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chikungunya side effects, Chikungunya symptoms, dengue and chikungunya, ecuador chikungunya, Manabi
(Note: This post addresses the side effects of dengue and chikungunya viruses and would probably bore anyone who is not facing a current or possible infection. Those not interested have my blessings to cross this page off their screen now!)
Manabi Province – Ecuador
Most every day someone asks me about chikungunya and dengue fever, as the mosquito-born viruses sweep through warmer/tropical areas of the Americas. Debbie, in Nicaragua is presently experiencing the fickle moods of what she suspects is chikungunya, yet it’s hard to get a firm diagnosis. My friend Jody and I swapped stories today, and she is also baffled as we wonder, ‘Which symptoms are linked to dengue, and which are linked to chikungunya?”
“Did the skin on your feet peel?” she asked.
“Three times,” I smiled. We talked about the itching, which I linked to reabsorpion of the plasma from the dengue, but she had heard that many with chikungunya complained of the intense itching. The itching on my arms lasted five or more days.
Although some of my male friends have been sick, they have bounced back faster. Luchi was welding two or three weeks after being sick. “Not fair!” I scowled. Xavier went for a swim in the ocean, though cool water definitely relieves the itchy periods.
Jody and I chuckled when we shared that we had to sit often as we walked through town. She said that she sat on the ground once.
I countered with, “I sat in the park then walked one block and sat on that bench in side the municipality where people often sit all day long, and then…” Jody laughed, a true partner in these mosquito-born illnesses.
Linda, a friend at El Matal, has endured many of the same symptoms, and we’ve compared stories quite often. The pain in her shoulders was quite severe, but she – like another friend Pat, has been quite stoic with her suffering. We all have good days and not-so-good days.
My friend Ximena endured a week of fatigue and weakness, recovered, and then battled more fatigue and arthritis pain in the joints, especially her ankles. Another friend, Chana, continues to battle fatigue and painful hands and ankles.
I first saw the doctor about five days after the first fever (103); I was feeling much better, and my temperature was normal. The doctor shrugged and said that I had a virus. She ordered the standard blood test, and I returned the next day for the lab work and follow-up visit. I was surprised to see the IGg and IGM dengue antibody test results said, “Negativo/Negativo.” (Which suggested that I had never had dengue fever.)
“If what I had in the year 2000 was not dengue, and dengue is worse than that, I don’t ever want to have dengue fever,” I pondered.
The doctor looked at the second (painful) rash on my chest and quickly diagnosed, “Chikungunya.” I chuckled and thought, “Welcome to the Chikungunya Club!” I was feeling well.
As instructed by the doctors, I returned in five days for a checkup-blood test. The doctor looked at the results and said, “There’s one number here (HCTO)that’s higher and suggests dengue. Let’s run another dengue test in two days.”
Those test results confirmed ‘Dengue positivo/Dengue positivo.’ “Well, maybe I did not have chikungunya after all!”
But later, those classic pains in the joints seemed to worsen instead of improve. Judging by others who walk with the same distorted postures, we all assume that we’re elite members of the chikungunya club.
My side effects ebbed and flowed for several weeks. Some were surely fever related: headache, sensitivity to light, eye pain, throbbing pulse in my head, extreme weakness. Others were due to the body’s reaction to the virus (?) or the virus’s attack on the body – inability to hold simple objects (too heavy) — back pain, foot pain when walking, swollen lymph nodes… a touch of vertigo and mental slowness…nausea, lack of appetite, tender abdomen… weepy eyes.. puffy face and hands… days of feeling almost 100 percent and days of feeling as if strapped by G forces to the bed.
A second round of fever, not as high as the first struck on week two… more rashes (I had three different types over a two-week period.) Sleep, delicious sleep was a gift, and my extreme thirst kept me disciplined to drink lots of liquids. I craved coconut water and drank lots. Papaya and pineapple provided equally-soothing blended drinks.
There were days of feeling so great that I considered going for a jog.; I wisely stayed home and continued to rest. A different sort of pain settled in the ankles – youch – flexing the ankles was extremely painful, and going down the stairs was a challenge. I often pondered, “Do I REALLY want to go down the stairs?” Stepping up or down when crossing a street was difficult and painful. I waddled across the room as if my ankles were welded in place. My wrists, ankles and shoulders hurt, but only when I moved them. Otherwise I was pain free. Chikungunya definitely has earned its nasty reputation and now presides with dengue as a mosquito-born virus to avoid.
