Jan 11, 2022 Mexican Quarantine

My first day in Mexican quarantine passed slowly. I felt fine physically – mentally not so much. I was very lucky and happy that I managed to find a good place to stay. Even if it was the second place I booked. The place had everything I needed. Laundry facility, clean bed and at TV with YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Prime. 

I haven’t watched that much TV since I don’t remember when.

I felt healthy except for the diarrhea but in Mexico that can just be the water – or is it the vid?

Anxiety kept creeping into my head and I did all I could to keep my mind off of it. I felt like a complete jackass – why did we even go to Cabo? Why didn’t we stay home and shelter in place? Why didn’t we at least stay away from the bar scene and night life that is Cabo San Lucas.

But the answer was right there – I have never been afraid of risk. I would rather take a chance and live life, rather than take the safe way and not enjoy every day. It’s how I ski and how I roll. 

Except now I’m stuck here resting my injured knee and nursing my wounded pride.

When I awoke this morning I felt drained, tired and depressed. Worry kept surging in my mind. Was I getting worse? I felt like I had a slight cold again, would it get worse? Even though I am vaccinated would I be one of the small sample of people that ended up in hospital.

I did not want to end up in a hospital in Mexico. What made matters worse was after waiting on hold for two hours with my credit card company I found out that Covid was an exclusion for trip interruption insurance. two hours on hold… good thing I had Netflix. Now I’m left to hope that my benefit plan gives me some coverage. 

I paced the room wondering what to do. Time to see what I could do. Vitamins, zinc and magnesium I’m told help with the symptoms.

I let go of my fear and anxiety and grabbed my N95 mask and went to the pharmacy. 

Ten minutes into my walk I felt better. I felt renewed. Fresh air can do that I guess. I wandered for a bit, keeping my distance from anyone and found a small pharmacy. One thing about Mexico is there are pharmacies everywhere.

I went inside and tried to communicate with the lady that worked there. Next time I go to Mexico I will learn more Spanish. 

“Hola Senorita, ablo English?” I asked her.

“No, ablo Española?” Was her reply.

Just then a gentleman stepped in the door. I made lots of room for him and let him past to get what he needed. 

“Senor do you speak English?” I asked the smallish elderly gentleman. His skin was tanned but he had the look of an American that probably spent his winter in Mexico.

“Ya I speak English and a little bit of Spanish.” replied the gentleman. He had a mask on and his eyes had a quizzical look in them.

I wasn’t sure what to do, I felt weird, I probably shouldn’t be there even though I was wearing my N95 mash and I scrubbed my hands with sanitizer when I came in . 

“Umm my friend is looking for treatment for covid… can you ask her what they have?” 

He looked at me and I could see the frown crease onto his brow. “Senorita Tiene medicamentos para covid?”

The short black haired Mexcian lady nodded and started to list some things, “Zinc, Magnesium, Ivermectin, Hydro chlorine. Vitamin C, D.” She turned and went to grab some pills.

The man frowned again and gruffly said to me, ” just get the Vaccine.”

“Ya he is vaccinated, but you know…” I mumbled and turned as the door opened up.  I stepped outside and almost left. I felt weird, guilty, and unclean. But I had already come so far.

I waited outside for the man to leave. When the door opened I thanked him and stepped back inside.

“How many dinero’s?” I asked the lady behind the counter.

She rang the stuff and started to give me the other items as well. But I stopped her and pointed at the vitamins and the minerals. I felt I would keep it natural.

Twenty US dollars later I walked out and started back down the street. I was feeling healthy and figured I’d take the pills anyway. I was sure it couldn’t hurt.

I wandered the streets in the burning sun and found myself walking to the clinic that gave me the test in the first place, the one that said positive.

I opened the door and went inside Saint Luke’s walk-in clinic.

“Hola do you speak English?” I asked the girl at the desk. I was pretty sure she did.

“How may I help?” Her eyes shone at me and I felt a sense of welcome in her presence.

“I tested positive for covid on Friday and I am wondering what I can do and when I can test again so I can get home. I feel ok now, much better after going for a walk. I had diarrhea but the water… I only had a sniffle before and was weak this morning. It felt like a bit of a chest cold but now I feel pretty good.”

“Usually it is the third day that is the worst for most people. You can take the rapid test tomorrow, take a PCR test on Friday.” She seemed friendly and I could tell by her tone she has seen a lot of people with covid.

“Should I take a antigen test for twenty bucks first to see if I’m negative before taking the PCR test?” 

“Yes, that is a good idea. Even if you test positive and you have no symptoms you can get a letter form the hospital, they call it a recovery letter. You get it after five days if you have no symptoms. Then you can fly home even with a positive result.”

This was the best news I had heard since I had been there. A recovery letter? It did make sense. My vision of being trapped for a long time or even hitch-hiking up the west coast was now gone. There was a light at the end of the tunnel.

I walked the streets of San Jose Del Cabo back to my Airbnb, my steps a little lighter.