Tag: White Cross Emergency Clinic

January 2021, New Zealand, Whangarei

Things That Bite In The Night

As you know by now we absolutely love New Zealand! This place is truly spectacular and if we have to be “stuck” in any one country for a time, this is is top on our list. That said, as warmer weather approaches we are faced with the evil side of the land of the Kiwis….the ever present, always biting sandfly and the extremely wicked While Tailed Spider. Both critters I could have gone an entire lifetime without meeting.

New Zealand Sandfly

Let’s start with the lesser of the two evils….the Sandfly or as the Māori people call them, Namus. These nasty flying beasts are like none we’ve ever experienced. I grew up in Florida, the land of the biting insects, with our no-see-ums and mammoth sized mosquitoes that can carry a small child away. We lived in Mexico and faced off against the ever fearsome jejenes and we’ve even endured a vast array of villainous insects throughout the South Pacific islands. None, and I mean none, of these compare to the sadistic biting fly of New Zealand! They are the worst ever!

To give you some idea of how atrocious these heinous creatures are allow me to regale you with a little history.  It is said that when Captain Cook and his men arrived in New Zealand they actually coated their bodies in rancid bacon fat to keep these little scallywags at bay.  You can imagine how bad they have to be for someone to be willing to go to that extreme.

Their bite is not just a bite like a mozzie (mosquito) bite either. Here’s what Trevor Crosby, a New Zealand Entomologist has to say about them.

Sandfly bite on Jilly
A sandfly bite on Jilly’s leg.

“Using tiny claws and a proboscis-like mouth, sandflies stretch the skin to make it taut and use mandibles to tear and saw through the tightened skin. An anti-coagulant in their saliva helps the blood pool and histamine causes itching.

What they inject into you causes a bit of numbness but it’s not as evolved as some overseas species that can bite and you don’t feel it. They have hooks that push the skin and use the mandibles to cut through.

“The New Zealand species is different. Once they’ve cut it they have these little spear-like saw hooks to deepen the wound and make a little pool of blood. They need the blood to mature their eggs.”

Captain Cook described them like this… 

“The most mischievous animal here (New Zealand) is the small black sandfly which are exceedingly numerous…wherever they light they cause a swelling and such intolerable itching that it is not possible to refrain from scratching and at last ends in ulcers like the small Pox,” 

Sounds like a fun time eh? But wait, there’s more! The bite isn’t the only joyful part of the experience. It’s how some of us react to it. For people like Dan it’s nothing more than a mild irritation. For me, I have a much more severe reaction wherein the bite swells and itches uncontrollably for days. I end up having to take antihistamines to deal with it and they leave small round scars behind. And the thing is when you live on a boat you can’t just close everything up and go inside. This lifestyle requires living with the outside inside so short of wearing a onesie, gloves and a hood I’m going to be exposed to them. Of course if you ask the Kiwis they will tell you that after you’ve been bitten enough you will actually become somewhat immune to them. As for me…..I’m still waiting for that day.

You can use bug repellent to prevent getting bit and here in New Zealand you can get repellent that is 80% DEET! I guess the Kiwis believe that poisoning yourself is better than dealing with the bites. At this point I tend to agree so we bought some Repel Xtreme. Unfortunately I can’t wear it inside because I don’t want it all over our new cushions in the saloon.

So far the best treatment I’ve found is to put white vinegar on the bite as soon as I notice it and take antihistamines. As soon as you notice it, you ask? Well yes. I don’t actually feel it when they bite. Maybe it’s that numbing juice they shoot in there as they are gnawing at my skin like a tiger on raw meat. No, it’s not until the histamines start pulsing through my bloodstream that I know I’ve been viciously attacked by a blood sucking demon from the darkest depths of hell. By that time it’s too late to find the tiny monster to inflict a slow and unusually cruel death upon it. Oh but in my dreams…yes in my dreams!!!

Enter the White Tailed Spiders…

As if the sandflies aren’t enough, I have, for some reason, become the target of the White Tailed Spider. Ask any good Kiwi and they will tell you that the White Tailed Spider is not native to New Zealand. It is, in fact, a transplant from Australia. Furthermore they will tell you with a bit of a cheeky grin that “All Kiwi enemies come from Australia.” I’m staying out of that debate!

White Tailed Spider

So what’s the deal with the sadistic White Tailed Spiders? Well, first of all they apparently like me a whole lot more than I do them. In fact they now occupy the number one spot on my list of critters that need to be eradicated from this earth! Secondly, they seem to have no interest in Dan or Grape Ape whatsoever. Third, if I thought the bite from a sandfly was bad I had a lot to learn as Summer started to bloom here in New Zealand because it takes just a single bite from a White Tail and you will begin to think sandflies are your friend.

