pneumonia in cambodia?

DISCLAIMER: This is a ridiculously long story. Do not feel the need to read it - but I figured that is what blogs are for right? I can't keep telling the same story over and over... so if you are interested read on. If not, no big whoop.

It all started when I stepped off the bus in Phnom Penh...I went to grab my bag from the bus and it was covered in fishy smelling water. I mean like soaked through the whole left shoulder strap plus side of bag. Gross. Got into a tuk tuk and felt something inside my skirt - went to grab it and discovered some sort of large insect or spider...and I squeezed it and it was juicy and I dropped it onto the street. Double gross. On the way to the guesthouse our driver took a corner and my bag flew into the filthy street - with fish liquid soaked in to help absorb it all. Now I was cranky. And beginning to feel a little feverish.

Suffered through lunch of what had to be Toombstone pizza while dipping my bandanna in my water glass and pressing it against my forehead. Made it through the day with help of ibuprofen - even somehow managed to walk around the killing fields for an hour. Once we returned to the hostel it was all over for me. Full blown fever. Bed-ridden for the night, promising to go to the International SOS clinic in the morning.

Into the clinic I went, pathetic and freezing on a hot and humid day. They took some blood and let me lie in a bed while they ran the tests. The nurse had to turn off the AC in the observation room which had 3 beds separated by curtains. Results!? All negative. Which was nice because it ruled out malaria, but also sucked because it gave me no answers. The recommendation: take 2 tylenol every 4 hours and come back on Monday. Thanks!

Saturday was another day of pain. Mostly bedridden, sweating yet freezing. But there were moments when I was feeling well enough to go in public and get a bottle of water. By this point my cough was starting up.

Sunday I was feeling pretty good when I woke up! Alright! Even made it to observe a traditional dance class at the Cambodian Living Arts school. Amazing. Then went out and attempted to eat lunch and even bought a ticket to Vietnam for Monday! Thought things were moving in the right direction. We attended a play that night "Break the Silence" which was an intense collection of true post Khmer Rouge survivor stories...I was having serious coughing fits during the show. Seriously almost had to remove myself from the audience. But toughed it out and then went right to bed.

Monday Jesse jumped on the bus at 8am - see you in Vietnam! I had to check in at the clinic one last time to get another blood test and make sure I was all clear from scary sicknesses. Then they also threw the chest x-ray at me. Which showed a problem, the center 1/3 of my right lung was white while the rest healthy lungs looked black. That meant infection, which meant pneumonia. I thought pneumonia was something that old people get, or at least people get in the winter time. But apparently I am capable of contracting it in South East Asia. Sweet. Treatment started with the most painful IV insertion I have ever experienced. Have you ever had an IV put on the inside of your wrist? This lady did not know what she was doing and it still feels odd two days later (and yes I am touching it as I write this to confirm).
Since I intended to fly to Vietnam I literally had my bags with me at the clinic. AND had forgotten about my nice tuk tuk driver, January, who was waiting outside for over 5 hours! Luckily he was still there and still smiling and helped me get back to check in once again to the Okay Guesthouse. He sealed the deal as my personal tuk tuk man.

Tuesday went back for my second IV treatment at SOS. Way better nurse this time, top of the hand and I don't even have a bruise from it. Did not see any doctors on this visit. January took me home to the Okay House and I stayed horizontal watching movie upon movie in the privacy of my own special room. Did I mention the pillows have my name written all over them? Literally - they say ROBIN ROBIN ROBIN all over them. How weird is that?

Wednesday = today! I went to get my follow up x-ray & final IV treatment. Feeling much better on the fever side but cough still pretty strong. I felt optimistic though. Wrong! There was not much improvement in the x-ray. I was crushed. The the doctor told me that I will either have to stay in Phnom Penh for another WEEK or get "evacuated" to Bangkok for a week where they have better resources to deal with my illness. I could think about it and return to the clinic in the afternoon to make final plans. Both options sucked but (after a little freak out) I reasoned with myself and decided on Bangkok. Just trying to focus on my health here.

I returned to the clinic around 2pm to meet with Dr Nelson and figure out the plan of attack. He had to go check with some colleagues to figure out insurance etc while I made my list titled: Evacuation to Bangkok. He returned and sat down across from me and tried to sound official. Officially? He is an idiot. The other doctors all agreed that I CAN go on to Vietnam. I just need to check in at another SOS clinic (in Saigon or Hanoi) on March 4th for another x-ray. At this point I became pissed off. Then he told me that I should leave and come back again at 5:30 to pick up my reports. I told him I would wait and literally made him show me his schedule for the afternoon to see where he could fit this "report" in - which, incidentally, is maybe two paragraphs long. So in the end he was apologizing in front of the whole waiting room while handing me my x-rays and I was telling him he is an idiot and should always double check with other physicians before recommending an evacuation.

So! I am really really leaving Cambodia tomorrow and heading to Vietnam. So excited for a change. Traveling with a backpack and a do-not-bend folder of x-rays should be interesting. But I am very happy to do it.

Thanks to everyone who has been concerned for my well being! I am seriously fine and just taking it easy this week so I can get the all clear on my next x-ray.