It hurts only if I move.
On the first night, I rolled over in my sleep and was aware of a stiffness in a few of my fingers.
“Potatoes. I haven’t been eating lots of potatoes. Why are my joints hurting?”
Years ago I figured out a trigger for arthritis-like pain in my hands; some people are sensitive to foods in the nightshade family, and eliminating potatoes from my diet eliminated the painful joints.
I flexed my fingers; one was especially sensitive, like an embedded and festering thorn had lodged beneath the skin. Could the many hours of holding an extra-large paint brush had caused this pain?
Never having problems going to sleep, I rolled over and quickly resumed my dreams.
My hands still hurt in the morning, and when I took my first step, my ankle protested, “Yow!” The other mocked the first. Uh-oh. I suspected that this bout with joint pain would not be as simple as eliminating potatoes from my diet. As I mentioned in the last post, I had spent time with a friend last week who came down with dengue. Most likely the dreaded dengue virus had climbed aboard via a teeny-weeny mosquito, and if so, it would probably torment me for several weeks before giving up.
Supplies – I needed to stock up on supplies; I did not want a mosquito to bite me and transmit my particular case to other unsuspecting people, so I applied tons of repellent! Having had dengue fever once in the year 2000, I had a good idea what to expect. I went to town and shopped while the moto taxi driver waited patiently at each stop. Like a contorted arthritic patient, I hobbled in and out as pain seared through my feet and back. My head hurt, and my patience was quite short. One kind nice guy in the tienda started asking me how long I had lived here and why I chose Jama and the sundry other questions one is often asked. I was hurting so bad I could barely think, and I replied, “Why do you ask?” It was difficult to think in English, must less speak in Spanish; I apologized and said that I was not feeling well.
By the time I returned home, my fever had spiked. The driver patiently helped me bring the supplies inside – I don’t think I could have carried the 5-gallon jug of water – even the box of groceries seemed too heavy. I unpacked what was necessary, retrieved the thermometer and collapsed in the bed. The thermometer quickly shot to 39.5 (103) and I knew that the next few days would not be too pleasant. I wrote Xavier and told him that I had dengue and to STAY AWAY from the house! Surely one Casa Loca mosquito had bitten me while I was infected, and I didn’t want to wish this illness on anyone.
(Image insert refuses to load! I’ll try later!)
Dengue knocked me down in the year 2000, and later I said that it felt like every bone in my body was broken. Every cell hurt. My eyes hurt. If I stood for more than a few minutes, my blood pressure would fall – my body reacts in strange ways to stress, and I have fainted in some strange places! (Sister Pat, do you remember the barrel racing moment in Indianola?! If you do, that’s good, because I remember before and then after, when I awakened beneath the concession stand!)
This week after returning home from town, I slept about 12 hours and awakened every so often to take my temperature, drink water or juice (by my bed) and return to sleep. Any old injury screamed with pain, but if I stayed very still, not much hurt except my head. There are now five types of the dengue virus, and after you’re infected with one, you don’t have to worry about ever getting that particular one again. You get a lifelong immunity to each type. After getting the first case, you also have a greater chance of developing complications – one is a rash; I was not alarmed when I noted these cute little red orbs dotting my skin! The rash lasted about four hours. My skin was also very puffy, and I thought, “Are these my hands?” (They look normal today!)
I pondered drawing a sketch of what dengue feels like, and I also pondered going downstairs and retrieving John Grisham’s “The Testament,” which describes dengue fever well. I quickly decided against both, as holding a book would be too difficult. Ditto for a pencil.
Last time with fever spiking to 40/104, I was sick for two weeks, and then it took another two to build back my strength. So far this case is not as brutal as the last one. I don’t think it will hang around for two weeks, and it’s nice to take time off and rest! There’s no cough or congestion, just extreme pain when I move!
The video wouldn’t load, but I feel sure that this version of Shel Silverstein’s “Sick” marries well with this post:
(On slow internet, search results pages always load, but the links often will not.)
I am able to read any post that doesn’t have a page-break in the email notification. Getting the pages to open just isn’t working. Emily, I loved your post ‘The Garland’ and wondered if those roses come from Ecuador each year. https://emilievardaman.wordpress.com/2015/05/02/the-garland
Mary, great job on the coreopsis! The page finally loaded, but the comment would not go through. http://oilpastelsbymary.com/2015/05/02/15-paintings-challenge-flowers-in-my-garden-oil-pastels/
Debbie, I tried and tried and tried to open your Fibonacci post, but it just won’t budge! Until I’m in town using faster internet.
https://retirenicaragua.wordpress.com/2015/05/02/weekly-photo-challenge-intricate-fibonacci/
Babs, for some reason the devil’s always tormenting me when I try to view your posts on slow connections. If you see that you had countless hits from Ecuador, it was me, but nothing ever opened – not even the text! https://salmonfishingqueen.wordpress.com/2015/05/02/after-the-king-fire/
And if any of you have ever had a bad day or a bad week or a bad month/year, Arash will remind you that it’s all about attitude. As I read his post, I realized that these dengue symptoms would be gone in a week to ten days, and he would gladly switch roles —- or perhaps not. He’s doing a pretty grand job of motivating others with his example. Thanks, Arash, I’m so proud that you’re getting a much-larger and well-deserved audience!
http://arashrecovery.com/2015/05/01/reluctant-self-promotion-sigh/
Well that’s enough for this epistle! My shoulders hurt and my wrists hurt and my back hurts, and sleep is a great escape! Good night, my friends! Remember to apply your repellent!
