This Tuesday started like any type of other Tuesday in Grenada. We woke up, enjoyed a light breakfast as well as then brewed a pot of coffee to take with us to our upstairs office, where we organized to work for the day. We sat down at the computers as well as began plugging away. before long, the sun was creeping into the big screened windows as well as I was starting to get hot. I took off my shirt to awesome down as well as that’s when Dariece saw it…
A huge rash was covering my entire body. We both understood what this meant instantly. Chikungunya has ended up being somewhat of an epidemic right here in Grenada as well as the rest of the Caribbean. It’s a mosquito-borne illness similar to Dengue Fever as well as Malaria as well as the symptoms include an itchy rash, complied with by headaches, high fevers, joint pain, nausea, insomnia, vomiting as well as diarrhea.
The virus enters the bloodstream when a mosquito bites the skin as well as it attaches itself to the white blood cells, then multiplies as it moves with the body. It attacks as well as infects the epithelial as well as endothelial cells, main fibroblasts as well as monocyte-derived macrophages which triggers the immense pain as well as swelling in the joints, knuckles as well as connective tissues.
This is not something I was looking ahead to enduring, however Dariece doesn’t have a licence to drive in Grenada so we both understood that if we didn’t go get the medication right away, we’d be stranded at home without the medications we needed to fight off this terrible virus.
So, we hopped in the truck as well as headed directly for the nearest hospital. We were in to see a physician within a half an hour. He took one look at the rash as well as told me that I had Chikungunya as well as that all I might do is take antihistamine for the rash, as well as paracetamol as well as ibuprofen for the immense joint pain as well as headaches that were sure to follow. He smiled as well as told me I wasn’t alone. It was only noon as well as I was already his 25th situation of the day!
We headed back home, prepared for the onslaught that was on its way. It was a weird feeling since up up until that point the only sign I had was the rash. No fever, no headaches, no joint pain… however that was all going to modification soon.
I fell asleep as well as woke up a couple of hours later. My joints were beginning to ache as well as I was running a fever of almost 40°C (104°F). I was thankful for Dariece’s health and wellness since she was taking great care of me… up until I noticed a rash around her body. Chikungunya isn’t contagious however it is likely that we were both bitten by the exact same infected mosquito. appears like we were going to have to deal with this together!
The sickness hit us both difficult as well as by the middle of the night we were both fighting off terrible fevers. however by far the worst part of this sickness is the joint pain. I state is as well as not was since I sit right here composing this post, over a week after contracting the virus, as well as my limbs as well as joints are still rigid as well as sore.
That very first night was the worst. We both fought our fevers continuously, taking our pills like clockwork to try to limit the swelling, pain, as well as high temperatures. The joint cramps intensified as well as it felt like the slightest bend would cause the cartilage to crack. If I bent my elbow for just a minute as well as then aligned it out, it felt as though I had slept on it for an hour, so rigid was the joint. My knuckles were so tender that it felt as though I’d been clenching my fists for days on end, as well as my knees felt like they’d been bent backwards.
The fevers abruptly subsided after 48 hours as well as all that stayed was the brutal rash, headaches as well as the discomfort of the joints. The aching limbs hadn’t gotten at all much better after 5 days as well as the rash seemed to be getting worst, the constant itch making it almost impossible to rest at night.
Another sign of the illness is insomnia as well as Dariece as well as I both experienced entire nights without any type of sleep. most of our tossing as well as turning was most likely a direct result of the horrible as well as continuous symptoms. We did whatever we might to fight off the pain. We required back the completely bitter regional remedies of papaya as well as soursop leaves as well as lemon grass tea, however nothing seemed to simplicity our ailments.
Today, more than 8 days after very first seeing those awful rashes, we’re still feeling the pain in our joints, withstanding the itch from our skin legions and don’t have much energy.
So far we think about ourselves lucky. many people have complained of joint pain so poor that they cry out in agony as their elbows, knees as well as ankles swell to twice their typical size. Some people have had fevers of over 41°C, while others have even died from the virus. Our joint pain, while still prevalent, is definitely subsiding now, however other patients have complained of the aches as well as swelling bring on for months or even years! one of our visitors sent us some useful tips on kicking the virus, as well as she had it far worse than us… just checked out her account here!
Let’s just hope that doesn’t occur to us!
While this was a nasty virus as well as I wouldn’t desire it on my worst enemy, we’re happy that we didn’t have it as poor as so many other suffering people in Africa, Asia as well as the Caribbean. perhaps our previous sicknesses have assisted to prepare our bodies for the unexpected onslaught of an unwanted viral intruder. Whatever the situation may be, we’re both extremely happy to be on the mend as well as we hope to be back up as well as out of this damn bed soon!
Like it? Pin it! ?
Disclaimer:Goats On The road is an Amazon partner as well as likewise an affiliate for some other retailers. This means we make commissions if you click links on our blog as well as purchase from those retailers.
Leave a Reply