Shingles update

This week I have neglected my blog a little bit (and myself if I'm honest). I came back to university on Friday night and it's been difficult to settle in whilst at the same time testing how far I can push myself. Having shingles on top of that and being taken off azathioprine has not made it easy! I have finished the tablets and the rash is definitely healing but now it is the most painful as some of the scabs come off and there's fresh skin underneath (disgusting I know). Through out this week I have tried a few methods pain relief to get through the night as its been difficult to sleep. Some of these worked great, some a little too well and some I didn't feel the affect of at all. That is another blog post completely and one I probably won't share for awhile! I have also noticed this week that my emotions have been all over the place. Clearly my body is getting used to being pumped full of drugs and then having them taken away has shocked it. There is information online about chronic pain and shingles being linked to depression, although I don't think it's going to get that far I can tell that I'm not myself. I am looking forward to starting the azathioprine again tomorrow as I could feel it working and it might help balance me out again! I am hoping that having the 10k run to focus on will level me out and keep me from feeling too down.

Bye Azathioprine!

Anything I said in yesterdays post about not having any pain I take back! Last night was a horrible experience. The pain all over my chest and shoulders meant I couldn't sleep, it was like someone pricking my skin constantly and then putting salt on it. It got to about 4am and I decided enough was enough, took 2 paracetamol and codeine tablets and was knocked out for the rest of the night! Today I decided to go into town and stock up on B vitamins which are meant to be good for Crohns and the immune system and also some calamine to sooth the rash. I hope it will go as soon as possible with these and the medication! My doctor has decided to take me off the Azathioprine for the week while I am on the other tablets. He didn't explain why but I have seen a lot of things online about the risks for people will low immune systems and shingles. I hope it will give my body a chance to fight back a bit better! 

Shingles...

So after waking up today and realising that the the rash under my arm had got even worse I took action... and looked it up on google. I did find it strange that if it was a reaction to the Azathioprine then why was it only on one side of my body? After typing in 'rash on left side of body' it came up with Shingles. As soon as I think of shingles I think of a really contagious horrible infection, something really dirty and disgusting. If someone told me they had shingles I would definitely stay away! However it actually isn't contagious but can be dangerous for someone who hasn't had chicken pox before.
On the websites I looked at the words Immune System kept coming up which rung alarm bells in my head as the Azathioprine is an immunosuppressant so I have a weakened immune system. It said that for people like this it can be dangerous so I rung NHS direct (I hate doing that they are never very helpful!). After telling me the GP I currently see in Coventry doesn't exist (fairy sure it does) she told me to go to the walk in centre straight away to see a GP. 
So off we went! They were very rude, when I said shingles the receptionist actually looked at the other receptionist and rolled her eyes. It wasn't until I mentioned that I have Crohns that I was taken a little bit more seriously and saw the doctor about an hour after that. He diagnosed shingles straight away and was really shocked that I have had it for so long and haven't been to see anyone about it. It is meant to be very painful and although it does hurt I think I have just got so used to being in pain that I didn't really realise where the pain was coming from.
I've been put on a 7 day course of tablets called Aciclovir which I have to take 5 times a day (bringing my total to 15!) and hopefully it has been caught early enough that it will heal quickly. Here is a horrible picture of it, I think its important to show things like this as they are clearly a part of Crohns for some people. I cant imagine anyone ever finding me attractive ever again but it makes a change from talking about butts!