Dengue fever coincided with a business trip to Paris... so my symptoms while apparent from the start masked themselves to me as having jetlag! After 3 days I realized that something was just not right with me…the “jetlag” got worse!
Dengue fever is a tricky illness. You feel weird but since your throat isn’t sore and you have no runny nose, you must be fine!... But then it gets worse.
After talking with many friends here in Chiang Mai that have had it, there is a huge spectrum of severity. Many people require a hospital stay. I did not. However, my symptoms were pretty severe:
At the onset
- I had a difficult time sleeping
- I developed a fever and was so cold! Coming from warm Chiang Mai, Thailand to “cold” Paris, France, I thought the cool air just didn’t agree with me!
- I began waking in the night soaked in sweat... several times at night.
- I was surrounded by rich cheeses, paté, wine, and bread... but I could hardly eat a thing.
- my eyes had difficulty focusing giving me terrible headaches every time I looked around or stared at my computer too long.
4 days after developing the fever
- I woke up feeling immediately sick to my stomach. In the time it took to get from my bed to the bathroom I was drenched in sweat and vomited.
- I developed a terrible rash beginning on my arms and legs. As the days went on, it extended all over my body (even the palms of my hands), becoming itchy and painful.
- I began to feel very weak and slow… which was very annoying because I had to travel home.
- Another weird symptom about Dengue is the emotional toll it takes! I began to feel very anxious and upset. Although I tried not to show it to my colleagues, I just wanted to go home and was really struggling to keep it together. However, arriving home did not solve the problem of emotional instability. Unfortunately this continues long after the rash goes away.
Arriving home to Chiang Mai
After a difficult journey home (thank goodness for aisle seats allowing me to run to the bathroom) I arrived very relieved… but still very sick. I still had a fever, the rash was getting worse, and despite my efforts to drink lots of water I was becoming very weak and dehydrated.
Mike took me to the hospital where they confirmed my Dengue case with a simple blood test. Thankfully the platelet levels in my blood were not at a serious level (this is what the virus attacks) so I could go home after they gave me an I.V. of liquids to help with my dehydration.
The next few days were spent lying around and sleeping. My fever finally went away but the rash got worse! I was told that this meant I was entering the “recovery stage” however it wasn’t that comforting because my hands and feet were swollen and extremely itchy.
Road to recovery
It’s been over a month now since that pesky skeeter (aka mosquito) bit me. It is amazing how a little creature can wreak havoc in your life! Wear bug repellant friends!!
I am doing well. My rash (for the most part) has gone away. My energy has slowly returned. I can concentrate and focus (for short periods of time) on important tasks.
I am still a bit emotional and irritable much to Mike’s chagrin. Poor Mike. This too will eventually go away leaving me responsible for my own actions. Darn it! I liked saying “the Dengue made me do it!”
I’m not quite 100% yet but I will be because my appetite is back! Good thing I brought some French cheese home in my carry-on. :)
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