Suzzann!

Well, after my visit to the dermatologist, I am just maddened. After seeing my regular PCP yesterday, who took one look at the tell-tale vesicles in a linear formation, surrounded by redness, and noted that my BP was elevated (140/90), and concurred with my initial diagnosis of shingles (herpes zoster). She prescribed Valtrex 1000 mg (aka 1g), along with pain medication, and suggested that I follow the course that I mentioned to her of as much rest as possible, as little clothing as possible, staying cool (crank up the AC), and keeping the area dry. I fortunately had some topical Lidocaine 2% gel, so I am using that as well. But back to today’s source of irritation–I had made an appointment yesterday with the dermatologist, as I called both my PCP and my dermatologist’s office–thinking it better to use the shotgun approach, and see who could get me in the quickest. The dermatologist’s office was able to schedule me for a 9:00 appointment this am (not with my dermatologist, but another provider), so I took that appt., then a couple of hours later my PCP’s office called and asked if I could be there at 1:00 yesterday (so they were able to get me worked in same day!). Of course I said I would be there, but after thinking about it yesterday afternoon, I decided to keep my appt. this morning with the dermatologist as well, since I had a couple of dermatological issues that I thought I could knock out as well (the two birds with one stone theory). Also, in the back of my mind, I was curious as to whether the diagnoses would be the same. So, I arrived for my appointment this morning, had to wait much longer to get in than I did to be seen yesterday (which was a work-in, and by rights should take longer), and finally get in to see the….FNP. I have great respect for FNPs (Family Nurse Practioner), as they have to complete an extensive and rigorous educational process, but just as it is with MDs, some as better than others. My friend and former co-worker Celina–brilliant. The FNP I saw today–still reserving judgement to a point, but….I hate being given misinformation, and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE—do not talk to me in euphemisms and avoid the hard questions or discussions. So, I tell him that I believe I have shingles, and he appears to agree, until I mention that I have had them previously (I told him that I was first diagnoses with shingles in college,) as I mentioned they were just like their herpes simplex cousin—the gift that keeps on giving. So then, he told me that once you have shingles, you can’t get them again, and that my blistered-up rash o’pain was a “cold sore” which was his euphemistic way of saying that I was suffering not from Herpes Zoster (shingles), but Herpes Simplex II (genital herpes) or HSV I (cold sores/fever blisters). Ok–first issue—misinformation–you CAN have more than one shingles outbreak! Obviously, if it lies dormant in the ganglia, and active shingles is caused by some trigger reactivating the virus, so that it reawakens in the ganglia, and travels through the nerve fibers to the skin, and then eventually subsides and becomes again dormant in the ganglia, common sense would tell you that it can be re-awakened again. I understand that you may develop antibodies, and that the majority of people who are afflicted with shingles do NOT have a recurrence, but those who are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised (the elderly, diabetic, people with HIV, cancer, lupus, etc.) frequently do have recurrences. From my research online, it appears that the general consensus is approximately 4% of people who have shingles experience recurrences. So, it makes me FURIOUS when someone tells me something that I know is incorrect, and supported by research and documentation. And if he thought it really was HSV I or II–as another dermatologist told me during last summer’s shingle/seborrheic dermatitis debacle, then why didn’t he ask me if I had ever been diagnosed with genital herpes or had suffered from cold sores? I have NEVER had a cold sore, and have been tested for genital herpes–and it was negative. If it truly was either HSV I or II, then it is your obligation as a healthcare provider to discuss that with me and give me the information I need to protect those I love (and even those I don’t), as HSV I and II are both HIGHLY contagious! NO questions, information, nothing!! So if it were HSV I or II, I would be putting those I love at risk (my boyfriend, family members–my parents, brother and sister-in-law, nephews, co-workers) because I wasn’t informed and educated about how HSV I and II can be spread and the level of contagion, since it can be spread just by touching the affected area and then touching someone else–so I could scratch the blisters on my back, forget to wash my hands, and touch one of my nephews and infect them. Also sharing towels–warm, wet, and wonderful for transmission. And don’t forget “Auto-inoculation: An infected individual can spread the virus to other parts of his or her body by touching an area shedding virus and then touching, scratching, or rubbing another susceptible part of the body. Towels are especially conducive to this.”, so I could be spreading it all over my own body, including to my eyes–which could potentially cause blindness due to keratitis among other eye infections. According to the the National Eye Institute, a division of the National Institute of Health: “Herpes simplex keratitis is a leading cause of corneal opacification in the United States, other industrialized countries, and developing nations throughout the world. An estimated 450,000 people in the United States can develop recurrent episodes of the disease and about 46,000 episodes of HSV eye infection every year. Herpetic eye disease is the most common infectious cause of corneal blindness in this country.”, . HSV is easily killed by soap and water, but the lack of appropriate care, and misinformation, and the failure to disseminate information when necessary is unfortunately not so easily treated.
Well, I guess I will wrap up this rant for now, as I need to eat some dinner, and spend some time with Scootch, but I will be back later with more updates on my progress.

