As the Stomach Churns…

Welcome to the latest episode of “As the Stomach Turns,” the Honey Badger’s chronicle of her bout with severe food poisoning. See recent posts for earlier episodes.  

Food poisoning Day 1
Food Poisoning Day 2

Today’s episode is rated PG-13 for grossness/TMI factor, so read on at your peril, bearing in mind that I’m living with this. Here. Now.  No filters. 

‘Twas the Night Before Relapse Into Severe Gastric Distress

Without rehashing what you can read about in the links above, you need to know that I was diagnosed with severe gastroenteritis — lots of nasty bacteria. After leaving the hospital Sunday evening, I figured I’d be uncomfortable for a few days but that I would bounce back quickly.  Ha. 

I became concerned on Monday as I used my oral Ciprofloxacin and tried to hydrate. The problem was that although the vomiting had stopped, the diarrhea raged on with a vengeance. It was happening more than twice per hour–sometimes every 5-10 minutes. 

I know the signs of dehydration, and they include weakness, dizziness, and excessive thirst. I had all symptoms, and they grew more severe throughout the day as I pushed fluid, only to have it wind up exiting as diarrhea. By evening, I was startled to notice I was becoming delirious–and scared. The fluids simply were not adhering. I hadn’t urinated for almost 24 hours. My mouth was like cotton. I have never felt such thirst. 

In a panic, I started to guzzle everything in the house, desperately trying to slake my thirst. Nothing worked. 

To give you an idea of quantity, late next day I determined I had downed one liter of Sprite, a 32 ounce bottle of all fruit juice, and another 16 ounces of ginger ale. This was all consumed within one and a half hours. I wasn’t in control, so normally I wouldn’t have drank so much at one time. I’m sure it made things worse. 

I readied for bed, and RG3 said he would be taking me back to the hospital first thing in the morning. That plan didn’t last long. After I collapsed into bed, followed by three diarrhea runs in quick succession (and lots of moaning), he said, “we go NOW.”

All I remember after that is RG3 packing a bag for me, getting me into a taxi, and heading out. I didn’t know this until later because I was so out of it, but they drove around for over an hour looking for a hospital that was open. We finally landed at Total Care Hospital in Njiro. 

Pincushion Heaven

They roused me enough that I have some memory of being carried into the hospital and deposited into a bed in a quiet room. A doctor and three to four nurses started working on me, starting with an injection in the hip to stop pain. Then, the serious poking began. Unfortunately, I remember that part much too clearly. 

The doctor said I was severely dehydrated (duh!), and thus they needed to start an IV right away. I didn’t want them to use the same entry point in my right hand from Lutheran Hospital because it was very sore. The problem was that my veins had collapsed, and grabbing a vein was easier said than done. 

So they started with my left foot. Poke ouch Nope. 

Then my left hand. Poke ouch Nope. 

Then my right arm at the elbow. Poke and a negatory. Arghhhghhghhh!

So they finally went back into the old spot in my right hand.  Ohhhhh it hurt. They don’t use numbing agents like they do in the US. But at least we finally had a line.

They put through a liter pretty quickly with vitamin B1 booster, and blessed be, I started to relax a little. But my stomach was experiencing explosions bigger than any fireworks display I’d ever seen. And the diarrhea continued despite several doses of Imodium. Sigh. 

By that time, I was so exhausted that I fell asleep. RG3 didn’t want to leave me, so he slept in the other bed in the room and apparently kept watch most of the night. 

Oh the Indignity…

I awoke at maybe 7:00. At first I was disoriented and didn’t know where I was. Then I saw the IV in my arm and remembered. I didn’t feel half bad. 

That is, until I realized I was lying in my own watery detritus. {Yeah, sorry, I know that’s gross, but whatever.  This is the uncut version of my ordeal}. I was soaked up to mid back. Thankfully it was really just water, but I was appalled. I leaped out of bed, ripped off my clothing and sheets, and tried to clean up. 

About that time the nurses arrived and took control. The shower was broken, so I cleaned off with a bucket of hot water. They didn’t have any gowns, so they wrapped me in a sheet, Masai tribe style:

Incidentally, RG3 failed to understand my embarrassment about what had happened. He said, “it is normal with sickness. Don’t worry.  If you need to vomit or anything else, I can help you. There is no need for embarrassment.”  Different culture??

