Update: Yesterday ( Wednesday) we couldn’t take the pain anymore. It was our 24th day with our second relapse. All of our local friends told us to get Valerpan injections, a type of steroid. They have been almost pain-free since their injections for months after the injections. I have been nursing my aches with natural teas, vitamins, and Aleve at night…to no avail. Nothing relieved our pains.
So, we sucked it up and went to the pharmacy to buy the Valerpan and the syringes. I laughed at the display case in the front of the pharmacy because it contained every drug known to man that would help to alleviate Chikungunya symptoms.
We purchased two vials of Valerpan, after googling the adverse side-effects, which by the way are few. We also purchased syringes and Meloxicam pills, an effective drug that can enter the small joints where the virus is trapped and release the toxins. For $18 total, we were stocked up and ready to experiment with our new medications. No doctor’s appointment or prescriptions were needed.
Our expat nurse friend, Theresa, administered our injections. She took the Valerpan about a month ago, and is almost symptom-free. She told us to expect relief in 2-4 hours. I was exhausted after our trip into town, so I fell asleep on the couch when we returned home. Three hours later, Ron and I both began to notice less arthritic pain. This morning we are almost pain-free.
I have been born again. Hallelujah! I have so much energy from the steroid, but I’m going to take it easy and not overdo. I decided to take the Valerpan injections during the full moon phase, because that’s when my body rids itself of lots of water. I am a Cancer and greatly affected by the full moon.
So far, so GREAT! I am saving the Meloxicam pills for a time when I may need them to reduce additional inflammation and arthritic pain. I will be sure to keep you updated on our progress.
I feel like my life is spiraling out of control…
and I blame Chikungunya. Ron and I have had extremely painful relapses and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. If you’ve never experienced chronic pain, I will try to describe what it feels like with my pictures of our Chikungunya vacation to Guatemala.
You Know You Have Chikungunya When…
…you’ve mastered the walk like a zombie
…you can’t brush your teeth because you can’t hold a toothbrush, or any other brush
…you must have help to button clothes or put on a bra
…your tennis shoes don’t fit anymore because your ankles and feet are swollen
…there is an obnoxious metallic taste in your mouth
…it is painful to hug and to clap and you feel like a stiff mannequin
…people laugh when they see you trying to walk because they have been through the same thing
…coffee cups and cell phones slip out of your useless hands
…stairs and hills are taken one excruciating baby step at a time
…the toilet seat is lower than you remember it being
…and you can’t wipe your butt, so you resort to using the shower like a bidet
…new sounds come out of your mouth like UGGGG and HUMPFFFF when you try to move
…you resort to grunting instead of talking
…you have a little chat at the tomb of Saint Pedro the healer about this nasty disease with the weird name
…your life is a tangle of new pains every day
…you cry after reading that symptoms can last over a year
…deep sleep is only a dream of the past
…rest is the only solace and comfort in your day
…a blanket-like fog covers your brain
…it is impossible to sit for more than 10 minutes because of the pain in your hips and upper legs
Yet, Chikungunya has taught me new things and broadened my horizons.
…you can pronounce and spell C-H-I-K-U-N-G-U-N-Y-A like a champ
…you learn to type 30 words a minute with one finger
…you are fascinated by scientific studies of chronic pain and you know every arthritic drug by its Latin name
There is light at the end of the tunnel because
…you begin to understand and empathize with people who endure chronic pain
…you learn patience and to live life one day at a time, always hopeful for a better day tomorrow
The better days will come. I am sure of it.
This is an excellent blog if you are interested in reading about the symptoms of Chikungunya. My Chikungunya Blog
Feel free to add to my list if you have had Chickungunya or are experiencing this debilitating disease now.
Sounds like Arthritis which I have been battling for 22 years – all of those symptoms have happened to me, just not all at once. Different parts work/fail to work at different times. I’m glad the steroids work and don’t cause any horrible side effects and that it will only last a year. But your post is sure making me rethink Nicaragua – mosquitos love me!
Haha. Don’t worry too much. They are developing a vaccination and hopefully will have one soon. There is a new vaccination for Dengue.
That’s good to know – as I get older I figure I’m enough of a mess as it is without having to deal with mosquito borne diseases!
So glad you’re finding relief, just keep a check on your BP and glucose. Had a really bad bacteria infection that took 4 weeks on different antibiotics. Afterwards did a detox to rid my body and organs of whatever had accumulated there. Felt better after.
Daily morning detox- 19 days
mix all in 8 oz water
1 TBS lime juice
1 TBS apple cider vinegar
1 tsp pure honey
1/8 tsp turmeric
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp rosemary
Stay well amigos
Thanks for the detox recipe. This will be perfect. We have all the ingredients. 🙂
I’m glad you’ve found some relief and can continue to sound upbeat, but it sounds like an awful affliction!
Sandra, you can’t imagine what it is like unless you have it. I am sooo upbeat today because the fog and the pain have disappeared. Thanks for your kind thoughts.
Ugh, hard to click like on this one. I hope you feel better! What a pain… literally. I’m sorry you are going through this, but glad to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor.
Kris, check out my update. It is a miracle. I am so buzzed on steroids now that I have tons of energy. haha
Oh wow, wonderful news! I’m so glad you found something to give you relief. You have definitely suffered enough, so I hope this is the end of it.
I’m so glad that you found relief. Will the one injection be enough?
Saludos,
Don Cuevas
I hope so. If the pain returns and it is not as intense, I have the Meloxicam pills to wash out the synovial fluid in the small joints. Keep you fingers crossed. So far, so good.
