Thanks for the parasites, India

Brendan is in our hotel room right now puking his guts out. I mean that literally. His guts are sort of a bright aqua-green color and there are a lot of them. I'm hanging out on the balcony because I'm afraid to leave him alone, but sitting next to him and observing the vomit-fest up close is a little too agonizing for both of us.

It's times like this that I wish I was a better nurse. I try to do all the right things. I bought a can of Sprite, some bland crackers, and a bottle of water from the local market and am gently urging him to nibble and sip every so often. I've been re-arranging his blankets after he tosses them off the bed on the way to the bathroom. I touch his forehead and pretend that I know what a fever is supposed to feel like. But the sad truth is that when Brendan gets sick, I'm terrified and clueless.

Here's why: Just between you and me, I'm one of those silly people who is afraid of throwing up. I legitimately fear vomit. I'm the kid who used to wish upon a star that I would never throw up again (the ability to fly was a close second, followed by invisibility). Slight pangs of nausea are a huge deal to me. In fact, just last night I started feeling icky from various food aromas at dinner and had to excuse myself to go walk around in sub-zero Himalayan temperatures, just in case I actually ended up doing the deed (I didn't, but given Brendan's current state, I think my foresight was ominously spot-on). See, I don't believe the people that tell me I'll feel better afterward. How can you feel better after something like that? It's your mouth, for god's sake. Mouths are for ice cream and french-kissing. Mouths are happy places. I once healed from a tonsillectomy sans painkillers because someone told me the morphine might make me throw up. That was a painful recovery week, but I never once got sick. It was worth it.

But back to Brendan. I'm terrified and clueless of his current condition, because in all honesty, I was seven years old the last time I threw up without ingesting copious amounts of alcohol (and that only happened once or twice before sheer willpower made me the best little drinker north of the Golden Gate). I really don't know much about it the act itself, I don't understand how he's feeling right now, I only know that it scares me and makes me want to wish on a star that Brendan will never throw up again. He doesn't deserve this.

Yours in fear,
Sarah

Comments

OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH your gonna get it from the India Lovers now! How DARE you suggest India might have (gasp) parisites or (shudder) germs... Why can't you extol the virtues of Brendens aqua colored intestines being propelled through his mouth? Just think, if you had never been to India you might have never gotten to see your husband shivering, gray and puking on your honeymoon!!

LOL Karme - I was thinking just the same thing....hang in there Sarah AND Brendan - hope you feel better soon!

People say you will feel better after throwing up because they think the nausea will go away. It doesn't. Also, once you let your digestive system go into reverse it is pure hell getting it back to drive.

Tell him to "man up" and stop grossing you out.

So far, I've been reading and staying out of the brickbats-and-bouquets thingy going on here. But, I want to intervene here and say - if your husband is not better in a day or so, please get him to a doctor. I don't know whether you've been following the rules of travel in India - bottled water only, no food off the streets, etc. - but if you haven't, he could have caught some serious gastric infection. For that, no amount of Immodium will help. It's got to be antibiotics. I truly hope he hasn't got a bacterial infection, but do monitor it. And oh, this friendly advice comes from an Indian who loves India and accepts it in all its filthy glory (and misses it fiercely when I have to return to the "real" sanitized world).

OH MY GOD... it is so nice to hear that someone else feels the same way that I do. I will do almost anything to never throw up again!!! Before, during and after I am a total basketcase. My husband thinks I'm crazy and overly dramatic about it but I do feel it is horrible. I do... I do.. I do!!!

Brendan, good luck!!! I truly feel for you!

I agree with SRC and would add: avoid uncooked veggies and fruit.

You haven't thrown up since you were seven dang.I wish I could hold my puke I have some horror stories.But I hope Brendan fills better, I know it's terrible to be that sick.

I agree with SRC... make sure that he gets to a doctor if this doesn't stop! He is getting extremely dehydrated from all this vomit. It may even be a good idea to start getting him to a doc right about now...
And as someone who has vomited probably more times than most people do in their entire lives, it actually does feel good after you uh.. purge. Mainly because everything calms down just a bit and you stop sweating... until the nausea returns if it does.

karme - reading your post made Dr. Pepper shoot out of my nose. Ouch! I need to remember to not laugh while drinking.

Well it was around midnight in India when the original message was posted. So I figure in another 2-3 hours the comments will start flowing in.

India Defenders - this is S & B's blog. Don't come here and expect glowing reviews of things. Sometimes they don't even give glowing reviews of themselves. This is where they share their newlywed adventures with us.

Yep it sounds like he needs a trip to a doctor ASAP!

If it's something that could get really worse really fast, you may regret trying to wait it out.

Throwing up can make you feel better if it's something still in your stomach that's causing the problem. If you're throwing up more once, then you have a problem.

