back on Wobenzyme N and it went away without a rash. I know you are using the antiviral drugs now with good results – but file this away for future reference cause they can come back.