Sometimes the "path of least resistance" can be one of the best attitudes to adopt when living overseas.
Instead of fighting that which you cannot change, it is sometimes healthier to simply adapt ... go with the flow and chant "ohm."
The situation that I'm NOT sure this new mantra applies is when it comes to my immune system. IT decided to take a huge hit in the ass and I've been all but laid out for the last seven days. Apparently the path of least resistance when it comes to your immune system is NOT a good thing!
What seemed to be all of the classic symptoms of dengue are apparently just a random and very nasty virus, that simply MIMICS the chronology of the dengue illness.
It all started with very swollen lymph nodes in my underarms (very visible to the naked eye and extended in a grotesque fashion) and a horrid back ache (hearkened me back to the days of back labor, for those of you who have experienced that joy of pregnancy) that lasted for several days.
This was rapidly followed by an intense fever (104 for the better part of a day, finally subsiding to 102 for the day following). Thank goodness for the ladies that work for us, as they took one look at me and took good care of me for a two day period.
I think the thing that did me in the most though last week was the fact that my bones and joints literally felt that they were breaking. They felt on fire, brittle, pulsating and just wretched. There were moments that it took every ounce of mental strength I had to get myself up and out of bed to use the restroom. It hurt just to push my body weight up and off of the couch, since my wrists and elbows felt they would break if I applied any more pressure.
Since then, I've experienced nasty sores in my mouth, ridiculous eye pain, and now my body is covered in a rash. A rash that is so itchy, I'd prefer to just trade in my skin for new.
Blech.
I haven't sat still this much, or for this long in years, I think. I do the bare minimum of activities for one day's time and still feel completely exhausted when I get home from school pickup.
Even though two doctors tell me that there is nothing to worry about, I still wonder how long this will take to recoop from. I am definitely not used to being laid out like this.
We will be doing some follow up work with the doctor once I feel back to normal ... to investigate and make sure that my immune system is giving its all ... and work through some vitamin supplements and such so that I'm keeping myself as healthy as possibel!
Thanks to those of you who wrote to ask if everything was ok, as it'd been awhile since a post from me. All is well ... relatively speaking ... and I'll be back to 'normal' postings soon ... promise.
