Sickness...

Journaled on January 26th

I feel weird. Definitely, I'm sick, but it is a different sickness. Illness has pulled me down. I suspect it started with general altitude sickness, which fatigued my body. Without the energy to fight, my body was likely overcome by some form of bacteria. For the past ten days, I've been tired, excluding the three days I spent in the jungle. The lower elevation undoubtedly strengthened me. Returning to La Paz, I found myself slowing after just two days. I then went to Oruro, Bolivia on my way to Uyuni. My planned one night in Oruro quickly turned into three nights. Sickness will do that.

My health soon became of concern to me. Figuring that oxygen would help, I walked to the hospital and into the emergency room. Surely, they would have oxygen on hand. As two oxygen tubes straddled my nose, I relaxed and accepted the ease of breathing for 30 minutes. I paid my due of $1.25 and headed back to my chilly hotel. Only blankets would provide the warmth. The evening that followed was a long one of illness. All liquids and food left my body in all ways. Not even water would remain inside me. My concern for my health grew. This was a sickness that I had not experienced before, and it was happening as I was alone in the second poorest country in South America! Not good.

That night, I was able to sleep and awoke feeling fairly rested. Several meds were now in my body, and I felt that they had slightly helped to strengthen me. Mom connected with a fellow Rotarian per email, and he soon called me. Kindly, he took me to a doctor that is also part of his Rotary club. The day was spent resting, receiving new prescriptions, and inhaling more oxygen. I upgraded to the nicest hotel in Oruro in an effort to recover - a cost of $25. My sickness made a quasi return that evening. Though, again, I awoke rested.

The next day had me on an eight-hour bus ride to Arica, Chile. I would surely recover there while absorbing the sun of the Pacific Coast!

- Tyler