I never saw this coming! I had just written my final exam with the Nutritional Therapy Association the week before. I had a few days off and spent a beautiful weekend in Isla Mujeres with my girlfriend Karen. This was a celebratory time for lots of rest and good eating. I will admit I was exhausted, depleted and I think running on empty. The past 10 months had been a non-stop marathon of consults by day and studying at night. My life consisted of exercise, eat, work, study, sleep and repeat. I had very little time for friends or rest. It was a gruelling schedule but I hung in there as I knew the end was in sight. I actually thought seriously about dropping the program after only one month in. But I am stubborn! When I say I am going to do something, I do it! End of story!
Not feeling well
Day 1-2
Monday, October 30th, 2017. The day after returning from Isla Mujeres I did a full day of consulting. Suddenly at 4 pm, I felt horrible. Instead of going to a recovery meeting I decided to lay down. I slept until the following day. I awoke with fever, weakness, body pain and a massive headache. Ok, so I had some type of flu. I decided to wait a day and see if it resolved itself.
My Symptoms – Blinding headaches, joint and muscle pain, extreme fatigue and weakness, eye pain, constipation and sustained unrelenting fevers of 102 F-104 F (37.5 C-38 C) for 10 days straight.
Day 3
I called my landlady and friend Dolores downstairs to please come and check on me. I had a fever of 104F. She arrived and we walked 1 block to the local lab/pharmacy/doctor’s office. Blood was drawn and we requested the usual infections plus dengue. At 6 pm Dolores went over to pick up my results and the doctor informed her that it was dengue. Since there is no treatment for Dengue we were given a prescription for a sugar-laden electrolyte drink mix, sugar-laden Ensure type product and paracetamol (acetaminophen). You can read more about how sugar feeds chronic infections here. The science is there, yet the medical system loves to dole out the sugar when this is one of the things that will harm a sick person the most. I picked up paracetamol and was warned that ibuprofen could cause bleeding. I was instructed to have my platelets checked in 2 days.
Dreams! What is for you will not go by you
The fever burned relentlessly and I found myself in and out of this dreamlike/ hallucinatory state. There were many different dreams but I had one that was so vivid and powerful. I dreamt I was on a bus with Jesus in Pakistan. We sat behind the driver and Jesus had the window seat. I was like a small child next to him. He took up most of the double seat. I asked Him why I got so sick. He told me that I would be ok. To put my head on his shoulder. I asked Him where Mary was. He told me she would be coming later. And so I put my head on His shoulder and went back to sleep. I knew I was going to be ok.
I was given a crucifix years ago from a very holy priest and I kept it under my pillow the whole time that I was sick. It brought me great comfort.
Days 4 -6
I battled the fever which bounced between 102F and 104F. I don’t ever remember having a fever like that in my entire life. These days I barely left my bed except to use the bathroom and drink 20 ounces of water every 2 hours. It was the best plan that I could come up with. I mostly stayed in bed as the pain was absolutely excruciating. It was painful to simply roll over in my bed.
I returned to the lab for the follow-up blood work. I honestly don’t know how I managed to walk there but I did. Desperate for relief and healing. I had the blood drawn. Dolores went back for the results. My platelets had dropped but were still in the low normal range. No explanation or further suggestions from the doctor.
Day 7
Intuitively I knew there was something very off about all of this. I was still battling the fever. By this time my own little thermometer lost it’s battery power so I didn’t even know what my temp was. Dolores and I walked back over to the doctor. We brought all of the bloodwork results. This new doctor informed me that I had never actually been tested for Dengue even though that is why I went in the first place. It was suggested that I be tested for Dengue and gave me a new requisition for Dengue NSI. This test is only accurate during the first 7 days from the onset of symptoms. I felt like this doctor was just spinning me around in circles. Past 7 days of acute dengue, a serologic test is needed that can identify IgM and IgG antibodies to Dengue is recommended. My temperature on this day was 102F. I was too weak and sick to be furious so I just vowed that I would never go back there for any kind of medical help. I was used to being my own doctor and curing myself so I could see that this time would be no different.
Garlic!
