Allergy or Shingles (by sarah)

I had to go back to the dr - Saturday after the first aid course my arm broke out in a server rash - that didn't look like the impetigo which was clearing up nicely with the creme. The photo's were taken Monday as and I got to see the dr Wednesday morning - the dr who had been dealing with me has apparently left the surgery.

I got a bit flustered at the drs as he said he didn't know what it was and started asking questions about bites - we ascetianed it probably wasn't bites but was it an allergy?

It looks like shingles as its in a strip on one arm but I'm 'a bit young for that'. So I was prescriped another cream this time Betnovate RD cream which I think is just to stop me scratching my self to bits. I mentioned the itching but forgot to mention the burning or the fact I feel pooh.

Apparently shingles is from chickenpox when I was younger and just flares up if your run down etc... I am now waiting 2-4 weeks to see if its an allergy - if it gets worse I have to go back imediatly.

I considered mentioning my backs got a new 'sharp' pain in it but they get a bit upset with you adding things to the sessions that aren't related. On the plus side either way I'm not infectious which is good 🙂

Also I have Cassiopea or the wonky W as one of the spot patterns which is kind of cool 🙂

We had the last Scout meeting of the term last night and it was decided that I should take a break from it until mid May which to be quiet honest is a relief as I'm going to be submitting alot of course work then plus have presingtations and the like going on.

Catch Up on Dr Things (by sarah)

I went back to the Drs Tuesday morning leaving Ella and Oliver asleep on our living room floor - they'd come up to visit us which was most excellent.

On the plus side the impetigo is clearing up and I have got alot more movement in my jaw - and I'm feeling alot better. Bad side is that I still have lots of fluid in my ears and she found another skin infection.

This time its a fungal infection that's probably cuased by the stuff that cuases thrush - this means I'm not to use perfums and have yet another creme to apply - joy 🙁

I have been over doing it and have gotten myself really run down apparently hence I have mouth ulcers again etc... she told me there's a spray I can have for them if they continue and if I don't start to feel better soon I have to go back again.

But I am happy that things are responding to the medication. I'm abit worried that I have ended up with skin infections at all though. To be far the fungal one feeds off of perfumed soaps and things including the skin lotion I'd been using 🙁

I have also been moaning about this far too much for what it is aswell - its not made me really sick just uncomftable :/

Jaw Ache, Flu and Impetigo (by sarah)

I had been meaning to book an appointment with the dr for ages as I feared I had brought the bed bugs from london back with me - itchy red lumps were still appearing on my legs and now on my stomache.

I had unfortunatly scratch the bedbug bites I and some had gotten infected. Then on Saturday I woke up and found I couldn't open my jaw very far and couldn't really shut it either - I lost my ability to bite. Side ways movement was painfull and cuased clicking and crunching - from one or two old bites I was covered in red spots - but not in a way I would associate with a rash - was I being bitten? I haven't found any bed bugs here and have been making Al hoover the bed and stuff just in case.

Smaller incidences of the jaw restriction had been happening for a while but nothing like this - I couldn't eat and drinking was hard.

Sunday my jaw was a little better and I could eat soft things but my hearing had gone west and by night time I was starting to show cold symptoms.

Monday Al phoned the dr as the glands in my neck had swollen to look like small chicken eggs on the outside - my joints are all stiff and achey - I felt/feel pathetic - obviously I have man flu - ie I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill.

So the Dr looks at me and checks my tonsils and is concerned I can't open my mouth and then the question - when did I last go to the dentist - erm.... I don't remember - in fact thinking about it I don't think I've been to see a dentist since I was about 11 :/ might have to remidy that shortly.

Podded and pocked and questions asked - everything is inflamed and may or may not be the flu, and the red spots aren't insect bits but maybe infetigo. So not knowing what that is I look it up when I get home and it doesn't look anything like the stuff of the wikipedia page but thats cos there are different types - its a bacterial infection cuase by the strep stuff that cuases sore throats etc... It's common in toddlers and sports people and take advantage of cuts or insect bit that have been scratched.

Mmmmm... so if this is what it is I think that were I was bitten by bed bugs in London was ultamatly the cuase of this - of course I shouldn't have scratched but I do it in my sleep. Symptoms include swollen lymph glands and flu like symptoms :/

I have Fucidin cream which is an antibiotic and steroid mix. They are hoping that this will clear it up - I have to put it on each spot indivdually.

I have another appointment for a weeks time and if my glands haven't gone down by then it'll be blood test time.

It took a little bit of time for me to work out that infetigo was impetigo. I am now being very cheesed off about bed bugs. I am now going to have a bath - get Al to change all the bed sheets, apply the creme and sleep.

Oh and I'm going to have hairy legs as I'm not allowed to shave or wax them - they reckon that they should have it cleared up in time for me to not have a hairy leg summer - lets hope so.

Science Writers disappointment (by sarah)

I thought things might be getting abit tight to enter the Young Science Writer of the Year compertion and as this year is the first year since I found out about it that I am actually in a position to enter.

No floods, being healthy enough to actually get stuff done and being back in the science world even though its part time. With my ambition/long term goal being bringing science to the masses I was actually really looking forward to stretching the writing skills I have been learning over the last few years - to me this was a fussion project and looked like fun.

This year is also the last year I am young enough to enter - so I went to the website and... its not running this year - not explanation or anything just no running 🙁 Looks like I'm not even going to get my chance at it - I mean I boubt I would have done very well at it but at least I would have tried but the oppurtunity has been plucked from me.

Never mind - tomorrow I get to put my moon rock in a machine for blasting!!!! Mwahahahahahh!

Artistic Frustration (by sarah)

Last night I saw once again the most fantstic moon, it was a pastal tangerine colour and it was in a twilight sky, just above the horizon and it was huge. It hung there like the proverbial eye and the trees below were bathed in golden light from the setting sun.

But would Alaric turn the van round to go get the camera? Would he even stop to look at it - no!

This is the bane of my life when it comes to photos - I know I'm not exactly brilliant and I would probably have blurred it anyway but hey the moon was hanging over our valley!

I had a similar problem when the snow was on the ground - Dad didn't understand that I wanted to stop the car to get out and take photos of the whole of the bowl shaped bit with like all the built up bit in it - covered in snow. I had asked Alaric to come out and walk up to the main road to take pics as with my pelvis and back I can't afford to be out in the snow falling over on my own but he wouldn't.

Its not their fualts they either just dont see it or do and are genuingly busy but I find it so frustrating along with people talking constantly at me when I'm trying to write, paint, make websites and other things.

And as for having my projects moved or my pooter used when I'm not there - that really makes my blood boil - only becuase people don't know where the fragile bits are or the fact the laptop is on its last legs and has a tendency to crash if you do certian things and it takes me so long to have everything set up to work its a right pain if I have to restart.

I am feeling alittle bit frustrated and am trying to claim back my work space in the office but its slow going.

On the plus side I saw a shooting star last night with a green tinge to it and a cloud that looked like a rabbit or hare running under the moon.