A mystery wrapped in a nightmare

A week ago, we drove to Auckland to visit the kids at camp. Along the way we took the "Forgotten World" highway and stopped at the Waitomo caves, which were both spectacular. I've been in New Zealand over three years now and have explored so little of its natural beauty, it's a real shame.

On Friday I developed a small headache; I took some paracetamol but it didn't help. On Saturday it got a bit worse, and I was quite grumpy all day, but on Sunday - when we were visiting the kids - it became a debilitating, stabbing headache that made me grimace in pain every few seconds. 

After we left the kids, we went to the Auckland A&E, but the triage nurse there suggested we go around the corner to the "Urgent Care Service" as we would be seen a little quicker. In retrospect, this might have been a mistake, as the urgent care did not have the specialists or support to figure out the problem. However, I don't think this was the case; I'll explain why later. 

The GP checked my neural signs to make sure it wasn't an issue with my head and did some basic checks on my eye, but couldn't find any cause. She suggested I take codeine and see a specialist eye clinic in the morning. I'd never taken codeine and was worried about the side effects so I declined. I very much regretted this later, as the headache just kept getting worse. 

We found a motel and stayed the night, but I don't think I got much sleep. At 8am we were at the eye clinic, but the only thing they could find was viral conjunctivitis ('pink-eye') and although they said that clearly had nothing to do with the headache, they gave me codeine and told me to follow up in a week. This time I took the codeine, and while it didn't do much for my headache, it at least allowed me to sleep a little while my girlfriend drove ten hours straight from Auckland to Wellington. In retrospect, they should have referred me to the hospital, not given me a bullshit diagnosis that they knew did not explain the main symptoms, but again I don't think it would have made any difference and I was happier to be close to home. 

I spent the next 24 hours in bed, taking codeine and trying to sleep, but it wasn't getting any better so Monday night we went to Wellington A&E. They, too, were at a loss but they kept me overnight and started me on morphine, so the pain was much less but I was so nauseous I wasn't sure which was worse. On Tuesday they gave me another full eye test and a CT scan, and Wednesday they gave me an MRI. Neither revealed anything. 

However, on Wednesday I started developing a patch on my forehead with distinct lines on it, and by Thursday it was clear what was causing the problem: Shingles. This had been considered but rejected earlier for two good reasons:

1. Shingles normally occur in older people whose immune system is compromised. However, I've been on immunosuppressants for my eczema since March, so in reality I'd "pre-compromised" myself. 
2. The optic nerve encompasses more than just sight; it controls the area around the eye, the ear, the forehead and part of the nose.  When shingles are in the optic nerve, it usually compromises vision in that eye. Mine had been fine.

So that's why I don't think anyone would have made the diagnosis until the blisters developed on Thursday. With the mystery solved, they sent me home with a goody bag of anti-virals, morphine, anti-nausea drugs, and gabapentin, which focuses on nerve pain. So while I'll still be sick as a dog for the next week or so - with complete bedrest - I should make a full recovery. 

And hopefully we can get back to see the Rotarua hot springs soon!

P.S. In Judaism, there is a prayer for the first time something happens (or the first time it happens in a season).  It's called the "shehecheyanu" and basically translates to: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion."

I had a number of "shehecheyanu" moments, such as staying overnight in a hospital (as a patient), getting a line put in my arm (and later another in the opposite arm), getting a CT scan, getting an MRI, not eating for 5 days, not going to the bathroom for 6 days, not drinking tea for a week!!  I can't say they were all enjoyable, but it's remarkable that I got to this age without having any of those experiences before.

P.P.S. This whole week cost $99, and that was for the motel in Auckland.  Even the prescriptions were free. Thank goodness for socialised medicine!