Sick as an elephant...

Hello again.  Thanks for coming back to my blog.  Today's missive is not such a good one.  Everyone said that  most  foreigners eventually get sick here in Cambodia, well the unjoyous event happened to me, myself and I ! 

It all started Sunday evening: fever, headache, runs, dizziness...  I thought I could beat it by taking my over-the-counter travel medecines from trusty Walgreens such as Tylenol and other wonder pills .  I was a fool !  

Yesterday, it all finally caught up to me in the field.  I was feeling pretty bad in the morning, but went into the field anyway.  Duty calls.  I did not want to disappoint the group, my translators, Dr. Judy...  As soon as I got to my village I knew I had made a big mistake.  I spent the first hour totally wiped out prostrated on my back on a straw mat on the floor.  The monks all thought it was strange that I was lying about after seeing me so investigative and perky the other days.  I spent the next 30 min. in the out-house, hole-in-the-floor toilet with a huge black spider glaring at me in my misery.  Maybe it was waiting for me to die of dysentery so it wrap me up and then eat me for a late night snack !!

Oh, forgot to mention the shakes too.  I tried not to alarm my translators, but they knew something was not kosher when they saw my shaking.  I knew it was time to go back to my room at the Asia Palace Hotel at that point.  The driver and Pisith, the Cambodian grad student, were really nice to drive me an hour back to P. Pehn.   The hell continued for another 16 hours or so.  Pisith even went out and bought me a thermometer so I could monitor things.  Sweats, aches, terrible headaches and of course the continual trek to the potty were my unwelcomed guests for some long, long hours....  

This morning Dr. Ledgerwood kindly took me, with her nephew, to see a Filipino doctor.  It was nice to speak in English again with a professional.  Dr. Marissa Regino-Manampan is her name.  Keep her contact info in your I-phone directory so when you're sick as a puppy here in P. Pehn, treatment will be swift and effective !

So, I'm on my way to recovery with some potent stomach cleansers and an antibiotic which I have never heard of, all graciously purchased at the La Pharmacie de la Gare.   I'm still a bit tired, but I really want to return to the field tomorrow.  Only 2 days left to get data and tie things up !!

Since, I have cabin fever and needed to get out of my room, I did some of this blog.  But, my illness warrants rest and, unfortunately, I must return.  All is well and I'm on my way to perfect health again.  No worries Mom !

I might be "sick as an elephant", but I've got less arms than this guy !!!

                                        


Come back again for a much healthier report from Cambodia !!!