Tuesday, April 22, 2008

This Is What I Do

So, all growing up, I used to get canker sores--not occasionally, but frequently. I would get them if I ate too much citrus or if I had too much sugar or really too much of anything. It was my body's way of saying, "hold it sister."
Then, one day I decided to get married. The wedding planning was pretty stressful. If you've ever been married, you'll know what I mean. My body really didn't like that I put it under so much stress, so right after Derek and I tied the knot and boarded a plane to fly out for our honeymoon, my lip started tingling. This was a new sensation for me. I'd always had canker sores, but I could not figure out why my upper lip was feeling numb. Oh well, the wedding was over, I was ready to have fun!
Well, the day after I woke-up from the plane ride and went into the bathroom to get ready, what did I see? My first ever cold sore. It was nasty. You see, I already have large lips, so anything on top of them really makes a scene. I was a bit devastated because after our honeymoon, we were headed back to Derek's hometown to have our reception. I would be meeting all of his friends that I'd never seen and now I looked nasty. I started crying. I really did. I couldn't help it. Here I was, supposed to be looking so incredibly beautiful and now my lip looked like a mini crater had erupted.
I survived the reception and no one was mean enough to mention how terrible my lip looked and eventually--WITH MEDICATION--the cold sore went away. I had to take amoxicillin or some other drug like that. I'm telling you, it was nasty.
Last fall, we were in the process of buying a house and moving and accepting our first real job and we decided to take a trip to San Diego. It was a great trip, but I got sunburned and guess what happened? Yeah, another nasty cold sore. Let's see, if you'd describe the first one as Mt. McKinley, this one would have to be Mt. Everest. I'm telling you, I could see it from my peripheral vision. The thing is, I was slathering on the abreva like you're supposed to and it was only getting bigger and bigger and grosser and grosser. By the time I went to the urgent care, people were gawking at me. I blogged about this event here. The picture doesn't show up anymore I don't think, but use your imagination if you must.
Well, this last week I allowed myself to get a little worked up when a doctor bill came. It was my own fault. I opened the mail on Friday after everything had closed, so I mentally stressed over it all weekend long. Of course, on Monday, when I finally called about it, it was nothing! And, Derek is leaving town for the whole weekend. And I'm pregnant and feeling chubby. You know how it goes. Blah, blah, blah.
Right now, it's just a mere baby cold sore and I'm trying to calm myself down and hope it doesn't get any worse. But that just seems to stress me out--trying to not stress out about the cold sore. What a vicious cycle.

18 comments:

Lara Neves said...

If there's anything I know about, it's coldsores. Only I get them on my nose. And if they get really bad, well, I'm really ugly. And that is how I looked when I met Joel for the very first time. And he liked me anyway, but still remembers the "boils" (as he called them)on my nose that week.

Since I'm a constant stress case, I'd have them a lot more often if I didn't take Lysine. So get yourself to the healthfood store and buy yourself some (it's an amino acid). I ran out of it last week, and guess who has a tingly nose today? Yep.

Tina said...

Amazing how our bodies deal with stress! I get stress-related cold sores too, although not as mighty as yours.
Though lately, my stress has manifest itself in a maddening left eye twitch. Talk about seeing it in your peripheral vision- I have no other peripheral vision on my left side besides the crazy eye twitch.

Chill out sister!

Lacey said...

Poor thing! I can't relate but I can help..how about a babysitter? That would be me! Let me know!

Minharos said...

I know that stressful feeling that comes when you have two kids, a third on the way, your husband's not around, and something pops up. I typically just cry. Seriously, a few weeks ago I went to register Macey for T-ball, and they said I was one day late. I had the form the previous day, but was too sick to do it so I was so frustrated. I called Levy sobbing, and with one quick phone call he fixed it all up. I felt silly, but it worked.

If I think about my morning sickness too much I start to tear up with frustration. Just take deep breaths =) Good luck.

Minharos said...

Apparently, pregnancy has already stripped away my filters because that's a pretty embarassing story I just shared with the public at large- mostly with our old ASU East pals. Oh well.

JenW said...

oh man, i am totally with you here, although i've never had to have the antibiotics but the itching and you just know one is coming...it's horrible! but you are always beautiful, and i mean that, so no worries:)

Life in the circus said...

Ive gotten fever blisters my whole life, but my worst one happened after I went hikeing in Ouray, Co. My lips got so fried both of them puffed up like balloons. It was rough till the swelling went down. Now I use Herpecin L at the first sign of tingle and it seems to work pretty well. You can find it in the medicated lip balm area of any pharmacy. good luck

Brooke said...

I have nightmares about that picture! KIDDING!!!!! TOTALLY KIDDING. I get some nasty cold sores too on my bottom lip. Lately I think they have come at least once a month.

Looks like you aren't alone! Let me know what calms you down enough to get rid of the cold sore, because I should try it out too. I seem to always be so stressed these days.

Scott & Tami said...

Audrey---dude, I never saw the cold sore....I remember being so excited to meet you and I found that you were this awesome girl and I was so happy for Derek....nope...don't remember seeing any cold sore...you were this gorgeous bride!!!!

rachel said...

I totally got these at finals every semester in college. I hate that feeling that your going to get one. I hope that you are feeling better soon. I liked otter pops when I had mine. . . but to each his own.

mmhamblin said...

Sounds like you need a girls night and lots of junk food!

Anonymous said...

I get these nasty things all the time!! I get them when I am out in the sun, when I get sick, or when I am stressed. I too got one after Adam and I got married. I would have to say the worst I have ever gotten them was at girls camp. They were ALL THE WAY AROUND my mouth! YUCK, and they hurt so bad I ended up going home early. So I sympathize with you 100%. Hate them, Hate them, Hate them!

Rischel said...

Audrey, I get them.huge..i have told you before.. I feel your pain. Ryan gets them also and always picks them and they scab and go away super fast.. I thought that was crazy until I tried it myself(because absolutely nothing works, they all get bigger the more medicine I put on)and it seriously makes them go away faster. I know how to tame them now even before they come!!Hope you are feeling well.

Heather said...

Audrey Audrey, that is no fun! I have gotten some nasty cold sores too, but its been a while. It's crazy how stress affects everyone differently. I'm scared to see what happens to my body after this move coming up in a couple weeks...

DKAZ said...

Audrey-poor baby! I totally sympathize I get them every so often. I have had my entire bottom lip get swollen twice in my life-it looked like I had a prosthetic (sp?) lip. I have also had them go down onto my chin. I use a prescription ointment and it seems to clear it up about 2 days quicker. Not only do they look awful, but they hurt and my glands always get swollen too.

Jessica Martiele said...

You know, I've never had one (and I'm not only knocking wood right now but BEATING on it), but I get the stress-related migraines. Doesn't show up on my face, of course, but I'm out of commission for a good 24 hours. Seriously. Call a sitter, I can't do anything at all but sleep in a dark room and maybe go to the hospital for a shot. I don't know which is worse, really...the can't-function bit or the can't-look-in-the-mirror bit. I guess the bottom line is that we, as moms, wives, and homemakers have to learn not to stress quite so much. (YEAH, RIGHT.) Good luck, and next time, go to the doctor asap, will you? :)

Bethany said...

I hate canker sores. When I get one, three more pop up as well. They're a great dieting tool, though.DOn't want to put much in my mouth when theres a canker sore in there too.

wackywilsons said...

I do remember your post from last year about your cold sore...for sure keep us updated about those voluptuous lips and if that cold sore turns into a third lip.

Are you stressed out these days??