The 1000 Day Holiday

Celebrations. I’ve made it to 1+ month free of Malaria.

Which now makes me Malaria Free according to the CDC…
No cover for Malaria on my travel insurance for the next year tho.. so will have to be extra careful.

Im quite glad i didnt read too much about what happens in your body when you have it.. Some of the research Ive come across:

Falciparum malaria: The most dangerous type of malaria. Red blood cells infected with the parasite tend to sludge and form microinfarctions (small areas of dead tissue due to lack of oxygen) in capillaries in the brain, liver, adrenal gland, intestinal tract, kidneys, lungs, and other organs. Treatment is in a hospital setting, using intravenous medications.

Looks like I would have been classifed as having Severe Malaria. As I had Thrombocytopenia. on the 15th December my platelet count was 24,000

In an adult, a normal count is about 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter (x 10^–6/Liter) of blood.

URGH!

With all my bills being handled directly by my insurance company I had no idea on the total cost of my treatment.

I contacted my insurance broker and got him to find out.

• 17 days in hospital, ~7 of them in Intensive Care.
• All medications
• Stomach ultrasound
• Chest Xrays

The total  $5400NZD

Incredibly cheap. I think the Argentinian Government picked up a large portion of the cost as they provide free medical for tourists.

For example when I first tried to go to the hospital for a blood test, the hostel arranged a house call from a doctor which was covered under this arrangement.

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

Didnt sleep last night, just lay there thinking how things can turn out. Looks pretty shite from where Im sitting.

Ran outa tropicur (larium) again. but theyve found some chloroquine from somewhere tho!

Doctor said it looks like Ill be here for another 14 – 24 days…

…
Still have a headache.. and my vision & balance are whack. Walls that are not moving can get ripples going down them and it feels like Im drunk, cant walk straight..

..
Moved from ICU to a room in the general ward..
..
The Evacuation is due to happen around 10pm.
…
Wow,
2 blood results for today have come back parasite free! 1st day Negative results!
celebrations..
If i get negative results for the next 2 days Ill be discharged!
…
Doctor cancels the evacuation around 7pm as it seems like its not needed anymore.