Some of you know I've been battling a personal problem...

[Poli]

and it erupted last night when I went home for the first time since Columbus Day weekend. I need your prayers, need 'em now. Things are not so good here.

Thanks, guys (and girls).

Rodney

[Barkeep49]

You will have mine. I am sorry to hear this.

[Raiders Army]

You're in my thoughts.

[sachmo71]

We'll be thinking about you. Not sure what's going on, but it sounds bad.

[WSUCougar]

Hang in there, Rodney.

[MizzouRah]

What, no call to me?

You have my phone number buddy... hang in there.

[vtbub]

I'm a chat away if you need it.

[MacroGuru]

My prayers are with you...If you need to talk....I am more than able to....

[Draft Dodger]

We'll be thinking about you. Not sure what's going on, but it sounds bad.

what he said.
good luck with everything

[Icy]

You are in my thoughts for whatever problem you have, i hope is not health related.

[JAG]

Hang in there bud. You know how to get a hold of me if you feel like a chat.

[Kodos]

Not sure what's going on, but hang in there, buddy.

[duckman]

You're in my prayers, AE.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

You are in my thoughts and, prayers. I hope all ends up well to all your problems.

[TonyR]

You're in our thoughts and prayers Rod. Hope all turns out well.

[digamma]

Best wishes, AE.

[pennywisesb]

You're in my prayers, AE.

Ditto. I hope things work out Rodney.

[sachmo71]

AE,

Did this have something to do with your kiddo? I'm getting my stories crossed.

[MikeVic]

Best of luck in whatever it is that is causing you problems.

[Vince]

Good luck my friend.

[FrogMan]

hang in there Rodney, you got friends in here :)

FM

[terpkristin]

Rodney,
As usual, you know how to reach me.
I'll be home most of the weekend, so please give me a call if you want to talk. :(

/tk

[JonInMiddleGA]

Just got home, just saw this -- you know that I wish you a positive resolution to anything that's troubling you.

[wade moore]

Good luck AE...

[Bad-example]

As someone who has had more than his share of crises these past months, I sympathize and hope things improve soon.

[cubboyroy1826]

Good luck man, hang in there.

[ice4277]

Good luck, I hope things work out in the end.

[Poli]

Hey gang,

Thanks for the prayers and well wishes. I'm 100% positive the prayers led to an unbelievable outcome. Despite my embarrassment, I'll share the story.

Two weeks ago, I was diagnosed with molluscum contagiosum. In short, it's a STD, and you've likely never heard of it. It's contagious but I'm not going to die from it. In fact, as STDs go, it's probably one of the "best" to get. It tends to disappear after running it's course.

Except there's the whole how I got it thing. I've done nothing wrong. Zero. My wife was tested shortly after to make sure I hadn't spread it to her while I was home the last time. She's clean. Things look bad on me.

I work in a barracks now, and started working there right after the Columbus Day weekend. The only thing I can think of is perhaps I got it while checking a bathroom for cleanliness.

The doc seemed pretty upbeat about it. He diagnosed it off appearance, as a blood test doesn't reveal molluscum. He said he as 99% sure of it, and to ease my mind would do a biopsy if I requested. The biopsy would provide undeniable proof I had the STD. Since he was so positive, I told him it wasn't necessary.

Take this, take that, you'll be fine in a month. I got a little depressed about the whole situation, though, to be honest. I started yelling at students in the barracks when they didn't deserve it. I got a little sharp with some of you as well. I'm sorry for that, by the way.

To make matters worse, the only person I really wanted to talk to and be with was my wife, and that couldn't happen. I had to attend SIU the past two weekends in a row. Obviously, I had this weekend circled on the calendar. In fact, I raced home yesterday in uniform so as not to waste time changing into civilian clothes.

So that's the personal matter I've been fighting with. I've had my share of good times, but for the most part I've been rather depressed.

Last night as I was an hour away from home, my wife tells me she filed for divorce. She believed I cheated on her. Don't bother going home, don't call me, you'll be hearing from my lawyer. I nearly passed out on southbound 255.

I got home, I guess you could say, and she wasn't there. Just as she said, the locks were changed. I called her dad and he agreed to talk to me. I spent a few minutes there, tried her phone, and then went to my brother's for the night.

This morning, I posted here and in the two FOF leagues (at least PMs, I think), something over at Hattrick, and called my wife. She answered, and after a long conversation, she agreed to see me at the local hospital. I told her I wanted a second opinion and I asked her to be there for it.