One day about six or eight weeks ago I started sneezing and I almost couldn’t stop. I kept blaming it on the blooming Pohutukawa, my favorite New Zealand tree, as they were in full bloom with their red flowers so nicely complimented by the dark green of the leaves. These gorgeous trees line the marina basin. While they are simply stunning, they are also messy with the spiny stamens blowing everywhere and so I was pretty certain it was just allergies.

Pohutukawa Tree

The following morning while sitting in the saloon having our internet and coffee time I looked down at my right thigh and saw a very large, swollen spot. It was distinctly different from the ones I get with the sandfly bites so it peeked my curiosity. I touched it. It was hot as a firecracker and the pain from merely brushing my finger over it was seriously intense. I immediately got up and put some vinegar on it as I assumed it was just a really bad sandfly bite.

White Tailed Spider Bite

Within a few hours I noticed I had several more of these spots. A couple on my left leg and three on my left arm. One behind my left elbow that was rather large too. At this point we decided I should draw dots around them, document the time and wait to see if they continued to grow. We also took some photos in case we’d need to see a doctor about it. 

Two days later the one on the back of my elbow had grown to the size of a half dollar and they all were beginning to ulcerate and become even more painful. It was really very scary. On top of all it I was still sneezing like crazy and the over the counter antihistamines we have on board weren’t doing a thing to help.

Time to bring in the professionals…

It was at this point Dan decided it was time to visit White Cross. Obviously I was having an issue that was more than just an allergic reaction to some sandflies. One of the great things about White Cross, other than the fact that I’ve become somewhat of a frequent flyer there so I get amazing treatment, is that they have an online gauge to show you how busy they are so you don’t have to go and wait for hours. 

We timed our visit and when the gauge showed they weren’t busy, off we went. The doctor didn’t seem too worried. He said they were likely spider bites, gave me some mild antibiotics and sent me on my way. Okay, that’s fabulous. Hopefully this little debacle will be past us pretty quickly. Or…..maybe not! Several days go by and these things are getting even bigger and the skin is literally peeling off of them in layers. A gentle brush against even the softest thing felt like needles being jammed into my legs and arms. So, back to White Cross we go. 

Yes….they are absolutely as painful as they look!

This time we got this amazing doctor who really took the time to thoroughly look at each area. He was pretty certain these are White Tailed spider bites but none of us can figure out how it ended up on the boat unless we brought it back from hiking. After I explained that ten years or so ago I had a Staph infection that landed me in the hospital for five days he decided to amp up the antibiotics, give me a strong cream and put me on some high powered antihistamines as well. Within two days I was getting relief. Of course now I am left with eight reddish, purple scars from the bites but at least they are healing. No beauty pageant wins in my future now. LOL

Miss Muffet's Spray

During this time Dan borrowed some Miss Muffet’s Spider Spray from our friends on SV Evenstar and he sprayed the entire boat from stem to stern. He never actually saw a White Tail but he did find a few other eight legged insects that were, as any spider should be, dead!

Some will ask how I didn’t know I was being bitten because it’s known that their bite is quite ferocious. Well, we believe it must have happened while I was sleeping. It would make sense as these buggers like dark, cool places in the summertime and our bunk area is pretty dark when the dinghy is on the foredeck. Also I sleep pretty soundly. Apparently many people get bit in their sleep and don’t realize it until the morning. 

That said, a few weeks went by and we thought we had put the chapter of the Biting Beasts Of New Zealand behind us. I was sitting at the table working on the laptop in the wee hours of the morning when all of the sudden I felt a sting on my leg that literally made me jump up from the table. The only lights on were from the TV and the laptop so I didn’t get to see the villain but I’ve not doubt who it was because by the morning the area was already beginning to ulcerate and was doubling in size.

Off to White Cross AGAIN! I really should get some sort of air miles or bonus dollars or something for the amount of time I spend in there. Anyway, back on antibiotics and antihistamines for another five days while Dan does another dousing of Miss Muffet’s Spider Spray.

Two weeks have gone by now and we’re out on the hook and BAM….three more bites! To say I’m about over this is a major understatement. Dan is determined to find these little sods and I’m just dealing with the bites as best I can. We’ll keep you posted on the saga of the Biting Beasts. In the meantime, if you’re here in New Zealand or your coming this way….all I can say is beware the things that bite in the night but whatever you do, don’t let them stop you from enjoying this amazing place! I know I won’t!

Until next time,

Jilly

P.S. If you think you’ve been bitten by a White Tailed Spider don’t try to be tough or just play it off as nothing. Since this started I’ve spoken to several people who have given accounts of friends who were bitten and sustained serious consequences including loss of fingers and limbs. They really aren’t anything to mess with as they can do some serious damage. See a doctor immediately.