My feeling was to start eating garlic every day. I began with 2 cloves chopped twice per day. I actually began to improve a bit. Enough that I could figure out what to do.
Garlic is known to slow and kill more than 60 types of fungi and 20 types of bacteria, as well as some of the most potent viruses known to humans. Garlic also has a history of killing parasites, controlling secondary fungal infections, detoxifying while gently stimulating elimination, and has antioxidant properties to protect against oxidation resulting from parasite toxins.
Allicin and Ajoene are the components in garlic that kill parasites (including one-cell varieties), as well as pinworms and hookworms. Allicin is not present in garlic in its natural state. When garlic is chopped or otherwise damaged, the enzyme alliinase acts on the chemical alliin contained in its fibres, converting it into allicin. Ajoene is the principal compound responsible for garlic’s anticoagulant properties and contributes to its strong odour. This has been taken from my article here titled Everyday Foods That Kill Parasites.
Day 8-10
I was still mostly bedridden with a high fever. I had taken so much paracetemol (over the last 8 days). I tried to limit myself to 2000 mg per day as I was experiencing a lot of liver pain. I know how toxic acetaminophen is and have not used any for years before this episode.
Finally, on Day 10 I felt like I could make it to another doctors office that I had heard about. His name is Dr. Bernardo Diaz. I knew I needed some intravenous vitamins and minerals. He has a beautiful office and after examining me I still had a fever of 101.8F. They did my bloodwork again for infections and ran the Dengue antibody test. While I waited for the blood results I was given 2 IV bags of fluids and nutrients. I knew I had made the right decision. After a few hours, it was confirmed that I actually had Typhoid Fever(Salmonella typhi). The recommended treatment is ciprofloxacin. I declined this antibiotic due to the potential for serious side effects. I was given Cedax which is ceftibuten. I am not a fan of antibiotics of any kind but they do have their place in life-threatening situations such as this.
Angels…
I have an amazing community of friends here. So many brought me food, groceries, supplements and came to the doctor’s office with me. I received visits and many notes of love and support. If there is anywhere in the world I would want to get sick it is here in Playa del Carmen. My heart is truly overflowing and filled up with love these days. Love heals all things.
Days 11- 12
These days were mainly spent sleeping around the clock. I was just so completely spent. I just slept and drank water. I really didn’t know if the antibiotics were working as I still felt really sick. Dolores continued to bring me food and I honestly think I would have starved without her.
Days 13-15
Things are getting better. The pain is mostly gone and that ice pick headache that I had for 2 weeks is completely gone. I am just crazy weak and fatigued. I am able to do a few tasks each day. I have put all of my extra energy into shopping and cooking. The fever is completely gone now. I now have viral bronchitis and an incessant, unproductive cough. Dr. Diaz explained that now that my immune system is so weak I will be susceptible to many other infections.
Ginger, lemon and honey tea
I make this whenever I have a little energy. It is my main tea and I drink many pots of this. It is helping the cough.
Today!
I was able to take a load of laundry to the lavenderia, get some groceries, make a crockpot chicken with vegetables, make ginger tea and have started a bone broth. I know that a lot of serious nutrition is going to have me up and running in no time. Somehow I have to bring back the good flora that has been wiped out after the antibiotics. I will focus on probiotic supplements, probiotic-rich foods, and kombucha. I don’t eat much dairy but do have access to a local homemade yogurt which I will eat a bit of each day.
What did I re-learn?
My old travel advice that saw me clear through Thailand without any issues!
If you can`t peel it, boil it or cook it, forget it!
Absolutely, no more raw salads for me in restaurants.
Avoid Stress! I feel like the nonstop stress that I have been under for the last 10 months has greatly contributed to this relapse of illness. I have decided that the goal of opening a guest house here for those with chronic illness is not the right project for me. I am looking to live a more balanced lifestyle with work, travel, rest and some play. I see how destructive the stress has been for me. Although I am so delighted to have completed my schooling it was just too intense with my current caseload. I love my clients and want to do the best job possible for them.
So my healing will continue and I am looking to begin writing some new articles for my blog. There are so many things that I want to write about. I have to remind myself to take it one day at a time and not push myself so hard anymore.
Blessings and Best of Health,
Brenda♥
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