Here we go again

[plutherus]

Whine whine whine



Well, I was warned by everyone that Malaria was an on-again-off-again type of illness. But, I guess I kinda forgot that cuz I've been feeling so good for the last couple of weeks. Aside from some minor back pain last weekend, lingering until yesterday, I'd felt just insanely great. Downright Euphoric, really. Especially Saturday and Sunday when my back wasn't hurting at all, and I wanted to go out and play in the snow except it was all melted away.

But yesterday, I started getting really cold. Shivering uncontrollably. So I turned up the heat, and sat on the couch with a blanket and cats. Nothing beats sitting on the couch with a blanket, a book, and two cats. Except I was still shivering. A lot. When I noticed the furnace wasn't on, I got up to go turn it on some more, but when I noticed it had shut off because it had reached it's set temperature: 85 degrees, I figured maybe the apartment wasn't really that cold, and it was just me. That's when I noticed how much my hands were shaking.

Sucks, it does.

It started around 8. By 11, laying in bed with lots of blankets and a couple of cats piled on me, I was finally not shivering and drifting in and out of sleep. Last time I remember looking at the clock it was 2:30. This morning, I felt fine again. So, I don't even know if it was really the malaria, or the Chinese food I ate yesterday (did I mention that I kept feeling like I was about to throw up? I never did, though. But that could just be the shivering - everything makes me feel like I'm gonna puke. For adventuresome as I am with food, I have the weakest stomach...), or if my thermostat was just broken.

So, around 3 today at work, it starts again. Shivering like crazy, though I didn't really feel cold (well, until I stepped outside :). Couldn't concentrate on anything, so around 4:30, I just went home. (And damn bus for 15 minutes late, so I gotta stand outside in 30-degree weather for 20 minutes. Yuck.

When I got home, I discovered that I'd forgotten to turn the thermostat down when I left this morning, so it was nice and toasty inside :)

I was still shivering a lot when I started this, but by the time I got this far down it, not at all. Still feel a little cold, but no shaking. Weird, huh?

Maybe there was something going on that's making me more susceptible than usual to the actual cold. But, I'm feeling OK now, and I still have my couch, a good book, a warm blanket and a couple of cats. I think that's the plan for tonight. After dinner... I think hot soup is in order tonight. Thank the gods for giving us Campbell's and Microwave ovens.

Comments

[metallumai.livejournal.com]

I'd say having malaria qualifies as a real problem.... that sounds more exasperating than anything. How are you handling work? And, do you need anything? I am here in town. DO let me know. Is malaria a sort of permanent condition?

[solis93.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you had malaria? Where'd you get that?

Sounds like a severe flu to me.

[docscarabus.livejournal.com]

"I'd say having malaria qualifies as a real problem"

I was just going to say that. Yipes. I hope you get well soon.

[plutherus.livejournal.com]

I'm OK right now. It's really not that bad (off and on :) I've only had to miss two days of work in the last three weeks. Though, I think I'll take tomorrow off as well, even if I'm feeling OK in the morning. I think some relaxing and healing and stuff would be good, rather than my usual "Hey, I feel great! I'm all over it! I think I'll go play in the snow now!"

I thought it was a permanent condition, but apparently that's not so anymore. Even untreated, it'll last for "only" between 3-30 years. With treatment, it can be knocked out permanently in 4-8 weeks. As an aside, did you know that pharmacists in Missouri are legally obligated to order prescription medicine that they don't stock? I discovered this a few weeks ago when searching for my pills and, after going to three pharmacies (strangely, it's not a widely-stocked medicine in St. Louis in the wintertime :) I called my doctors office, and the office admin there made a couple of phone calls and took care of it. The next day, I was able to walk down to the local Walgreens and pick it up.

Anyway, I'm OK right now - can't think of anything I really need. But if you're not doing anything tomorrow afternoon and wanna give me a call, my number's 314-436-8559...

[plutherus.livejournal.com]

Current theory is that I picked it up in Guatemala while we were there a few years back. Dunno if that's correct, but I was in the hospital for a few days after we got back.

Sounds like a severe flu to me.

Yeah, the symptoms are apparently very similar. It can be diagnosed by a blood test, but for some reason (staff overworked as it is?) this usually isn't done. I found a bunch of case studies on the CDC and other web sites and I think they all started with the patient being diagnosed with the flu, then sent home, then rushed back to the hospital a few days later...

I would imagine most cases end up never being diagnosed, but I could be wrong. I couldn't find any kind of official estimate in my earlier research (http://www.livejournal.com/~plutherus/247463.html).

[plutherus.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I should be completely fine in 1-5 weeks, according to webmd :)

I dunno about "serious" - although it sounds weird and scary and all of our favorite explorers died from it, these days, if you have insurance, it's really about the same as a really bad flu, except that there are known cures.

Now, 10 years ago, when I was broke and uninsured, I'd've been pretty fucked.

Only one of many many many reasons to have universal health care in this country. But I digress...

[plutherus.livejournal.com]

Hm. I don't think I phrased that very well. What I meant, really, was, I would *love* it, and be eternally grateful, if you wanted to come by tomorrow afternoon (I'm gonna go to sleep pretty soon tonight). Especially if you wanted to bring something hot and easy to eat :)

But, also, if you're working or have other plans, no problem, cuz I'm not gonna die or anything.

[31seel.livejournal.com]

You wuss, it's just a little germ, you can whoop it! If you die from somethign as silly as malaria, I will summon your shade just to make fun of it.

Yeah, now I am going to lay down because the Navy gave me a flu shot which has given me the flu....

[solis93.livejournal.com]

Man... you should see a doctor and tell them to test you!

[docscarabus.livejournal.com]

Only one of many many many reasons to have universal health care in this country. But I digress...

Don't get me started. I appear to be uninsurable due to a prexisting condition. It seems the only way I can get insurance is to get a job.

[docscarabus.livejournal.com]

Sure it wasn't some kind of medical experiment?

[31seel.livejournal.com]

Well, Pat does seem to have that kind of luck sometimes...

[plutherus.livejournal.com]

I did. I went in a few weeks ago, got the pills, and have a followup visit next week.

But now, I'm going back to sleep.

[metallumai.livejournal.com]

Hi Pat!

Stupid work filters won't let me access LJ, but I think I can do it through email, and I hope you read this soon!

I have been sucked into a meeting after school, but will be in to see you soon, one day this week. Send me directions, or phone number-- metallumai@yahoo.com

[metallumai.livejournal.com]

duh. I HAVE you phone number. Sorry.

[plutherus.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure he was talking about you on that one :P

[31seel.livejournal.com]

Oh.... Wait a minute, he isn't implying that the US government would utilize its very own armed services as biological guinea pigs? Isn't that treason under the PATRIOT act?

[plutherus.livejournal.com]

Isn't that treason under the PATRIOT act?

You mean using them that way? Or implying that they would? :)

But, of course, we know they'd never do that. Certainly, such a thing would be without precedent in American history...