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chikungunya in ecuador, jama ecuador museum, pain from chikungunya, side effects of chikungunya, sketches
El Museo Bahia de Caraquez- Ecuador
“Okay, write that down,” Hermoine said to Ron, pushing his essay and a sheet covered in her own writing back to Ron, “and then copy out this conclusion that I’ve written for you.”
“Hermoine, you are honestly the most wonderful person I’ve ever met,” said Ron weakly, “and if I’m ever rude to you again –“
“– I’ll know you’re back to normal,” said Hermoine.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Study of Artifact – Watercolor – Museo Bahia de Caraquez-Ecuador
Sometimes ‘it’ is just not there, and until I have recovered from a ‘co-infection’ of dengue and chikungunya, even holding a pencil is difficult. The fatigue continues as well.
Thumbing through a little notebook, I came across a sketch of an artifact that’s in the Jama Museum. With paper and watercolors and pencils in hand this morning, I had hoped to spend an hour in the airconditioned museum and move forward with a more-seriuos study. It’s just not going to happen – not until I am stronger!
Pencil sketch of artifact in Jama/Ecuador museum.
Suffice to know that I am much better, but like many others in this Province, the recovery period is long and sometims painful. When not moving, there is absolutly no pain, and after five of so minutes of walking, most of the pain has vanished. I find myself walking like many others, with a shuffle-footed gait that avoids the flexing of ankles and knees! Falling blood pressure disciplines me to sit down often.
Here in Jama, it’s customary to greet people with a handshake or a kiss on the cheek, depending if it’s a formal or informal greeting. When passing the municipality building, I crossed paths with three or four people who shook my hand. By the final one, I was ready to collapse… Several friends/onlookers chuckled as I discreetly shook the pain from my hands/fingers after the person moved out of sight.
Chana in her little store/ Dec 2012
It’s sometimes nice to know there are partners in suffering, and when I entered my friend’s little shop, the aroma of menthol wafted from the room. “Oh Chana!” I greeted, “Oh Leee-sah,” she replied,, “Duele duele duele” (pain pain pain) she replied. She then rattled in way-too-fast Spanish how the pain had worsened since I last stopped by the store.
For me, it’s best just to be still and allow the nature of this illness to run its course. Thank goodness, using a keyboard is not painful, though it hurts to support the camera or hold a pencil or paint brush.
Here are a few hurried sketches from that same little notebook; these were scribbled to catch a moment or an idea to use later.. or to later discard. I’m glad now that I kept them!
Ceibo tree – pencil sketch
Ceibo sketch
Ceibos – pencil – while traveling by bus
You’ll know that I’m back to normal when posts and comments and flying colors start appearing more often! There’s a chart at the end of this article on chikungunya, and it explains a lot. Many of us here have hit that unexpected IGg response. (Rheumatologist: About Chikungunya) I’ve learned a lot!
More soon. Z
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
Oh Leee-Sah Sista-Sista, I’m so wishing you to be well and feeling 100% soon…if not sooner. I know healing takes time…and patience. Take them both on with grace and courage. Thinking of you from the Pacific Northwest. Always, Raye
thanks; my body knows me, so it’s keeping me from going into ‘full throttle too soon.. grrrracias, amiga!
I had a natural product created when my girlfriend was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis when she basically was sent home to die. This was in 2009. I knew of studies that had been done on low-dose oral alpha interferon and extended life out 5 year at that time. that particular study was taking place at Texas Tech University and is still going on to this day. I contacted some of the major players in that industry to see if some was available for her. I couldn’t find any but I did find a company that could make it from a natural source. It took nine months to get a finished product which we named Virapress.
It has now been six years and she has had no progression of her disease and is leading a relatively normal life except for the oxygen 24 seven.
I came out of retirement in 2009 to make the product available for other diseases and I’m almost embarrassed to admit this seems to have positive response on all viruses and autoimmune diseases we have tried it on including chikungunya and dengue.
It must be made very clear that Virapress does nothing for the disease itself, it only allows the bodies immune system to do what it was created to do, allow a balance between the disease and the immune system!
Dengue and chikungunya are spreading at epidemic rates and I’m willing to provide free product on a limited basis so I can have our medical consultants evaluate the benefits of Virapress on these two growing mosquito transmitted diseases. With chikungunya the arthritic type pain that develops after the initial virus does seem to ease or go away when taking Virapress
Everything we do is at the highest scientific manufacturing standards available and we use an FDA approved GMP company to create the sublingual tablets which becomes Virapress.
My contact information is as follows:my name is Larry Griffin, founder and cocreator of Bio-Stasis Int Inc., Name of product: Virapress,: e-mail address: stopthebugbite@ Gmail.com, phone number 951 223-4055 or 855 256-0895.
I am located in Southern California and hope to hear from you.
Z, best wishes of time, patience, perseverance and persistence. Take care my friend, BTG
thanks.. yes, i should paint a great big “P” on the floor to remind me of those traits!
Yes, a lot of patience on your healing journey. Don’t be too hard on yourself, hun, it will eventually 100%. Take care!
Barbara
si.. one day at a time, and if my body says that i should go at a snail’s pace, then snail’s pace it shall be! thanks!
I am sorry to learn you are unwell dear Lisa. Get well soon dear friend. Warm hugs xo xo
You have a great many people pulling for you — some of whom never even met you! Take care.
