I got “Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease”. I guess this happens to parents. Some things I learned:

• often kids don’t get it so bad but parents do!
• once you get it, the first time is bad, but future times are not so bad (like a mild cold)
• it’s one of the rare diseases that can give you sores on your palms and soles of your feet.

In my experience:

• I had a fever Thursday, recovered Friday, Saturday mostly ok but getting sores and a sore throat, Sunday-Monday the worst sore throat of my life
• the sores aren’t so bad! my face is a little itchy
• they look like hell though, so I’m nervous to even show my face outside. like I’ll have to convince everyone that I don’t have leprosy or something.

The sore throat though! It’s so bad! Here are some characteristics of a sore throat that’s 7-8 on the Defense and Veterans Pain Scale:

• it looks like a bunch of sores/pimples in the back of my throat, unlike Strep, which looks like your throat is covered in milk
• it’s actually kinda ok for 9 out of every 10 seconds, until I need to swallow
• I’ve been keeping a cup at my desk as a spittoon so I have to swallow less frequently. Yes, this is weird.
• sometimes the pain is a little bit dizzying when I do swallow
• none of the throat meds¹ work at all
• tylenol/acetaminophen, aleve/naproxen, and CBD/THC seem worthless, ibuprofen sort of touches the pain and sometimes brings it to about 5.
• the pain causes a little anticipatory tensing and pain around the times I swallow
• sleep is hard but doable if I time the ibuprofen right
• talking hurts, esp more than a couple minutes
• being with people is mostly irritating
• other pain or challenge is unmanageable because it stacks on top of this
• it’s really painful to eat anything unless it’s bland and hot². Sometimes very cold water feels ok, sometimes it’s not. Anything acidic or sweet is right out.

So I’m in this weird underworld: I can do some stuff, as long as it’s not involving anyone else, not painful or challenging, doesn’t require talking or eating…

I fixed a fence. I did some computer work. I can type this post. I feel like I should be able to take care of my kid, and I can for like an hour, but it involves talking, pain, and irritation, which are hard to handle. I feel fine 90% of the time, and I’m right in the same old world, it’s just really hard to interact with it!