I had been doubting if I have this STD. If you google image it, and I suggest you don't, you will find some horrible pictures. These images aren't even remotely close to what I have. Unfortunately, it's all my wife had to feed on and those images are what she believed I had. In truth, I have about 10 bumps of this STD. My wife couldn't "see" that though.

So, we're at the hospital this morning, and the doctor agreed that I most likely had the STD, but 100% proof would require a biopsy. I already knew that. I asked the doctor if it's possible, despite this being a STD, if it could spread other than through sexual contact. He said it's highly unlikely, but possible. I asked the doc to relay that to my wife, as well as a few other things about this STD that my wife was confused on. The doc, however, was unresponsive. He said he would, but there was some doubt on my side.

5 minutes later, there's another knock on the door, and another doctor enters. I was thinking that maybe this doctor knew more about this STD than the last or something. What I got surprised me.

"Polston, what the hell's the problem?"
"Excuse me, sir?"
"Don't give me that sir crap, Polston, I'm a retired senior chief."

The doctor had retired as a senior chief corpsman and then became a doctor. A corpsman is kind of a medical aide to doctors in the military. He gave me the third degree about what I had done and how I could have got this. Most of it revolved around curse words, I guess he felt comfortable doing that since he knew I was in the Navy. He entered and left the room three times. I felt like I was at my own disciplinary review board, to be honest, and I hadn't done anything wrong.

Finally, he comes in and tells me he had talked to my wife about the STD and that everything should be "good to go". I asked him if I was free to go, and he told me I'd have some paperwork to sign shortly, and then I could.

As I come out, I can tell my wife is happier to see me. The retired senior chief told her he'd been in the Navy 22 years and he could read sailors like a book. He told her that I hadn't cheated on her. He said while it's rare to get this outside of sexual contact, it's more likely to happen to someone with my job description than anyone else. I guess that's all she needed to hear.

As we're leaving, I tell her of his questioning techniques, including the eyeball staredown. I guess it gave more credit to the senior chief. We're still together.

She called the lawyer, and the dogs have been called off. There will be no divorce. My emotional roller coaster has still been going, though, but I'm starting to wind down. I'm just happy this is all over.

I'm convinced prayer put that retired senior chief in the position to be there. I highly doubt that civilian doctors would have gone that extra mile. In fact, my wife tells me that the other doctor never did talk to her. I needed a miracle, and I kind of got it.

Thanks, everyone.

As far as the baby goes, that was a false alarm, sadly. My wife broke her fibula and ruptured a ligament a few weeks later, and had to go back on birth control as a result.

Thanks again everyone. I've had an incredibly trying 28 hours and had about 3 hours of sleep to boot. I don't know what else to say but thanks.

Thanks.

[Eaglesfan27]

Glad you had a positive result with the whole situation.

[mauchow]

Glad to hear everything turned out okay!

[Bad-example]

Great to hear. You owe that guy a box of cigars.

[vex]

I'll be praying for you, Rodney. Good to hear things are better.

[Swaggs]

Wow.

Glad to hear all is better.

[SirFozzie]

Glad to hear, AE. Keep the Faith.

[bosshogg23]

Gluck AE as always......word!

[PilotMan]

Good God Rodney, you and I need to get a drink. I am sure we could solve the problems of the world in two or three days. Hang in there bud.

[JeeberD]

Glad to hear that things worked out, AE. Stay strong, bud...

[kingnebwsu]

What a wild story, hope everything continues to be okay :)

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Glad to hear things are alright for now, Hope its all downhilln from here. :D

[Emiliano]

Glad to hear things are better, AE. I wish you good luck for everything, anyway. Stay strong!!!

[CamEdwards]

wow. I'm so glad everything worked out for you. I can't imagine how stressful the past few days have been.

And from now on: rubber gloves at all times in the barracks.

[Poli]

wow. I'm so glad everything worked out for you. I can't imagine how stressful the past few days have been.

And from now on: rubber gloves at all times in the barracks.
The guys at work call the rubber gloves the "Poli" (my shortened last name) rule. Everyone wears them now.

It's still hard for me to believe what's go on over the last I think 36 hours. I mean, I very nearly passed out on the road. I could feel the tingling in my head. I could be friggin dead right now.

The locks were changed. I still don't have my stuff in the house. All the pictures of me were replaced. She even wiped the computer of all my "stuff". As I sit here in my own home I feel kind of uninvited still.

Sure, the stuff that was in my car is now here. We're supposed to go get the rest of my stuff today. I now have a key. I still feel weird being here, if you know what I mean.

I keep thinking about that retired senior chief. What are the friggin odds. When he walked in and said those first words, I was totally lost. I guess it makes sense, though. I think the only people who would call me by my last name would be in the military. I have the worst luck known to man and yet at that point in time I was the luckiest.

