the commoners call it 'shingles', and the cooler kids(like the docs and i) call it 'herpes zoster'. that's the name of the virus that's living in my body right now. it causes rashes over a region of the body and eats away the myelin sheath(remember sec 4 bio, schwann cell?) and causes the exposed neurons to contact one another, kinda like two exposed wires touching each other in a short circuit, to generate these stabs of pain. and since the infection rate ranges from 1.2 to 3.4 cases per 1,000 healthy individuals annually, it feels quite special isnt it? right.

it all started last week when i had this sharp acute pain that came in stabs near my left pubic bone region, which i thought i had some bladder stone or smth like that. then the pain moved to the left rectus abdominis(abs region), which then lead me to think i pulled a muscle or smth like that, and so laid off exercise for a while. the pain was really getting annoying though which then i thought maybe its just gastric.

then yesterday it moved up to my left temple, and left it throbbing all afternoon. it was really getting too biting and so i headed for bed early, thinking im just too stressed over the ICT thats all.

AND THEN, today it moved into my LEFT EAR. gosh i seriously thought my left ear was gonna explode. the entire time about every 5 seconds i did feel a stab of pressure inside my left ear, and then soon enough i started having a partial hearing loss.

yeah anyway im glad i decided to see the doctor, which i was quite reluctant to do so as im still in the middle of this ridiculously busy In-camp training(ict). and apparently those rashes on my left arm and back arent dude to an allergic reaction to the new uniform but due to the herpes zoster virus in my body. the total medical bill came up to $100 though, which kinda left me feeling rather stupid i didnt just see a government doctor for this which i could have gotten the entire fee wavered since im a civil servant. the thing is i didnt really wanna take an mc at least not this week. oh well thank God i still have my sight and hearing, which im told this virus is capable of destroying.

ah anyway, im already more than halfway through this ICT, but with two really busy days ahead. come on friday come quick, im just so very exhausted alr.