In the wee hours this morning I woke up, engulfed by a spasming back. I stretched and rested, over and over for about an hour until I could go back to sleep. I let myself sleep another 2 hours and then decided that I would heed the warning my body has been giving me and took a day off to rest. I've done nothing strenuous today, either with body or mind.

I was getting too caught up in the editing and not taking enough breaks from all the sitting. This was the second time in two days that I woke to such, but this morning was far worse.

So. Warning heeded. I don't want to backslide so soon after getting back on my feet again.

Bjarni called me this afternoon. It was lovely to hear his voice but I admit I was very surprised to get a call in the middle of the afternoon. I had an inkling that something was up. I just had no idea what. But he proceeded to tell me. In the next phone booth, Ewelina was on another line to her family.

Bjarni wanted to warn me before I read the newest entry on his blog. He has typhoid fever. He and Ewelina both got a shot for typhoid before they began their vacation. Evidently, the shots are only 50 to 80% effective.

Bjarni started feeling a low grade fever and cold-like symptoms a week ago. By then, they were in Peru and thinking of plunging into the Amazon jungle. But they ended up staying in Yurimaguas (a jump point for boats at a junction of two rivers flowing towards the Amazon) to see if Bjarni got better or not. He didn't. When he started aching, developing a higher fever, and suffering from diarrhea, he went to a doctor where all sorts of tests were done with the upshot that he had typhoid. He registered 1/80 (not sure what exactly was measured). 1/300 is severely dangerous, so Bjarni's case is mild according to his doctor.

He got 3 shots immediately, and was put on a 10 day course of meds for the typhoid. Ewelina is fine so far. He and Ewelina plan to stay where they are until Monday, at least. If he feels better, they'll decide whether to continue on into the jungle or head to Lima. If he is feeling no better (or worse), he will go back to the doctor and/or Lima (where there are more doctors and hospitals, etc).

It was pretty scary to hear all this - still is - but Bjarni is being prudent and they are being watchful; he is staying calm and they will do what is best, but they intend to continue their big adventure, given the opportunity. As Bjarni put it, it was a 'once in a lifetime' chance to take such a trip and they were determined to enjoy it to the fullest.

I don't blame them. But I wish it did not involve such health risks. Sigh.

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