I'm still, I don't know, upset I guess. I'm not being divorced, and she believes me now, but all of this seems wrong to me or something. She didn't trust me when I told her I was innocent. I keep thinking and thinking about this. Had the roles been reversed, I'm certain I'd be hurt, but I'd believe her.

I try to excuse this because she's been depressed for most of the year. She's suffered three major injuries this year alone, and she's still in a cast from the last one. I want to believe that maybe being depressed was a contributing factor.

All I know is she's still asleep and I'm wide awake. I still didn't get much sleep, even though I'm home. I know it's foolish, but sometimes I wonder if I'm being set up. Like I'm on Candid Camera or the Jamie Kennedy Experiment. I keep waiting for a knock on the door and for someone to serve me my divorce papers.

Maybe I'll feel more secure as the day goes along. I hope that's the case. Keep praying for me, I appreciate it.

[Draft Dodger]

I'm still, I don't know, upset I guess. I'm not being divorced, and she believes me now, but all of this seems wrong to me or something. She didn't trust me when I told her I was innocent. I keep thinking and thinking about this. Had the roles been reversed, I'm certain I'd be hurt, but I'd believe her.


seems like there has to be something else there. that's a pretty fast trigger finger on her part. almost like she was looking for an excuse to do it.

I'm really glad this crazy thing worked out.

[Raiders Army]

This sounds like a Penthouse Forum letter gone horribly awry, but glad it all worked out!

[Danny]

I'd suggest marriage counseling. It seems there may be deep seated issues that caused her harsh reaction. I don't think simply pretending this never happened is going to help in the long run. Of course I am NOT an expert, nor do I personally know either of you.

[terpkristin]

AE,
Glad things are worked out, and glad that she believes you, but I'm still thinking of you two, hoping things get better.

You know my number so feel free to call if you want.
/tk

[duckman]

Wow! I'm glad that you are back into your own home.

I have to ask though. Where did she take your things to?

It does seem awfully suspicious that she was so quick to kick you out of your house. It's also weird that she does this at the last minute and doesn't at least allow you to pick up your own things.

[Ksyrup]

I'd suggest marriage counseling. It seems there may be deep seated issues that caused her harsh reaction. I don't think simply pretending this never happened is going to help in the long run. Of course I am NOT an expert, nor do I personally know either of you.
I have to agree with this, altohugh of course I'm happy things have worked out positively for you, in a way. I don't know, if my wife reacted that decisively with absolutely no other evidence or even an inkling before that I had been cheating, I'd be the one changing the locks.

[Rockstar]

What a horrible story.
There is always the possiblility that someone played a horrible joke on you. I hope you sanitized everything where you work that you would have your hands on.
Like your coffee mug {shudder}, pens, ect.

[Airhog]

Pathogenesis

This disease is transmitted primarily through direct skin contact with an infected individual. Fomites have been suggested as another source of infection, with molluscum contagiosum reportedly acquired from bath towels, tattoo instruments, and in beauty parlors and Turkish baths.[10] The average incubation time is between 2 and 7 weeks with a range extending out to 6 months. Infection with the virus causes hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the epidermis.[12] Free virus cores have been found in all layers of the epidermis. So-called viral factories are located in the malpighian and granular cell layers.[12] The molluscum bodies contain large numbers of maturing virions. These are contained intracellularly in a collagen-lipid-rich saclike structure that is thought to deter immunological recognition by the host.[20] Rupture and discharge of the infectious virus-packed cells occur in the center of the lesion. MCV induces a benign tumor instead of the usual necrotic pox lesion associated with other poxviruses.[21]

[stevew]

There's like no way they could trace your possible infection to someone in an area where you worked? I would think that any Navy guy that was infected would have ended up seeing a doctor at your base at some point in time. With the amount of people in your area, along with the amount of time for incubation, you might be looking at a lot of total people. I know that they wouldn't give you specific names or anything. But it might be something worth looking into at least?

And you guys need counseling, badly. Hopefully she isnt cheating on you, or something.

[Buccaneer]

I, too, believe it was an answer from God in response to the prayers of the faithful to get through the first tests. But more tests are coming and counseling would help.

[Poli]

There's like no way they could trace your possible infection to someone in an area where you worked? I would think that any Navy guy that was infected would have ended up seeing a doctor at your base at some point in time. With the amount of people in your area, along with the amount of time for incubation, you might be looking at a lot of total people. I know that they wouldn't give you specific names or anything. But it might be something worth looking into at least?

