As I wrote my journal yesterday I included a sentence about an unusual itchy rash that had appeared on my arm, but then I thought it was irrelevant so deleted it. I took an antihistamine, put some stuff on it and figured it would be gone in the morning so no point mentioning it. This morning it was still there when I set off on a tour of Hue and surrounds; a few tombs, a pagoda and then a cruise down the Perfume River. As the day wore on I noticed the spots were spreading at an alarming rate all over my limbs and I had a mad urge to scratch furiously like an ape. Then it dawned on me...this could be chicken pox.
I went to the doctor after the tour and then to the pharmacy and my fears were confirmed; <B>I have chicken pox.</B> I can't believe it my bad luck! Not only do adults hardly ever get chicken pox but I've had it before as a child AND when my room mate had it when I was in Europe in 2006 I didn't even catch it from her. I feel a little ripped off.
However, on the bright side, other than feeling like I want to rip my skin off I feel perfectly fine and am not sick at all so I can carry on as usual. It's just that I look like a diseased freak. Although no spots on my face as yet thankfully! Apparently I have been contagious for days already and will be until the spots scab over (so gross) but I have a bus booked to head to Hoi An tomorrow so I will just head there and isolate myself for a few days.
