So the post today is all about me :o) Unfortunately, that's not a good thing this time.

(BTW, the pic is not me - just an image I found on Google to give you a visual)

The beginning of last week I noticed a few bumps on my wrist (that were a little itchy) & honestly didn't think much of them ~ scratched them & moved on.

Until the end of the week when I noticed not only had the bumps spread, but they now had begun taking on an identity of their own (enough so, that when I showed DH he immediately took 2 steps away from me! I'm sure he didn't mean it to be insensitive, heck - if I could take 2 steps away from me I would of!)

So, Friday morning I made an appointment with the doc & headed in.

Had the normal banter with the nurse at the scale (oh, you know my flip flops are worth at least 5 lbs - I better take those off - haha)

She seemed to participate just fine with a second thought smile as a reaction.

Then off to the cubicle of a room we went ... I had to explain my ales ... "small bumps on my arms that are periodically itchy & look like a disease".

She did the normal routine of typing information into the computer ... weight, height (that is another post soon to come), my stats from the finger thingy & then she needed to do the blood pressure wrap around my arm.

About now, her bedside manner had severely declined & I couldn't help but have a little fun :-}

So in the gathering of the all the initial information she asks "have you been around anyone who has scabies?"

I replied:

"Hmmm, (pause) (squirelling up of my lips & putting my best thinking face on) hmmm, no. (another pause, more thinking face) No, I don't think so."

Understandably, she looks up from the computer at my pausing & thinking faces. She's not sure if I'm joking or if she should truly be alarmed.

Then, she asks my height ... I always answer this funny since a few years back I went from a nice rounded number down to a fraction - 3/4" to be precise. When she didn't get that joke I knew any attempt to keep things light were gone - she was on a mission & I was just another patient code she had to run through her day until she could get off her feet & head home.

It's probably appropriate to note that she was quite young & could possibly be in her first year as a nurse.

So back to the blood pressure cuff - I'm trying hard to get this kid to crack a smile (have some fun at work, would ya?)

I mention that since we don't know what it is she should probably sanitize that cuff - "I would hate for the next patient to be exposed to my unknown aliment!"

At this point she turns & grabs some sort of wipe & does her duty. Then again asks me if I've been around anyone whose had scabies?

Now, I'm thinking "are you kidding me?" I think I would know that one!

So finally I respond with:

You know, now that you mention it, about three weeks ago I was in a house that had a "lice" breakout (I pull up my sleeve & sincerely begin inspecting my forearm taking in the bumps), you don't suppose this could be body lice do you?

She immediately looks up at me, stops typing mid-inputting & grabs her paperwork. Her bolt to the door was less than elegant & she says to me through a closing door "the doctor will be right with" the door shuts "you".

I chuckle & go back to flipping through my magazine.

Next comes the doctor, not my usual - he's wisely taken the day off. So I'm seeing the "on-call" doctor. He's nice, compassionate & old enough to know better than to take me seriously. I like this guy.

After taking a look, discussing some more of "where I've been" & "what I've been up to" we concur that it's an unknown 'rash' probably an allergic reaction to something I've long forgotten I was around & he puts me on Clariton & a Steroid cream for the weekend - come back Monday if it's not any better.

Modern day for  the "take an aspirin & call me in the morning".

Now it's Sunday & any hopes of this thing going away are looking less & less successful - besides the Benedryl at night is keeping me so foggy during the day that I'm useless!

Something's gotta give - you know I'll keep you posted,

TOAM