The 5th

It would appear I have the 5th disease. Yes you read that right. Not my kids. No not one of them. Me. After spending time with my little niece who was unbeknown to us contagious, I somehow picked up this unpleasant virus! Not the little people who played with her, hugged her, held hands ect....but myself, who I think, the only body contact I had with her was a hug bye bye on my way out the door.

So 5th disease is fairly unpleasant. It starts with general unwellnes. Kinda fluish without the puking. Then bright red cheeks. Someone told me I must have had to much sun...my cheeks were really red. I didn't clue in yet. Then bowel upset. This came after a day of more unwellnes, and feeling quit tired. But it hit my by surprise. I had taken the kidlets to the park. Oh great. Here I sit at the park and I have to go NOW! Thank goodness for those gross little porta potties....which followed with questions like "But Mommy, you told us never to go it there. Why are you going in there?" Which followed by giggles and laughing because mommy went in the yucky gross porta potty. They learn well:) But this part of the illness lasted all evening and well into the next day.

Well the week continued in general unwellnes, extrema tiredness which I could not figure out. (No I am not pregnant!) Headaches and low grade fevers. Tylenol worked for those things.

Funny, I noticed a strange lacy like rash on Thursday, which got worse on Friday, and by Saturday was everywhere. I went to bed and slept for 3 hours in the afternoon. More low grade fever and tiredness. Only when I woke up my joins were hurting. Fingers, ankles, and knees. Odd. Water retention?? I guessed...and drank more water. Didn't seem to help much.

Saturday turned into Sunday. Rash was disappearing, but the joints were hurting more. Hummm, couldn't figure this out. Oh well, groceries had to be got, and kidlets needed lunch. The day went on. More Tylenol did the trick. But not for more upset bowels. Thank goodness this time I was home. But again, this lasted well into the evening.

Then Sunday night I saw a post on facebook that my niece had 5th...'sorry if anyone else gets it'....hummm suddenly this started making sense. The lacy rash, and the red cheeks, low grade fever...it all made sense. Research on the Internet even said the joint pain was normal in adults. Phew...so glad I know what I've got.

And it kinda made sense. I kept thinking to myself that it must be some virus, and a voice in my head kept reminding me of when my girls had 5th disease...

The joint pain was uncomfortable on Monday. I figured I'd call Telehealth for advice on what I can do about it.

MISTAKE MISTAKE MISTAKE!!!

The 'trained nurse' freaked out about the joint pain and slight swelling in my fingers.

"You need to go to emerg. now and have blood work done, and see a doctor! Do you have someone who can watch the children? You need to go now!" She was yelling at me.

Oh my goodness! What does she think I have? This must be serious! She's freaking my out! I must be really sick! She's yelling at me. I told her I can't just leave. ( I don't even have a working car at home right now!) She's telling me 'now!'

I finally hung up. Arguing with this women would get me no where. Put kids to bed, call husband, take a deep breath, and call daycare moms and dads.

Long and short of it, 2 hours after waiting in the walk in clinic, doctor concludes I have 5th disease. Not after looking at me like I'm a silly little girl for coming in. "But the nurse yelled at me on the phone and told me to get blood work..."

So yes, I have 5th disease. Sounds more dangerous and scary to say "I have the 5th" to people, but really its a nuisance, and unpleasant. But it should pass in the next 1-2 weeks and then I will be super duper, and I will be that much stronger. Until then, I will continue to feel yucky, and my joints achy. Hopefully, each day gets better and better :)

And hopefully its gone for our vacation to the Great Wolf Lodge next week.

Sigh.