Houston, we have a problem...

Houston, Texas. U.S.A.

I sat inside NASA's Johnson Space Centre and gripped the arms of my seat as tightly as I could. JESUS CHRIST. My eyes bulged and my breathing stopped for a second. Karlos could tell something was going on and put his hand on my knee, his expression asked me "are you ok?" I swallowed hard, and loosened my grip on the arm rests. I nodded slowly at him to say it had passed, and his gaze lingered on me for a few more seconds before it went back to the space shuttle control room.

WOAH! JESUS CHRIST. There it was again. This time it took my breath away sharply and caused me to reach out and grab Karlos' knee instead of the arm rests. His hand found mine and his expression this time around was more concerned. I was not well.

It had started earlier on in the day, as we left our friends in Dallas and embarked on our southern journey towards Houston. I figured I had eaten something bad, with the amount of toilet visitations required, but then the stomach cramps I was having began to get worse and worse and had me a little worried. After all - we were at the NASA space station. Hello! I have seen "aliens" people! Whatever was in my stomach, squeezing everything as hard as it could every few minutes, needed to get out.

"Houston, we have a problem..."

As our tour group began to leave the space shuttle control room, and another wave of my stomach pain set in preventing me from walking, Karlos took control of the situation. "We're leaving," he said. I knew he would look after me, so at that point I burst into tears and fell into his arms. I had given in. I'd tried to get on with it, to do the "but I'm a traveller I can't be sick" thing, but the slightly more pressing matter of "I'm actually too sick to walk straight" took over and forced me to stop and deal with it.

Long story short - a NASA employee was sent for, who collected us from halfway through our space centre tour, and took us back to the main carpark. From there, thanks to Karlos and his deft use of our GPS system, I found myself laying on a bed in the emergency department of the Houston Physician's Hospital. Short story shorter - after various tests were taken, and questions asked of me, a small plumbing type system was stuck into my arm in order for fluids to be pumped in. Ok... so We all know this is a "drip"! - but seriously people, even though I hate needles and all things jabby, you have to admit - this is a pretty awesome invention. It was a bit of an event getting the drip into my arm though (shout out to Karlos who grabbed that vom bowl with lightening speed, whilst nursie did a great job of holding my arm tight... needle only half way in! When you gotta vom, you gotta vom, I tell you!) but it wasn't long before the vomiting (etc.) had passed and I felt a lot calmer, less painful, and more stable. I tried to sleep, and asked Karlos to tell me stories so that I could forget how bummed I was to be in hospital on our trip, and that I had a tube hanging out of one of my veins. He really isn't any good at telling stories, bless him - but he tried, and he was there with me, which was all that mattered.

After an hour or two my test results came back and said I was dehydrated, with a stomach virus. (I know! I was surprised that my test results could talk also!) So phew, no aliens in my tummy, and nothing to worry about :-) just the sickness to ride through that's all.

The doctor said I was likely dehydrated to begin with, which would have made those stomach pains worse, and I was also very low in essential vitamins and all that - so a second fluid bag was given to me. Whilst that was filling me up, the doctor gave Karlos and I advise about natural remedies and ways to strengthen our immunity, in particular whilst travelling. He really was a great doctor, I was impressed and felt safe in his hands. He told me to just drink lots of water and take it easy over the next few days, and prescribed me some anti-nausea tablets to take the edge off. He was great. I was especially impressed with his natural remedy talk, and his honest discussion with us. Probiotic is the go-go he said. And a diet of soft things for the next couple of days. Mmmmm yoghurt...

And so, once my hospital visit was over (and I'm not even going to think about that sign on the wall saying "approx cost of visit $498"), Karlos and I found a nice motel across the street and spent the evening relaxing under doctors orders, with me milking my illness for all the attention I could get! hahaha. I'm kidding. I really was sick. But if you can find positive in all things - having a sweetheart like Karlos look after me and stroke my hair and hold my hand, then being sick whilst overseas really isn't the worst thing ever, now is it?... ;-)

Hope all is well and healthy with you, my friends. Wherever you may be...

Peace and love,

~ Comet xo