Herpes Zoster that is, which is the latent form of Varicella- aka chicken pox. So, in cultural terms, Brad has shingles. Adults die more easily of chicken pox than children- scary. Here is a genius moment for Leslie and a perfect time for her to share all of her Public Health knowledge-- Brad had this weird bumpy rash on the side of his abdomen. He showed me, and because I'm taking infectious disease this semester I told Brad, " I think you have Herpes." But he said it wasn't painful, so I wasn't exactly sure. Well, it doesn't get any better, he decides to go to the health center, and sure enough- it's herpes zoster. My first diagnoses, and I got it right!!! Look out Kramer (episode where he acts professionally for medical students so they can diagnose him based on his symptoms he describes--in that episode, he had gonorrhea).
Don't worry Brad has great big horse pills that he has to take 4 times a day, and he is dealing with the mild pain that he's experiencing right now just like a man- whining and complaining the whole time- just kidding. Brad's a real trooper. The sad part about this is you're not supposed to get shingles until your in your 50's and 60's. So, poor Brad is balding and has shingles...sad day!
Brad's viewpoint:
So a couple of days ago, maybe Monday, I noticed a small rash on the side of my abnormally large belly. At first, it wasn't a big deal, I know that I am hot-cold sensitive which tends to give me rashes, also on my abnormally large belly. I didn't pay much mind to it until it continued and developed into a nasty looking rash. It didn't hurt, it just looked gross. Wednesday, Leslie tells me "I think you have Herpes." I thought...isn't that an STD? How could I get that on my stomach? So I go to the wonderful Student Health Center, pay 15 dollars to see a Nurse Practitioner. I tell her my symptoms and she gets up to take a look at it. The second I pulled my shirt up, she stopped, midway from me and her chair, and said "I know what that is. Its easily diagnosable." She didn't even need to look at it close up! Anyway, its Herpes Zoster, aka chicken pox for grown-ups. Although I don't remember chicken pox hurting this much.
She said that my prescription will stop it from growing further and that it will take maybe 2 weeks to fully heal. Dang! Since I got to the doctor quickly, she said that my recovery will probably be quick. Woohoo! The past couple days I've noticed one end of the rash healing and "crusting over" while the other end is still in full swing. It now hurts, but only when pressure is applied to it. This morning I accidentally scratched it pretty bad while trying to move the covers, and I thought my intestines would fly out of my abnormally large belly. Wow. I never want to scratch it again. Ever. So that's life with Herpes. I can't imagine getting this on my junk.
DON'T KEEP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE A PICTURE!!!
eww....
4 comments:
Reading your post, I thought you'd enjoy this little story (I thought it rather weird until I read there was an actual disease referred to as 'shingles':
Bubba Had Shingles
Those of us who spend much time in a doctor's office should appreciate this! Doesn't it seem more and more that physicians are running their practices like an assembly line?
Here's what happened to Bubba: Bubba walked into a doctor's office and the receptionist asked him what he had. Bubba said: 'Shingles.' So she wrote down his name, address, medical insurance number and told him to have a seat.
Fifteen minutes later a nurse's aide came out and asked Bubba what he had. Bubba said, 'Shingles.' So she wrote down his height, weight, a complete medical history and told Bubba to wait in the examining room.
A half hour later a nurse came in and asked Bubba what he had. Bubba said, 'Shingles.' So the nurse gave Bubba a blood test, a blood pressure test, an electrocardiogram, and told Bubba to take off all his clothes and wait for the doctor.
An hour later the doctor came in and found Bubba sitting patiently in the nude and asked Bubba what he had. Bubba said, 'Shingles.' The doctor asked, 'Where?'
Bubba said, 'Outside on the truck. Where do you want me to unload 'em??'
So did you figure out how you came to have this condition? I don't suppose it comes from climbing on the roof ... LOL ...
I know all of you peeps had the chicken pox at the same time (after the Maybury kids gave it to you) so this must be a different strain?
whoa. so. gross.
(kurt's story was dang funnY! hahaha!)
(and yes we did all already have chicken pox)
In response to Dad's comment about it being a different "strain," well, that's not really the case. The chicken pox virus becomes dormant in certain nerves in the body. The reason for the reoccurance is unknown, but is more common in people over sixty. So, I would recommended getting your vaccine for Varicella in a few years.
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