Ugh

[codewritinfool]

Saturday I woke up with swollen jaws. Sunday it wasn't any better so I cancelled the family get-together because I felt like hell and didn't want to cook.

Monday I try to see my doctor but he is booked until July, so I saw a nurse practitioner. She checked me out, no fever, white blood cell count was normal so she sent me home.

Today I woke up and the pressure was immense and very painful. Throat didn't hurt so I took a shower to get ready for work (when you get into your upper 40's there's usually something that hurts in the morning but gets better, so you just don't think about it and you press on). I got out of the shower and saw my wife and she said, "oh my god look at your face"! I looked in the mirror and it looked like I had a couple of jawbreakers stuffed in there.

I went to an M.D. who came into the room and said, "wow, bilateral parotid swelling! What happened to you!!??!?"

He check me out really thoroughly looking and pressing all over, took some photos, left to consult with an ENT, and came back and said, "we're 99% sure you have the mumps."

Huh? I've been vaccinated against that!

Well, yours didn't work for whatever reason. 1969, in fact, according to your records.

He was excited, as was the ENT and the nurse, since both doctors had each only seen it once before, and the nurse was a 25-year ER veteran and had never seen it before.

So, I'm home in bed, arms and fingers all poked with holes, told not to go anywhere for a week, Advil & fluids is the prescription. Doc wasn't even sure if he had to report the case to St. Louis County but was excited that he might have to.

I look like hell, feel like hell, and have huge jaws. Sucks. Thing is, I could work from home but don't even feel like it.

Is this strange or what?

[brewinhard]

Sorry to hear that brother. That cannot be fun to deal with. Apparently mumps cases have been back on the rise most notably in California. I always wondered how long the effectiveness of vaccines can work for. The doc did say lots of fluids though, right? I bet he didn't know you like to brew beer....Hang in there. You can only get better from here!

Meanwhile you might want to take those acorns out of your cheeks and store them underground for winter instead...

Best wishes for a fast recovery!

[Deathrider]

Ugh is right! Only Advil and fluids doesn't seem enough.
You're probably going to get a visit from the CDC in big white jump suits.

[Ozwald]

Jesus christ code! You're old!

[BDawg]

I feel for ya buddy.

I spent last week and this past weekend home sick, in bed most of the time. Fever, swollen lymph nodes in my neck, sore throat, overall just felt like shit.
I made an appointment by computer over the weekend for what I thought was Monday morning (yesterday) at 11. It was the top slot on the screen and the first opening with my primary. I showed up at 11 and the receptionist looked at me like I was nuts. "Your appointment is Monday JULY 14th at 11am". WTF!!!!

After pleading for an appointment ("Do you REALLY think I would sign up for an appointment 3 weeks from now if I had a fever and a sore for the last week?". WTF. Finally got to A doctor last night (not my regular one, but another one from the same office). She saw me for 10 mins, gave me a prescription for some antibiotics, and sent me on my way.

At least the golf ball in my neck is down today.

[Kbar]

Sorry to hear that brother. That cannot be fun to deal with. Apparently mumps cases have been back on the rise most notably in California. I always wondered how long the effectiveness of vaccines can work for. The doc did say lots of fluids though, right? I bet he didn't know you like to brew beer....Hang in there. You can only get better from here!

Meanwhile you might want to take those acorns out of your cheeks and store them underground for winter instead...

Best wishes for a fast recovery!

Or too many people not getting vaccinated nowadays..........You may be a sign of what is to come. Hang in there! Brew-days will be in your future.

[TheDarkSide]

Are you sitting around with a bandana wrapped around your jaw, like the old days?

Sorry to hear about this. I picked up a cold at NHC and 10 days later my ear are still plugged up with fluid. NP said there was no infection, just fluid. Too much hand shaking and beer sharing I guess.

Feel better soon!

[codewritinfool]

The story gets better. Today I get a call from the doctor's office that said that my first antibody test (IgG) came back positive, but that the second one (IgM) came back negative. Apparently the first means I was either exposed to the mumps virus or have had a vaccination, and the second test tells if there's an active infection.

So, I don't have "Mumps", AND my body knows about my vaccination from the 1960's. It was explained to me that there are a bunch of viruses that can cause swelling like I had. I looked them up, and the list includes: "parainfluenza virus types 1 and 3, influenza A virus, Coxsackie A virus, echovirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, human immunodeficiency virus"

None of those sound good. If I had been hanging out with you guys at NHC, I would have bet on Coxsackie, but as it stands, no one has any clue.

Anyway, the swelling was way down this morning and tonight it was gone. Pain is zero, headache is gone, lightheadedness is gone, appetite is back, and my cold is almost gone. By this weekend I should be in good shape. Also I was cleared to return to work immediately, and as many of you know, I cannot wait for that. If I ever get a 3-day weekend I'm climbing the walls on the third day.

Oh, and to answer your question, no, I didn't have a bandana wrapped around my jaw, though I looked for one just so I could freak out my 80-year-old mother.