What is Happening to Me?!

I'm either A.  Turning in to a chipmunk, B.  Turning in to a peanut (thanks for that one, Lucy!), C.  Have mumps, or D.  who knows?!

Most likely it will end up being D.  As my doctor said when I went in on Wednesday, "You're the medical mystery of the week."  We are trying to cross out mumps because as unlikely as that is (seeing as I was vaccinated as a child and there are no known outbreaks in our area), it's all we've got at this point.

Monday evening I told Ben I wasn't feeling great and thought I was coming down with something.  I skipped going to my daughters' classes as I usually do on Tuesday mornings because I felt "off."  I took a nap to get ready for work that night and when I got up I noticed my swollen face - it was much more prominent on the left side that first day.

At first Ben and I were thinking my lymph nodes.  But the more we looked it was determined that it was my parotid glands instead.  I worked all Tuesday night and then had to stay up Wednesday morning until 8:30 so I could make an appointment with my doc.  I got less than an hour's sleep and then went to my appointment.  Where, as mentioned, I was determined to be a mystery.

I'm went for my second blood-work this morning and we'll see if that leads to a mumps diagnosis.  If not, it's probably some other weird virus thing and there will be nothing to do except to wait it out.

I do feel like I have some viral infection - general malaise, etc.  My cheeks are incredibly tight, uncomfortable, painful (especially at 3am in the morning - the times I have gotten up these past two nights and waited an hour until trying to go back to sleep . . .), and embarrassing.  I'm super embarrassed to go out in public - especially around people I know.  Yes, vanity for sure!  I only posted this picture for history's sake and because I don't think too many people check my blog anyways!  :)