had almost fired me for being in a bad mood last week

There is NO situation where this is a valid fireable offence. JFC.

Oh, that's great news about Sunny, Pix! I kind of want to live there, honestly... sounds like fun!

Steph, a rapid and uneventful return to the natural state of the eye for you. That is such a strange thing when it happens -- it looks so "Ahhhhhh!" but, as you say, it's normally no big deal, so you get the weird, "Oh, my GOD! Oh, wait... no," moment. Nice jolt to your morning.

Love that fist pump for Matilda. So sweet. A parental lap of comfort is a beautiful thing.

I think I have turned a corner yesterday/today in shingles pain management. Seems to have receded to a very dull roar, and I think I can deal with just Tylenol now.

It is so... I don't know what the word is. When DH had pancreatitis pain, they practically threw handfuls of oxycodone at him when he asked for pain relief. I think the shingles pain is certainly comparable. I probably watch too much TV, so I feel like I'm doing something wrong if I ask for a narcotic pain reliever even though it's, you know, to relieve pain. "Just Vicodin, and only at night... I'll stick to Tramadol or Tylenol during the day..." WTF? I mean, it's not an unreasonable plan, but why did I feel the need to, like, bargain for Vicodin?

Something about men and pain being taken more seriously is sticking in my craw. And I 100% know that race is a huge issue there, too. Ugh. I get that it's fraught and a many-faceted problem. I'm not actually whining for myself - I got what I needed. It's just... and then I think of... you know... and RAGE.

Okay, so I am actually going to have Tim come home from work and take me to the hospital out of an abundance of caution. My blood pressure has spiked and I'm pretty dizzy. Most likely case is that I just need my BP meds adjusted, but I'd like to continue my streak of being a Lang who *doesn't* have a heart attack or stroke in their 50s.

I feel like I deserve a gold star for actually following the advice that I would give to someone else, because normally I am pretty lax when it comes to my own well-being, and believe in the power of taking ibuprofen.

Oh, geez, Steph! Good call with the extra symptoms. I was raised as a "rub dirt in it and move on" person, too, so good on you for moving past that tendency, and here's your gold star... but, like, you have to imagine it.

When DH had pancreatitis pain, they practically threw handfuls of oxycodone at him when he asked for pain relief. I think the shingles pain is certainly comparable. I probably watch too much TV, so I feel like I'm doing something wrong if I ask for a narcotic pain reliever even though it's, you know, to relieve pain. "Just Vicodin, and only at night... I'll stick to Tramadol or Tylenol during the day..." WTF? I mean, it's not an unreasonable plan, but why did I feel the need to, like, bargain for Vicodin?

Ugh, men's pain does get taken more seriously, but also, the pendulum swung WAY too far in the direction of not adequately treating serious pain because of the concern of addiction. Like, maybe don't prescribe someone 60 mg of oxycodone 3 times a day with a basically unlimited prescription (literally what my dad was prescribed) without sorting out what the ongoing issue is, sure. But Jesus Christ, for acute pain (which includes shingles pain, because that shit can be horrible), medicate your damn patients.

And, honestly, some people do need chronic pain meds, and I think that's 100% okay too, assuming that the patient's provider/providers have thoroughly sorted out the ongoing issue.

This will apparently forever be my soapbox rant. Inadequately treated pain is fucking malpractice.

I was raised as a "rub dirt in it and move on" person, too

I will not rub dirt in my eye, just for the record. (Winky emoticon. But, like, a blood-red winky emoticon. My eye really does look so gross.) If I knew how exactly to rub dirt on high blood pressure, I would totally do it, though.

Good abundance of caution use, Steph!

There is NO situation where this is a valid fireable offence.

It’s bullshit but it’s not like they need a reason to fire her. Hope you find something better soon, smonster!!

Good job staying safe Steph! That’s a creepy symptom to be surprised by for sure.

Jen I hear ya. That sucks a lot. Glad the pain is turning a corner but sorry you’re in pain at all!

Working on the east coast is so much better, nobody expects me to be online at 7am and I can wake up after the sun rises. It’s so much more civilized. But I like being in Seattle. Sigh.

Keep us updated, Steph. Abundance of caution is good.

I feel like I deserve a gold star for actually following the advice that I would give to someone else

You deserve a gold star and a ride home!

Dirt rubbed into inflamed eyes and/or shingles pain will not help! I am not a medical professional, but I am, like, PRETTY SURE of this.