Just a quick post before I am off to the dermatologist–as I have the shingles, which, oh yeah, did I mention….I HATE!!! I got them for the first time in college, and just like their cousin– Herpes Simplex II, the shingles (aka Herpes Zoster) are the rotten rat that just keeps on giving. I hadn’t had a round since last summer, when I was hit with a massive combo shingles/sebborheic dermatatis attack, but these clocked in Sunday night (after a lovely weekend, I might add).
Well, since I don’t want to be late for the DR., I am out the door, but will post up when I return.
I was all ready for a big write-fest last night, when….my Comcastic (not so much) cable internet went downnnn

I’m soooo excited! I’m going to Texas in 2 weeks to see my dear Bessie, and my fabulous godchildren,Zoe and Noah!!
WooHoo!!!

Five things you don’t know about me:

1. I paid for concert tickets in high school by hitting up guys for change to buy candy! Concert tix back then were less than $15.00, and went to every show that hit town;)

2. I once rescued a turtle who had been run over in front of my house, and saved its life. I got it from the middle of the road, and called my vet (although my parents and then-husband told me that nothing could be done for it except to shoot it and put it out of its misery) to see if they could treat it. The turtle’s shell was cracked, and it was bleeding from its mouth, but I insisted it could be saved. Not only could they treat it, as one of the vets on staff was a certified wildlife specialist, but after treating it, they sent it to Walden’s Puddle to rehab and be released back into the wild. Turtle karma is good stuff.

3. I have premonitions. So does my mom. And my grandmother did, too.

4. I keep all the letters, notes, postcards, cards, etc that I have ever gotten. I have notes going back to junior high school, and love letters from all of my old boyfriends!

5. As much as I hate to clean up my own house, I actually had a job cleaning offices in college, and cleaned apartments and houses for several of my friends on the side during my twenties.

I have lots and lots of updating to do on the website, as it’s been a very crazy, busy, summer/fall. I’ve taken a vacation with the parents (always both challenging and rewarding), lost my job due to coporate restructuring (more to come on this as well), had loads of birthday action within the f-n-f group (family and friends), and had several puzzling ailments. I’m determined that I’m going to get the website up to speed, and relying on Donna to apply the smelling salts liberally to Bessie as she swoons when she sees all the activity on the site!! LOL!

I’m also determined to get some weight off, and start getting in shape, physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and so on..

I’ve been doing a lot of work at the house, and also some soul work, and will elaborate later today on both.

So stay tuned, I’m about to get the site cranking!

This is actually a little late, but I am going to help him get on the computer tonight and show him my site, so he’ll see this!