Here are a few links of interest:
DENGUE
I greatly appreciated Dr. Richard Mata’s website and wished I had read his advice at the beginning of my illness. Here’s his preface:
My name is Dr. Richard Mata, I’m a Pediatrician by profession. For 12 years now my practice is focused in Panabo City, Davao del Norte, Philippines. My area has almost always been a Dengue epidemic area, thus, caring for Dengue patients have become almost an everyday task.
For the years of exposure, I noticed a lot of things that I haven’t read in the books which I would like to share to concerned persons worldwide through this website. I do believe in one way or the other this will open a lot of eyes on the truth about this dreaded disease and somehow save lots of lives.
These are the following important learnings and observations:
To read his suggestions and observations, go here: “Overview of Dengue Fever” by Richard Mata MD, DPPS -A Practicing Pediatrician in a Dengue Prevalent Area.
The CDC has published some insightful material; Scott B. Halstead shares well-researched stories that cover epidemics in the Americas in the 1800’s, one in New Orleans in 1828.
“In New Orleans, the disease “spread was so rapid among the inhabitants that in eight or ten days at least one third of the population was laboring under its influence, including persons of all ages and different sexes” (6). Dumaresq goes on to say,
“A person on the disappearance of this fever would attempt to rise from bed, feeling not much loss of strength, and a consciousness of being able to move about and attend to a little to business; but how egregiously would he be mistaken when he assumed the upright posture! The joints felt as if fettered or anchylosed, and the advance of one foot or leg beyond the other, would cost more pain and effort than the purpose for which it may have been advanced was worth, —aye,—a thousand times told!”
Halstead’s artical can be found here: Reappearance of Chikungunya, Formerly Called Dengue, in the Americas
An “Emerging Infectious Diseases” article written in March 2015 spotlights a worse-case scenario where an artist suffered lingering side effects from the chikungunya virus.
“Although the proportion of patients with chronic disease has decreased, post-chikungunya chronic inflammatory rheumatism, mostly rheumatoid arthritis, develops in ≈5% of these patients”
That article can be found here: Post Chikungunya Rheumatoid Arthritis
This link (from last week’s post) breaks down the typical stages of chikungunya then provides an easy-to-read chart. ABOUT CHIKUNGUNYA-ARTHRITIS
A comment for moderation came through last week that intrigued me. Larry Griffin shared a story of developing sublingual tablets which also have helped relieve some of the dengue and chikungunya side effects.
“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!”
Scroll down to his comment, whch summarizes the history of ‘Virapress.’ Soon I will post a follow-up email I received from him today, but his contact information is included at the end of the comment: Virapress – Larry Griffin- USA
The most unique case involving chikungunya that I’ve heard (or read) comes from my friends in San Clemente Ecuador. Take time to read John MacDonald’s story, Hit by Chikungunya and Modern Day Miracles.
As if we don’t have enough mosquitoes to dodge, there is now a new virus on the block: Zika. Here’s a report from Costa Rica’s Tico Times: ZIKA WHO?
Anyone who has endured the stages of the arthritic side effects will surely agree, “Keep up with the stats for your area. Wear your mosquito repellent if your area has any reports of dengue or chikungunya illness.”
If any of you have been sick with either illness, please share your story! What was the worst part, what relieved your symptoms, etc. Your story might help others who are searching for answers and will give comfort that they’re not alone. Z
Well, thanks to your posts increasing my awareness levels, I now know that Zika and Chikungunya are present in our neighbouring Pacific Islands. https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/news/dengue-fever-chikungunya-and-zika-virus-pacific-islands
Thank you for the link; how well I remember reading an article about El Salvador’s chikungunya epidemic about a year ago. It’s amazing to see how fast it can spread.
Incredibly fast!
Very informative post and your links are very helpful in understanding the viruses. It seems dehydration in Dengue is a huge issue in the very interesting post from Dr. Mata. As always, take care and many blessings!
Thanks, and yes, the dehydration issue makes a lot of sense. Especially when one starts exfoliating a week or so later.
When I was sick 15 years ago w/dengue, there was little access to internet in remote areas, but now, it’s so easy to tap into up-to-date information and remain informed.
I have to say this disease is all new to me.. I had not heard of it before.. I so sympathise with the symptoms of getting a diagnosis.. As a past sufferer of FMS.. I understand the frustration of getting symptoms diagnosed ..
Wishing you healing and to finding a cure for your symptoms..
Love and Healing
Sue
thanks amiga.. i often wonder how an illness like this can affect so many people in such a fast time. i’m glad to have, what i hope to be the worst behind me. z
I am pleased to hear this.. ❤
LIsa, thank you for the ping-back and the good information. We are praying that you will recover soon. It seems like months since you have been fully well.
