I'm feeling very rebellious

Right now, I'm sitting outside.

In the sun.

In a bathing suit.

Without sun block.

(Insert sound of Oak screaming.)

Under doctor's orders.

TWO doctors.

One of whom is a DERMATOLOGIST.

(Insert sound of Oak dialing the medical board to revoke my dermatologist's license.)

It seems I have a rash. It started on my boob about four days ago. It's called pityriasis rosea (PR). It's now covering both boobs, my stomach, chest, underarms, back and some spots where the sun will never shine. It itches. Not too badly, but enough to be annoying.

Apparently it's going to be like this for a while. Six to eight weeks.

It is thought that it is caused by a virus -- possibly a Herpes 6 virus (not the STD). Apparently there's really nothing that can be done about it but just wait it out and it's going to get worse before it gets better.

Yippee.

I asked the dermatologist if it could cause a problem with IF treatments and he thought it might. Frantic Googling turned up everything from "PR is fine in pregnancy" to "PR has been shown to cause a significant number of miscarriages and deformities in pregnancy." I don't know what to believe. I called my RE. He called back and said it was OK and not to worry.

And, he reiterated my dermatologist's advice.

Sit in the sun.

Without sun block.

The UVB rays are actually supposed to help (there have been studies).

I think the dermatologist almost choked telling me to sit in the sun. Especially while trying not to be blinded by my pale skin.

So, for 15 minutes a day. I'm enjoying the sun and feeling rebellious. And wrong. I'm trying to expose as much of my boob to the sun as possible. I'm pulling up my tankini so my lower back and blobby IF stomach are exposed. This is just wrong.

I think this is the first time in my life that I've had on a bathing suit outside without sunblock. I wore SPF 15 in the early 80s when it was the strongest you could get and my cousin was slathering on the tanning oil. I've never tanned in my life. I'm pale and proud. Fifteen years ago I was holding my stepfather as he shook from the chemo for the melanoma that had already traveled to multiple lymph nodes before it was discovered. (The treatment worked and he's been in remission for years.) My DH has had multiple pre-cancerous moles removed and has to go to the dermatologist every three months for a check-up. We celebrate a "removal free" appointment like kids celebrate a "cavity-free" dentist report.

My family does not take skin protection lightly. We do not go outside without sunblock. SPF 70 is preferred. We celebrated the release of broad spectrum protection. We do not sit in sun. We sit in shade. We wear big hats. We wear long shirts.

So, this just feels weird. But, it's doctor's orders.

(Insert sound of Oak passing out.)

(I'm still not sure what I believe about PR's influence in pregnancy. I was so upset that it possibly could have canceled my next one or two cycles that I was a nervous wreck. So, I'm trusting Dr. Smiles because I want to believe it will be OK and I can't deal with potentially losing the entire summer of treatment. We (i.e. my DH) still haven't come to a decision with IVF, yet. I'm about a week away from my next cycle. We have to decide soon. (Unless a miracle occurs.) Thank you to you all for your comments on the money post. It infuriates me that so many IFers have to put so much money into such uncertain procedures. I'll have more to say about all of that soon, I'm sure.)