Friday, July 27, 2012

Tempting the Laughing Gods


Me: The people organizing the Olympics opening ceremonies invited Keith Moon to come and play the drums. I guess they forgot that he died in 1978.

Augie: Can you get to the Olympics on an airplane? I’ll ask my Mom and Dad to take me there, because they need a drummer.

And in other news…

I’m free! After two months, I can throw away all the devices I relied on to get around, and walk on my own two feet.

Farewell, Cadillac splint!
I have jettisoned the bulky fiberglass splint I wore for a month. (It’s called a Cadillac splint. When I said it didn’t feel much like a Cadillac, the orthopedist said, accurately, “You’ve never tried the other kind.”) I have put away a bag full of elastic bandages that held the splint in place, and the lace-up and wrap-around boot that braced my ankle for three weeks after the splint. We’ve hung up the crutches and returned the rented wheelchair.

That only leaves me with an elastic band for ankle-strengthening exercises, and some overall exercises to get back my energy and muscle tone. Amazing how they ebb away when one is sitting around being a good patient. My fibromyalgia acted up during that time, too, but when I finally recognized the symptoms I stopped eating so much sugar and restarted some vitamin and mineral supplements I hadn’t needed for a while, and I started feeling better.

Then I got a nasty surprise. I found a couple of red marks on my lower back, each with a slight bullseye pattern. I hadn’t been anywhere associated with ticks, but Lyme disease is the last thing I need, so I saw a doctor that same day. She ruled out Lyme and thought it might be pressure sores from sitting around so much. But she also decided to test for shingles. Shingles? She thought it very unlikely. The tests came back. Shingles. I hope I’m not tempting the Laughing Gods of Retribution by saying that it's a very minor case, compared to what I see on the Internet. My only discomfort is a few tiny shooting pains (like electrical charges) and some fatigue. I started on acyclovir early, so the doctor says I may avoid the pain that many people get long after the little red marks have disappeared. I hope she’s right. (She also says the shingles vaccine doesn't guarantee that you won't get shingles but it might help reduce the severity. I was going to get the vaccine after my leg healed. Don't need it now.)

The weather is better (slightly lower temps and much lower humidity), and now that I can walk I am able to begin tending a garden that needs, at the very least, some major weeding. The Olympics are about to begin, and we have some nice family activities planned. Life is good.

I hope the same is true for you.

.

23 comments:

stephen Hayes said...

I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that you don't suffer an acute case of the shingles. Mrs. Chatterbox had a case a few years ago and she suffered terribly. That acyclovir (who names this stuff?)should really help.

stephen Hayes said...

I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that you don't suffer an acute case of the shingles. Mrs. Chatterbox had a case a few years ago and she suffered terribly. That acyclovir (who names this stuff?)should really help.

Red said...

Awesome that you have got rid of casts and crutches. I can tell you about losing muscle. It's very surprising how weak you can get. Get on physio therapy to get back in shape.
Keep on getting better.

Ms Sparrow said...

I'm so sorry to hear you now have shingles--it ain't fair! Was your immune system compromised? I love that Augie was willing to fly to London and fill in for Keith Moon. What a guy! You'll have to remind him of that when he's older. Hang in there and take care of yourself now!

Jeanie said...

I'm glad you are back on your feet and that you are able to be back in your garden.....Shingles is no bed of roses, but I hope that your case does indeed turn out to be a mild one.

DJan said...

I got the shingles vaccine a few years ago, because I've seen how bad a case of it can be. I'm glad you won't need it now, and that your case is a light one. And congratulations on getting out of your Cadillac! :-)

Anita said...

Okay, that's it! No more issues, because as you said, life IS good!

I'm happy to hear that your Shingles is mild and that your foot is healing.

EnJoy the Olympics!

Far Side of Fifty said...

Looks like a cadillac to me..having had some of the old Model T ones! I am so glad you are doing better!
Uffda on the shingles. I have read that even if you have had the shingles once you should have the vaccine AFTER you are over the attack...because you can get them again:(

Grandmother Mary said...

Oh my! Healed from one thing and into the next. Glad for one, sorry for the other. You need more hugs and kisses to strengthen your immune system!

jshawflamm said...

Sorry to hear about the shingles, but I'm glad you're back on your own two feet again. Hope the rest of the summer is happy & healthy!

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

Congratulations on losing the splint! Oh, to be able to feel the breeze on your calf again! A momentous day! (Of course, they WOULD throw Shingles at you to burst your balloon!)

Marie Loerzel said...

Wow! I hope you have displayed the crutches in a very funny Bennigans/Hard Rock cafe kind of way. The shingles of course are going to be much harder to hang on the wall...

Linda Myers said...

I got the shingles vaccine after my sister had a time with shingles. My husband is going to take his chances since his insurance doesn't cover the shot.

Congrats on being back on your feet!

Indigo Roth said...

Hey Nancy! SHINGLES?! Good grief, does the Universe have it in for you? But a big happy YAY on the removal of the splint. Indigo x

troutbirder said...

I did like your midsummer garden. The medical issues nobody needs and the last few months have been bad on that point for myself as well. Things are getting better finallhy though.... :)

Sally Wessely said...

You have certainly been through it lately. I am so sorry that you now have the shingles after all you have gone through with your leg. I think stress does that to you. Thankfully, it seems your case is not too severe. I had reactions just from the shot, so I can imagine what the shingles must be like. Actually, my father suffered terrible from them in his last days. It was so hard on him. My mother has had them twice, once in her 30's and once a few years ago when she was in her 90's. This most recent case was not severe and she barely noticed them once she broke out.

Retired Knitter said...

I had a case of shingles just this past spring. It was terrible - pain so terrible I couldn't sleep. It was a problem for 2 weeks. If you can avoid any part of this with a shot - do it.

Lisa @ Grandma's Briefs said...

Life *is* good, especially now that you're free! Congrats on that. Good luck with the shingles. Enjoy your cooler temps, lovely garden, and the awesome Olympics. Team USA!

Pearl said...

Ack! Out of the frying pan...

I don't hear anything good about shingles, but the drugs keep getting better...

Hang in there.

Pearl

injaynesworld said...

You are having quite a time of it, aren't you? Hope you're dancing on table tops soon and those nasty shingles are just a bad memory.

Murr Brewster said...

I managed to get the vaccine at mid-fifties by being in a drug trial (found out afterwards I'd gotten the real thing). They said by age 80 half the people get it. At least you only get it on one side...yeah, not much consolation there.

Chartreuse said...

Just found your blog through following some links on a lazy Saturday afternoon when I'm laid low with....not shingles, but just the tail end of a nasty new flu. And we had our flu shots too! Apparently some new strain snuck into our Australian environment when no one was looking (probably brought over by a Yank). Anyway, just wanted to say I enjoyed the posts I read and will be following. As a new grandmother myself, I especially appreciate your writing about that side of your life. We are an hour away from our grand-daughter but every visit is a delight. And already I'm feeling I may need to be nearer as she grows. I don't want to miss out on any of those little milestones - like this week, her first sentence: "Uh-oh. Shoe." This was to tell her mother that one of her little shoes had fallen off while she was put into the car seat. Priceless!

Green Monkey said...

now that the olympics are over, what did you think? How are you feeling? shingles are TERRIBLE!

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