I'm tired of all the stupid things that keep happening to me...and somebody had better do something about it!

A couple of weeks ago I posted about being pissed after learning I had shingles that were released in my system by the chemotherapy treatments I underwent to treat my breast cancer. At the end of the post I jokingly said "what's next, leprosy?" or something like that. Well, no, not leprosy. Just clumsiness.

A couple of days ago I was hurrying to switch clothes from the washer to the dryer and bring dry clothes up from the basement while on the way to work. As I grabbed the basket and started to make my way to the foot of the stairs, I tripped over the outdoor extension cord that was lying on the floor. I didn't remember that it was there and, of course, in my haste I just fell over. I twisted to the side on the way down, thinking I could set the basket down and possibly save myself. Instead I ended up going down on my side and hitting the back of my head on the edge of the door jamb. Hard.

I lay there for a minute, reliving the sound of the wood crunching under the impact of my head and also thinking that almost every accident I have ever had in my life (and there have been a number of them) were the result of my hurrying. When I was 18 I fell down the stairs of my apartment building and hit my chin on the concrete, causing a cut that required 10 stitches. When I was a lot older, I fell down the stairs here at home, hurrying to work again, and broke my nose on the closed door I hit when I landed on my face - that required surgery to repair. When we were moving my daughter's furniture to Chicago I hurried out the front door to get in the truck and tripped over a newspaper that had been delivered, breaking my ankle. There have been a few more, but I think you get the idea.

I got out the ice and made a pack that I left on the very large bump for 4 hours. Thanks to that treatment, the bump was very small the next day, but it is still painful. Maybe I need that as a reminder.

I...need...to...slow...down. Seriously. Before I kill myself.

Nothing But Fun

I don't think I mentioned it, but last year I survived through breast cancer. Through surgery, through chemotherapy, through radiation. Through hair loss, through unbelieveable nausea, through depression. When New Year's Eve 2008 arrived, I drank a HUGE glass of wine and toasted myself, saying that 2009 would have to be better and that I was leaving all the sickness in the past. WRONG.

Today I had to go to the doctor. For the last two weeks, I have had pain in my left shoulder/arm/breast area. This is the side that had the cancer, so I'm immediately thinking that I pulled the incision inside or strained something since I was exercising, as well as lifting some boxes at work. I've gotten to where I hate going to the doctor, but I finally caved since instead of getting better, it's getting worse.

The doctor listens to my tale. (I've checked the internet and there is a huge community of women who have underarm pain due to their breast cancer surgery, so I'm armed with lots of info - I think.) He asks me to take off my top/bra so he can check me out. After he leaves the room I do that and wait for him to return. Amazingly enough I'm thinking he didn't have to leave - I've shown my breasts to just about everyone in this town during this entire process, so modesty is completely gone.

When he returns he takes out the affected arm and looks around. He points to the node incision and says, "What is that?" I say, "What, this red stuff? It's a contact rash, I'm pretty sure, from the bra. I have very sensitive skin and if the bras are not double rinsed, I get rashes." He says, "Um, no, that's not contact rash - that is shingles."

Shingles. What the hell is shingles? He explains that the chemotherapy suppressed my immune system and allowed this virus (from chickenpox I went through as a child) to come out to play. The pain radiates from my back spine around to the front, mid breast, which is, apparently, normal. Great. One more fabulous thing to go through.

He prescribes Valtrex as an antibiotic. I've heard that name before - I think on a commercial. He says, "Well, it is used normally for herpes." Even more great! Now I'm taking an anti-herpes medicine. He tells me that if I don't take it, the chances of the pain coming back over and over for years is possible. I'm like, gimme that paper, doc, I'm on the way to get it right now.

So just when you think that you are through one trial, another one comes along.