Get to a doc!

On the bright side maybe Brendan has someone caught something that will turn him into a superhero.

He could be Barfman, or Captain Spewface. Something like that.

Stephen B just shut up.Looks like you don't have any work. Don't rake things up again. We are talking about Brendan's health here for God's sake. Sarah I guess you need to take him to a doctor. Make sure he drinks lot of bottled water.

Ha ha I was imagining Dr.Pepper shooting out of Stephen B's nostrils. You moron don't you know what goes around comes around :)

yuck! where the hell are u people living in INDIA? u cannot expect hygiene in cerain areas in INDIA. the best option for foreigners is to live in a good hotel. u can easily afford TAJ or HOLIDAY INN. its not so expensive for u americans.

i'm an indian and i'm from the upper section. i hav travelled alot but never fallen prey to such diseases. wherever u go...be careful. all are not made to adapt the great indian conditions..so adapt ur budget to ur needs.

take care n i hope brendan gets well soon.

there are 2 types of foreigners visiting INDIA.
1) who somhow manage to buy tickets. who are in no better position financially than an average middle class INDIAN.( pls dont consider the currency coz 1$ is approx equal to 45 rupees)

2) the better quality, who are not niggards and come here to enjoy themselves. they can afford some extra expense but see to it that they r comfortable n dont blame INDIA or INDIANS for anything.

from wat i read abt u both, i feel u r from the 1st category. thats not bad , but its jus dat most INDIANS think that foreigners are wealthy people and dont expect them to cry over such things as they can easily get comfortable if they r ready to pay more.

this is wat I feel and nobody is forced to agree.

take care.

I hate throwing up too!! On average, I throw up about every seven years. You're a better person than I am though--I can't see it, smell it, or hear it. I wouldn't even be within 50 feet of Brendan right now. :cP

GET WELL SOON though!!

My condolences to both you and Brendan. My future travel plans include less of the third world and more of the first and second and the sickness factor is a big part of it. No matter how close you watch what you eat and drink it seems like sooner or later something sneeks in. I carry lomatil for that reason and it usually limits the sickness to 24 hours. After that travel is possible but tenuous for the next 24 hours. If it lasts longer than that I would see a doctor. Best wishes and thanks for the entertaining travel stories. Cant wait for the next pod cast.

Sarah, I hear ya! It's been since 7th grade for me. I think its all about control. What we can't control scares us... Good luck to your hubby. This too shall pass.

:( so sad about the parasites, it has happened to me there too...perhaps a more astute approach to what you eat and where you eat it from. again, I've gotta tell ya, your guidebooks suck! next time, hire me...I may not speak Hindi or any other Indian languages very well, but I can certainly show you the true beauty of the country.

really sorry to hear Brendan's out of commission. don't hesitate to find a good hospital if he doesn't get better in 24-36 hours. my fiance caught something in Chiang Mai which was very brutal. an evening in local private hospital fixed her up quick -- the cost? $24 canadian. sheesh. hope brendan get's better soon!

I tried so hard to get sick in India. I figured it would be good for about 20 pounds. But alas, Thailand had toughened my system and no puking for me.

I'm envious of you Brendan!

I was in India when I was 10 years old and made the mistake of having a Coke with ice in Agra (yeah, I know). I puked from Agra, to New Dehli, to Bankok, to Hong Kong and the last bit came up in Honolulu (about four days of vomit). I've never been that sick since. No drunken night or pansy American germ has ever matched the viscious gack caused by Indian ice cubes.

I sympathize buddy.

I was a young newlywed once..on a honeymoon in Mexico. Montezuma's revenge and hurling. Poor husband. I thought I was going to die in that hotel room. But I recovered, some 15 pounds lighter. Just recently I had the vomiting flu and the runs, and by round 3 I was so weak that i moaned for hubby to help hold me on the john while I puked my guts out. Poor guy. He hung in there, I don't know how. By round 6 I think he about ready to hurl me out the door. I think he felt truly sorry for me. Good hubby. Now he knows what I had to go though with the kids for 20 years...

I also have a phobia of vomiting. I haven't thrown up in years. When people get sick I want to run away so I don't have to hear it/catch what they have. Hopefully he feels better soon! And be relieved he is able to make it into the commode.

How is Brendan doing Sarah? Hope he is alright now. Take care.

Take care you guys. Hope Brendan gets well soon so y'all can carry on with your travelling and exploring. :)

Stephen B mocker ;) - Yes, I unfortunately know what goes around comes around. My nose hairs were angry for a while after the Dr. Pepper incident.

Sarah- I had a 10 year vomit-free streak because I went to all lengths necessary to not do it. But after turning 21 my streak ended and I relized you do feel better afterwards.