And mosquitos do too.
More satisfying than a bath in this country is the act of alternately ‘bathing’ in calamine lotion and OFF! spray.
The beauty of the tropics comes at a higher price than just spotty legs, though.
The town where it (most likely) all started.
Early last week I woke up achy and with a headache so deep that my eyes hurt. I went and got adjusted, downed a few bottles of water, and retired to a hammock for the afternoon. For the next two days I was achy and tired, and finally felt up to going to the gym for a light workout.
There is no shortage of stares for foreigners on this town, so I didn’t think much of it Thursday morning until I finished cardio and faced myself in the studio mirrors. When I was a kid I didn’t sweat when I was really hot, but I turned really red. This was NOT the same kind of flush. I was… spotty. Blotchy.
I was worried, so I went home, kept drinking water, and asked that Shane come home early for lunch.
“You don’t see this? I look like a leper! Everyone was staring at me!”
“Everyone always stares. I don’t even see anything, you’re probably just irritated from something.”
“Shane, it’s everywhere. My face, my legs, my palms…”
I felt fine enough, and kept sleeping and drinking. I was super tired. My eyes were still sore.
Friday we were planning to go to Shane’s boss’ to hike and hang out for the weekend, so I grabbed an antihistamine at the pharmacy on the way out of town thinking that if it was an allergy, I would be prepared. The rash had gotten worse; even Shane admitted it was odd.
I slept on the roller coaster bumpy bus ride- a feat, trust me. In Seabra, I had already done what anyone rational would do and googled my symptoms. Bad idea. By the time we arrived at Ian’s kitchen table, I had cycled through thinking I had hay fever, allergies, TB, worms, and cancer. The second Ian (Shane’s boss) saw me, he knew.
He looked at me and said, “You don’t look so hot. You know what that is, right? (Pause.) You have dengue.”
Well poop.
Staying strong
At the end of the day, I’m really proud of my body. With a little rest and water, the rash is almost gone and I feel fine. I’m already over the exhaustion and pain! I’ll be able to travel to the coast tomorrow night. (Bye, Seabra!) I could go for a walk today and watch the sunset without eye pain yesterday. How awesome is it that our bodies not only perform the same tasks every day, but have the power to beat down tropical diseases and stay immune to them for the rest of forever after one exposure?
Say what one may about vaccinations or drugs, my body is AMAZING on it’s own, and I think that’s pretty rad.
Can you see my spots?
The power that made the body heals the body.
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