Shingles

Not the roof kind.

Welp, we're back on the down side of life. Eh, kind of, it could be a lot worse. But it's what happens when your body is a big old jackass.

This post is a little gross medically/bodily/facially. Read at your own risk.

I had Sunday to pull myself back together after the trip before getting back to work on Monday. No big deal, just tried to get some rest, unpack, and do laundry. About halfway through Monday I was absolutely exhausted, but I didn't think anything of it; it takes a bit to get back into office work after a vacation. On Tuesday and Wednesday I started having some pain in my ear. Still no biggie, I remember having a bit of a hard time trying to equalize it on the plane back so it must have been from that. Then I started getting some tingling in my cheek and chin. Whatever, I thought I was just breaking out. 

The first thing that seemed a little odd was that, where I expected I would break out a bit, I got kind of like welts. Hmm. Okay, they still looked kind of pimpley. I'm the sort of person who can't help but mess with blemishes, so of course I did that. That's when I got freaked out. *Grossness coming* There were some little whiteheads and when I poked at them, some skin just kind of peeled off. Every time I looked at them (and still now) they give me goosebumps because it's so disgusting. And there was also a larger welt thing at one of my temples that seemed weird. Since Humira takes a while to get into your system, I thought I was having a reaction to it. Cue my freak out to the worst possible scenario. If my body didn't like the meds it would be back to the drawing board on making my immune system be less douchey. 

To the doctor! I was very detailed and open about what was going on and she didn't waste much time saying it was shingles. Qu'est-ce que fuck?! SICK. I was so grossed out by myself. I ran back to the office to pick up my things and tell them I'm diseas-ed and repugnant. 

I've basically been lying on the couch all weekend...popping all sorts of (prescribed) pills, practicing every home remedy the internet could throw at me, and doing my best not to scratch my face off. 
I was a little worried about work since I don't get paid leave, and I'm the only one who does many of the office duties. Luckily my bosses (well, at least one of them) don't want me there while I'm contagious (which is basically the whole time till this runs its course...which could be weeks) and they want me to do some work from home. So maybe I'll get paid a little bit and my pride doesn't have to be subjected to the outside world while my face is festering. 

So now it's basically taking all of my willpower not to mutilate my face. But the good thing is I think I've had a decent ride as far as shingles go. I don't have a huge amount of pain or itchiness, at least not so bad I can't handle it. And poor Soldier is basically a saint. He's been so good about listening to me cry, getting things from the outside world, and even sleeping on the couch so he doesn't disturb me in bed. He's the bee's knees. 

Guys, here's the moral of the story: don't get an autoimmune disease. Cause you know what? It basically fucks up everything always. 
Oops, let me connect those dots. When your immune system is an overzealous asshole you have to take meds to calm that shit down. And now I've had to shut it down so much that it opens me up to getting down with the sickness. All the sickness. Being stuck in a giant metal germ tube (aka plane) for 6 hours doesn't help, of course. 

On the bright side, it's given me time to draw and listen to podcasts and watch lots of anime with Soldier. My latest favorite podcast is one called Nothing Rhymes with Murder. It's two British girls who "travel" to a different country each episode and each do a murder story, ending with cool places to visit there. But they're so lovely and funny and they also talk a lot about their lives and dealing with anxiety and such. I want to be best friends with them. Listen to it. Now. 

Well...that's what's going on with me now. A semi invalid again. 
Isn't it kind of odd? I've let you guys into aspects of my life for quite a while now...it's gone from dating and jackass guys to being married to my Lobster but continuing to change my worldview and deal with a chronic illness. Ya'll have been with me through a lot. I'm getting a little verklempt. 

Ok. Me and my gross face are going to bed. Sweet dreams, guys.