Four days into having Chicken Pox...

Chicken Pox at my age is very unpleasant. Chicken pox at any age is unpleasant. If there are things that I can wish off this Earth, one of them would be chicken pox. Other than plotting my blisters/spots on a body sketch, what else have I been up to? Well let's see. Have been catching up on my DVDs. Have been watching Monk Season 5 cuz it's the easiest to watch at this state and finally sat down to google some about chicken pox.

All this while, have been getting advice and dos and don'ts from family members and close friends who have gone through chicken pox themselves. But am rather curious cuz I am panicking looking at the amount of spots/blisters that I have and I have no basis for comparison. Is it normal to have this many or should I be calling the doctor? Yes, me being so paranoid could be the overdose of Monk that I have been watching *laughs* I am also curious as to how many more days would this popping of spots/blisters continue cuz am itching like crazy!!

So this is what I found out from this site that's easy enough to read:

From the sites, there is a list of myths such as restriction of food that are dark e.g. dark soya sauce, because it will leave dark scars and restriction of certain types of food, like chicken, prawns and crabs for four months because it is “poisonous and gets very itchy.” Hmmm, I've heard similar advices and it may be a myth but I am just going to play safe and stay away from soya sauce and seafood.

This diagram on that site I found real useful. Let's see, I went to the doctor on Wednesday but had some blisters on my scalp and three on my face (but I thought it was stress breakout) on Tuesday and pounding headaches since Monday. Wednesday was when the red spots and blisters popped out on my whole body proper. So let's take Tuesday as day one then.

At the moment, I have red spots and blisters and no crusting yet. Am still waiting for the crusting part to take place. Patience is not a virtue that I have so this is really difficult part of the recovery process. So if I use this diagram as a gauge, I should be crusting on Sunday. So let's see how it goes.

Been told to not scratch so that the blisters don't break. What if they break on their own like the ones on my face? I didn't do anything and they broke on their own *wails* Does it mean that there's going to be nasty scars? As for on my body, how does one sleep cuz I have this fear that I will burst the blisters on my back. Have been sleeping on my side but it's not the most comfortable. Plus not getting much sleep cuz have to be up ever 4 hours to take my meds. So how is one suppose to get some rest like this? I do wonder.

Anyways, more updates on my not so interesting adventure as I take this chicken pox journey *rolls eyes*

Early birthday present :o(

I will be turning 35 on this Sunday, 19 August 2007 and I was looking forward as we're going to catch the musical King and I. We got the tickets a long time ago and all set to watch it as a birthday treat.

Have been having headaches (thought I didn't sleep properly) for the last two days and backache (thought it's due to my period), I got up today, another ordinary work day to get ready. In the shower, I was thinking that I must be stressed cuz I was breaking out on my face. Then I realised I had little bubbles on my back and some of my hand. Started panicking cuz I didn't know what it could possibly be. And my Mom took a good look and declared it as CHICKEN POX!

Can you imagine getting chicken pox at 34!!! Who gets chicken pox at this age??!!!? Serve me right for keep delaying and not getting the vaccination before. I had rubbed shoulders with many young charges at work who had chicken pox but I didn't get it (just the psychological itching) so I took it for granted. And finally, I have been humbled and got chicken pox from a 7 year old *shakes head*

I went to the doctor who confirmed that it's chicken pox and declared that I had to stay at home for 8 days. 8 long days. I mean, I love the break away from home but not this way where I won't be even be able to leave the house. Like what am I suppose to do?

So I armed myself for this 'battle' and took the advice given by experts on this matter seriously:

Advice from Doctor:

1. I succumbed to chicken pox because immune system low so have a whole lot of medicine to take for the chicken pox and itching

2. Also have to load up on Vitamin C (Redoxon 1000mg)

Advice from Sinseh: (traditional Chinese medicinal shop)

1. Drink one bottle of Ling Yang Drink (A herbal drink made from shaved antelope horn - which is suppose to be cooling and will help with the fever. Might cause more bumps but it's suppose to get it out of the body).

2. Use cooling lotion (Calomine lotion) to help with the itching.

Advice from dear Mom:

1. Change bedsheets every other day.

2. Change bath towel every day.

3. Drink / eat at least two oranges each day.

4. Drink lots of unsweetened Barley drink to cool body down.

So lots of advice from people and I have armed myself with everything listed above. Am wondering if there is such a thing as overdosing on cooling / vitamin C *laughs* Anyways, I was sooo bored the first hour at home that I sketched this. Please excuse me cuz am not good at drawing but I was bored enough to plot where my bumps can be found.

Am wondering if I can actually do any sewing. Sounds stupid but I am at the contagious stage so would I be passing it if I sewed cloth dolls at this stage? Something to google.

So looks like I can catch up on my blogging and and pay my bills online for the next 8 days to keep my sanity intact and me not scratch my scalp off.