Pest or Cholera - what to choose?

I'm feeling poorly, as my friend E would say. Yesterday, I went ahead with a very hectic work day, from 9am to 11pm (!), despite already feeling that I was catching some kind of flu. I took a couple of Cold & Flu capsules just before getting into bed at midnight and hoped I'd be much better after a good night's sleep.

After eight hours' sleep, all the symptoms are still there except the fever, so I lightly told Virgo "If I hadn't left Ghana two weeks ago, I'd have thought I had malaria". To which he responded that I'd better check the incubation period for malaria, it might just be that. So naturally, with my good friend Google, I started investigating. My symptoms yesterday were: fever, chills, muscle aches, headaches and nausea throughout the day (Imagine spending half of the day on the London Underground with that?!). According to a malaria website the symptoms for malaria are:
"Early or Uncomplicated Symptoms of Malaria
In the first stages of the disease, most people have early malaria symptoms that can include:


Fever
Sweats
Shaking chills
Headaches
Tiredness
Muscles aches
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea. "

The website states that the normal incubation period is 10 days to 4 weeks. Hm, it's not looking good. Would it be too optimistic of me to think that because I did not have any sweats or diarrhoea I can eliminate any malaria worries?

Whilst I lie here in bed, pleading "Please don't be malaria, please be the flu" I hope you have a lovely Tuesday!

Hi

Back again, slightly better. The weekend was strange. Woke up on Saturday feeling a bit off, slightly tired. Towards midday I was shivering, feverish, stiff shoulders and neck and drifting in and out of sleep. Then, for about an hour I felt completely well and mentally started making Saturday plans. However, very quickly I was back to shivering, fever and drowsiness. Stayed in bed until Mensah drove me to H & S's house. There, I longed for a nice woolly jumper whilst S talked about how hot it was. Stayed up later than I wanted to because it felt anti-social going to bed too early (why think of such things when sick?!?).

Then on Sunday I woke up after a very good night's rest, feeling revitalised with not an ache or ailment in sight. It was so odd, I couldn't help but wonder if i was sooo sick I thought I was well.

Had lunch at Akinyi's in the Silver Bells estate, managed to visit the Poet's for the first time and saw K's new car. Stayed in the Regimanuel area the whole day and really enjoyed the day.

Then, Monday morning: shivering, joint aches, drowsiness and dizziness. What's going on???!

Suspect it's malaria, as this clearly is malaria season (which season isn't?) and my body is currently covered in mosquito bites after mosquitos have attempted to turn every piece of my body into their own personal victory hill over the past few days. But at least I'm glad to be back online. ;)

Fourth of the fourth

Yesterday's post never came up due to internet problems. Here it is:

Today is a day of celebration and remembrance for many. Happy birthday to the lovely Maya Angelou who turns eighty today, hope there are many more years (and books to come). My friend H also has her birthday today, haven't spoken to her in ages but sent her a text. It seems there are many birthdays out there that fall on the 4/4.


Today is also forty years since Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered. The article mentions that for years Maya didn't celebrate her birthday because her dear friend died on it.


What a wonderful legacy Martin Luther King Jr. left behind him, do you think he could imagine that already, in less than half a century from when blacks and whites could not sit together on a bus, we are on the brink of (possibly) having a Black president of the United States?

Today would also have been Heath Ledger's 29th birthday. Do you think he imagined in mid-January that he would not make it here?






And there sits a two year old girl who'll sadly not remember much of her father when she grows up. Hopefully watching his movies, that showcase his wonderful talent will help keep that memory alive.

Today I also took a step towards the end of a short era in my life. The letter was handed over, now time will tell what the future holds.

Spent the evening at H Lodge where auntie M had a little get together to celebrate her latest purchase. Just home now, feeling very tired. After shivering so much at work to the point where I earned the nickname Benazir Bhutto (how could anyone be offended by that?), because of how I wrapped myself in my pashmina, and feeling as exhausted as I do now, I just hope and wish that it is not malaria. Will see how I feel after a good night's sleep tomorrow. I say a good night's sleep but unfortunately the frog/cricket sing-along has already begun.