Since most of my readers will never have this unique opportunity... I thought I'd let you all "live" vicariously...
(if you don't want to attend my whining pity-party... now is your chance to close the page...)
So yesterday morning I woke with up with a stiff neck and back, after a fairly sleepless night. I ached all day long. It was a busy, and somewhat hectic day of teaching. We did some special activities that were a lot of fun, but did not fall into the regular schedule of class. That, of course, means that the kiddos were just a little discombobulated and out-of hand. But, all in all, it was a good day. As I left the classroom, I told my T.A. "I think I could be asleep the moment I walk in the door and sit down." I walked in the house, thirsty beyond belief. Drank a huge glass of water and re-filled it and drank half again. I was SO hot. It started to rain and I told my housemate, "I've always liked standing in the rain, I'm going to go out in the back yard and do just that." So I sat in the rain for 5-10 minutes. By that time I was SO cold. I went inside and took a HOT shower. As I turned off the shower, I was so bone-tired, I wanted to lay down in the bathtub instead of get out and get dressed. And I was still so cold. I got out, got dressed and laid down on the couch for a nap. Within about 1/2 hour, I realized that every joint in my body was screaming in pain, along with every muscle. Not just my back... even my knuckles and my toe-knuckles ached. And I was actually shivering with cold. At our new staff orientation they had told us that if we experienced a rapid onset of fever with flu-like aches, we should go to the clinic to be tested. I had been home less than 2 hours, I considered that pretty rapid. So I dug out my thermometer, took my temp, (a full 2
°F fever) and texted the nurse at the clinic. "She said come and get tested."
Yep... I have Malaria! I hold the distinction of being the first ABC staff member this school year to get it. (You all know how I like to be unique!) Fortunately, we have a pill for that. (Or rather, a barrage of pills.) So, she gave me the meds, told me to go take something to break the fever, and sent me home.
I immediately took 4 Advil and 2 Alieve. (If you know me at all, you know how drug resistant I am.) within 1/2 hour, all that remained were the aching joints. About 3 hours later I could feel the fever returning (which brings with it the shivering cold, screaming muscles and head trying to explode.) I took another 4 Advil and tried again to sleep. I did manage to keep falling asleep, but with my aching back and joints, I am unable to stay asleep for more than an hour and a half. So, 2 hours later, I took another 3 Advil.
(Thank God my house mate waited on me hand and foot last night. She brought me back dinner from the staff potluck. She got my Advil and put it on the table by my head. She brought me a pitcher of water and a glass. She even turned up my music for me because she knows I need it to sleep and it was too far away to reach.)
2 hours after my bed-time dose of Advil, I woke up shivering, my teeth chattering so badly I had bitten my tongue (which is actually what woke me). Even though it had only been 2 hours, I took 4 more Advil. About 1/2 hour later I felt better and slept for another hour and a half. I woke up feverish again and took 2 more Alieve. By this time I just wanted to lay down and die. Even though it is completely insane, I just wanted someone, ANY one to come and put their arms around me and tell me it would be all right. Any human contact at all would have saved my life. Of course, I live on the other side of the world from anyone who would actually go 10 steps out of their way to comfort me, so I just cried. And cried. And so goes the day. I'm alternating the Advil and Alieve. As long as I keep the fever down, I just feel achy joints. That I can actually deal with... just sit on the couch and don't try to move, it's okay. But the fever comes back SO quickly! And I am SOOOO thirsty all the time.
The medication is only a 3 day process, so I'm hoping that means that by the end of the 3rd day I'll feel better. In the mean-time... could someone please just give me a hug?
