dengue fever.

just because a visit to the police occurred doesnt mean the trip is complete.

of course it wouldnt be without a trip to the hospital.

i thought i had malaria and so papa researched it and came back to the hostel room saying we have to go now (something about kidney failure and coma). so we went. first paying two whole soles to have a guy take us 115 steps (we didnt know we were at the end of the same street the first private doctor was on) and then went to the 24 hour emergency room when that one was closed.

i said malaria. the lady looked at me, poked my stomache, and said, no, it´s dengue fever.

well, great.

so i sat in this hospital bed with an IV dripping painfully slow and a medication on top of that... which helped. but they need urine, blood, and "excrement" samples. the first two i gave successfully and quietly. the third was a bit of a problem as i had taken immodium AD earlier that day in order to try and "block" myself up, if you will.

i got up repeatedly, to be a good patient, and try, i even ingested some lubey, minty, NASTY drink to try and encourage my digestive system. no luck. on top of that, everytime i got up i somehow managed to mess up the needle in my hand and it sent the blood rushing back the wrong way. saline was no longer going in. blood was going out.

five hours later and no bowel movement, i felt better and papa and i just wanted to get out of that place. we had some good laughs at first (youll have to see the photos) but soon grew tired and just wanted bed.

i dont think i have dengue. though that would have been a great story. i think i was dehydrated and had a lack of good nutritious food. i´ll soldier on.

unfortunately, we cancelled our second jungle trip that we had planned and paid for. iquitos sure is expensive for a whole lot of nothing. so no jungle this time, but we´re off to lima (a day and a half early) and then off to arequipa to meet niall (the scottish guy from huaraz) for some hiking and mountain biking.

love love to all.
please pray for health.