It was my 6th consecutive birthday in Mongolia.
We had a week off so I decided to go to the South Gobi desert with my friend and her parents.
It took us two days to get there because we got off to a late start.
On my birthday they decided to go to a canyon that I had never been to
(I had traveled to the Gobi once before over 3 years ago: see this blog)
It was going to be a 6 kilometer walk to the end and back (about 3 and a half miles)
It was a beautiful day- hot and sunny but not too hot.
We walked through tall cliffs on either side and at places there was a stream running through. There was wild mint, juniper and other wild flowers spread along the ground, all in all making it a refreshing walk.
But about the time that we were going to turn around and head back I started to feel a bit odd.
I felt lightheaded and my stomach started to hurt.
Because I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone or cause a fuss, I didn’t say anything though and thought that if I could make it back to the car and rest I would be fine.
I tried to walk in the shade as much as possible and stop to rest.
But I felt worse and worse and was worried that I might pass out.
Since I had a water bottle with me I didn’t think I was dehydrated
And even though it was hot I didn’t feel that the sun was too strong.
I felt more and more miserable until my stomach took a turn for the worse and I threw up.
The family didn’t notice because they were looking at something else. I thought about not saying anything but since I thought I might not make it back I finally did.
I felt somewhat relieved and thought the worst was over since it was out of my system.
The walk back was so difficult.
I was weak and my whole body felt heavy as we walked the final mile and a half back.
We almost made it back and we came to some shade where I rested awhile but instead of feeling better, my stomach continued to hurt and I couldn’t stay warm (even though it was probably in the 80s outside and I had a blanket to cover me).
After I had met the required rest time we started to walk back to the car.
But when I started to walk I felt more and more terrible and threw up again, not quite making it to the car.
The family decided that, rather than moving to the next destination, I should probably go to the hospital so we drove back to the city and found the city’s old Russian era cement hospital.
We found the emergency care area after a bit of searching and as I had suspected, the doctor decided that I either had food poisoning or heat exhaustion and needed an IV and some injections.
I wasn’t thrilled but I felt terrible enough to let them do it.
I squirmed a lot and was less nervous about getting the IV and more nervous because I was in Mongolia and didn’t know what they were putting into my body. The doctors were worried that I would pass out and gave me an oxygen tube and a bottle of something to smell to calm my nerves. I think the doctors were worried but probably also a tiny bit amused at my anxiety (after all, this is the treatment they use on everyone so what why was I worried?)
Thankfully I had already had my first two IVs several months ago in America before my foot surgeries, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have let them do it.
After the injections (which mad me feel even more woozy) they had me lay down for a couple of hours while the IV dripped.
Ideally I would have slept during that time but I was too stressed to fall asleep.
Of all the things that I would have chosen to do on my birthday, throwing up and lying in a Mongolian hospital with a needle in my wrist was not one of them.
Since my birthday is in the summer, ever since I was young, I’ve spend most of my birthdays in other countries having unique experiences.
Though it wasn’t an ideal situation, it definitely made the list of unique birthday experiences!
After the IV finished I was allowed to leave.
I still didn’t feel great but it was probably good to have the re-hydrating liquids in me and I was able to make it until the middle of the night before throwing up one final time.
The next day we went back home since my friend also started to become sick.
After I got back and became healthy again I received a whole range of answers from my Mongolian coworkers as to why I became sick
Maybe if I had only stuck my head in water for an hour or two it would have been better, one suggested.
Or maybe it happened because I was riding in a car without AC the past two days, was another.
The most common diagnoses was that the Gobi sun was exceptionally strong and because I didn’t wear a hat I became sick.
Though I may or may not believe that these were the reasons I’ll never know the answer.
What I do know, is that even though I’ll be back in America soon, the adventures aren’t over!
I never know what each final day will hold.
Even if some of my final adventures are less than pleasant, I will still try to see the good.
For example on this day:
-I had a new experience
-My fear of needles was conquered just a little bit more
-My sympathy for others who are sick increased
-And that I should tell others how I’m feeling rather until waiting until it’s too late