Wellness

I'm getting bored with this blog. It's less about the look and more about the functionality. I like the blogs of Wordpress where you can categorize your posts, but the free account doesn't allow HTML editing. There's also Blogdrive that has nice and simple blog layouts, but I'm going to have to find my way around that.

Since I already have some webspace for my personal use, making my own blog template should be the way to go, but I'm not well-versed in CSS yet. I could always go for the old-fashioned way circa 1997, but that might take a lot more work. Might. Maybe you guys have any hints on how I could go about this.

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I have herpes.

It's called herpes zoster, or shingles. Despite its name, herpes zoster is from the same producers as chicken pox. The difference here is that its not itchy. It's painful.

Supposedly, after chicken pox, the system creates antibodies that prevent a recurrence. The virus doesn't really go away--it's still inside the body. The immune system just keeps it at bay.

But when the immune system breaks down just enough (like when you get old, hahah!), the virus escapes through the nervous system. It chooses either the left side or the right side of your body and finds a spot to camp. That's where it starts its lesion factory, and the sores radiate from that spot. Because the virus is now attached to the nervous system, the effects are painful. And you could feel things crawling underneath your skin.

Some people have it lucky. My aunt had hers around the midsection, so you wouldn't really know she had it if she didn't raise her shirt. In my case, the virus found my forehead a wide enough piece of real estate to set up shop.

The complication there is my right eye. If the infection hits my eye, it could tear my retina. The doctor had me go to an opthalmologist to get prescription eyedrops, so apart from battling the virus on the forefront, I'm reinforcing the troops on my eyeball.

Ah well...

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The great thing that happens when you're sick like this is that it gives you the chance to play catch up with your life. Even if I'm still working for the magazine (at night when the kiddies are all asleep), I find more than enough time to think about where I'm at and where I'm supposed to go. Also, being isolated in a room for most of the day provides a good opportunity to dig deeper and reconcile some of the internal issues that have been left unaddressed.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Wenks... that's so sad to hear bro. Don't worry though, i'm praying for you everyday. :) Luv yah!
Anonymous said…
Wenks talaga! heheh..

Thanks bro. Always wishing the best for you. *hikbi* Miss you!! :-)
decorator said…
Carl, ok lang yan... with modern technology, we can so something with those scars...

ill pray for your speedy recovery... dont forget to eat ok?

mwah mwah!!!
Anonymous said…
get well soon!

TC!
jonasdiego said…
Sorry to hear but hey! We're always rooting for you. :)
Anonymous said…
get well asap!!! :D :D :D
Anonymous said…
hi carl,

my mom has it on her upper lip. recurrence na actually. she had it a couple of years back, same spot.

thanks for the info. kasi, walang ganyang ka-detailed na explanation yung doctor when she consulted. just said it was herpes, here's the prescription, the end.

get well quick :)
jactinglim said…
hope you feel better soon carver! hugs!
Anonymous said…
decorator... Nakows, siyensya at teknolohiya ito! Although it doesn't look that bad--just feels funny. :)

See you soon!

zee, jonas, anonymous, jac...thanks for the well wishes! Mwah!!

nida... tenks tenks! your mom might have cold sores, which is from the herpes simplex virus. It's different from what I have. Sabi ng research ko, it doesn't have a cure and will recur when it wants to.
Ian said…
Oh dear. I looked up the affliction on the net. I never had chicken pox either so I imagine I would also be at risk if ever. I guess it's just learning to cope with it. Hope it all works out for you, my friend.

*HUGS*
Anonymous said…
Ian...Well, it's healing. :) Hoping all is well with you. Hee hee.
Ian said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Ian said…
Oh, it is. Hee hee hee hee ;) Oi, we still owe you dinner!! :p

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