Shingles

Colby had a couple of what looked to be ant bites on his hand last Friday. No big deal right. Then Sat and Sunday they got worse and looked like little water blisters. I called the pharmacy and they said to use Calamine lotion. Monday it was worse so I called the Dr. He said that it did sound like ant bites and put Hydrocortizone. Then Tuesday morning it was worse and looked like a heat rash on his arm. I took him to the clinic and they said it looked like Indian Fire. They put him on antibiotic ointment and liquid. They wanted to see him the next day. I took him in and it had gotten even worse. They said it was shingles. There was actually a pediatric dermatologist there that day. She said she had never seen it before in a toddler. The nurse practitioner said he had seen it once in 20 years. They said they didn't have to treat it and to let it run it's course. I said uhh no. So they gave him a different ointment and liquid. Tuesday night he woke up at 10:00 and I gave him Tylenol and put him in the bed with me. He was up crying like every 10 minutes till 1:00. After that it was like every 1/2 hour but not crying. I did research on Shingles and it said that you have to have chicken pox first. I couldn't figure out how he had it then. Then someone asked me if he had the vaccine for chicken pox and I said yes. Well that explained it. They inject the virus into you with the vaccine. So, that was how he was exposed and got it.

So, how's he doing? He still won't use his hand. But, it isn't slowing him down any. He is contagious so I had to take off of work. They use used to look like water blisters and they are more red blisters now. With less redness on the skin in between. The nurse said that they shouldn't pop and just scab over. When they do, he is no longer contagious. But, online it says they do pop. So, we'll see. At least it isn't his thumb sucking hand. He has been waking up way too early with all of this too. We give him Tylenol before nap and bedtime. Thursday he woke up at 4:50, Yesterday 4:30 and today 5:30. Hopefully he goes back to his normal 6:30-7:00 (if not later) when he is all better.

Day 4

Day 6