Getting Sick in Haiti - Not Fun!

Getting Sick in Haiti - Not Fun!

After lunch on Wednesday, my stomach began to feel quite sour. I made it through the afternoon – but just barely. Feeling ill when in a foreign country is not fun. I tried to take a nap and hoped my stomach would settle down. After about an hour and a half I got up and decided to hike down the hill to Alumni House for more water. Not feeling well is not an excuse for not staying hydrated! The possibility of needing an IV here at the hospital is not something I wanted to consider. We seem to be having a Cholera outbreak. Cholera is spread by contact with oral fecal contact. Many patients had come in to the hospital yesterday and today with vomiting and diarrhea. I made it back to Kay Dunn and drank some water. Suddenly I did not feel so good. The bathroom was not a place to go if you feel like vomiting with our limited flushing capabilities! I went out front of the house to sit down. Suddenly the smell of burning wood for charcoal hit my nostrils increasing the eruptive feeling of my stomach. In the next instance I found myself projectile vomiting in front of the house. Luckily, no one was home I thought. Suddenly, the Haitian doctor who rooms across the hall from me came running out to check on me. He was very concerned and took a history of what was going on with me. He thought I should go right to the hospital. I laid out my reasons for resting up here in my own bed. He reluctantly agreed that I could remain here but said if things became worse, I should go to the hospital. I went to bed, missing dinner altogether. Morning came and brought with it incredible body aches. Ibuprofen could barely touch the pain. I ended up staying home and sleeping all day. I did try a bit of fruit for breakfast, missed the talk on cardiomyopathy by Dr. Bob Caraway, and slept all morning. I am feeling better and even tried a bit of lunch. Will try to head over to the library to catch up on email where it is cool.

Although the CDC will be out tomorrow, it is highly suspected that we are indeed in the midst of a cholera outbreak. The internet says there are 1500 confirmed cases and 120 deaths from it in the Artibonite region where we are located. Patients are streaming into the hospital tonight. Many are being placed in overflow areas and out onto the patio to sleep on benches. Will see what tomorrow brings.