This Tuesday started like any other in Grenada. We woke up, had a light breakfast, and brewed a pot of coffee to take to our upstairs office for a day of work. As we sat down at our computers, the sun started to heat up the room through the large screened windows. I took off my shirt to cool down, and that’s when Dariece noticed it—a massive rash covering my entire body.
We both knew what it meant instantly. Chikungunya, a mosquito-borne illness similar to Dengue Fever and Malaria, had become somewhat of an epidemic here in Grenada and the Caribbean. Its symptoms include an itchy rash, headaches, high fevers, joint pain, nausea, insomnia, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The virus enters the bloodstream through a mosquito bite and attaches to the white blood cells, multiplying as it spreads through the body. It attacks various cells, leading to severe pain and swelling in the joints and connective tissues.
I was not looking forward to dealing with this, but since Dariece doesn’t have a driver’s license in Grenada, we knew we had to get medication immediately or we’d be stuck at home without the necessary drugs to fight it off. So, we jumped in the truck and headed straight to the nearest hospital. Within half an hour, a doctor confirmed that I had Chikungunya. He advised me to take antihistamines for the rash and paracetamol and ibuprofen for the coming joint pain and headaches. By noon, I was already his 25th case of the day.
We returned home, bracing for the symptoms to hit. At first, the rash was my only symptom—no fever, no headaches, no joint pain—but that soon changed. I fell asleep and woke up with aching joints and a fever of almost 40°C (104°F). I was thankful for Dariece’s help until I noticed a rash on her as well. Although Chikungunya isn’t contagious, it’s likely we were bitten by the same infected mosquito. We both prepared to face this together.
The sickness hit us hard. By the middle of the night, we were both fighting terrible fevers, but the worst part was the joint pain. Even now, more than a week after contracting the virus, my limbs and joints are still stiff and sore. That first night was unbearable; we took our pills like clockwork to manage the pain and high temperatures. The joint cramps were so intense that even slight movements felt excruciating. My knuckles felt as though I’d been clenching my fists for days, and my knees felt bent backwards.
After 48 hours, the fevers subsided but we were left with a brutal rash, headaches, and joint discomfort. Five days in, the rash seemed worse, the itching made it almost impossible to sleep. Insomnia was another symptom, and both Dariece and I experienced sleepless nights, likely due to the persistent symptoms. We tried everything to ease the pain, from local remedies like papaya and soursop leaves to lemon grass tea, but nothing seemed to help.
Eight days in, we’re still suffering from joint pain, itchy rashes, and low energy. However, we consider ourselves lucky. Many have reported joint pains so severe they cried out in agony, with swollen elbows, knees, and ankles, and some even had fevers over 41°C or died from the virus. While our joint pain is still present, it is subsiding, but others report symptoms lasting months or years. A reader shared tips on dealing with the virus, and she had it much worse than us.
Despite this nasty virus, we’re grateful we didn’t have it as badly as many others in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Maybe our previous illnesses have somewhat prepared our bodies. Whatever the reason, we’re happy to be on the mend and look forward to getting back on our feet soon.