Z
Please take care of yourself. I will keep you in my thoughts and send get well messages out to the universe to look kindly upon you.
Oh no so sorry Lisa. Please, if you need help, give us a holler. Do you have acetaminophen? Do you have enough water and food? Mosquito repellant and something to rid your home of the nasty mosquitos? We can come and get you and bring you to our house to recuperate. Don’t like you being alone in case of complications. There’s been a few cases in Manta and northward so I’ve been lathering up with repellent, they don’t seem to like John as well. So please, consider it dear amiga, love ,prayers and good thoughts your way.
So sorry to hear this, Lisa! Warm wishes for your recovery from chilly Scotland. Mosquitos would not survive here…
sure hope you’re better by now
Oh, this sounds awful! Please take good care of yourself…that fever scares me. I’ll be wishing a quick recovery for you, Lisa!
Dear Z. I’m sooo sorry to hear this and praying for you now.
Bummer! Be well Amiga, so sorry to hear of it, must be you are SO sweet! Thinking of you. Love and light
You seem to be taking good care of yourself, Z, but do think about accepting John and Mary’s offer. Dengue, as you know, is tough on the body and exhausting.
Thinking about you … and I too wish you were not alone fighting this battle with the bug.
Z, best wishes my friend, for a speedy recovery. We will be here when you return. Take care of you, first. BTG
Oh, I hope all your hurt will be gone soon, best wishes for a fast recovery Lisa, and take care!
You are in my thoughts and prayers!!
Lisa, take John and Mary’s advise. Please let them come and get you. Dengue is nothing to fool around with, especially if you’ve had it before. I’m worried about you. I’ve had dengue before and the pain was excruciating, especially behind my eyeballs. I couldn’t read or watch TV or anything. The best thing you can do is try to drink lots of fluids. Turmeric tea will help with the joint pain. If I were only closer, I’d come get you. Sending positive energy and rapid healing your way. Now, I won’t rest until I know that you are better. 😦
I agree Debbie, it can be worse the second time around, but you know our Lisa, very independent. Just waiting to hear from her, hope her internet is up and working
I’ve been doing research and everything I read is saying it is worse than the first time you get it. Giving Lisa another hour to respond , then I think John is going to head up her way to try and bring her back. Hopefully people in Jama will know where she lives and can give John directions. LISA, we love you sweetie, and are worried about you , that’s why we’re sorta “talking behind your back”
Oh, this makes me feel so much better. If she has the hemorrhaging type of Dengue it could be really bad. What a relief. Bless you both. Keep me informed.
Keep those liquids by your bed. Hope you get this under control soon. When my joints ache I stop eating ‘red’ foods. Come to think of it I never put night shade and red foods together but many night shade foods are red. Another good reason not to eat potatoes.
oh my goodness! I heard there was a drink you can make from the leaves of the papaya tree that will help when you succumb to Dengue…I do hope you feel better soon and that you are up and around again soon. much love coming your way from both Edmund and myself! ❤
Oh, Lisa! I have known people who got dengue, and it is pretty miserable. So very sorry. wish I were there to keep your juice glass full.
Your reply did post on my bog, by the way.
When I saw “dengue” in the email notification, I never imagined that it would be your dengue at issue. There’s a reason they call it break-bone fever in Liberia. I managed to avoid it, but the malaria was bad enough.
You’re clearly coping. Going elsewhere to recuperate would be good, but I can imagine the thought of a journey by car might not be so appealing. I see there’s another post — I’m off to read the update.
Oh boy, Lisa I’m so sorry that you have come down with Dengue. Nothing to mess around with and amazing to me that you were still able to get to the store and stock up on supplies – you instinct kicked in, thank goodness you listened and got what you need. Stubborn and practical, but you know what you need to do to ride this out. Wonderful cab driver, who was your guardian angle when you most needed him. Unbelievable pain that you must be feeling – I hope that you have experienced the worst of this episode and your body will slowly heal itself. I’m keeping you in my thoughts and prayers ~ please let your friends help you my friend.
P.S. thank you for your lovely comment on the Coreopsis – you amaze me!
Oh, my dear friend, I am so sorry to read about your malady! And, I am sad that you were unable to open or load my posts! Send the magic carpet by, and I will load it up with chicken broth with matzoh balls. My grandmother always told me to drink the broth, eat two matzoh balls and then call her in the morning…I usually felt better in the morning…I hope that when the carpet gets back to you and that you dine on this that you will feel better! Hugs chica and get well soon!
My gosh you got it bad. I can just imagine the pain and lack of sleep. I also read you cannot read posts with page breaks. See you on GWGT or NaWPs when you can. Hope you get well soon, did see you are feeling a bit better now.
I know I’m reading this belatedly, and that you’re now well. Thank goodness. It doesn’t sound like an illness I’d like to have (of course who wants any illness?). It is mosquito season here in China. I guess I better be on the lookout. Keep yourself healthy, Lisa. 🙂