Shingles, Spain and Such

It's shingles.  By the time I got to UC, little blisters had formed.  It's affecting the trigeminal nerve and that can impact the optic nerve.  I had to get an emergent appointment with an optometrist to make sure my eye is clear -- it is, phew.  Given I caught it early AND am on heavy hitter antivirals, it should stay clear of my optic nerve.

The UC care doc is also in her 50s and is waiting on the shingles vaccine for the same reason I was waiting.  Made me feel a little less dumb about my decision.  That said, she's reconsidering her decision lol.  My PSA also motivated my aunt to get her first shingles vaccine yesterday.

Both doctors were pretty insistent that it'll get a lot worse before it gets better AND I'll be very uncomfortable.  Day 4 and 5 are the worse.  I'm on day 3 this morning.  They also said no exercise, REST, REST, REST to add as little stress to my system as possible. 

No drinking on these meds either -- 7 days.  Guess that decision has been decided for me, at least for the first part of the trip.

If TSA notices shingles on my face, I can't fly without a letter from my doctor saying I'm not contagious.  But I AM contagious so that's an issue.  It's contagious for anyone immunocompromised or has not had the chickenpox (or vaccine) by direct contact with discharge from the area.  I have good hand hygiene, don't touch my face so no one is at risk around me.  I won't touch my face and then touch the door handle kind of thing.

I'm at a higher risk of catching something so I'll be CDC perfect about hand hygiene and mask, etc. for my protection too.

So I wait and see how bad this gets by tomorrow.  Good news is I woke up the same this morning -- maybe a little better (less swelling and no eye crusting).  Docs say still not out of the "getting worse" time frame yet, but this is hopeful.

It was a rollercoaster yesterday.  I'm going; I'm not going ... around and around.

I'm like a traveling pharmacy.  Back meds, shingles meds, eye meds, stomach meds, nerve pain meds.  For a healthy person, I'm a mess.  The meds schedule is crazy too.  The antiviral is 5 times a day.  AND, I get to adjust the schedule for Spain time without missing doses.  Meds and MATH.  Dang.

So far I'm passing the hurdles for going on the trip.  Both girls have been vaccinated as children too -- I knew my boys were okay.  My vision isn't at any significant risk.  My face looks passible so far.  I feel less-than-good, but not bad enough to not go.  I feel comfortable that I'm not putting others at risk for chicken pox.  

Last bit of news ... my Oura ring says my period is coming "possibly today."  Sure, join the party.  

UPDATE:  Oura was right again -- she's here.  Good lord.

Cliffhangers everywhere I look  ...