Ah where to begin describing this week's events at Casa Amarilla. It must have started a few weeks, perhaps a month ago when I noticed things were not right with my belly. After each meal my stomach would feel icky and on the fritz, I of course with the help of WebMd and various other resources self diagnosed myself on Monday night with a parasite. According to numerous reports, though not easy, it is possible to rid yourself of a parasite in natural ways such as eating garlic, pineapple, carrots, and tomatoes. I decided to begin immediately and with the support of Sarah, ate a whole clove of garlic. At least I would keep the vampires away, if not kill the parasites. I am no doctor and can't prove any correlation, but I am 92% sure that Michael Bolton ( my parasite) revolted and began singing woeful love ballads all day and night on my intestines. Either way, I ended up terribly sick on Tuesday and actually had to leave school early to go to the doctor.
Side note: Going to the doctor here is quite an experience because if you weren't sick and nauseous before you left for the doctor's office, you will definitely be sick from the ride getting there. Then, at the doctor's office you are sitting knee to knee with other patients and then there are the frequent passer bys that drop in just to chat with another. The actual office has only one chair and barely enough room for 2 people. The exam table is definitely not large enough for a person above 5 feet and my legs were dangling off at the knee.
But, the doctor was nice but didn't believe my nausea, light headed, weakness, tummy cramps, to be a parasite but a colon issue which he prescribed 2 medicines for. I got home and promptly took the medicine as per docs order and then ate a little, then I realized the pills weren't going to stay down. In fact, after that moment nothing wanted to stay down, not even water. Another trip to the doctor and the lab for some exams was definitely in order. I can honestly say it was one of the most challenging experiences I have had since being here. I went to the doc feeling horribly ill and afraid that I would up chuck all over the doctor and my super sweet colleague who was there translating. He gave me a shot to help with the nausea, which wasn't helping, and they were afraid they would have to take me to the hospital. Then the most dreaded incident happened. Homeboy doctor decided he wanted to give me an IV to give me more medicine and rehydrate me, I would like to mention that I have never had an IV before and desperately didn't want my first one to be in Honduras. Perhaps my veins sensed this and retreated because try hard as he could and and after much poking and prodding, he could not find my vein and we had to call it quitsies on the IV. Instead he gave me another pill and when I was feeling well sent me home. After a ton of prescriptions, all of which need to be taken at different times, I am finally on the road to recovery! Yay!
Then, there is the matter of Esperanza....she was hit by a car on Tuesday afternoon and we thought for sure that her back left foot or hip was broken. We were prepared to take her to Santa Rosa because there is no vet in town but luckily, each day she is getting better and better and putting more weight on her foot. Esperanza and I were able to keep each other good company and get some nice bonding time while both of us were falling apart. We are both on the mend and she is returning to her puppy self. Ah, the life in Honduras...you just never to know what to expect!
No comments:
Post a Comment