Colombia Forum

Rainsford
Joined 2023
Posts: 9

5 months ago

Possible catastrophic infection

5 months ago

I arrived in Guarne near Medellin 8 days ago. I had been experiencing some numbness in my left hand for the past three or four weeks back in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, but it was not that significant seeming. Since my arrival here the condition seems to have worse than that an increasing pace to where I cannot use my left hand beyond say a 2-year-old's ability. Due to various events and conditions which I shall not list here I realize there's a greater than 50% chance I have Lyme disease and nerve damage as a symptom. From what I've read it's unknowable whether this damage is permanent or reversible.. the sure thing seems to be that it will get worse without treatment. I went to the local emergency clinic yesterday trying to get a test for the bacteria. This turns out to be a $500 expense as I do not yet have national insurance of any kind here. I'm on Medicare back home but that's a non-issue in this country. I looked on Amazon there's a home test for $75 but they won't ship it here. I plan to apply for pension residence visa next month after my check comes in but that is said to be a one month process. The prospect of flying back to us for treatment the price of tickets now is about equal to the $500 they're asking at the hospital. Does anyone know of a way I can get this test shipped here and have access to it as it is a $75 as opposed to $500 loss. I am quite frightened as to the implications. I've been a guitar player for 55 years 35 professionally. My identity is that of a guitar player. In the past week I have become a non guitar player my left hand cannot be controlled or sense anything. Does anyone have a serious recommendation? There are aspects of this which I would say prove to a 75 or 85% certainty that I do have Lyme disease as I look back at the events of the previous months. Yes I was a fool not to get tested before I left. But the symptoms weren't so noticeable I also understood at the time that medical treatment was affordable in Colombia even if paid privately. I guess my main question is how can I get this thing shipped to somewhere I can get it. Amazon won't do it. Well thanks in advance to anyone who has any real knowledge or suggestion I'm rolling with a somewhat steady attitude but at times I break down thinking that I've been disabled by a tick bite. I do recommend anyone in a position to do so to get tested this problem is growing rapidly and is the major vector disease in the United States now.

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