Not one to ‘like’ really, is it, Lisa? Just popping in to add my well wishes. Sounds about as much fun as a slap or two in the face with a wet kipper 😦
My dear Z, take time to heal… and yes, have patience indeed. I always take such situations as an opportunity for some inner gazing. Be well and every day, better! hugs and xxxx
I honestly can’t like this post, Lisa. I continue to send you positive healthy energy to slowly recover from this horrible malady. Chikungunya is epidemic in Moyogalpa now. Many of my friends have it. I’m smothering my body with eucalyptus oil and praying that I don’t get it. Sending you peace and patience. Have you tried taking a turmeric tea for joint inflammation? It may help.
Have you noticed how much your caibo tree sketches resemble twisted, painful hands? Granted, they have more fingers than the normal human hand, but they seem to communicate the kind of pain you were talking about experiencing because of handshakes.
I read through the information you linked, and I’ve tucked it in my files. There’s no guarantee that we won’t be dealing with the disease here, although I’d hope for later rather than sooner. It’s good that you can use the keyboard, but it has to be frustrating to find the use of a pencil or brush painful.
Tart and dark cherry juice (no sugar added!) both are good for inflammation. I used dark cherry juice for about a month and my arthritic joints returned to normal size, and I’ve been painfree since. Here’s a typical, short paragraph pulled at random:
“Tart cherries, sour cherries and black cherries have all been used to combat inflammation associated with arthritis or gout. Animal studies have shown that the red compounds in cherries (anthocyanins) have anti-inflammatory activity (Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology, Sept.-Oct. 2006). Human research from the 1950s suggests that cherries may help both gout and arthritis.
Cherry juice concentrate is more affordable than fresh cherries or juice. It can be added to seltzer water or made into a tea.>
Take it for what it’s worth. My impulse to help has to have some outlet. xoxoxo
wow.. i did not know that about cherry juice, though i don’t think i have ever seen cherries in this country. i wonder if the juice from other deep=red fruits might do the same…
no, i had not connected the ceibo limbs w/the arthritic hands, but it’s easy to see that now! good eye!
i’ve been awake for at least an hour (it’s after four now) b/c of straight-down rain for several hours.. so a-typical for june on the equator, yet probably very typical for an el-nino year.
debbie on ometepe/nicaragua says that chikungunya is streaking thru that area.. my son wrote to share a link about the first case of chikV in mississippi. the patient had been in honduras.
yes, be smart and prepared..
I read the link. It was very interesting. And gives hope that the pain won’t last forever. In the meantime, your symptoms sound completely exhausting. Sending you healing wishes.
the odd blessing is that when i am totally still, nothing hurts.. many people agree,so we are lucky to have relief.
perhaps in order to kick this virus, the body needs lots of ‘down time.’ ?
It would seem so. 🙂
Read the link Lisa, how devastating it must be to think you are recovering only to be struck down again after 3 weeks and 2-6 months for full recovery I wish you well and hope you are among the 2 month recovery period. I love those sketches and how the tree evolves, as shoreacres points out, into symbolism of your poor aching hands. Take care my friend and I’m hoping you recover soon.
thank you dear amiga! one day at a time, and with wp,it’s when connections allow posting nd viewing! i’m amazed that the drop-down comment menu is working!
Good to hear from you. Take care of yourself.
Those posts and comments can’t fly soon enough, fast enough. Praying you well, mi amiga.
only “liked” the post because we got to hear from you. In our thoughts and prayers daily. hugs amiga
igualmente! the energy is here this morning and i have been sweeping, good physical therapy and hopefully a warmup for holding a paint brush! will work on some details on a fairly-easy project later today.. but it’s time to rest again…
i might dust off the magic carpet and come see the ‘hit by chikungunya’ person!
The sketch, and watercolor are wonderful. I’m so sorry you are still struggling to regain energy. Take care, and feel better soon.
This will one day be a distant memory.. perhaps these posts will help others to know what to expect if the ‘wrong’ mosquito ever samples their blood!
Wow, I had no idea this was so long lasting. Dengue is in the community I frequent, so I am rabid about keeping the door closed, screens snug, etc. And I don’t sit out at night the way I used to.
I read the link. Looks like you’re almost midway through. Best to you in the second half!
Si, I’ve always been careful too, since the first dengue struck in the year 2000. I let down my guard, however, and was staying at a little hostal and had run out of repellent. I thought nothing of sitting outside at dusk.
tsk tsk tsk.. all it takes is one mosquito! or maybe two, since i had dengue and chikungunya…
Reading about you in such pain and misery makes me feel helpless, dear Lisa. Your sketches are beautiful to me and remind me of your persistence at doing something that is meaningful and artistic. Wishing you good health soon.
You are so sweet and kind, dear Lynn, and I am happy to say that my ankles did not hurt this afternoon when I went down the stairs and back up again ten or so minutes later.. I hope that the worst is behind me.
Thanks so much!
That is encouraging, Lisa.
This is a different sort of timeout from the one in American elementary schools. I wish it were as short-lived.
ha; you are so right! there was some relief this afternoon, and i hope that the virus has decided to vacate the joints. time will soon tell.
thanks!
Maybe you can make the virus adhere to a rule, as in American towns with regulations that impose a closing time and force people to vacate the joints where they’ve been partying.
“Vacate the Joints” ! That’s so great! Made me smile, and it triggered another creative-thought process!
Good: I was hoping that would get a smile or laugh out of you. I don’t imagine your joints are doing much partying today, but let’s hope they do before too long. Then you and they can issue a joint communiqué that all is back to normal.
So sorry you’re not feeling well–sending you healthy thoughts for a speedy recovery!
thank you.. i am feeling so much better.. each day a bit better and less pain..
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Just wanted to stop in and wish you the best. I am so sorry that you’ve had to deal with these health issues. Your artistic spirits rises above the pain as you are always either doing or reviewing art despite the worst of it!! Be Well!!
Wow on that link!!
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