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So a few weeks ago, this happened.

And even though it didn’t really matter what version of mosquito-born illness I contracted, I did follow through with my doctor’s advice and went to the lab for a blood test and to pee in a cup. Always a treat.

And, in the usual island fashion, since my tests two weeks ago, I’ve heard nothing. No phone call. No mail (of course, island mail delivery being what it is, I could still receive something six months from now). Nada. Just crickets.

So today I finally got around to chasing down the results. More for idle curiosity at this point, since I feel much, much better. But still, since everyone I know here seems to have come down with the rash/fever/joint pain illness, it seems worthy to know exactly what I had. You know, so I can join in the next round of “name your island illness.”

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This is not my actual island doctor.

Off I went to my doctor’s office. After much checking and discussion among the nurses, the final conclusion was…no results there. They suggested I just go to the lab and see if they had them. Uh, well I hope so. But after five years of island living, I never take anything for granted anymore.

The distinct possibility of never knowing what affliction I had started to occur to me.

But on I pushed…to the lab. I am ever the optimist.

More keyboard typing, a few phone calls, and someone sent on a mission….to eventually produce a two-page printout, which they kindly sealed in an envelope before handing it over to me.

So out to my jeep I went where, of course, I ripped open the envelope and scanned the results. Everything in English…that was a pretty good start. No Google Translate needed. The anticipation was building. Almost like the Academy Awards…and the award goes to…

Dengue.

I feel like there should be a prize or something for this knowledge. I guess I’ll just take feeling better as the reward. And hope that trend continues.

P.S. Although the chikungunya test was negative, there is no mention of zika on the report at all (nor any reference to the urine sample)…so a tiny bit of mystery remains. This, my friends, is what island medicine is all about.

 

 

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