Sunday evening, I watched Madam Secretary with Tia Leone, and something happened. My left brain and scalp itches, markedly. I tried to ignore it. A stabbing pain, in my brain, through and through. The stroke comes to mind.
Two days after, I broke out in, presumingly, hives. Sixty-eight years, I never broke out in hives. The left neck, throat, my left ear and left scalp itches. Very strange.
I have rats outside the house, specifically, the garage. I live out in the country, varmints, ground moles and, yes, rats. Tuesday, in the afternoon, I developed hives. I attributed that from organic rat poison…perfectly safe. I worried about owls, chipmunks and raccoons. It’s not their fault.
It’s not hives. Two times a year, fortunately, I had an appointment with my doctor Thursday, my biannual check-up.
“You have a mild case of the shingles,” the doctor said.
Incredulous, “Are you sure?”
The doctor furrows his brow, “Yes. I would know,” smirking. “You have prodromal discomfort, for two or three days before the rash?”
Tia Leone last Sunday, a stabbing pain, in my brain.
“Affirmative.”
One in three developed shingles, a scabby purulent discharge, itches like crazy and oven-mitts comes to mind. The doctor prescribed valacyclovir hcl, 1 gram tablet, for seven days.
I hate shots and Big Pharma. Just so you know.