As I've said before we learn something new everyday.
Everything I've ever heard about Shingles is that it is a unilateral disease. Meaning you can ONLY get it on one side of your body. Leave it to Glenn to prove the theory wrong.
This morning, Glenn woke up with a an outbreak on the left side of his head. Say what!!!
I called the primary care physician and without missing a beat, he called in a 10 day extension on the anti-viral medicine. This man is my medicinal hero. Of course, we need to drive up there again next week for a follow-up. Need I remind you the pcp is 45 minutes to an hour away. It's actually doors away from Occupational therapy where I go weekly.
This week I was able to move Cam's appt. up to Monday saving me an additional trip. Next week I will not be so lucky since I already have to drive 51 1/2 miles to the pediatrician on Wed. I might as well stick to my original plan.
We followed up with the eye doctor today as recommended last week by them and this week by our pcp since Glenn had some blurring.
Can I say...I hated this man? The doctor came in, did not introduce himself and while trying to explain to him what was going on and what our pcp said, he told us in no uncertain terms that the rash WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY NO HOW 100% NOT SHINGLES and told me to shut up. I was fuming so much I almost walked out of the room.
Once home I decided to look up bilateral shingles and what do you know...it is possible.
Everything I've ever heard about Shingles is that it is a unilateral disease. Meaning you can ONLY get it on one side of your body. Leave it to Glenn to prove the theory wrong.
This morning, Glenn woke up with a an outbreak on the left side of his head. Say what!!!
I called the primary care physician and without missing a beat, he called in a 10 day extension on the anti-viral medicine. This man is my medicinal hero. Of course, we need to drive up there again next week for a follow-up. Need I remind you the pcp is 45 minutes to an hour away. It's actually doors away from Occupational therapy where I go weekly.
This week I was able to move Cam's appt. up to Monday saving me an additional trip. Next week I will not be so lucky since I already have to drive 51 1/2 miles to the pediatrician on Wed. I might as well stick to my original plan.
We followed up with the eye doctor today as recommended last week by them and this week by our pcp since Glenn had some blurring.
Can I say...I hated this man? The doctor came in, did not introduce himself and while trying to explain to him what was going on and what our pcp said, he told us in no uncertain terms that the rash WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY NO HOW 100% NOT SHINGLES and told me to shut up. I was fuming so much I almost walked out of the room.
Once home I decided to look up bilateral shingles and what do you know...it is possible.
Herpes Zoster patients often have prodromal symptoms (prior to rash) of burning, aching, and/or lancing pain, numbness, tingling, and/or itching prior to the appearance of classic vesicles with an erythematous base that typically follows a unilateral dermatomal distribution. The outbreak is bilateral in 4% of patients, and recurrences in immunocompetent patients occur in 1 to 5% of cases, with 50% of these recurring in the same dermatome. Occasionally, cutaneous dissemination, defined as involvement of 20 or more vesicles outside primary or adjacent dermatomes, may occur. Other complications of Herpes zoster include postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), ophthalmic zoster, motor paralysis, secondary bacterial infection, pneumonitis, encephalitis, and hepatitis.So that doctor can just bite me. I know what I know and I can't stand to be treated like I'm stupid. Meanwhile, my poor darling husband is forseeing a future of this pain. Good thing we have two good pain meds. :>
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