2 AM in the morning on Friday, I woke up with stomach pain and feeling the need to go to the bathroom.  Let’s just say that I was in the bathroom for about an hour to two hours.  No need to explain the details.

I called my parents since my dad is a doctor, and I wanted a second opinion on whether I should get medical attention since I’d already been taking Cipro for two days.  My dad said that I should definitely see a doctor.  I left a note under Jana’s door explaining what happened and that I needed to see a doctor ASAP and to explain it to my host mother.  I also told her that if I’m not awake when she’s awake, she and my host mother should wake me up in the morning.

Both Jana and my host mother woke me up in the morning, and the minute I opened my eyes, I saw their facial expressions as if they were really concerned.  Within a half hour, we were out of the house and headed to the hospital to which my travel insurance told me to go as it was covered by my insurance plan.  Fortunately, the hospital happened to be only a five minute walk!

When I first arrived at the hospital, I was amazed by how clean and modern it looked.  It was also brightly lit.  I have admit that I was expecting to see a very gloomy atmosphere with paint peeling off the walls and dim lights because of what I’ve been seeing throughout Cusco and also because Peru is considered a third-world country.  However, it was not at all!  The hospital was just as modern as the hospitals I have visited in my home country.

I had a blood test, and I was also supposed to have a stool test, but was unable to do it due to being on anti-diarrhea medicine.  Shortly after the blood test, I met with a doctor.  As soon as I sat down with her, she said:

“You have Typhoid Fever.”

I almost fainted.  “I had a vaccine for Typhoid Fever,” I told her.

“Vaccines usually don’t work,” she said.

“So, is this treatable?” I asked.

“You just need to take these medications…”‘ she said.  She continued by giving me instructions on which medication I should take, and when I should take them.  She sounded as if the illness was something that I shouldn’t fret over, and she said that Typhoid Fever is very common in Peru and treatable with medication.

After visiting the doctor, I went to the pharmacy with my host mother and Jana to pick up the prescription medicines and bottles of Gatorade to get fluid in my body.

As soon as I got back to my host family’s home, I called my mother to give her updates.  The minute she heard “Typhoid Fever,” she FREAKED out by saying, “WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO???”  and a few moments later, she hung up to call my dad.  A few minutes later, I called my mom back to see what my dad had to say, and, as a typical mother, she continued to freak out some more by saying, “I WANT YOU TO COME HOME!”  I burst into tears when she said it.

After my parents talked to a few doctors, they all said that my diagnosis seemed to be incorrect because diarrhea does not exist with Typhoid Fever.  Plus, I was supposed to have a fever, and according to my temperature which the doctor took, she said that it was normal.  Jana also told me that my host mother told Jana that she thinks that the diagnosis is wrong too.

So, I’m going to go back to the hospital this week to do another different test to try to get more accurate information.

Otherwise, I’m feeling much better today than I was yesterday.  Unfortunately, I had to cancel my trip to Machu Picchu as I needed a day to relax and to take an easy so that I don’t get a relapse.  However, I’m going to reschedule it to one of the days during the week.  Next weekend, I’m going to Manu, a rainforest in Peru, for four days and three nights to gain a greater appreciation of ecology and to say to people in my home country that I’ve been to the rainforest and these are the reasons that it’s important to conserve the rainforests….

I feel tremendously fortunate to be staying in Cusco for a month as not only do I have plenty of time to recover from my illness, but also to reschedule my canceled tours.  When I travel overseas, I never like to stay in a country for less than two weeks.  I have to be in the country for more than two weeks just in case I experience issues like this, and of course, also really to immerse myself in another culture!

I also couldn’t have thanked enough my host mother and Jana who both came to the hospital with me and waited with me during the entire visit and also spoke to the doctor to ensure they know what they can do to take care of me.  Last night, my host mother made wonderful homemade chicken soup which tasted very delicious.

Also, another beauty of staying with a host family is that, at least f I get sick, I’m resting in a home-atmosphere rather than in a hostel!

UPDATE JULY 12:  I went to the hospital today to drop off the stool sample and to get my test results.  After getting my test results, I contacted my parents and gave them the details.  My dad contacted the travel doctor in my home country, and she said that I have the typical bacterial infection and to stay on Cipro until it clears up.  The doctor said that it’s almost impossible not to get traveler’s diarrhea.  So, hopefully, it will clear up soon!  Keep your fingers crossed please!