Lauren: Dizziness, nausea, cramps, vomiting, muscle aches, mild headaches. You name it, this week I had it. I saw it all: The blog would be renamed to "Just Aneya in Chile", letters of condolence being sent to my parents. We went from travelling the streets of Santiago, to staying home, hardly moving. Poor Aneya was stuck in the apartment with miserable me, while I just tried very hard to hold still.
Aneya: I just felt so helpless. Here was Lauren, in obvious pain, and there was nothing I could do to help her. We tried to brainstorm together. What had she eaten that I hadn't? She really hadn't eaten much at all. Being a vegetarian in Chile is harder than she thought, as everything seems to come with a surprise hunk of meat in it. Lauren had been mostly eating bread with palta, salads, vegetables, and the like.
Lauren: It started Monday, and unable to trace the source of my illness I just stopped eating and drinking all together, probably only exacerbating my sickness. Anytime I tried to eat, I felt super nauseous. Especially vegetables. I was simultaneously starving and desperate to eat something, but repelled by anything that I ate. It was complete misery. I'm sure I was not the face Aneya wanted to see across the dinner table.
Aneya: For some reason Lauren was really craving mashed potatoes, but ended getting a salad with rice instead (I'm telling you, ordering here is tricky!) She looked like she was about to throw up with every miserable bite. I sat in front of her, eating my ham sandwich, trying to think of what food she could eat, because she was obviously starving. But I was drawing a blank. Everything was making her nauseous.
Lauren: Mashed potatoes sounded amazing. My dad thinks they're God's gift to man ("They're just the perfect food. Everything you need".) And it seemed like something bland that might actually stick.
Of course, my first thought was "I need to call my mother." But before that, I called Daniela, asked about good over-the-counter products in Chile, and she recommended what the pharmacist said when we visited: these drops in a small vile. The only catch was that you couldn't eat for 24 hours, which seemed like it would only make the dizziness situation worse. Aneya suggested we turn this into an international situation, and soon phone calls were placed to different parents in Santa Monica, Las Vegas, and Marseille, France.
My mom said to listen to a pharmacist "who looks like he knows what he's talking about," and maybe abide by a strict BRAT diet. It might not be drinking the water, but eating things rinsed in water, like vegetables.
Aneya: I called my dad in Las Vegas, who, as usual, overreacted. He then called up his "medical team" of specialists, who were put on the phone to assess Lauren's symptoms. The whole thing was just crazy. One nurse told us she needed to go to the hospital, asap, and get an IV fluid in her, because she was seriously dehydrated. She also said she'd need antibiotics, stat!
Lauren: Aneya's dad, Tilak, was very kind and genuinely concerned. He could hear my low energy over the phone, and things weren't looking good. He suggested that Aneya rub limes on my feet, a technique done around the world, apparently do it and it works wonders. I wasn't exactly sure how Aneya would feel about that.
Aneya: My dad then suggested that I get some limes and rub them on Lauren's feet. "People do it everywhere!" He protested. Because that wouldn't be awkward at all. Next thing I know he'd tell me to sprinkle a warm bowl of water over her belly. These people weren't helping at all!
Lauren: So, since we were already international, we thought we'd get Aneya's mother, Terri, on the line and run the symptoms by her. She thought that a visit to the homeopathic pharmacy was in order. Seeing as this was the less harsh option (compared to hospitalization, getting an IV inserted, rubbing limes on my feet), we decided to follow this course plus the BRAT diet.
It was, of course, a "we" situation. Although it was my sickness, Aneya and I have started making all major decisions. "We're hungry," "We could go for a sammich," (Aneya: This is how I pronounce "sandwich". And now Lauren does too). "We think he's cute," "We should go to the homeopathic store."
Aneya: I was so glad I called my mother. Finally, a rational perspective on all this craziness. She was very calm about the whole thing (as she always is) and told us that she wasn't surprised the vegetables made Lauren sick, as they could be filled with pesticides or be rinsed in dirty water. (Apparently, when we'd gone to Nepal, they told us to stay away from all produce. I don't remember this, I was only 6 or 7).
Lauren: There was a consensus among the mothers: It was the produce. My friend the vegetable had turned on me. All I eat is fruits, vegetables, grains, and light dairy. If I can't eat my produce, then what?
We decided a homeopathic store was the least harsh alternative, and made a quick run to the homeopathic store (of which there are many).
Aneya: My mom also suggested Lauren ask the pharmacist if this was a common travel's sickness, and to be very clear about all her symptoms. We thanked her and made our way to the Homeopathic pharmacy, praying they could help.
And that they did. The men working there were every sweet and patient, and listened intently as Lauren listed all her various symptoms. They then got out those tiny little bottles filled with little white pills and told her which to take, and when. And voila! A cure was found!
Lauren: I was given three bottles of different homeopathic remedies for nausea, dizziness + nausea, and something else. I was a bit wary of the price, since in LA homeopathic medicines are exorbitant, but all three bottles cost me about $4.
Now, abiding by my BRAT diet, taking my pills regularly, and hydrating again, it seems I (hopefully) am well on the road to recovery ... with a couple of bumps in the road.
-- Aneya & Lauren
I love the comic-like pictures to go with the story.
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