Sickness on the Road...Again!

Ok, so the first time I got sick on the road I had to return back home due to a perceived illness. That was rather unpleasant, to be rather mild about my description of the experience. Fortunately, it turned out to be something very simple, easily rectified, and therefore I was able to return to traveling within relatively short order.

Unfortunately for me, it seems to be happening again.

Of course, I only mean the sickness part of it, not the returning home part. I'll be damned if I let another non-life threatening medical situation take me away from my travels again. But of course, it couldn't have happened at a worse time, regardless of how seriously uncomfortable it is. I refer to the bane of hostels, dirty lodgings, and beds alike...

Bed-bugs!

Yes, those nasty little buggers chewed me to pieces nearly six days ago now, and of course, I have to pay the price for it. I guess that's what I get when I didn't research my lodgings well enough. I even had places vacant where I had stayed before with no ill effects. But oh no, I had to go with my manly gut and say "Bah, this will be fine for a few days. Uh huh, yeah, right. First night and second night, I was chewed to pieces, or so I figure, as I didn't change rooms till the third night I think. Regardless, the buggers did one hell of a job on me.

I'm quite well chewed from head to foot. In fact, to completely precise about the whole thing I have bites on my toes, feet, ankles, shins, calves, quads, knees, hamstrings, lower back, chest, shoulders, arms, hands and fingers. Frankly, the only spots not bitten, itching, and driving me insane are my mid-torso, butt and head. Ya know, when I first got bit I figured, 'Alright, it won't be so bad. Just some bug bites, nothing to it.'

Yeah, right!

To put it in perspective, I've had hives before, and these bites definitely rank right up there or even worse than the hives and shingles. I think I'd rather have one of my fingers bitten off by a rabid monkey than go through this. Why? Well, because it's one of those pains and annoyances that you can't ignore, no matter how hard you try. You can't work around it, you can't remove it, and you can't cure it. Being actually sick with the flu is preferable to this! At least then you feel run-down enough to lie in bed, drink copious amounts of fluids and get some much deserved rest. But no, I have to have something that bothers me when I sleep, when I put on clothes, shoes, etc, and even when I eat. When I move in any way, shape, or form the blasted things hurt and grate like nothing else on my nerves.

Normally, see, fly bites go away in a day or two. No harm done, right? But these...welts I guess I should call them, have been sticking around for the last six days now. And the antihistamines and creams I have been applying and consuming don't seem to be doing any good either. Well, if you deem putting me to sleep rather quickly at night, making me groggier during the day, and making me feel all greasy all over, then yes, they are doing some good.

Bah!

Oh, but wait, there's more! For a limited time offer with your bed bug bites, you too can have your very own Easter Weekend! That's right folks, for the entire weekend, including Monday, you too can have no access to doctors of any sort to seek further council and advice. And all this comes at the low, low price of a one night stay at your local dingy hostel. Just call 555-BITE to order this package now!

How's that for sarcastic marketing humor! Hah!

Alright, I'm good for now. Catch you guys later.

Neal

P.S. If you have any advice of how to clear these up quicker, let me know now and I will forever be indebted to you! Seriously! It's that bad! :P