So around May 14th'ish...I started getting this REALLY bad, my whole head, headache. It was bad. Lasted for about 2 to 3 days. I would hide away in my bedroom...where it was dark, and the quietest place in the house...and would just try and sleep it out. I also developed a low grade fever. By the weekend, certain joints began aching, and this strange rash/hives/splotches/bumps started appearing around my neck & arms, across my forehead, and near my elbows. Each areas spots looked different.
Sunday was Arlee's last piano/voice recital. I was so embarrassed to go out looking like I had some weird skin disease. I wore my hair down, so I could pull it over 1/2 of my face. I had Danny help me pin my shirt just right to cover the spots on my neck. I did have a fever that morning, and was very stiff & sore....so I took some of my leftover "good" ibuprofen from when I last threw my back out really bad...and THANKFULLY not only did it bring my fever down, and helped with the pain....it at least made the lumps on my forehead not so bright red!! Whew!! I know I still, I'm sure, looked "sick" and just wiped out though.
Called on Monday and got an appointment with the "nurse practitioner" at our Dr's office. She was stumped...said she had NEVER seen anything like it before. It seemed to me she was MORE focused on just the rashes {or whatever it all was} than the joint pain or fever, but she did write me a 'script for some steroids. Only 40mg, and only a 5 day supply. It did take away the pain & fever {THANKFULLY}, and the bumps on my head went away...and the large "welt" looking lumps around my elbows turned into bruises and didn't hurt anymore. But the stuff around my neck/arms only got worse.
By Sunday night or Monday....I'm assuming because the steroids were out of my system by then...my fever was back, and so was the body aches and joint pains. And it came back with a vengeance!! 101.8 fever...and unable to function without having one of my "good" ibuprofen to lessen the pain....mind you not get rid of all of it, just make it so I could walk and function at about 75% of "normal"....if that. I was tired so often...I slept A LOT.
Back to the dr on Tuesday...saw the "nurse" again. She is STILL stumped. Labs came back...everything was normal, except one thing that was just a LITTLE on the high side...she said which could suggest infection, but not sure if it was really high enough for it. She had 4 other drs/residents come in to "check me out"...they brought books in to look things up to compare me with the pictures in the book. None of them had a clue what it could be.
Regular lady who does the blood draw was out to lunch...so they had this other lady come in to "attempt" it. She stuck me twice trying to find my vein...then went to get someone else who also stabbed me trying to find my vein....then asked if I didn't mind hanging around until the other lady got back from lunch. "Sure...no problem, I just have these two boys who have already been here for almost an hour! What's 10 more mins!!" Got in with her...finally....and first try...no problems...quick and easy. And since I was gawked over, stuck in the back of the throat twice for the throat culture, and stabbed numerous time...plus the boys were actually very good being trapped in a tiny room for so long...we treated ourselves to lunch at Big Boys!!
I kept sharing about how a few years ago my body was a "carrier" for Strep...but my body decided it was a good idea to attack itself instead of the infection....and it resulted in some MAJOR joint pain....and I kept thinking it MIGHT be something similar, just manifesting in a different way. They kind of dismissed it. Although they did want to do a throat culture to be sure it wasn't strep. Wrote me a 'script for a cream to put on the spots, and a referral to a dermatologist. That evening I noticed a new spot....on my left hand, between my first and second knuckle...it was red and slightly swollen.
Wednesday....REALLY early morning...PAIN all over, a definite fever although I didn't check it, but I for sure felt it!! Tried to wait until it was time for Danny to get up for work...but that was a couple or so hours away...there was NO way!! Had to wake Danny up to get me something to drink and my meds. I was miserable.
Thursday...I woke up sore and achy...again My hand was SO swollen. Fever. So I called over to the dr's office to leave a message for the nurse to tell her the joint pain & body aches are BAD when I don't have an ibuprofen in my system...something needed fixed....and about my hand.
Waited....waited....waited. Tried to so some cleaning in the kitchen, but it was painful. I had to sit down frequently to get some relief. I was in tears and weepy. My hand was only getting more and more swollen...it was taking over about 1/2 the back of my hand...it was VERY red, hard, and hot...and HURT!! More red splotches were showing up on my arms...some on my legs...a small swollen spot on my ankle area which made it so I couldn't bend my foot up at times. Joints were aching...wrists, elbows, ankles, knees. Still no call back from the drs office.
Started Googling! Danny offered to go pick up some Vitamin C and Garlic Pills to help boost my immune system...in case it is just some infection wreaking havoc on my body...or whatever it is...just HOPING it will help out!! Also went ahead and took another ibuprofen...was waiting to kinda hear back from the dr...but just couldn't take it anymore!!
6pm rolls around...still nothing. Danny calls...they "say" the nurse already called something in, and asked if I had called the dermatologist yet. So we call to Kroger....NO 'script called in. Call BACK to the dr's office..."we'll send a note back to the nurse". Called Kroger back again at 8pm...NO 'script called in.
Got woke up this morning around 8:30'ish from the dr's office...someone asking if I would be willing to come in to see the actual Dr. Had to tell them I would call them back so we could figure out day out. Got a plan in place...then called them back...she said that was fine, and would send in the 'script that didn't get sent the day before. Worked it out so Danny {the the little boys}could go along with me. This time Dr looked over all my spots...had another dr come and and look over them all....we talked a lot about the fever, pain, aches, etc. He finally came in with a book...turned to a picture of what he thought looks like the main rash stuff I have. And decided to put me back on steroids...double the dose....for longer....told me to stop using the cream....and I am suppose to go back in next Wednesday for a follow up.
Oh...and I forgot to mention...my swollen hand was down about 1/2 it's size!! And all the red sore splotches that showed up the day before were gone. And I actually felt pretty good when I got out of bed that morning....I'm totally giving the credit to the mass dose of Vitamin C I took the day before!!
Got back home....after picking up our 'Script {noting that they NEVER did call in the one they said they were going to}....took my meds....and another Vitamin C...ate a snack...relaxed for a bit...and then I got SO tired!! My arms started hurting....I think I was just worn out from going out today!! Went to take a nap...got up a little later in even worse pain. Limping my way out of my bedroom because of a new spot on my lower leg. Took an ibuprofen to help me threw until HOPEFULLY the steroids will kick in and take care of it!
So anyway...I know this a lonnnnnng entry. Wanted it so I could just keep track of what we've been thru so far....and to share with others what has been going on with me. I've had to miss a few outings and such...which I've hated, but I just couldn't with all the pain and stuff....plus I just hate for anyone to see all these horrible looking spots all over me, too! :/ Resting LOTS....so I know I have been on fb a lot less than normal, too. I'm REALLY looking forward to HOPEFULLY these steroids being enough to kick this stuff out of my system....and getting back to our "normal" around here!!
