So today, went back to the hospital to have yet another blood test, and yet again – still have both falciparum and vivax malaria, and the counts have doubled yet again.
Yup – I am now sick of being sick!!
So, the doctor then put me on to one of the senior consultants in the hospital, who said that he had never met a caucasian with the level of resistance to the medication as I have. He said that quite often Papua New Guineans are resistant… yeah well – that made me feel 100% better…
The next treatment is a 7 day course of Quinine – the loading dose of 20ml (yes 20ml!!!) via injection – 10ml in each ass cheek. holy shit. Even the nurse went back to the doctor to confirm the dosage.. 20ml doesn’t sound much, but trust me – it is a freaking huge amount..
Jacinta took me back to work – and I grabbed a muffin as I have to keep the blood sugars up. Got settled in, then rode the lift to our other office where I ended up almost passing out on the ground. I was a mess, the doctor and nurse advised that I would have hearing loss as a side effect, but they didn’t tell me about the dizzyness, vertigo, fell like I want to die feeling…
So I got a lift home, where it has taken an hour or so to feel like I could actually walk somewhere – but I can barely hear.. and in a few hours, I need to take the 2nd round of drugs. every 8 hours for 7 days, with a bit more fancidar thrown in on the 3rd day…
I am now down to a very slight (for me) 86kg, so the good thing is – I don’t have far to go for my target 80kg. When I arrived in PNG 6 months ago – I was hovering at 100 kilo’s, so needless to say – most of my clothes don’t fit anymore 🙂
till next time 🙂
A Kiwi Expat in PNG 
Take care Aaron and look after yourself.
mate – I can’t compete with manflu. You make sure the missus cools you down with a flannel, keeps the boy out of the room, and gives you a bell to ring if you need her 🙂 A couple of new PC mags always help too 😉
Dear Aaron,
I’m so sorry to hear you’re still so ill & having to take more drugs to clear it.
Chatted to Tristan this morning, as we walking to school. Funny how they see things. He did laugh at the injections & location (sorry, boys are boys after all!)
He then got really concerned, how did they know you passed out, how did you get home, who drove you, what happened to you once you got home,…..endless questions! He only calmed down once I said Jacinta probably tucked you in bed & was taking good care of you!
We’re thinking of you & Jacinta & the kids.
Hope you manage to beat it this time.
Take care of yourselves.
Anna
Hi Anna – thanks for the kind words. Tell Tristan I “almost” passed out, lucky our CEO has a nice comfy couch in his office 🙂 I asked one of the guys at work to take me home, outside our building there was a huge traffic jam – but we got through it. Papua New Guinean’s can be quite stubborn so when two cars meet head on and can’t get around, they will sit there for AGES whilst the traffic just builds up behind them – then finally the people that double parked on the road jump back in their cars and the traffic all frees up again. Hard to explain, but amusing to watch 🙂 I hope Tristan laughed at the “lik lik” pain – yeah right!
Jacinta didn’t tuck me into bed, but she did look after me 🙂
I have another post coming up – I’m sure that you will find it interesting 😉
Xanthe is off to Loloata Island for an overnight school trip this week. It happens in grade 3 and 4. Imagine that, a school camp in a tropical paradise – awesome for the kids, and very safe 🙂
take care
Aaron