Tsutsugamushi

It seems that the mountains have gotten the better of me. After spending Saturday hiking, I had a bad headache and felt a little flu-like on Sunday. Monday was even worse, so at Joy's insistence, I went to the doctor. "It's probably just a bad cold," he said, "but if you develop any black spots on your skin, be sure to come back." He gave me some mystery pills and sent me on my way.

I felt marginally better on Tuesday, but on Tuesday night, I noticed a mysterious, sore, black pimple. It didn't quite look like the spot the doctor described to me, so I wasn't too concerned. However, on Wednesday, it continued to grow and become more painful. I went back to the doctor this morning, and sure enough, I have a case of tsutsugamushi, scrub typhus. It's contracted by being bitten by an infected chigger. Just my luck.

I felt pretty awful again today. T covered all but one of my classes, so I was able to spend most of the day at home in bed. I'm feeling slightly better tonight but still pretty bad. Headache, nausea, severe coughing, body aches, fever, chills, fatigue, and a very sore black spot. The doctor loaded me up with antibiotics and said I should start feeling better by Saturday. I sure hope so. The weather is beautiful these days, and everything is in bloom, so I want to be outside admiring the cherry trees, not cooped up at home.