I have been feeling generally like I was losing my mind for about the last week. It started about a week ago. I was feeling...again, generally, achy and tired, with headaches, a widespread ache up and down my back, especially while walking, or sleeping. It wasn't getting better, and the lack of sleep and a heaping helping of pain was driving me crazy.

Sunday morning. I wake up at 3:30 am, having tossed and turned all night, the pain becoming nearly blinding (on top of being sensitive to light anyway). I talk myself into going to the hospital, hoping that if I go in the middle of the night, the wait might not be so bad. I stumble in to wake MW up and tell him I'm going in. No reason for him to tag along. I figure it's not *that* serious, relatively speaking, and there's not point for both of us to wait and lose sleep.

I get to the hospital around 4am, the waiting area empty save for one girl who is curled up in a blanket. I stand around waiting for a nurse. She finally sees me. I explain to her, through exhausted tears, my situation. I remember, in my last city, that the hospital also acted like an outpatients, but she told me that's not how it really works, and invited me to stay, but explained that I would be triaged and gave me a list of the after-hours clinics. I decided to wait for 2 hours and see what happens. There was a OD case that came in just before me, so I expected a lengthy wait, especially with only one doctor on duty.

It was freezing in the waiting area, but thankfully there were a few blankets scattered on the chairs. I suppose I should not have picked up a blanket, not knowing where it came from, but I just couldn't resist and took my chances.

I fell into a light sleep in the chair, with About Schmidt play on TBS (I hate that fucking movie). I got woken up two hours later. I got ushered into the room, asked a few questions and given a BIG, HEATED BLANKY. Not being familiar with hospital procedures, I wrapped the BIG, HEATED BLANKY around my legs and waited for the doctor. And waited. I eventually scooted down and laid down on the bed and dozed, listening the nurses outside the curtain talking about overtime and working nights (can someone tell me why hospital staff tend to obsess about working hours, overtime, and salary?).

Some time after, the doctor came in. He was very friendly and sat down patiently while I explained my symptoms. I then talked about a rash I've had on my shoulder for about a week or so, (that looks a little bit like this***). He told me almost immediately that it was shingles. We think it started with a 'local stressor' of a sunburn I got a few weeks ago.

Also I feel about 30% better knowing what the heck is causing this pain, there is nothing they can do to treat it. I was told to take lots of Advil, and asked the doctor for something a bit stronger to help me sleep, so at least I can take some Tylenol 3s to knock me out at night. It will take probably another 2-4 weeks for it to go away, which is sort of pain in the neck, so speak.


***Just to avoid the rumours. That is NOT my nipple and hairy-areola. Mine look a little different.