The Cure is Worse Than The Disease

Having been stabilized and feeling much better, it was time to recommence all out warfare on my gut. Mind you, at this point, I was feeling not too bad. The nurse pushed a bag of an antibiotic with a name I can’t remember (Metro something?), followed by a bag of Ciprofloxacin. Ohhhh CRAPPPP!  It made me so nauseated and dizzy. I just tried to rest. 

Life is a Cabaret, My Friend

Fortunately for me, the staff was phenomenal. They were so cheerful, and we joked much. They enjoyed speaking Chagga and Swahili with me, and I was quickly adopted into the tribe as “wifi” (sister-in-law to women), “shemeji” for men. The doctor, who was mChagga, nearly split a gasket when I greeted him with “shimbyoni” in Chagga. We were relatives now!

Especially fun was one nurse named Peaceful. I called her Nyota (Star) because she had shine. Here are some pics of Nyota:

But wait–there’s more! Nyota is not camera shy, so she graciously entertained me. PLEASE WATCH THESE VIDEOS!!  She’s great!

Kucha na Nguo (nails and clothing)
I love Stephania
Seriously:  how can you feel bad when around someone like her?  ?

Lunchtime came, and I was STARVED. I ordered rice, avocado, sautéed greens, and roasted chicken. I was only able to eat half, but later that would turn out to be a blessing. It was absolutely delicious.  I must get the recipe for the sauce. 

More Napalm

After a while they gave me another hit of antibiotics, which made me really sick. I asked if I could go home, and the said no I needed yet another dose of antibiotics at 7 pm, and they were also still pushing fluids. Oh geez. 

RG3 continued to be the boss, correcting overcharges on the bill, running home to get me things, and just to ensure I was being watched constantly. Here he is in typical “kamanda” (commander) form:

He was especially upset in the morning because the canteen wasn’t open, and thus there was no food. He ran home to get some things, and while he was there, he made me three pieces of French toast (my favorite). 

He also brought me some fruit. Aika, Kamanda. 

The Aftermath

Later in the afternoon, Nyota’s shift ended, and she stopped by to say goodbye, wearing her street clothes  I dragged my sorry butt out of bed to strike a pose:

Apocalypse NOWWWWWW!!!!

Then the horror began again. 

The doctor wanted to push that final bag of Ciprofloxacin at 7 pm. But they’d been having trouble with my IV all day–they had trouble getting it to drip. After shooting a syringe of saline through my veins to try to start it (which hurt like a motherf’er, by the way), the doctor gave me the very unwelcome news that they would have to start yet another IV. I was in tears. 

But then I realized it wasn’t very badgery to be so fearful of what was coming, so I told the nurses and doctor to wait while I “prepared.”  I put on my Bose headphones, cranked up “Holier Than Thou” by Metallica to max volume, and slipped into some deep, meditative yoga breathing. I’ll be damned if it didn’t work. The needle went right in, with little discomfort. And then they started the IV and prepared to discharge me. 

Tomorrow (today), I have to have two more injections of Ciprofloxacin, so for now the IV needle in the left hand remains. The other hand has edema but is improving. 

I vomited only once, and it was right before I went home. I attribute it to too heavy a lunch.  And the Ciprofloxacin, of course. 

Then we returned to the comfort of home. First Larick made me porridge and some dry toast. Then it was lights out. I slept well. 

Rafiki (Friends)  Familia!

It’s Wednesday, and I’m happy to report that I’m already back from my injection at the hospital and am resting comfortably. One more push tonight, and the IV can be removed. Yay!!!!

I forgot to mention that my dear housegirl, Pili, insisted on being taken to the hospital yesterday when she found out I was sick. She only works with me one day per week, but she works at my apartment complex every day, so she notices when I’m missing. I adore her. 

She went above and beyond today. She showed up early, changed my sheets, and tucked me into bed. Then she made the best chicken mchemsho (stew) that I’ve ever tasted. She put it over rice. So delicious. I’ll have my strength back in no time. 

Then Margaret, another worker here, showed up to help Pili take care of the invalid and to clean house. 

So—it’s 3:30 pm local time, and I’m going to rest. I wanted to get this crazy story written before I check out. I’m not out of the woods yet, but I’m sure I’ll be okay. I have God’s angels watching over me from near and far. 

I’ll update once I get the results of my culture back. I almost don’t want to know.  

-Badger OUT