It's Monday night and I just had my first solid food since Thursday, a cup of noodles! This was a tough illness. Of course, this is a 4 day holiday weekend in Mexico. It's as if the 4th of July fell on a Tuesday in the US, how many people would take that Monday off? Double that for Mexico.
I was getting really dehydrated and I know that's dangerous, plus the regular meds for run of the mill traveler's diarrhea were not working. So, yesterday we called the local servicio al domicilio doctor. It was that or go to the ER at the hospital in Playa, which I almost had to do anyway. This is one of the really wonderful options you have here, call and within an hour on a holiday weekend the doctor arrives at your house!
The first thing he asked is if I live here. When I said yes, he told me that the bad news is it wouldn't be traveler's stomach but something more serious. Like e coli. Joy! We also discussed some of the gorier details of my affliction and that confirmed it for him. He had his little doctor's bag and took all the usual vitals. He gave me the option of going to the hospital for fluids or he would give me a combo shot and 3 scripts and I had to drink a LOT of water and call him in 4 hours. If I wasn't better he wanted me in the hospital.
I took the home care option. He also told me the horrible headaches were like "the worst hangover you could ever have" because hangovers are mainly dehydration. Oh great and I didn't even get high. So, I got a pain shot mixed with antibiotics and stomach calmers. Mimi went off to fill the scripts and I started forcing myself to drink a lot of water. It was almost nauseating. All I'd consumed in days were bottle after bottle of electrolit solution anyway, he had me double those and add water in between. I was pouring it in one end almost faster than it could come out the other.
I'm grateful that I could get a doctor to come to my house on this big weekend and thought his charge of about $60us was really fair. I know Kathy complains of paying $28 for a clinic visit. First, no clinics were open, we did try and call one first. So the ER was the only other option. Second, I didn't have to get dressed and ride in a car for longer than my usual gap between bathroom visits. Shoot, that alone was worth double the cost. I paid another $30 for the triple whammy shot. So, less than a hundred US and I didn't have to leave the house.
It wasn't a miracle cure, I called him in 4 hours and said I think my stomach feels better and he said OK but call me anytime, night or day, if it gets worse and keep drinking the water and electrolit.
So, that was 24 hours ago. I've been a little better today but the headache didn't go away until tonight and I still have the runs. Not as bad though, I can go several hours now. I'm taking 3 kinds of drugs, 2 stomach and 1 antibiotic. I finally decided to try eating and so far that cup of noodles that I almost finished has not killed me.
I missed El Grito tonight that celebrates Mexican independence from Spain and includes lots of fireworks and a great party. I didn't hear more than a few fireworks and about an hour ago a huge thunderstorm came in and the thunder would drown them out now.
Poor Mimi, she doesn't eat if I don't either tell her we are going out or put something in front of her. I don't think she's eaten more than a couple PBJ's in 5 days either. I'm sure she will lose weight and I won't, life's not fair.
I was getting really dehydrated and I know that's dangerous, plus the regular meds for run of the mill traveler's diarrhea were not working. So, yesterday we called the local servicio al domicilio doctor. It was that or go to the ER at the hospital in Playa, which I almost had to do anyway. This is one of the really wonderful options you have here, call and within an hour on a holiday weekend the doctor arrives at your house!
The first thing he asked is if I live here. When I said yes, he told me that the bad news is it wouldn't be traveler's stomach but something more serious. Like e coli. Joy! We also discussed some of the gorier details of my affliction and that confirmed it for him. He had his little doctor's bag and took all the usual vitals. He gave me the option of going to the hospital for fluids or he would give me a combo shot and 3 scripts and I had to drink a LOT of water and call him in 4 hours. If I wasn't better he wanted me in the hospital.
I took the home care option. He also told me the horrible headaches were like "the worst hangover you could ever have" because hangovers are mainly dehydration. Oh great and I didn't even get high. So, I got a pain shot mixed with antibiotics and stomach calmers. Mimi went off to fill the scripts and I started forcing myself to drink a lot of water. It was almost nauseating. All I'd consumed in days were bottle after bottle of electrolit solution anyway, he had me double those and add water in between. I was pouring it in one end almost faster than it could come out the other.
I'm grateful that I could get a doctor to come to my house on this big weekend and thought his charge of about $60us was really fair. I know Kathy complains of paying $28 for a clinic visit. First, no clinics were open, we did try and call one first. So the ER was the only other option. Second, I didn't have to get dressed and ride in a car for longer than my usual gap between bathroom visits. Shoot, that alone was worth double the cost. I paid another $30 for the triple whammy shot. So, less than a hundred US and I didn't have to leave the house.
It wasn't a miracle cure, I called him in 4 hours and said I think my stomach feels better and he said OK but call me anytime, night or day, if it gets worse and keep drinking the water and electrolit.
So, that was 24 hours ago. I've been a little better today but the headache didn't go away until tonight and I still have the runs. Not as bad though, I can go several hours now. I'm taking 3 kinds of drugs, 2 stomach and 1 antibiotic. I finally decided to try eating and so far that cup of noodles that I almost finished has not killed me.
I missed El Grito tonight that celebrates Mexican independence from Spain and includes lots of fireworks and a great party. I didn't hear more than a few fireworks and about an hour ago a huge thunderstorm came in and the thunder would drown them out now.
