Limping, caught the flu, and getting rabies

27 days left and counting. I've contracted some weird sickness over the last couple of days. I'm congested, and coughing not getting much sleep. I figure I caught something from the gym through the "unhygenic" use of shared weights and mats.

Not only am I sick, I also have come down with achilles tendonitis. I've been training hard consistantly running at speeds of 6.0mph and inclines of 10%-12% on treadmill lately for extended period of time. My joints have been taking a pounding lately. So much so, I'm limping around the house equipped with an ice pack, ibuprofein, and anti-inflammatories in hand. I don't think I'll be running for awhile.


The cost of my vaccinations are starting to creep up to the cost of my flight. I visited the doctor yesterday to diagonse my foot problem, and get some info on the rest of my vaccinations. Before visiting her, I wasn't thinking I would get the rabies vaccine. For one thing, the rabies vaccine is costly because rabies is non-existant in North America. I need 3 shots, and they cost $200 each! The vaccine also doesn't prevent one from contracting rabies itself. I will get rabies even if I get vaccinated. However, the key benefit to the rabies vaccination is that it is safeguard against potential death. Should I contract rabies, and I cannot seek medical attention within 24 hours, my chances of survival decrease significantly. The vaccine gives me seven days of "life" to see to a doctor. I wasn't planning to interact with animals; but, if I accidently run into some rats, bats or a monkey, somehow I think I'll be happy that I got these shots as I'm trekking back from the jungle to civilization.