How Dengue Fever Changed My Life
Ever felt like you’re often falling sick? That was me before I had dengue…
A couple of years ago I was bitten by a very rude mosquito which infected me with dengue virus — a painful, debilitating tropical disease.
I sweated, cried and prayed for weeks, and it just wouldn’t go away …
Would you believe me if I said that was the last time I ever got sick?
That’s right. It happened in January 2019 and I haven’t been sick since!
What happened to me is real and life-changing. I went from getting sick every 2-3 months (be it a cold or flu) to never getting sick again. Yep, and I’m damn proud of it.
This story is quite personal and I’m sharing it with you in the hope you take something from it that will improve your life in the future.
As an average, healthy and fit person, I’ve still gotten ill every now and then.
Is getting ill something that just happens? Or do we have any control over it?
We do have an immune system to fight bacteria and viruses, so why does it fail?
I’ve asked myself these questions too many times, especially when that cheeky mosquito debilitated me for weeks.
Let’s go back in time.
It’s January 2019. Wet season in Bali. A lot of humidity, and too many damn mosquitos around.
There is much less tourism on the island of Nusa Lembongan (where I’m staying), and the local atmosphere is just awesome — excluding the mosquitos.
It’s evening and I’m riding my bike topless on my way for a sunset surf. Life’s great. It starts raining a bit. The rain is cold and oddly uncomfortable. My skin is sensitive but I ignore it. I get there, ride a few waves and get tired. I leave hoping I don’t have bali-belly again.
That night I feel even more weird. My head hurts, I’m cold and I barely get any sleep. Luckily, the next day was the day my buddy from the Netherlands came for a visit. I feel just as bad as the night before, if not worse!
I spend the next few days in a hostel in Canggu, where my buddy and I were staying before heading back to Nusa Lembongan. My bunk is perfect… it’s the size of a coffin, and I feel like I’m dying.
My girlfriend is there, too, and she thinks I have dengue fever — I’ve never heard of it so I brush her off.
She insists so I go get tested at a nearby clinic. I’m positive!! Yikes!!
For those who don’t know what dengue is:
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus — a virus carried by mosquitos belonging to the Aedes family. If an infected mosquito bites you, you both have it. If another healthy mosquito bites you, then the three of you have it. And so on. That’s how I infected the whole island… OOPS!
The risk of dengue fever in tropical areas is very high so you MUST watch out for mosquitos, especially in rainy seasons when there are more mosquitos due to the increase in humidity — ideal conditions for them to breed.
Now, the real challenge of getting dengue fever is that you can’t treat it.
There is no specific treatment for dengue fever. You can’t take antibiotics because they won’t work. You can go to the hospital but they’ll just give you fluids. So, you’re better off riding it out in your local homestay with A/C drinking coconut water everyday (that’s what I did). However, I’m not a doctor and the gravity of the symptoms do vary. Although mine were very tough and painful, you should still do your own research or consult a professional.
It is rare for the dengue virus to become fatal, but it’s not unheard of. People get hospitalised all the time because of it. The infection can progress into a more serious condition known as severe dengue or hemorrhagic fever. And that’s when it can get ugly. Besides infants, pregnant women and older adults, those at a higher risk include anyone with a compromised immune system.
When I found out I just had to ride it out, I felt a massive weight and responsibility on my immune system.
Here I was fighting dengue in a tropical island, drinking coconut water every day, hoping it will be enough to recover, and wondering when I was going to feel better again.
Weeks passed. One day I felt better. The next day I didn’t. My symptoms were mostly fatigue and fever, but I would often get ear infections and digestive problems due to my weakened immune system. Brain fog became the new normal for me.
How did I get better?
I had a pretty average immune system. I exercised often, ate healthy and drank plenty of water. So why the hell was I not getting better?
What impacted me the most was the aftermath from the virus. My body and immune system had had such a shock from the debilitating symptoms of dengue that it took a lot of time to recuperate and be able to fight off the most basic bacteria.
After a rollercoaster of reoccurring symptoms that lasted up to three months, I opted for a drastic change. The building blocks of my immune system were shattered and I had to rebuild them. I was not happy with the way I had been — getting sick every few months (as many average people do) is not normal. I wanted to change that.
The decision that changed my life.
No more sweet treats that make me crash.
No more animal-derived foods (meat, fish, milk, eggs and other dairy products) that are harder to digest.
More plant-derived foods (fruits, legumes, nuts, vegetables, quinoa, rice and potatoes) that are easier to digest and, overall, MUCH BETTER for your health and immune system.
I rebuilt my immune and digestive system on much more solid building blocks that I grew up with as a child.
Today, I feel better than I ever did in my whole life. I exercise better, I eat better, I digest foods more easily, my mind is sharper, and I’m more efficient. Overall, I’m happier!
What can you learn from my experience?
It took me several months to learn a few gems that go way beyond my dengue episode. Here they are:
- Don’t take your health for granted. Our bodies may be able to tolerate the occasional fast-food indulgence, but not in the long run. The effects of an unhealthy diet are only shown when we’re older through cardiovascular diseases, respiratory problems, obesity and bones and muscle weakness — and most of the time these become chronic diseases, which are harder to get rid of. By eating healthier, you will build and maintain an immune system with greater chances of winning against these diseases.
- It is much more satisfying to indulge in healthy foods. Imagine eating a delicious, colourful plant-based meal knowing you’re only putting good stuff in your body. There is literally no reason why you wouldn’t opt for that instead. If you’re craving unhealthy foods (like chips and candies), stuff yourself with nuts, dates or fruit instead.
- Think about your kids. Eating healthier doesn’t only affect you. You don’t want your kids to have to take care of you once you get sick and old. You’re not going to want huge hospital bills. You have the chance to avoid that happening, but you have to start when you’re young. You will want to stick around longer once your kids have grown up. A healthy diet will help you do just that — improving your longevity.
By eating healthier, I’ve not only improved my immune system. I’ve improved my life. If you haven’t already, I sincerely hope you will do so too, before it’s too late.
The consequences of eating unhealthy foods are more life-threatening than getting bitten by the wrong mosquito.
Take your health more seriously.
Start by improving your immune system.
A few tips to improve your immunity
- Drink plenty of water, everyday
- Drink essential oils diluted in water (oregano oil is my go-to when I need an immunity boost)
- Eat plant-based foods (preferably organic)
- Sleep more
- Exercise and stretch your body often
- Try intermittent fasting!
