Poxed!

Things just got very jinxed over here recently.

First there were some problems at work. Then I went on call and filled up the male and female psychiatry wards with patients up to the brim, earning some dirty looks and “jonah” remarks the next day during chart round. That really tipped me into having Overnight Call Phobia so bad I think I’ll die of anticipatory anxiety on my next call.

After which my hostel room was broken into and my roomie and I lost a few things: our laptops, external hard drives and some jeweleries. Actually I lost only my laptop and the rest were my roomie’s. I still have the image of my first sight of the ransacked room fresh in my head – it was like a hurricane just went in and everything got tossed around like the vegies in the salad bowl. Our clothes were strewn all over the floor and the DIY wardrobes were broken and can no longer be rebuilt. Every box, case, pouch, bag was ripped off its contents. Besides having to clean up the room alone because my roomie was in outstation, I had to send all my clothes to the laundry, trying to recall where I’ve backed up the files in my laptop and cry about those that I had not the chance to do so.  Luckily I had a friend with me as I worked through everything with the police. That was truly a comfort when you could no longer trust strangers and there’s just this much of stress you can deal with on your own in a day. Then Ethan came rushing from JB to KL after his night locum that Friday night upon hearing my plight. I thought I held up quite well, until he arrived to help me with the rest of the things did I realize I needed him so much.

After the clothes were laundered and returned, some precious belongings sent back to JB for safety and new locks installed around the room for added safety, life was slowly returning to normal. Work was still high up in the neck (as usual) but that was still manageable.

Then came the chicken pox. I was down with chills and rigors for 2 days and I thought it was just a viral flu. The third day I detected 3 acne-like bumps on my forehead and picked at them (I know, they’re gonna leave awful scars!!). Come mid-morning, I was sitting in the library feeling itchy. Soon I felt a few weird bumps on me and went to the toilet to check. That’s when I wondered why the heck am I having chicken pox for the SECOND TIME!!!

My first was a week before the PMR (Secondary 3 major exam) and I managed to keep the pox minimal with antivirals. It was an easy week, no itch no pain no scar affair. I thought I should have the immunity with that, no? Then why am I having it again and boy, this time it looked serious. By noon I got myself an MC from the family medicine physician who strictly sent me home to rest. “It looks like it’s going to be really bad” she said.

After settling my workstuff and making a hell lot of phone calls, I packed my stuff and drove 4 hours straight back to JB with a temperature of 38 degree Celcius and growing crops of angry looking vesicles on my face and trunk. By night, I just succumbed to the stupid virus.

The next three days were hell. It was horrible but I’m just glad it’s nearly over now. The vesicles are slowly drying up and the scabs on my face made me look like a total freak. Ethan took such good care of me he could qualify as the best nurse (and doctor) in the world

As I count on the days to return to work, I pray that the scabs will peel off quickly or else I’ll have a hard time with my patients next week – who will feel comfortable talking psy stuff to a pox-faced doctor???

*sniff*

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