Update

I called my mom; she says that I had chickenpox as a child, so that rules out chickenpox. After examining me, the doctor ruled out shingles as well. However, he doesn't know what is causing my blisters.

He took a blood sample to confirm that I have immunity to chickenpox and he took three different swabs from my current blister. I think one was for herpes, one was for chickenpox and one was for bacterial infection. He did say that there was a higher incidence of staph infection these days.

I hope that no more blisters pay me a visit, but if they do I am to call my doctor immediately.

Bleah

These sores are scaring me. The one on my leg, which seemed to be healing when the doctor examined it this morning, started oozing again by the time I got off the train in Baltimore this evening.

Dr. Westrick suggested that I keep some ointment on it and use a bandage that allowed some air to reach the sore, so I walked from the train station to the drug store continually conscious of the fabric of my jeans abrading the sore on my calf.

I wonder if I'm imagining that the sore on my wrist is getting larger since this morning. The one on my calf also looks more red to me.

The doctor mentioned that he's seeing more staph infections, so I googled it when I got home, which didn't really make me feel any better. Now I'm imagining a drug-resistant staph infection. Right now, I don't have anything that contradicts that possibility.

Jeffrey has left a message, asking if I'd like to come over for dinner and spend the night with him, but I feel like a health risk. I feel like putting ointment on my sores, bandaging them and curling up in bed for the night.

I'm trying to find some perspective; I know that this is probably a minor infection, especially compared with all the other shit that folks with HIV are prey to, but I'm still a little scared.

( photos behind cut )

So there.

I just got off the phone with Jeffrey. He pointed out that we've spent plenty of time together over the past few days, so whatever I've got, he's been exposed with no apparent ill effects.

So I'm heading over to his place now. No use stewing in my own juices.