And you guys need counseling, badly. Hopefully she isnt cheating on you, or something.
A couple of problems here. One is that what I have doesn't hurt or itch at all. When I first noticed it, I thought it was a spider bite, rash, or pimple. The first doctor I saw gave me antibiotics thinking I had infected hairs. Even if one of the young men in our barracks had gone to medical for this, we at the barracks would not be notified. It sucks, but that's the way it is. In fact, if we want to verify a particular person went, the chief of the barracks has to call about it. Even then, medical would not tell us why they went, just that they went to medical.

Given the amount of sailors that transfer in and out of our barracks (I'd guesstimate around 30-35 in a week), we go through sailors rather quickly. With a 2-7 week incubation time, 1 week of the antibiotic treatment, whoever I caught this from most likely is a) out of the barracks or b) transferred.

I'm not sure one of our young men would immediately go to medical about this. No pain, no itch. I'd guess they'd think the same things I was. Maybe if they noticed they'd had it awhile.

Counseling will probably be difficult to manage, since I'm rarely home, but I'm looking into it. Going to school at SIU on weekends is tough, because it wipes out at least half the weekends I can go home.

As to what triggered her quick decision, I don't know. All I can think is it appears cut and dry that I cheated. I have it, she doesn't. I seriously doubt she cheated on me. The injuries have really depressed her and she's gained quite a bit of weight. She's told me she thought I cheated because of this, and therefore, I caught the STD.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

[PilotMan]

AE, I was telling my wife about this and she said that if I was in your shoes she would have reacted just about exactly the same way. We have a great relationship as well, so I wouldn't look too far beyond the obvious in your dealings with your wife. The obvious may just be that her reaction is legit without any other mitigating factors.

[Flasch186]

you might even consider that the better the relationship you had, would cause a more magnified and explosive reaction to the event. I dunno. just a thought. Id say, its in your court. wash it, and forget about it. Try to let it go, cuz every minute you waste thinking about it is exactly that, wasted.

[ibnsgirl]

As Tony said earlier, you are in our thoughts and prayers, AE. That doctor's being there was nothing less than a miracle.

I can't say that I would know what I would do in your wife's situation... I won't speculate how she felt or why she reacted as she did, but now might be a good time to step back and take a breather, if possible. It sounds like everyone needs it. This whole situation was/is like a bad nightmare.

[MizzouRah]

My wife would have reacted exactly like your wife did AE.

Glad everything is getting back to normal for you two.. man, you've been through a lot.

[lytic]

why not just go get that test Rodney?

[Poli]

You mean the biopsy? I am Tuesday. I've had two doctors say I have it, so I suppose I do. I'll get the biopsy and then get this stuff frozen off. It's caused too much of a headache and a heartache for me to bear much longer.

[lytic]

well good luck with that. Hope it's not too painful.

[Hawglaw]

Sorry to see this, buddy. E-mail me if you need to.

[sachmo71]

Glad you survived this, AE. Damn, that's a tough scrape.

[CraigSca]

Glad everything seems to be working out, AE. This is like one of those stories you watch on TV where you inquire about the retired officer that spoke with you and your wife and the hospital notifies you that the guy has been dead for 10 years or something. :)

[Eaglesfan27]

Glad everything seems to be working out, AE. This is like one of those stories you watch on TV where you inquire about the retired officer that spoke with you and your wife and the hospital notifies you that the guy has been dead for 10 years or something. :)

Have you been watching too much of JLH's breasts?

[Poli]

Update:

Saw the dermatologist today (I ended up not going back after the 2nd visit) for a follow up.

I'm clean. What a relief.

[Coder]

Update:

Saw the dermatologist today (I ended up not going back after the 2nd visit) for a follow up.

I'm clean. What a relief.

That's great news!

[Ksyrup]

Two questions (if you feel like answering them, of course):

1. Are you clean because it's been treated, or was it determined not to be the STD?

2. How are things with the wife?

[Poli]

1. I'm clean from the treatment.

2. Things are going well with me and my wife. She believes me that I didn't do anything wrong.

[JAG]

Glad to hear it's gone Rodney.

[FrogMan]

1. I'm clean from the treatment.

2. Things are going well with me and my wife. She believes me that I didn't do anything wrong.
agreed that (1) is great news but (2) is an even better news. Good luck with it!

FM

[MizzouRah]

Good news AE!

now your KC team in the HFL, that's another issue altogether.

[Raiders Army]

What a good deal. This and you win a Werewolf game. Gratz!!!

[Ksyrup]

Good to hear!

[Poli]

Good news AE!

now your KC team in the HFL, that's another issue altogether.Groan...

