Gotta Spice Things Up

I’ve had a headache since Monday that has gradually turned into my eyes, arms, back, neck, and hips hurting whenever I move.  Friday I started running a fever and by the end of the day had lost all my energy and went to bed at like 7.  Saturday I decided I was going to see the doctor.  So when the office opened at 8 I called.  I got an appointment and had my grandmother take me because the thought of driving was just too much.  I signed in knowing that it was flu and that my body was slowly dying from it. 

The nurse calls me back does her thing, confirms that I have a fever, and runs a strep test (it comes back negative).  The doctor comes in check my eyes, nose, ears, throat and besides my throat being red can’t find anything. 

 She starts asking questions.

Doctor: Have you been hiking, have a dog, been in a wooded area?

Me:  I babysit for a family that has a wooded yard and the baby and I spend time outside, but it’s been a couple weeks.

Doctor: Have you had any unusual bug bites?

(some of you probably knows where this is going)

Me: Yes, I thought it was a spider bite. It was a dark red almost purple circle with a white center. (I showed her the place on my leg.  The outline of the bite was still visible).

Doctor: Bingo, I think you are in the early stage of Lyme Disease. 

So I’m currently taking an antibiotic twice a day for 21 days and a anti-nausea to counter the side effects of the antibiotic (it’s the same drug I took for malaria prevention in Ghana and I threw it up most days).  Plus a painkiller twice a day and Tylenol as needed between.  I’ve gotten three doses in so far and I am feeling better just extremely tired.  I’ve slept for the majority of the weekend.  

The good news is that I have 20 days of medicine left and I don’t leave for 28 days.  I won’t be sick (at least from the tick) in American Samoa!