Now this situation totally sucks sweaty balls. There is allot of things that are worse, but you will literally hear yourself saying “this is the worst”. Depending on your level of sick it can really put a damper your journey.
*warning- shit happens*
Recently in Colombia I started my day off at 5am with a mad dash to the bathroom (which unfortunately was positioned at the other end of the hostel…serious who only has one bathroom nowadays in hostels) I luckily made it without accident (sooo close-why does your body want to release everything the second you spot a toilet, like ok I see it but im not on it yet). This day was the day that I planned to do a massive hike…so 10 minutes later, one first aid kit opened and some anti diarrheatics taken, a few more quick toilet stops before the drugs kick in and I’m off, on my hike.
Not a good idea, while I didn’t have an accident from the arse end I did push myself too far, without the ability to eat or drink too much I exhausted the reserves I had, but soldiered on anyway, until half way up a track that you basically have to boulder, scramble and jump your way up…that was it, the nausea was in full swing, the mild fever is now a in full thumping mode and the vomit was coming. I turned back, basically I didn’t want to hold up the guys who I’d met that day so I turned back for my return hike of 3 hours…and I made it, all was good, until I got to reception at the hostel.
Once checked in, showered, toilet break and decided to lay down after a long day, that’s when things took a turn for the worst. My body knew I was down for the day… so the fever spiked too high, I was cold sweats, in cramping pain, dashing to and from toilet (both ends same time kinda stuff) and couldn’t lay down due to the pain that was now shooting through my back due to the fever, I was not in a good state.
The hostel was great, i went to reception where they saw how sick I was, uncontrollable tears of pain (PS…I wasn’t crying, I just literally couldn’t stop my eyes from leaking) they told me if i get worse or need a doctor they would call one, they got me a extra blanket and then I escaped out onto the street to get some water and Gatorade. The second I stepped out of the hostel door a young local Colombian boy came running across the street, took my arm to help steady me and helped me down the street to get supplies. He wanted nothing in return (although did try to sell me some weed so I could relax haha) but since im always on high alert with this kinda stuff I was skeptical, but my sick self was like, take the help and we were in a crowed street so felt fine. He got me back to the hostel in one piece with my supplies and then I headed back to my bed…where I stayed for about 30 mins before the next dash to the toilet started. I was at that awkward state of not being able to lay down due to the pain, but can’t sit up due to the stomach issues. I ended up “sleeping”, read that as naps with urgent toilet stops and light dreams of shitting myself, on the couch outside the dorm. I should’ve gone to the doctor the next day, my fever had broken and I was able to move, although not too far from a toilet. But instead of listening to my gut I just booked a hotel room with private bathroom and closed myself off to the world for 2 solid days…this sucked balls.
Now what I should’ve done rather than “just waiting” for it to pass was to head to a doctor that next day, I couldn’t keep fluids down, and somehow I was still producing enough to come out the other end, not a healthy diet plan. Anyway I did not go to the doctor until 5 days, 1 flight, man taxis, turns out parasites don’t tend to just go away cause you rested, they stick around until you have antibiotics (or similar), so I had to push through days of walking tours and activities with this stupid stomach issue, half energy, not being able to enjoy Colombian food or dancing etc.
I missed the oppitunity to do the fun stuff that i love like jumping off cliffs and sailing through the air, or the mad dash down a mountain on a bike…missed it all. But I did rest, catch up on sleep and still enjoyed my time in those cities, even if half arsed.
SOOOOO the point of the story, don’t wait, the $5-$30 it would cost to go to most doctors/clinics (Look I travel to cheap destinations, I understand some countries are not this cheap) is definitely worth the time/cost to avoid getting sicker and then spending more time of your travel in bed. Don’t just google, especially in countries that have foreign illnesses you may not have encounter before…malaria is real, not just a story to scare you into buying expensive drugs, things like this may seem like a flu, but without treatment could become serious quickly. I don’t mean to scare you, but please fellow travelers look after yourself, see a doctor if you feel hinky, also let your receptionist know, so they know to keep an eye out for you, occasional check in to make sure your alive etc.
BLUE EYES OPEN 