A PCV's Worst Nightmare

            Well, maybe not their WORST nightmare, but it’s up there, because realistically many volunteers DO experience this at some time during their service. I’m talking about food poisoning, parasites, stomach bacteria, and any and all related topics. The kind where you actually debate just curling up on the ground in the bathroom facility, because you can barely muster up the energy to walk somewhere else, and also because it’s pointless- you’ll be back in 10 minutes for more action.

            Although the past few days were among the most miserable of my life, I came away from it completely astounded and humbled by the care that my host family gave me.

            Sunday night, I barely slept, because all of a sudden I got SO COLD (mind you it is the beginning of the hottest season in Cambodia). I tried to just curl up under my sheet with my stuffed Nemo. No good, I finally got up at around 3AM and put on over my pajamas some sweatpants, a t-shirt, and the heaviest sweatshirt I brought here. Then I snuggled up again, but still had no luck. I knew there was a fever involved.

            Monday morning I started feeling so nauseous, dizzy, and weak. I actually still got up and tried to go teach. I hadn’t seen my students in over a week because of testing and I had been so anxious to go back to teaching. On my way out my sister saw me and asked what was wrong. I told her I wasn’t feeling well. She told me not to go to school. I told her I really want to go, so if I can’t do it, I will come back early.

            I went to school and couldn’t do it. I couldn’t stand for more than a minute at a time, and I was actually concerned I was gonna vomit or pass out in front of my students. I was back at home in less than 45 minutes, where I went straight upstairs, changed, got sick, and then went back to bed. Every muscle and bone in my body was aching. I called the Peace Corps Medical Officer (PCMO), who of course was less than interested at first.

            I went downstairs around 11 with a packet of instant oatmeal, thinking that was a safe lunch. My sister sat me down and cooked it for me.

            After lunch is when it really started getting out of hand. I was in the bathroom at least twice every hour. The oatmeal came right back up. It completely drained me. I called my parents in America, 3 times, even though it was the middle of the night there. Finally they called me back and I cried to my mother. I couldn’t even drink water at this point, because I would just throw it right back up. After I let my mother go back to bed, I called the PCMO again to basically say.. no this is different. I’m REALLY sick. So she did take more notice, and then called me about every 2 hours after that to check in.

            Soon after that, my sister let herself into my room. She NEVER does that. She completely respects my privacy. But she was so worried. She found me draped over my chair looking god-awful. She ran through a list of everything she could possibly cook for me, because I had eaten nothing except the oatmeal, and obviously that wasn’t REALLY eaten. Finally I agreed to let her cook me ramen noodles. I took a few sips of the broth, and vomited again. I slept in a hammock for a while, getting up every 2 minutes to run to the bathroom. My adult students started showing up for their 6PM class. My sister told every one of them that I couldn’t teach because I was so sick with diarrhea. Thanks sister lol.

            Upstairs again in bed, I started watching a movie. The PCMO called again and told me to try drinking water again, this time with some rehydration salts. She was concerned that I hadn’t peed once all day. She would call back in an hour and a half. I drank about half a water bottle worth of that, and then, of course… had to run to the bathroom and it came right back up.

            My sister knocked on the door and said “Diana…. Are you vomiting?” haha I wanted to say “no, I’m baking a cake.. DUH I’m vomiting, what does it sound like?”
            When I finally emerged from the bathroom, my brother had set up a mattress for me in the living room, so I can sleep closer to the bathroom. All day, my brother and sister were offering to give me medicine, buy me medicine, take me to the hospital, anything! But I had to tell them no, Peace Corps must say it’s okay first. They were so angry with Peace Corps lol.

            I laid down on the mattress my brother set up and my sister laid next to me. She tried to set up a fan on me, but I told her I was cold. After remarking about how crazy that was, she moved the fan, got me a thick blanket, draped it over me, and tucked my nemo under my arm.