Sounds absolutely awful! Is it caused by mosquitos? Did you get it in Nicaragua or Guatemala? I didn’t mention yet to you but I’m invited on a press trip to an all women’s surf camp this February in Nicaragua! I am planning on going and it is on the pacific coast.
Nicole, it is the most bizarre disease I have ever encountered. Yes, it is caused by a nasty mosquito bite. We both got it in Nicaragua in July, and we had our second relapse the 4th of October, right before we went to Guatemala.
Oh, Nicole, I am so excited. Will you be near San Juan del Sur? That is very close to us and only a ferry and a bus ride away. We are definitely going to meet. I will guarantee you.
That sounds awful!!! Mosquitos love me so I have to be very careful. Yes!!!! I am going to San Juan Del Sur and looked to see how far it is to you! I would love to meet you both!!!! I can email you the details offline. I haven’t booked the flight yet as I wanted a little extra time there. Please email me and we can connect!!! Trip is around February 23…😄
I am thrilled!!! Sending you an email now.
Me too!!! Can’t wait to finally meet you Debbie!
Ah Deborah you did it! Love it. Better than I imagined. I love how you used photos from your trip. I laughed super hard at the tomb of San Pedro. Did you leave him liquor or a cigar as others do? Girlfriend we WILL get thru this! I have to say I have a benefit! Hypothyroid or not, former athlete and now doing nothing, it has given me a wonderful gift of 0 interest in food. I drink my food now. A batido in the morning. One at night. My older kids ask me, did you eat today? Are you eating? Don’t forget to eat….you won’t get better. Losing weight without hardly moving, finally 6lbs down in just over a month. I call it my Chikungunya benefit.
You go girl. Read my update. I couldn’t take it anymore, so we got the Valerpan injections. It’s a miracle. Time will tell if we have a worse relapse, but I had to have some relief. I have the Meloxicam pills at hand should we notice an increase in the pain.
Just did a quick study….
for travellers concerned and u should be ,,,, this is the fasting spreading dis ease ,,straight from Africa its hitting the Carribean , America , AND parts of central america,,,google it!!!!!!
ULTRATHON 33 % DEET AND ULTRA 30 ™ -30% DEET THESE ARE THE BEST TO BUY..AND USE …..
Stay away from bodies of water that attract mosquitos ,,,dawn and sunset hours,,,when they come out ….ALSO OIL OF LEMON ,,,EUCALYPTUS,,,,AND
para-menthane-diol products ..can be used
BUT THE””” DEET””” IS A MUST ,,DO NOT SPRAY YOUR BODY UNDER CLOTHES!!
USE A NETTING OVER YOUR BED ……AND KEEP ALL MOSQUITOS OUT OF HOUSE ..
This is a worldwide dis ease folks….
Hope its helpful….
Thanks so much for this info, Heidi. Yes, during the rainy season we all need to take precautions. But, no matter how many precautions we take, we seem to get all the nasty mosquito born diseases because we can’t live in a bubble. I think it is to be expected if you live in a tropical country, sooner than later you will get some form of a tropical disease.
So sorry to hear of your relapse. Chronic pain can be so debilitating and I hope that you’ll see some relief in the very near future. Anita
Anita, read my update!!! It is a miracle. Maybe my little chat with Saint Pedro helped. lol
Sorry to hear ,,I will have healing prayers sent your way…have faith ,,,stay in hope ,,your very positive ,,,u will be cured .
Light ,
Heidi
Thanks mi amiga.
have had it since dec..mostly in my hands..still cant close my left hand..rt. hand will close now in to a fist..it moves around..shoulders ankles..and tired all the time..its not fun
Andrew, did you take any medicines for it? If so, what?
Oh Debbie, I’m so sad to hear this. But as always you somehow find a way to embrace the positive 🙂 . I’m sending you lots of healing thoughts and praying that the discomfort subsides soon! Hugs from Panama!
Let me tell you Holly! I am wired on steroids now and a ball of energy. Life is fun again. Read my update.
Which, so far, are the most effective analgesics?
Saludos,
Don Cuevas
We explored them all and the Valerpan injections did the trick. Read my update. I read your email, and I have a long letter coming your way. Hugs to you my dear friend.
ahem.. i’m in the hostal right now w/toothbrush in my mouth and hands free b/c that and a hair brush feel foreign in my hand. the body protests, ‘nooooo!’ and yes, we chuckle and can spot that chikungunya waddle from blocks away.
a hot bath helps me a lot,,
when my pain was worse (back in june) i had spikes of high blood pressure. i realized later that it was pain related, and now all’s fine. mine is more discomfort now instead of the dreaded attempts to bend a hands, fingers or ankles. … my fingers swell at times, but my feet and ankles have not. metallic taste – bingo, didn’t connect that w/chikV. are you losing any hair?
https://playamart.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/lifes-teachers/
and the sample of the epidemic at the local clinic:
https://playamart.wordpress.com/2015/05/12/an-epidemic-and-the-local-clinic/
gotta run see what’s happening at el matal. i didn’t sleep last night (working on photos and the post) so will return for a long nap!
Lisa, read my latest update. I know that everyone has different reactions with this nasty disease. I tried for almost 4 months to go totally natural with my relief with teas, vitamins, lots of rest, and Aleve at night so I could sleep. But, nothing worked. The steroid injections were a life saver for me. Hugs to you my dear friend.