I Hate the Flu in America and I Hate it Even MORE in Thailand!

This blog might be a little bit confusing because I am writing it days later (which I try never to do). So I will start off by talking about my day on Thursday.

I did not sleep well (surprise surprise) but I made myself get up. My original plan was to go for a run in the morning for two reasons. One, I would be getting up early, which would hopefully mean I would be tired enough to sleep at night and two; I would be getting fresh air and exercise!

I decided a run wasn’t the best idea. For some reason I was very nauseous, I was exhausted from not sleeping well and still sore (I am such a baby I know) so I decided I would walk instead. I was still getting up early and getting fresh air and a bit of exercise so I figured it was ok. I also decided I would stop at a grocery store since it was along my route.

It is nice and cold in the morning which is wonderful compared to exercising in Ho Chi Minh City. I found my way to the grocery store but realized I had about 15 minutes until it opened AND it looked like a good one so I thought it would be worth the wait. They did have a little bakery/café open next store and since I had 15 minutes to kill I figured I would treat myself to pancakes (I was hungry anyway).

I made my way to the grocery store and of course I loved it! I just love seeing what kinds of things they have. Things that in the U.S. I would pass by without thinking about, but here it is like..Oh yeah I forgot about those! I also like looking at the prices just to see if I would pay that back in the States. I lead a sad life..obsessed with grocery stores!

On my walk back I also found a bookstore that has good books for only $3 so I picked up a few since I have missed reading!

I made my way to the orphanage, although the bus seemed extra bad today because my tummy was rolling all around! Luckily, he didn’t forget my stop which is always a pleasant surprise these days!

I had a good couple of hours with the kids, but I knew I was NOT feeling well! My stomach was all over the place and the smell of diapers and babies spitting up was NOT helping. Every time a kid touched me it hurt and I knew I needed to get out of there.

I left and again the bus ride back was not enjoyable (not that it ever is). I figured I might be hungry and/or dehydrated so I had some PB&J and a pedialyte. But, afterwards I only felt worse. I felt like I could barely keep my food down, I was shaky, had the chills and my whole body ached! Ugh! I think I first fell asleep around 3:00pmish, woke up at 5:00pm and again at 7:00pm feeling AWFUL! I was shaking and when I had the AC off it was way too hot and when I had it on it hurt my body, ugh!

I didn’t even want to THINK about eating or checking email and that’s when I KNEW I was sick! At that point I hadn’t thrown up, but I just felt so awful! At one point I called my mommy (the best person to vent too) and spent the rest of the night in and out of sleep. I only threw up once (wahoo) and afterward I took some Pepto and Advil. I also had a black tongue, which luckily I knew NOT to freak out about! When I went to Israel I took two Peptos with every meal (to help from getting sick, and it worked) but one morning I woke up with a black tongue! I was FREAKING out expecting to die any second when my mom kindly said how she forgot to tell me that was a side effect of taking so many Pepto! Luckily, I didn’t have to learn that lesson here, by myself, thinking I was about to die! I remember at one point waking up drenched in sweat (gross I know) but I was happy because that meant my fever was breaking!

At 2:00am I felt a BIT better to at least take out my contacts and as you contact wearers know there is NOTHING worse than sticky contacts! I woke up a few more times and finally at 11:00am Friday I woke up and thought I should get out of bed!

It sort of made me laugh that all week I have been complaining about not sleeping, so my body decided sleeping for 20 hours would be a good thing to do! I am also thankful that this is really the first time I have felt THAT sick which isn’t too bad for 3 months away from home. Every winter season my immune system likes to take a break and hit me with a sinus and/or ear infection that takes at least two rounds of antibiotics to cure, so I have been trying to be very careful not to let myself get run down (hence why sometimes I am a volunteer skipper) and I am honestly really happy that it has taken me this long to get sick! I am also happy that I only got sick near the end of my trip (I kept looking at a countdown calendar I have that says “21 days until home”) and I had a great place to be sick (AC, no ants crawling on me, etc.)

I was feeling a bit better, enough to clean up the pigsty I call my room (it really was gross) AND I took a shower (a cold one of course, not ok). I then decided I should get out of my room so thought I would go drop off my laundry.

I was craving Pizza Hut breadsticks and while they are a bit garlicy I figured they were enough of a comfort food that I would be ok. It felt good to get out, although after my lunch the walk back (5 minutes maybe) seemed to take forever and I was so happy to see my bed again.

The rest of the afternoon (and night) was a blur because although I gave the flu the boot (yay for only 24 hour flu) I still felt AWFUL! Granted I didn’t have the chills or shaking, but my stomach not only wanted to throw everything up but I also had the WORST stomach pains! I spent most of my time in and out of sleep (it was really the only thing I could do) and I was able to skype Mom and Dad to complain about how yucky I felt! I was happy to have gotten rid of the flu (shaking, chills, fever, etc.) but it had been a while since my stomach had HURT so much! I tried eating a bit (I really hadn’t eaten much all day) but that didn’t go over to well as my digestive system HATED me. I switched from Pepto to Imodium (oh the joys of modern medicine) and tried to get some sleep.

I woke up on Saturday morning and didn’t feel AS bad, but still not great. After a couple more rounds of Imodium I was starting to feel a bit better and by mid afternoon I made myself go pick up my laundry.

I hated the heat, I hated the noise, and I hated the sun, haha! I was so happy to be back from my five minute walk! I was glad to not be having digestive problems (at this point it was Saturday afternoon) but I was not feeling like I was able to go back to civilization!

My stomach still hurt a lot but I was able to keep down saltines AND ginger ale and I was very hungry! So, I did something I haven’t done in a long time..I ORDERED OUT! Can you believe it? I had read about this place that will pick up for a lot of restaurants in Chiang Mai (I think they used to have something like this in Portsmouth). I knew I wanted to try it before I left, so I figured now was as good a time as any. I ordered scrambled eggs (I was craving them), pancakes and French toast! I ended up taking a bite of each and while I hated the thought of wasting all that food it was so nice to have REAL food! And delivery! I had forgotten what Styrofoam to-go boxes looked like!

I was nervous about how my stomach was going to handle the foreignness of solid, actual food, BUT so far (it’s about 10:00pm Saturday night) so good! So please, keep your fingers crossed and say your prayers..I am going stiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir crazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy!

Oh and also..since I have done nothing but lay in bed for the past three days, I updated some pictures! There are still more for my trip with Mom and Lorna coming..as well as videos..so enjoy!

Hugs and kisses from the soon to be healthy Julie Marie Wilson!