On Tuesday morning I woke up with a small red rash on my chin and the left corner of my mouth that was very itchy. By Tuesday evening when I looked in the mirror to do my make-up for Gorgeous Man’s staff function I noticed that it had spread somewhat and the area under my left eye had also started to swell.
Wednesday morning saw the left side of my face and all of my chin covered in a scaly rash and my left eye was now swollen half shut. Gorgeous Man drove me to the clinic. Visiting the doctor is a little different from home. I announced myself to the receptionist, after she entered my details into the computer I was called up to the counter to pay in advance for my consultation with the doctor. I’m pretty sure this clinic bills on a sliding scale as I noticed “expat” next to my billing details. Still, it’s not expensive. After that I waited to see the doctor. She examined me and sent me off for a blood test and an injection.
To get this done I needed to take the request for a blood test to reception, pay for the test and then go around to the blood taking room and get the blood drawn. He was really good and found the vein first time, with no pain and no bruising afterwards. Next I had to take my script to the pharmacy and I was given two bags of medicine. One contained the tablets to take home and the other was the injection which I needed to take to the treatment room.
The nurses in the treatment room struggled to find my veins, the third time resulting in a massive bruise I still have five days later. After three attempts she went and got the doctor who found the vein and administered the injection.
By Thursday morning I looked like this.
Photo does not show the true extent of the redness and swelling. She did say that it would take a few days for the swelling to come down, but by Friday morning my eye was mostly closed shut and the rash had spread down my neck and was starting on my hands and arms. So back to the clinic. Where I was given another injection and, after consultations with two other doctors in the practice, different (stronger) medication to take home. I was sent home with strict instructions to phone the doctor on Saturday to let her know how I was going.
She must have been more worried than she let on as she actually phoned me on Friday evening. Fortunately, I was able to report that the swelling around the eye was receding and the redness and itching was fading. Today I’m pretty much back to normal, some slight redness and itchiness, but definitely improving and feeling much, much better
Diagnosis was severe allergic reaction/contact dermatitis. We don’t know what from. I’m relieved as one of the doctors was talking about the possibility of a staph infection and that is the last thing you want here in Papua New Guinea.
In addition we’ve had such slow (non-functional) internet this week and a 7 hour power cut on Sunday. Fun and games all round.
Last night after the power came back on I whipped up this clutch from Bend the Rules Sewing. This was really, really fast.
The black fabric was purchased new in South Africa a few years ago and has been sitting in the stash waiting for the right project. Let’s all just pretend that the button closure is in the centre of the bag…The lining fabric.
was a gift from a student when I was running an English Language School in South Africa. She was from Taiwan and was a fashion designer. These were some of her off-cuts. I love making use of stuff like this. It was a great pleasure to tag her on facebook this morning and show her how I’d finally used her fabric.
I love the lining fabric so much that I’ve cut enough to make another bag for me with the red as the outside of the bag. I think it will make a good passport/boarding pass holder for when we travel at the end of the year.
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