Malaria PART II

Hey everybody,

Just a quick update to say howdy and let you guys know what has been going down lately.  Malaria.  It hasn’t been particularly fun/as straightforward as originally thought.

            I likely have the strain called P. Falciparum, which is the quick onset kind, and isn’t exactly the good type.   However, the original treatment I received last Friday should have done the trick.  It seems as though I am suffering from the rare, but serious dumbass-resistant form of Malaria.  Evidently, when they tell you to rest when you have malaria, it’s not just a suggestion. 

I got bored around Tuesday and decided to go in to work, and again for a little while on Wednesday.  By Wednesday afternoon I was starting to realize something was really wrong, and after contacting my program, was advised to seek medical attention. 

I won’t sugar coat this for you guys, I was starting to get scared.  As Murphy’s Law would necessitate, all of my friends were out of town, and everyone at my program was otherwise occupied, so I got to do it all alone.  They decided to give me the really heavy-duty emergency injections, and an IV again.  I’ll just say that the drugs significantly lowered my capacity to interact with my surroundings and to deal with my situation.  There were tears.  There will be no pictures posted of this particular visit. 

 It was scary.  It was the first time since I’ve been here that I seriously considered going home.  Confronting the fact that even in one of the best clinics in one of the bigger towns, I might not be able to receive the medical attention I needed was overwhelming.  The doctor simply hadn’t come into work that day, and while the nursing staff was very nice, I couldn’t help but feel like it made the whole situation a more stressful.  The very nice nurse (Matilda) explained (in so many words) that I’d been a dumbass and hadn’t rested enough, not just making it harder to get better, but in fact making it significantly worse.  Pat on the back Lily, way to use your head. 

It is now Friday, and yesterday I was moved to the Proworld house until I am done with my multitude of drugs as they were making the stairs in my house impossible (and thus the bathroom/kitchen/help inaccessible).  I am feeling a little better and, given my heavily druggy state, I really can’t do anything to really overexert myself. 

I should be well soon, and I know I’ve worried quite a few of you on my most recent adventure here in Ghana.  I promise I’ll try for less potentially life-threatening adventures in the future. 

I will take a moment here to point out that I have the best sister/friend in the whole world.  She has been as close to by my side as someone a couple thousand miles away can be; keeping calm, telling me to get my butt to the clinic, making me laugh, updating people at home, and generally being an amazing human being.  You rock, sister-o-mine.  I love you.  Plus thanks for helping figure out the notifications on my blog.  :)