Tag: symptoms

Crash & Burn

by annemariedemyen, posted in Health and Fitness, October 2022

Yesterday I wrote a blog about how I have not been feeling my best for the past few days. It didn’t seem that serious. I was coughing, tired, achy, chilly, and the like. It was nothing worth bothering our thinly stretched doctors about. Since my symptoms did not seem that worrisome, I have just been plugging along – working out, eating well, and keeping things in order around here.

At least I was until yesterday… Yesterday I was feeling fine when I got up and planned my day. I had a breakfast of bacon and eggs and toast. I wrote my blog. When I got up to do my workout, I just wasn’t feeling it. I felt tired and weak. I remembered that I am retired, so in a position to treat myself to a short nap before I worked out. Two hours later, I woke up and the house was spinning. REALLY SPINNING! I decided that I should make my way to my phone on the kitchen table. Maybe I would call Dan, maybe I would call the health clinic. I had no plan. I slid off the bed and carefully made my way to the kitchen, one piece of furniture to the next. I reached my phone and called Dan. He said he would be home soon. Since he still had several hours of his shift left, I thought it would be rather longer than soon. My next mission was to battle my dizziness and ever-worsening nausea to let Molly outside. Mission complete, but by the time I got back to the kitchen, my nausea had progressed to vomiting into the nearest wastebasket. This magnificent turn of events lasted until Dan got home a few minutes later (by which time, I was laying on the bathroom floor – my world was still spinning, and I was still vomiting). Dan helped me to the sofa and got me a glass of 7-up (which Molly knocked under the sofa at some point). I gradually felt better until I decided to call it a day and head back to bed. Dan helped me to check my blood pressure, which was considerably lower than usual. That was strange and had me rather concerned but not overly, as I was feeling much better than I had been.

After a difficult night, I got up this morning feeling fairly decent. I remembered my maternal grandmother having ‘spells’ and my mother suffering from ‘fainting spells’ every time she had a flu or significant illness. Maybe these episodes are relatively common in our family. I don’t know, but as long as I do not have a repeat, I am not going to dwell on it.

Today, I am taking another easy day. Tomorrow I hope to be back to my routine of working out, lifting weights, and walking Molly.

She seems to be getting bored. 🙄

Have a great day! Hope you are well and keeping so. 💞🌞

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February 3rd – Shingles Vaccine

by annemariedemyen, posted in Updates - February 2022

Looking back at previous blogs that I have posted, I came across this one regarding my run in with shingles.

https://seclusion101withannemarie.com/2019/10/29/shingles-vaccine/

Since I wrote this we have had global debate and debacle over vaccines. I understand this, but still felt this post was worthy of update.

While you may be reluctant to get the vaccine for shingles (or anything else right now) I would like to share a bit more information on shingles.

1) Anyone who has had chicken pox, regardless of age, can get shingles. When I had shingles, and in the weeks after, I heard horror stories from people of all ages, who had experienced this horrid condition.

2) Shingles can erupt anywhere on one’s body. I had it on my face and scalp (particularly nasty as it can cause loss of sight, hearing, and permanent disfigurement). I heard of people experiencing outbreaks on their shoulder, back, waist, and thighs.

3) The first sign of shingles may not be a painful, itchy, crusty rash. Mine started with stabbing pain, seemingly deep in my sinuses. Next, there was redness and swelling and my eye was bloodshot. There was one small obvious blister on my forehead, which did not register with me due to everything else causing me misery and discomfort.

4) There is medical treatment available – but one must start treatment within 72 hours of initial signs of outbreak. I was fortunate that while I had no idea that I had shingles, I did go to my doctor on time and was able to receive effective treatment.

I wouldn’t wish shingles on anyone. I would still advise anyone 50 or over, who has had chicken pox, to get the shingles vaccine. If you choose not to, I hope this information helps you to identify the condition if you ever have a breakout and that you are able to get the treatment before you are faced with months of devastating pain and worse. I heard so many stories of people who went through hell with shingles. You really don’t want to become one of them.

That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