Slow First Week

Saturday March 19, 2011

12:47PM

Ugh....There’s really no other way to describe the way I have felt for the past few days. It started with abdominal pain in the middle of the night on the 15th and persisted throughout the next day. I wish there were symptoms consistent with a bacterial infection because, at least, that would be treatable. Feeling generally uncomfortable for most of the day is really unpleasant, especially when you add in being cold and dirty. I thought things were looking up this morning for a few hours, but as soon as I ate, it was back to square one. That seems to be the pattern that has developed. All in all, I haven’t really eaten much and am pretty sure I have lost a few pounds in the past 5 days. There has been a small amount of improvement and I’m sure things will declare themselves for better or worse in the next day or two.

Looking down on the clouds before
they swallow Pheriche

Mornings do seem to go ok and I was able to go out for a short walk yesterday. I got up early and hiked up the ridge behind the post that separates Pheriche and Dingboche. I didn’t think it went all that far, but after an hour plus of going up hill I was at over 15500ft and wasn’t even at the top. The clouds started to blow in, as they have everyday, and the temperatures subsequently dropped so I headed back down to the clinic. Along the way I passed 20 or so trekkers coming up the hill from Dingboche where it is apparently less windy and cold.

With the exception of the walk, none of us have strayed far from the clinic. We’re really a pretty pathetic lot as each of us is suffering from some ailment. Lauren has a GI bug; I have some sort of GI illness; and Alun has a GI bug and a cold. We spend most of the day moving from room to room looking for the warmest spot while reading books or playing the occasional card game. We started the Planet Earth series last night and episode 1 was a definite high spot for the week aside from the 2 hour period of sun that thawed out the pipes long enough for a quick shower. As you can imagine when a patient does show up they are practically assaulted by all three of us at the same time.

See Charlotte, I do know how

There have been a total of 12 patients in the past 4 days and really only one was sick. He was a trekker from Australia who needed us as he was suffering from pretty severe altitude sickness. By this morning he was good as new and left on his own two feet headed down-valley to Namche. The rest have been locals who have obviously been waiting since December for the doctor to arrive to discuss their fussy child, rash or cough. 3 of the 12 have been family members of our clinic manager, Ang Rita. 

Business will, no doubt, pick up at some point, but until then it’s work to keep occupied. Charlotte would be amazed to see how clean and organized my room is. I have swept it three times and reorganized it twice. I’ve also read 3 non-medical texts in the last week which doubles my total for 2011 and probably for the last 6-7 years as well. Today was laundry day and we did it all by hand, as the lodge that supposedly has a washing machine hasn’t yet opened for the season. Currently, it’s all hanging on the line outside enshrouded in icy clouds. It won’t get dry today but maybe the Himalayan fog will get it a little cleaner. Once we get over our respective illnesses, I suspect we’ll start dividing up the clinic time so cabin fever doesn’t set in. I’m looking forward to being able to explore the area a little more.