The 1000 Day Holiday

Off tomorrow on a 4 day tour of SW bolivia.

Check out these pics

The buses even in bolivia are flash in comparison to africa. And the roads have been ok. Dirt and corrugated, a few times down into first gear for descents but nothing too scary as yet.

 

Confirmed free of Malaria today! 🙂

So 1am I head for Tupiza, Bolivia Love this quote from the wiki.

Bus accidents with few survivors are not uncommon in this region, due to precipitous dropoffs as the mountainous routes ascend and descend between towns.

There is the train as well tho.

Well this is sort of.

Went and had the test today. Waited around while they analysed the slides.

They did find 2 Parasites, however they say it counts as a Negative result. I dont know what stage the parasites were (exoploded from qunine?). However Im still on qunine & doxy till Thursday when I have a final test.

And then Im allowed to leave. In which case Ill be headed for Bolivia, Thursday or Friday. Apparently Ill be safe from Malaria for the next 3 months due to the Qunine already in my system (?).

And for those that think all these adventure activities dont really have any risk… Check out this news article: Caving Mishap in SA

Did my blood test today at the lab. So I got to see a bunch of my slides under the microscope. Well groovy.

Initially they looked like this, with up to 6 or 7 parasites in one cell. Once Quinine is doing its thing, they are just exploded blobs within the cell 🙂

Well it turns out they shipped in some Qunine for me.

So 3 days of Qunine & 7 of Doxy. Fingers crossed this is the final regime.

Another doc who Ive only seen twice wanted me to come in 3X a day (8am, 4pm, midnight) to take the pills. Adrianna managed to convince him that I could be trusted, seeing that I realise that I will probably die if I dont take them, and instead run for the hills and hide.
DUH!

Celebrations! Ive been discharged.

however I still have malaria. They have ordered artesunato (2) (3) from Brazil. So hopefully, I will be parasite free 3 days from Friday (when it arrives).

It seems the major problem has been a lack of Qunine meds in Argentina. The last 7 days has  been treatment using Doxycycline & Clindamycin. My blood has improved over this time. But I havent had any negative parasite tests.

CDCs Handy Malaria treatment table

Since moving hospitals I havent had any internet access. So today I raided the emergency department admission desk. Bumper her off the computer and got online to do some research.

my blood work has been constantly improving (thus i can walk around a little bit, more energy etc.) but since those 2 negaitve results, my blood has always been positive.

So I found the CDC site. And got some knowledge on the treatment guides..
doxy and clyndamicin are both secondary drugs.. they should be used with a primary drug.. ala Qunine! So what the fsck is up with that??

So merry christmas to me.
Thankfully the nurses keep giving me double meals. So im eating like a horse, and im on IV 5% glucose solution as well!

Not quite what I expected to be doing for christmas.

In a hospital in Argentina, Beige room, watching crappy soaps on TV.

The joys! drugs make my head hurt, but when Im not on them it seems to work ok.

aparrently the lab tech had to look at my slides for 4 hours yesterday to spot a parasite! So its soundling like it might almost be over.

My platelets at the worst stage (14th ish) were 20,000. yesterday back up to 300,000. So looking good.

hope everyone is having\has\had a great christmas..  cant wait to see what special delight I get for Christmas Dinner 🙂

Post a comment, then Ma n Pa can pass it along to me.

Now on doxycycline pills and clyndamicin via IV.

the morning nurse brought in 4 pills (100mg). I asked if all to be taken now.. She seemed to think so..

So I downed them.. and surprisingly started feeling REALLY REALLY crap. That lasted most of the day.

When my doc visited that afternoon I checked.. should have been X2 12hrs apart.. DOH!

Adrianna is my doctor now.
Analina and her friend dropped in to say hi.. which is great cause I dont see anyone since Im in my own little beige room.

the last blood test of yesterday came in Positive!

ARGH! frustrations reaching boiling point!

with last nites evacuation cancelled im now stuck here for another X days.

My eyes are still playing up. not as much tho.

beige hospital room humour.
My tv (which has cable) doesnt have a remote. so I have to get up and change the channel using the up down channel buttons on the TV.

Not such a problem.
but this morning the down channel button dropped inside the case!
Adn then this evening the up button did the same.

And the tv is now stuck on a crap channel that has no english programs!
oh how life can be unfair! :p