Good morning everyone, well night for y'all.
I am going to give a little background so there is a context in which to place this dream. I have an idea of what it means, yet I have come up with 2 possible things and it is important I narrow it down. The 2 possible meanings are quite opposite and regard an important decision in my life.
I am currently a chief officer in the US Merchant Marine. For the past 3 years I have worked nights, midnight to noon. It has caused my sleeping habbits to go crazy and result in periods of sleep deprivation. Me being away has also caused the loss of an important relationship as well as other personal problems. For the past six months or so, I have really been questioning my carreer choice.
I am only 27 yrs old but have put 9 years into in industry that I whole heartedly believe it institutionalizes us and destroys families. I have been thinking about leaving and trying something else. Needless to say, I am scared. I have an opportunity to leave a very high paying job which I do love, I dislike the result of it. The alternative is very risky and nerve racking. It has somewhat consumed my thoughts for a couple months now. The alternative is also far outside my comfort zone. It involves family which also makes me nervous. It really has been an internal battle.
On to the dream. I am on the ship currently. I had one of those parasites under the skin dream. I know that it means something is getting under my skin, I know that there is. In the dream there is a doctor in my driveway. I am due to go back to work that day. I show him the large amount of parasites or worms under my skin and him and his assistant are like "wow." His assistant tells me I will have to have 2 large blood transfusions to get rid of them. I am supposed to go back to work on the ship that day and decide I will wait until I am on the ship then bring it up so that they send me to the clinic. I want to do this so I do not miss my crew change.
Later that day I find the assistant treating some guy in my house and I tell her my plan is to go back to work then deal with it. She tells me that she will not sign my fit for duty and have to deal with it right away. I am angry because it will prevent me from going to work. That is about all I can remember.

The possible interpretations I have come up with for this dreams is as follows: My job is getting under my skin and I cannot go back if I wish to get rid of the parasites under my skin (sleep and relationship problems). And the alternate or opposite: That I cannot go back to work on a ship if I choose this other more risky opportunity. Or that I should not take this alternate opportunity that alleviates my occupation caused issues in my life yet brings sets of others. The other opportunity doesnt come up in the dream, only my current occupation. I have been worried for far longer about the detrimental effects of my current job: Sleep deprivation, night shift, stress, and family issues due to my absence. However, my anxiety about leaving a high paying job for something that is very un sure has been giving me a lot of anxiety as of late. Not sure which of the two things under my skin my dream is referring to: discontent with current occupation, or that I should not leave my current occupation and forget about the other risky venture that has been giving me anxiety? Some help on this one would be great!!!