Sweet relief

There are so many reasons we are here in Mexico and today typifies one. Pike has had a 103F/39.2C fever for three days. He has alternately had bad headache, no appetite (getting him to drink is difficult), stomach cramps (gone after the first day) and no energy. I figured the lack of energy was related to the fact that he is barely drinking and has eaten absolutely nothing.

This morning he showed me that his gums were quite red (not pink) and that really threw me for a loop as I’d been suspecting typhoid but his breath STUNKY STINKY AWFUL STINKINESS. It was really bad. I was going to head to the closest town, Puerto Adventuras, and find the lab person and bring them to the palapa to take a blood test from him. While this would so totally NOT fly in the US, it isn’t unheard of for even doctors to get a ride from the patient. So I figured the lab person would be pretty easy. Before I left however, and due to a weak 2nd battery (our van has 2 starting batteries and one is starting to die) and dirty air filter, I headed out to talk to some locals and see what they suggested. The locals all recommended a certain doctor, the office found a waiter who had his number and even called him for me (though I do have a phone). He seems to be the local doctor of choice while the ex-pats seem to use a different doctor. He was at the palapa before I could clean the trailer and immediately found Pike’s tonsils hugely enlarged and infected.

I can’t imagine WHY he never complained about throat pain!!! All this time of so many other pains but he never mentioned anything wrong with his throat. At any rate, we’re on a course of treatment; he checked Jesse and Sissy’s throats (as they’ve been down the last couple days) and proclaimed them fine. He did say that this cold weather we’ve had lately will probably put them down for a day or two. It is really VERY cold!

So, doctor’s visit, medicines in the boy and I expect we’ll be back to normal tomorrow. Sweet…