Bot Fly

Every day in the world of a PCV brings a different host of challenges. Coming into the Peace Corps, I assumed that I would have all sorts of wonderful stories about my intestinal conditions (aka me shitting myself) alas.....the only intestinal conditions I have gotten have been food poisoning or drinking unsafe water. I don’t have any pooping my pants stories. Sigh. And I haven’t lost a bunch of weight due to parasites in my gut....sigh.

What a let down.

But I did for a hot minute have larvae growing in me neck. That makes me a bad ass right?

I was bit by a bot fly. Yes. A bot fly. Please,  if you are not familiar just do a quick google search (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botfly)

I was bit on a Monday.....I didn’t think too much of it, until my bite started growing....and growing. You see, a Botfly uses a human or animal as a host. DO YOU GET WHERE I AM GOING?!?!

Long story short. It was pretty traumatic, the only way to safely rid yourself of your new friend  is to let it grow then you hope to pop it out (like a zit).

Well, lets put it this way. I couldn’t bring myself to let it keep growing. You could feel it wriggling around in you (especially after putting anti-itch cream on it).

After a few mini melt downs (it was mentally stressful) I knew I couldn’t handle it any more. So I aborted it. I squeezed it enough times I killed the larvae. And what do you know?!? Then I ran a fever for two days and my body was trying to digest what was going on.

Now I feel that I have a little fly PTSD going on...In all seriousness. Bugs don’t bother me, well, they didn’t...now every time a fly flies around me....I get all anxious and girly.