Stacking Firewood while dealing with shingles

December 30, 2019

Firewood that I stacked on Saturday & Sunday while suffering the the pain & itch of shingles.  

I got all screwed up this year laying in firewood. I usually have all I want delivered and stacked by the end of June. Anyhow, the load you see in this photo didn't arrive until mid September. One thing leading to another, early snow & cold, lots of rain, I only goy about a third of it stacked by October.
 I spent Saturday & Sunday, (December 28 & 29) finishing up the chore. We had 2 nice days for the job. Cold, but pleasant enough outside for such an activity. I took it slow & easy. I probably put in 2 hours Saturday, about 4 hours Sunday. All the while accompanied by the pain and itch of the shingles disease. What torture that has been. I can't sit around all the time because I get restless. I love to get outdoors every day. Thats a big part of what I like about burning wood.

December 30 2019 Shingles update: I go on prednisone

I get a 7 day supply of prednisone to help fight the pain and itching of shingles. I came down with shingles the day before Thanksgiving. 

Monday, December 30, 2019.  Today I went to the docs and let them know how miserable I have been with the shingles itch & pain. I prescribed a 7 day dose of prednisone. I have been on that stuff before, quite a number of years ago, but I don't remember exactly why. Hopefully this stuff nocks out the itch, the pain, and maybe it will not come back. If it des, I am too I will need more aggressive treatment.

The itch and pain from shingles began a week ago, DEC 22nd. I don't think I have ever experienced such discomfort before, and for such a pro-longed period.

I come down with shingles Wednesday, November 27, 2019

So the day before Thanksgiving 2019 I came down with shingles, the disease that breaks out in one who has had chicken pox as a kid. It would be days later when the rash broke out that I learned what I had.

It was Wednesday afternoon and I had been out all morning doing yard work and feeling normal. I felt a sudden pain in my lower right back. "Whoa, what is that," I wondered. CouldI have suddenly hurt my back?

The afternoon wore on and the pain became a steady ache. 

Thanksgiving morning it was more distinct. Noticably worse. We had some family over, had dinner, drinks, the whole deal and the pain got worse.

By the evening it was severe. Pulsing & stabbing in my lower right back. It kept me mostly awake all night. This was the worst pain I have ever experienced. On a scale of 1-10 I gave it a 9.

Friday morning I go to the emergency room at Samaritan. Googling my symptoms I thought I might have kidney problem of some sort. Maybe kidney stones. Blood & urine tests and a CT scan showed nothing. It was most likely muscle spasms r other muscle related issue. One doctor commented that I appeared to be "The healthiest 65 year old alive." Oh dear, I hope he didn't jinx me.

Got 2 prescriptions, muscle relaxer and an anti-inflammation drug. within a couple days the pain was more bearable. Down to a level 5.  The drugs however, weren't agreeing with me a whole lot. I was very sleepy. My urinary & bowel habits changed. I was very miserable. 

Tuesday evening, December 3rd, I discovered an ugly looking, wide spread rash on my lower back where the initial pain started. The rash wrapped around to my front abdomen area, and part way down right buttock. 

Urgent Care Wednesday morning & diagnosed with shingles. Started a regimen of valacyclovir, and anti-viral med.