For the past week, I have been sequestered in my room. Maligned by an intermittent fever, chills, and cold sweats as well as a progressively irritant throat, I have enforced a bed barricade. The only folly to this course of action was my mattress, which can be most generously described as a hay bail, and my bedspring, which is non-existent. On the positive side, the seclusion provided ample time to reflect … unfortunately, my mind was dominated by thoughts seated on the hardness my bed (… and clearly ideas for the title of this post).
Regardless after three days of lacklustre improvement, I was taken to the hospital, where the on-call doctor concluded the plausibility of malaria. However, my confidence in the diagnosis was shaken a little when I suggested the possibility of tonsillitis, which prompted a reaction equivalent to the mental thought of “Oh, didn’t think of that.” I was tested for malaria the following day. Happily, the test was negative; although sadly, I still felt like an overheated Easy-Bake Oven … and I certainly wasn’t cooking taste bit-sized treats with which to improve my health, or at least my mood.
None-the-wiser, I was taken to another doctor after malaria was put to rest as an option. However, the diagnoses continued with the extreme, as tuberculosis was now on my menu. This heralded even more tests. By the time they were complete, I had enough tracks to begin resembling a junkie from Stanley Park. (Yes, I am guilty of hyperbole … but I just could not resist!) Fortunately with regards to TB, the tests all made like electrons and returned negative (… also couldn’t resist that one). However, the fresh round of needle pricks, including a colossal one to my neck, did confirm that I had contracted a viral fever. I was put on antibiotics and am now more or less the picture of moderate health.
Regardless after three days of lacklustre improvement, I was taken to the hospital, where the on-call doctor concluded the plausibility of malaria. However, my confidence in the diagnosis was shaken a little when I suggested the possibility of tonsillitis, which prompted a reaction equivalent to the mental thought of “Oh, didn’t think of that.” I was tested for malaria the following day. Happily, the test was negative; although sadly, I still felt like an overheated Easy-Bake Oven … and I certainly wasn’t cooking taste bit-sized treats with which to improve my health, or at least my mood.
None-the-wiser, I was taken to another doctor after malaria was put to rest as an option. However, the diagnoses continued with the extreme, as tuberculosis was now on my menu. This heralded even more tests. By the time they were complete, I had enough tracks to begin resembling a junkie from Stanley Park. (Yes, I am guilty of hyperbole … but I just could not resist!) Fortunately with regards to TB, the tests all made like electrons and returned negative (… also couldn’t resist that one). However, the fresh round of needle pricks, including a colossal one to my neck, did confirm that I had contracted a viral fever. I was put on antibiotics and am now more or less the picture of moderate health.
