Herpangina

Lovely name, isn't it? Before your mind starts wandering too far...it probably isn't what you think it is. Or, if you were thinking herp meaning "pain" and gina meaning "mouth"...than maybe it is what you think. Whatever it is...I had it. I ended up going to Urgent Care late Friday night because I was thinking it was getting ridiculously painful for any kind of "normal" sore throat. I had tried everything under the sun to alleviate some of the pain and NOTHING was taking the edge off. I thought I had strep and that maybe there was something that could help dissolve the misery....just a little? But, alas, there isn't. It is a virus...not the herpes virus mind you, although the name implies it...but something else entirely different. A virus that comes into the cells that make up the tissue lining your throat and starts reproducing so quickly that it causes the cells to explode...leaving the nerve endings in your throat "flapping in the breeze" and causing one the "worst sore throat they will ever have in their life". No kidding. It is also often accompanied by a fever, lack of appetite and headache...and sometimes diarrhea and nausea (ummmmm yes, yes, yes, yes and yes...I had them all). Anyway....ulcerations form around your throat and the roof of your mouth causing an UNBELIEVABLE amount of pain if you want to carry out any function requiring the use of your throat. She also told me that it could last up to 14 days! Say, what??? No thank you. I think I'll be done by then. She said that the worst days are the 3rd and 4th and then your antibodies start kicking in and the throat begins to heal over. Today my throat was in an incredible amount of pain...which means it felt better than yesterday! So...things are looking good! There ya have it, if you even wanted it?! I thought it was all kind of interesting. No wonder I feel like there are a gazillion cuts in my throat....there are! I would wish this upon NO ONE. Especially the rest of my contaminated family who hasn't yet come down with it. Oh the babies...that would be so NOT good. The doc said a lot of times babies will get hospitalized from dehydration because it is too painful for them to drink any liquids. So...we're wrapping them in our hopes and love...and Josh is convincing himself that he had this as a child and is already immune! Mind over matter. On another note...but still related to mouth pain....Journey cut her first TWO teeth this week! She has two tiny little bottom stubs and she has been such a trooper about the whole thing. She really is changing so quickly. I looked at her today and just thought she looked so different. So...that is life in our herpanginal world. Thanks for all of it, herpanginal girl (that would be YOU, Cory)....I owe ya one! :)