            The PCMO finally was like.. okay you need treatment now. Not going to lie, I was re really worried about how I was going to make it through the night. I was so weak and uncomfortable. She told me she was going to have a Khmer Medical Officer call my host family, and ask that they try to find me a doctor to give me an IV and some medicine to ease my stomach. My sister watched me the whole time I was on the phone. She was watching so closely, she even spotted and picked a couple ants off my arm for me.

            By now it’s 9:30PM- past everyone’s bedtime. Luckily, my brother-in-law, who lives on our compound, but in a separate little building, works in the local health center. He started living here about 2 or 3 months ago during the week, and then going to Phnom Penh on weekends to see his wife and 2 kids. I really like him. He is one of the most genuine, stand-up Khmer guys I know. The two of us eat lunch together every day. Anyway, my brother told my brother-in-law that Peace Corps finally okayed some medicine, so he hopped in his car, and went to the Health Center to get some stuff.

            He came back, and asked me a few questions. He set me up with the IV like a pro. He then sat next to my bed for about a half hour, just watching over me and making sure it was working properly. He called Peace Corps, and I heard him talking about the other injection to settle my stomach. He decided not to give it to me because of the side effects. I trust him. He’s a really smart guy. I was too weak and delirious to argue anyway. Then he went back to his home.

            My sister and I fell asleep, but my brother stayed up til 12:30AM, time enough for him to change the IV fluid twice. Then he laid down next to his wife and went to sleep also. That’s when I realized that they really aren’t going to bed. Their full intention was to keep watch over me all night. I was amazed. They kept a light on so I could see my way to the bathroom, and so they could keep an eye on me. I don’t know what I did to deserve their care. I don’t know why they care so much. But I just realized how incredibly lucky I am to have these two sleepy people looking out for me here in Cambodia and I love them so much.

            In the night, at around 2:30 I got up to go be sick again, so I had to lug the IV into the bathroom with me. I guess my wrist was higher than the bottle for too long and my blood started going up the tube. I ended up clogging the tube with my blood. Woops. So my brother got up and tried to fix it, and when he couldn’t, he took it out for me.
            Every time I got up to use the bathroom, they would watch me leave, and watch me return, obviously trying to scan my face for any signs of imminent death.

            Finally, it was morning. The worst 24 hours ever was over. I was hydrated, and feeling slightly stronger. To make an already too long story shorter, I was indeed on the road to recovery. By Tuesday night, the PCMO finally told me I could start taking the antibiotics in our medical kit to help my weak body fight this. My sister helped like a pro with meals- starting me out with just a few spoonfuls of plain rice porridge, until I was back eating real food 2 days later.

            I am incredibly grateful for how my brother and sister and my brother-in-law really stepped in. We definitely had some real moments through it. They are really like family to me, and I to them.

            Oh I forgot one more thing. Tuesday, Valentines Day, my sister told me at the dinner table that they had plans to go to a restaurant the 3 of us for dinner (which is a really special thing). But they weren’t going because I was sick. I was like.. that’s ridiculous, GO it’s Valentines Day, a day for TWO people, not THREE. They said no, they weren’t going without me. Oh yeah haha, I forgot I was a part of the relationship. Weird lol. Hopefully now that I’m recovered I can bring up the possibility of a raincheck.

            I will wrap this up now.

            Don’t worry, I don’t have any pictures from me being sick.

            But I do have these:

One of the times I woke up to find a giant dying cockroach on my floor. Now I'm more used to it, but it took me a full 20 minutes to get up the courage to pick him up and throw him out to live out his last minutes elsewhere.

I was watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone on my computer lying in a hammock. My neighbor Mikey whatched about 45 minutes of it standing next to the hammock. He abruptly left, and then came back 5 minutes later riding a broomstick. <3

The most beautiful tissue holder I've ever seen. This is in the lobby of Navy guest house in Prey Veng.

PIG! at a wat in Prey Veng.

The sun setting over the lake. In Prey Veng.

Navy Guest House. In Prey Veng.