Ok, do you guys want the long, sordid tale of why I have been absent from my blog for so long, or would you like the short version?


The short version is I got Shingles, I couldn't type very well, I wanted to cut my arm off, and I didn't want to expose you all to that misery.

But, this blog would be really boring if I didn't go into detail at least some of the time. So, let me tell you about Shingles and how bad they suck.

One afternoon, I met my sister and mother at this Marina in the neighboring town to walk/run. About half-way around the Marina, W started complaining about walking, so I hoisted her up onto my back. I carried her piggy-back style at least a mile. The next day, I started getting shooting pains down my left arm when I turned my head over my left shoulder. I thought I must have tweeked my nerve while carrying her. The day after that (a Saturday), I mentioned to everyone who crossed my path that I pinched a nerve in my neck because my left bicept was all tingly and sensitive to the touch. The nerve sensitivity continued through Sunday with the addition of a dull ache through my shoulder that radiated down my arm. On Monday the nerve pain was moving down my arm and into my hand. My fingertips felt bruised.

Thursday morning, I woke up and found two patches of rashy looking things on my left forearm. I thought I was bitten by a bug in the night. By Thursday afternoon and extensive internet searches, I realized I had Shingles. Now, this is when most sane people would decide to close their daycare and see a doctor before the weekend. Did I? No. No, I did not. Instead, I decided to see if the rash would spread. I made an appointment for first thing Monday morning and the receptionist at the doctor's office asked me if I wanted to come in that afternoon (Friday). I shrugged it off and told her no. DUMB.

Saturday came and went and the rash spread (of course the rash spread). Sunday was Father's Day and, though I really didn't feel up to it, I went to Susanville with TDH for a sweat. I was in misery. My arm felt like it had been deep fried. My hand felt like I held on tight to a cactus for too long and I couldn't open or close it. This is about when I wanted to cut my arm off at the shoulder and call it good.

Monday, the morning of my doctor's appointment, I had a red, blistery and very painful rash that started at the back of my upper arm, down the top of my forearm, around my wrist, onto the palm of my hand and up my first two fingers. The doctor took one look at me and complimented me on my "text book case". He said, "I could take pictures of your rash and submit them to the Medical Journal. I can name the specific nerve that was affected by just looking at your rash!" Fantastic. At least I did it well. He prescribed some anti-viral meds (800 mg, 5 times a day for 10 days) and told me not to touch any babies that haven't been vaccinated against Chicken Pox. Then I wanted to cry and I continued to want to cry for the entire day... and did quite a few times.

You know, it's one thing to catch a bug that's going around and be laid out for a few days. But when you allow yourself to get run down, refuse to take time out for yourself, take no vitamins and eat in unhealthy ways, and your body decides to attack itself in protest, you can't blame anyone but yourself, and believe me.... that's a difficult pill to swallow. That's when I decided it was time to do everything in my power to make my body strong and healthy again. I called an Acupunturist friend of mine to get some Chinese herbs and set up an Acupuncture appointment. I also prayed in solitude nightly for four nights with Sage tea. I drank Emergen-C every morning and afternoon. By Thursday my rash had stopped spreading and I was starting to get some movement back in my hand, but more than that, my spirit was healing.

When TDH and I have discussed the Shingles, he mentioned that the worst part wasn't the unpleasantness of the disgusting rash on my arm/hand, it was the way it changed my entire spirit. There was nothing that could make me smile and apparently I was a tad bit emotional (I think I recall feeling that way). He couldn't recall a time when I had been so unhappy. So, I'm happy to have my happy self back! In addition, I'm happy to be able to type again... and open doors... and pull up my pants... and diaper babies... and SLEEP. Ahhh... sleep is the best. All my Shingles are dried up and going away now. There's a little scabbing still left over and a little tenderness in my hand, but it's about a million times better than it was, so I'm thrilled! I had read that Shingles can last 3 to 5 weeks and I pictured myself writhing in pain in my tent at Sun Dance. I'm happy (no, thrilled!) to report that I won't be doing that!

Now I need to play catch up. I need to update you on the Sun Dance preparation. I also need to post about some skirts I've been making (before the Shingles set in). MJ... though there's not a lot to talk about there; the media has said everything that could be said. Farrah, Ed McMahon... Jon & Kate (hahah... just kidding about those two). There's lots to talk about. What have you all been up to??