I’ve been thinking about adding some new artwork for several months now, especially as this is such a Big Deal year.  I thought that I would problably never get another after I had my first, and currently only tattoo done in January of ‘99 to celebrate the University of Tennessee’s winning the 1998 National Championship after a season where for once, the cards fell in our favor in a good, but strange way like bluffing with a Hickok and beating a flush to keep you in the game, instead of the way that they usually do, which is more like having a straight flush queen high, and getting beat by a straight flush king high, knocking you out of the game because you went all in on what had to be a sure thing, and it turned out to be the only sure thing was that your luck left on the last plane to Vegas.  But that one’s held up pretty well, so I’ve been thinking about what else I would like to have done.  I thought that I should definately get another one this year if I was ever going to hop up in the chair again and get some permanent ink.  So I’ve been thinking of what I would want….

I suggested to Bessie that she and I get matching tats–hers reading Tallulah, and mine inscribed Bessie.  But she said she has enought tattoos.  I should have proposed this a few years ago, she would have thought it a fine idea.  And enough bourbon, and she might just see the merits of it now.  But, be that as it may, it’s still off the table for now.

I thought of getting something done incorporating the Crowes, since I do dig them so.  Which I am still pondering on.

I’ve had every intention of getting the kanji for Fire Horse done for years, well since before it became so popular for every ethnic group to have kanji inked on all parts of their body, and not always with any really good underlying significance other than it looks cool.

And so as I was discussing with Scootch the possibility of getting a new tat this past Sunday, he raised a wicked good idea.  He asked what I wanted, I mentioned some of my thoughts, but the concern that although there were several things that were significant to me, I didn’t want to have a lot of different tat all over.  So he suggested getting a charm bracelet tattooed around my ankle, and I could add these various individual “charms” as I saw fit, and to celebrate special people, occasions, parts of myself, and so on.  I think this is a stroke of genius.

So, what do YOU think?  And what are some suggestions for charms to be inked?

Hey everyone, I have some posting to catch up on, but definately wanted to say that the Crowes rocked, as always!  Thanks to my fine friends Danielle and Cynthia for joining Scootch and myself for the show!  A tall time was had by all!

Scootch got me excellent tix for my birthday–14th row–and then I somehow lucked into 2nd row seats (the best I’ve ever had), so Danielle and Cynthia benefitted from the good ticket karma fairy as well.  I did get the Instant Live double CD set, which is a pretty sweet deal.  You pay $25 for a voucher, and then ten (more like 15, but who really cared at that point) minutes after the show, you take the voucher to a booth, and pick up your double live CD of the show, so you can keep on groovin’ after the show is over.

I will post the set list.  It was a great show, but not my personal favorite set list, but I can definately understand it’s hard to keep it fresh night after night.  And I’ve seen these guys many, many times over the years.  I still think the first CD is a perfect disc, along with G-n-R’s Appetite for Destruction, and more, which I will list as I think of them.  Scootch and I saw them twice last year, once opening for Tom Petty at Starwood in July or so, and then in October at the Ryman, and that was one of the best shows ever for me.

Rich was definately on, his guitar playing was inspired–at one point I would have sworn he was channeling Duane Allman—his slide work was breathtaking.  Our seats were right between Rich and Chris, so you know the view was stellar.  The whole band was really tight, and the jams were super groovi-licious!  Rich also sang a couple of tunes, and I dug that as well.  And Chris was in fine form vocally, he do have a set of pipes.

All in all, a great lead in to the birthday, what better way to welcome 40!  Lordy, lordy, Suzzann’s 40, and still rockin’.  Some things never change…

Eek! Can this be possible? In slightly more than one measly week, my best friend is going to be 40. 40! Could I be far behind? I think not. She is 40, I am 40. *Sigh*

So, yeah, yeah, we know - Lordy Lordy Suzzann’s 40 and all I could get her was this measly web site. Actually, in reflection, this is the best thing I can get her. This will fulfill her vanities better than a boxload of MAC and will not provide one single thing that she has to store, move, dust, make room for, sell or break her ankle on. Suzzann.com needs no box, no care or feeding (I will feed her for you), and will not die from lack of attention, but she indeed will thrive with a little attention. I hope you enjoy it, Suz. If you don’t, I will write it for you and make it look like you do. Ha. Happy Birthday my dear, I love you, and wish I were there with you!!!

Love and pre-40th birthday kisses,
Bessie