Poor Mimi, she doesn't eat if I don't either tell her we are going out or put something in front of her. I don't think she's eaten more than a couple PBJ's in 5 days either. I'm sure she will lose weight and I won't, life's not fair.
posted by Jonna at 11:42 PM
14 Comments:
Did you ask the doctor about it maybe being "parasites?" Had some friends in Isla just go through those, but not anything as bad as what you are experiencing.
Do you take the every six month meds for parasites that you should when living in Mexico?
Also have them check for meningitis. Luckily, his was only viral, not bacterial. The bad headaches go with this. My son had it when he was 4 years old and it's nothing to ignore. Carried by mosquitos or passed by humans!!
Sure hope you are better soon!!
Wow,Son's father got food poisoning and almost died. He got admitted to the hospital, it's pretty scary. Son had to have the shot when he lived here, it worked like a charm! Just pay attention, if you need an IV,you need an IV. Do you really want Mimi to have to try to carry you downstairs and to the hospital. Yes, I am trying to scare you, but only because I care about you!
Take care of yourself.
regards,
Theresa
ps why is it that sudden weight loss is bad thing? that is unfair!
feel better sweetie! and mimi....EAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW, I'm glad that you're feeling better! This one sounds like a baddie, so pay attention in the future.
And Mimi, EAT something! I know Jonnas the cook, but it's a real PITA when you're both sick.
Stay well, both of you.
We miss you
Kate and Terry
Oh Jonna - I'm so sorry. And hey, we called a doctor (Dr. Espejo) to come to the house for what turned out to be a case of gingivitis in Pike. So there you go. $500MN well spent! :)
We're here in Valladolid for the Grito and desfile and it is fabulous. So nice to be back in RM. :)
I'm hoping he's doing a salmonella titer? Feel better!
More later - we're off to Ek Balam. Enjoy the pics!
Trixie, I did ask about parasites and he said the symptoms would be different. He mentioned some but I can't remember now. No, I don't take the biannual pills. It bothers me to take medicine for something I don't even know I have. I did get one of the famous plastic jars to give a donation, it's still under the sink. Somehow I keep forgetting :)
Theresa, I was scared cuz I'm no spring chicken and I know how dangerous dehydration can be. I was willing to go for the IV if I had to. I'm better today, no runs and no headache.
Thanks Rachel, I even rode to the little store here with Mimi and made sure she got more PB and bread.
Kate! So, I have to get sick to get a comment from ya?? Seriously, thanks for the good wishes and it is nice to hear from you and Terry and we miss you too.
Kathy, I wrote a long comment about Real Mexico and lost it somehow in my woozy state. Glad you guys are enjoying the Grito. I can't deal with getting things like salmonella titers here in Akumal. I'm going to get a full check when I get back to Merida. You're missing a huge all day thunderstorm. God's cohetes!
Oh no we're not! We were FROZEN yesterday afternoon with the rain and today again with the afternoon rain. We'd planned a cenote visit but with the rain, it just isn't possible.
Hope you are feeling better soon! So sorry that you had to miss the Dia de Independencia festivities :(
Take care of yourself!
Cheryl
p.s. your doors are gorgeous...and no, I don't feel like I'm looking at an old dentist's building.
Feel better! Tummy troubles suck! I've had my fair share of time in the loo.
So glad to hear you are doing somewhat better. Being sick sucks. So you have no idea really what was going on? I understand Mimi's eating thing. If I lived alone I would probably never eat either. Or at least nothing healthy! I guess if you are not feeling well soon, I am going to have to send somebody down there to cook for you!
About 9 years ago I almost died from e.coli. The MD gave me the same choices, home or hospital. I stayed home, with a 24-hour nurse and IV antibiotics for a week.
When I was finally off the IV, I could get up for a few minutes at a time. In a couple of days, I was bitching about not being WELL! Why wasn't I WELL, already!
The doctor said if I'd gone to the hospital, I would still have been there. I wasn't even close to well.
It took over a month to get back to more or less normal.
So give yourself time, don't push, don't do too much, and feel better.
xoxo
cristina
Oh, I'm sorry you have been so sick. (: Take care of yourself and take all your meds...e coli is nothing to mess with. I hope you feel better soon.
P.S. I love the stone in the bathroom sinks and counters, and the frosted glass is beautiful.
Thanks everyone, for the health wishes and the door encouragement too.
I'm not at all clear on what I have or had. Especially since I haven't gone in for any lab tests. I'm better today, we even went to Playa to get the truck and I drove it home. I ate dinner tonight, mainly chicken wings and mushrooms with cheese. My bowel distress is gone and the headaches too. I'm tired and wear out easy and after 5 days laying around in AC I find it hard to breathe outside. It is really, really humid here.
I shouldn't admit this but I stopped the meds today. I was done with one, almost done with another and the antibiotic I was supposed to take for one more day, 4 days total. That's not very long for antibiotics but it was the high dose pills. I stopped a day early because that stuff is really expensive and comes in packages of 6 for over $300p. I would have had to buy 6 more to get the 2 that I needed. I know. We'll see how that works out.
I want to go and get lab work and make sure whatever it was it is really gone but I'd prefer to do that in Merida. We should be going back next week. So, as long as I still feel good and no more runs I think it will be fine. I was also a little worried that the difficulty breathing could be a conflict between my inhaler and one of the meds. I can't stop using the inhaler.
Jonna, I am glad to hear you are coming around. Still, be areful and don't push it. I don't need to tell you that you SHOULD finish your course of anti-biotics!! What if it's typhoid for Pete's sake???
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