An Interesting Few Weeks

Hello again people, finally getting round to this after quite a rough few weeks.

When last posted things were going great, but things changed pretty drastically. After getting back to the island was looking forward to getting on with my diving after passing. After a good few days things rapidly started to go wrong though. Was feeling a little fatigued so decided to only do one dive on Wednesday, so after waiting all day i was very annoyed when as i waded out to the boat and kicked to get in a submerged rock/shell took a large chunk out of the bottom of my left foot, leaving it a bloody mess. So had to get straight back off the boat and go get it cleaned. After Nat (the medic) looked it over was told to stay out of the water for at least a few days. This was very frustrating, but can't rush healing on the island and i didn't want it to get infected, so decided to take a few days chill time.

So having spent several days reading and chillin in the hammocks was feeling ready to get back in the water. It was at this point though that instead of feeling refreshed from my rest i started to feel progressively more tired and run down. Talked to Nat and she said that i was coming down with 'Island Fever' and it should pass in a few days. The Weekend came and went and i began to feel more tired and was needing a nap in the afternoon just to keep awake.

Despite this still had an amazing birthday on wednesday, Nic suggested i try filming from the boat in the morning and then when i got back he'd organized and surprise party complete with a full roast pig which was awesome. Unfortunately i felt so tired i slept through most of the rest of the day and then when got up for the evening Sarah made me go back to bed as I'd come down with a raging fever. Clearly at this point i was not well but Nat assured me it would pass.

The next few days are just a blur of muddled thoughts, sweating, chills, headaches and sleeping. Finally decided that i needed to get off the island as i was no longer eating and drinking enough to replace how much i was sweating out was becoming impossible. Once back on the mainland i checked my symptoms and thinking i might have become too dehydrated started to drink electrolyte drinks and plenty of cold water. By Sunday morning though it was clear this wasn't working, as my symptoms continued to get worse. Finally after a bout of chills kept me shivering for nearly 1hour i decided to seek a second opinion on this 'Island fever' and with Sarah helping, made it to a local clinic.

At this point the seriousness of my condition worsened and after a blood test and x-ray i was diagnosed with Malaria and acute Bronchitis. The next 4 days were spent lying in the clinic on a drip, taking various pills and watching so much rubbish TV it wasn't funny. However as i sit and type this for you all to read i am officially a cured man :D
Still not exactly full strength and apparently a lot thinner, i am on the road to recovery and am planning to return to the island this weekend.

So after this bout of excitement i will wish you all the best, and a hearty chow for now and here's hoping these next few weeks are an improvement on the past few :P