I can't get right in FOF MP. I should just retire a loser.

[Kodos]

Hmmm. I missed this thread earlier, but glad to hear things worked out okay. :)

[Butter]

Hmmm. I missed this thread earlier, but glad to hear things worked out okay. :)
What he said. I doubt my wife would've even let me back in the house, though.

[Ksyrup]

I doubt my wife would've even let me back in the house, though.
I've seen several comments like this throughout this thread, which surprises me. I'll have to run this scenario by my wife and get her honest opinion about how she would react. I just don't think she'd question me until or unless a doctor told her the only way to get it is through sexual contact with someone who has it. Maybe I'm giving her too much credit? Or could she be that much more trusting than your wives/girlfriends?

[Butter]

I've seen several comments like this throughout this thread, which surprises me. I'll have to run this scenario by my wife and get her honest opinion about how she would react. I just don't think she'd question me until or unless a doctor told her the only way to get it is through sexual contact with someone who has it. Maybe I'm giving her too much credit? Or could she be that much more trusting than your wives/girlfriends?
I don't want to crap on AE's happy ending here, but if it weren't for that military guy who got his wife to believe that he could have gotten it through other means, he still may have been up the creek even having been totally innocent.

[Poli]

I agree. If he hadn't been there, I'd probably be divorced by now.

[Ksyrup]

I know, which surprises me. Just like the several comments like yours where it was suggested that the posters' wives/GFs would have reacted the same way. Either I don't know my wife as well as I think I do, or she's apparently more trusting than most. My initial reaction to AE's wife's reaction was shock, but it seems most people think her reaction was typical or justified. That surprises me.

[Poli]

Honestly, it surprised me as well. I thought my wife trusted me until I got the phone call on my way home. I'm sure up until this happened she would say she'd trust me if it happened like it did.

I think when it actually happens what you say and what you do are two different things.

[oliegirl]

Honestly, it surprised me as well. I thought my wife trusted me until I got the phone call on my way home. I'm sure up until this happened she would say she'd trust me if it happened like it did.

I think when it actually happens what you say and what you do are two different things.

I agree completely. When you first posted this thread, radii and I talked about it and I told him that although I'd like to think I would trust him and not make any rash decisions, I know myself and faced with something like that, I am fairly sure I'd react in a similar way...I'd probably take Anthony and go live with my parents until everything was straightened out. The idea of him cheating is hard enough to think about, but when faced with "evidence" that he did, I am sure I'd freak out.

[Ksyrup]

Maybe. And really, I don't want to make this about your situation specifically, but just that type of situation in general and how our wives would react. I agree that it's easy to say one thing now and react differently if (God forbid) something like that ever happens. And with us, it would probably be different solely because there are kids involved. But I just don't see her coming to that conclusion so quickly. Maybe I'm just hoping that would never happen.

I've posted this before and I think it applies here - just like people like Scott Peterson and others who kill family members but claim innocence have made it increasingly difficult for truly innocent people to get the benefit of the doubt before the facts are gathered, the fact that so many people cheat probably means we're all capable of it, so if there is corroborating evidence, it must be true. Which sucks. If you do the crime, just save us all the heartache and admit it upfront.

[Desnudo]

Honestly, it surprised me as well. I thought my wife trusted me until I got the phone call on my way home. I'm sure up until this happened she would say she'd trust me if it happened like it did.

I think when it actually happens what you say and what you do are two different things.

I agree. I think there's probably a visceral reaction that occurs when you hear news like that. Everyone is a little different, but there are basic human emotions that are hard to combat.

Glad to hear it worked out in the end for you.

[MizzouRah]

Groan...

I can't get right in FOF MP. I should just retire a loser.
You DID get it right, and promptly beat my arse. :D

[Poli]

Quit, to the HFL website!

[Cap Ologist]

4 Bells! Glad to hear life is looking up, and JAG wanted me to tell you to quit slacking off at the mines ;)

[Poli]

4 Bells! Glad to hear life is looking up, and JAG wanted me to tell you to quit slacking off at the mines ;)I thought I was still on your coattails. :)

[AlexB]

Glad it looks like it's working out on all fronts, clean and still married. Don't over-analyse this: your wife hears you have an STD, she's gonna go nuts - yes it's tough that she didn't believe you when you said that you didn't cheat, but consider the situation with someone else in the same circumstances that did cheat: what would they say - no doubt the same as yourself.

It sucked how things happened, but everything you described were natural human assumptions and reactions. The important thing is now she knows that this is not only passed on via sexual contact, and the two of you can move on.