On the other hand, I am healing quickly and have almost no marks or scars. Looks like we will be able to take our vacation as planned. Have a great day.
yes, your travel dates are approaching fast. enjoy the time there in SC and keep recovering… z
An excellent post! We take health for granted until we no longer have it! Glad that you are feeling better! “The greatest wealth is health.” Virgil
Is it insensitive to say that I really enjoyed this post mainly for all the bird photos? 🙂 BTW – VERY glad you’re feeling better.
no, not at all, and you know how i love those birds.. thank you bob, and it feels great to be better.. every day i cross paths with those who are in the recovery stage.. it’s a nasty illness…
thanks!
Wow! The articles that you linked to were interesting. I am glad we do not have this here. I have 15 mosquito bites right now and the itching is incredible. I even used a DEET repellent. While you have D&C and possibly Z, we have West Nile Virus here…
Be well… ^..^
wow.. i hope that you dodge your own ugly viruses, and i’ve heard tha twest nile is not very pretty either…. thanks so much for your feedback. z
Be well my friend!
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Gotta wonder if it’s possible you had two different diseases running concurrently…?
yes.. i had ‘confirmed dengue’ and unconfirmed chikungunyya… the chikungunya side effects are the ones that hang around way too long!
Lisa, I just completed a post about Chiku…What? I pinged a couple of your posts. Thanks so much for your knowledge, research, and experiences about this horrible disease. So glad to hear that you are recovering. Hugs!
We’re extremely glad that you’re feeling better Lisa, and that you yourself are here with us to tell us about your tribulations with these sicknesses!
I know that Dengue and Chikungunya are hitting the body very hard, but you put a personal understanding to what it means. Of course a knowledge anyone would rather be without. I hope you will soon recover. Wish you all the best.
Jeeeee
Jeez it sounds like some new form of torture. I’m glad to see you’ve maintained your amazing sense of humor throughout. The bird images were a delightful treat, making this read like a black comedy. May you fully recover soon.
Yes, Sista-Sista….recover soon!
R.
thank you thank you.. it’s getting better, thank goodness!
Your photos are incredible and I am so sorry you got these awful viruses.
thank you cindy… i’m lucky to have such beauty for a backdrop for healing. each day i am feeling a bit stronger and not hurting so much.. but i still need to sit a lot.
Still after reading many of your posts, my understanding of Denuge Fever pales in the face of all this information. I’m so sorry anyone has to go through anything close to this fever. Your information is interesting and informative. I thank you for all this knowledge, and hope this disease will be over very soon. Take care my friend, get well soon! K
Thanks, Amiga.. yes, it has a very distorted sense of humor.. one day good day, one day bad day.. but i am getting better, and each day the pain is not so bad… i hope it keeps fading away.
You know so many with the same diseases it really must be getting to be epidemic there. I hope you get fully recovered. I know you have been feeling better at least. The bird photos are wonderful and illustrate so nicely. It really makes me not want to go to South and Central America though.
Wow! I did not know that you had been this sick, Lisa! I remember Sara saying something about your not feeling well a while back, but I did not understand the enormity of it.
Someone said to us the other day that we should stay away from the coast, and God I see why! And did not know Debbie had been sick. I have been so out of the loop. I’m sorry.
But just so you know. This summer I’m going on two-month RV trip with my nearing-ninety Godmother and her cat Pepe le Mew. I leave for the US in a week. The RV is huge, 37-feet. My Godmother will be driving and towing an SUV the entire way. She was a Flamenco dancer during her entire professional life. I’m going to try to blog about our trip and write a book about the 64 beautiful years she and my Godfather, a Venezuelan movie star (I kid you not!), were married, until Raul died last fall one month shy of his 97th birthday.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Hugs from Cuenca,
Kathy
it’s great to hear from you, amiga; you’ve been very quiet on your blog, but i figured that your hands are full with lots of things to do in cuenca. the magazine is great, and i look forward to each issue. send a big thanks to sara for the many times she spotlights my posts.
have a great trip – surely the huffington post is going to feature your road-trip stories?
Z, I had been thinking I needed to hop on over here and see how you are doing…OH MY, I had no idea you had been sick! I’m so sorry. I hope you are truly on the mend. Won’t “normal” life seem extra wonderful now? Like Bob, I totally enjoyed the bird photos…they provided a bit of enjoyment amid the more dismal details. Thinking of you and hoping/praying you will be completely well SOON!
hi amiga
thanks, i am feeling better but am still ‘challenged’ by the effort it takes to read or write posts. the fatigue trumps the nudgings to write/reply/comment or read anything that’s not broken into short paragraphs. in another few weeks, i should be getting back to a normal pace.
thanks!