Oh yes…if you’re wondering why Dan is not being eaten by the spiders….well, the doctor says it’s likely because he has hairy arms and legs so they just move on. Maybe I need to just stop shaving for a time. Hmmmm!

New Zealand, Whangarei

Dazzler, The Medical Ship

Dazzler, The Medical Ship

Posted 31.5.2021

Okay, okay…we know. It’s been a while since our last post. We’ve received comments from several people wondering where we are and what is happening. We certainly appreciate the concern from our followers. Thank you! For all of you who are worried or just want to know what’s going on with the Dazzler crew, here’s a little update.

We’re still here in New Zealand and like the rest of the world we entered lockdown the first of April. You know they could have picked either the day before or day after…. seriously, April Fool’s Day? Guess the NZ government has a pretty good sense of humor. 

Lockdown level 4 for us meant that only grocery stores, gas stations and medical facilities were open for the most part. Everyone was to shelter in place just like the rest of the world. We were fortunate here at the marina in Town Basin in that they still allowed us to use the communal showers and laundry facilities. Of course there were strict rules with only one person or family bubble allowed in the building at a time.

The grocery stores allowed only one family member in at a time and quite interestingly, the Kiwis followed the rules to the letter and no one complained. In fact, everyone was in pretty good spirits about it. They just did as asked. This was quite different from what we saw happening in the U.S. so we were very happy to be here rather than at home.

The first accident scene!

As for the lockdown itself, well, Dazzler became a top-notch medical treatment facility complete with one of the finest Medical Officers around, Captain Dan. Let me explain. The day after lockdown started I was walking up the ramp at the dock to go do laundry and literally tore an inch long tear in my right calf muscle. Sunny beach that hurt! Off to the White Cross Emergency Clinic and a couple of hours later I returned with a lovely set of crutches, some non-addictive pain meds and instructions to lay low and rest for a couple of weeks. Of course Dan’s comment was, “That’s a pretty extreme way to get out of doing laundry.” Well what can I say? It worked! Got me out of cleaning and cooking duty too!

Ten days later I was doing really well and decided I could go without crutches. We took a nice walk around the marina that day and I was thrilled to be somewhat back to normal. That evening Dan decided I could shower at the marina facilities rather than on Dazzler. Not that there’s anything wrong with showering on board but we do use our shower for storage so each time I showered Dan would have to take everything out and then wipe it down after I showered and put it all back. Yes, it’s sort of a hassle. Anyway, off to the showers we went.

In the marina showers you pay $1 NZD for 6 minutes of hot water. You can have all the freezing cold water you want or can stand but it’s pretty darn cold so a buck is pretty reasonable. I usually take two coins with me just in case I need them but most of the time 6 minutes does the trick. Just before the hot water shuts off you hear a clicking sound. That lets you know the cold stuff is on its way. On this particular evening I didn’t hear said clicking sound. Maybe it was the street noise outside or maybe I was just not paying attention. Either way, with face into the water stream I was suddenly blasted with what felt like tiny ice crystals pelting my face and shoulders. Oddly I didn’t “jump” back, rather I slowly stepped back onto my right leg. I guess I was still trying to baby it and didn’t step real solidly on it and before I knew what was happening I was crashing onto the top of the 5” x 5” raised step between the shower and concrete floor outside. Son of a biscuit eater and holy Mother of God did that hurt like hell! 

I came down hard on my left side and back. Everything was going black and I started screaming for Dan who was in the other shower.  Of course the door was locked so I crawled over to unlock it. The entire time I’m writhing in pain and screaming for him to get in there before I passed out. He’s in the middle of his shower so he had to dry off and get clothes on. It seemed like it took him forever but I’m sure it was just a couple of minutes.

Add to it that I didn’t get the door completely unlocked so he had to break into the shower room. Fortunately for me he knew the trick to open these type of community doors. That’s my McGiver man! Once again we see there’s nothing he can’t do.

I believe I must have blacked out for a moment or two because I opened my eyes just in time to see Dan come blazing through the doorway with his Captain Save-A-Hoe cape flying behind him. I’m lying on my back on the cold, metal shower floor and everything God gave me was just flapping in the breeze. Things start going black again and I’m hyperventilating as I laid there on the icy floor. 

So here I am half conscious, stark naked, cold and wet and he says… “Do you want me to call the ambulance?“ 

“Do you want me to shove a hot poker up your a**? HELL NO! What is the matter with you?” 

That’s a nightmare I’ve played out in my head for years. Just what I want is a couple of paramedics to come in to rescue me while my hoo-ha is sticking out there like the eye of Cyclops and my boobs are flopping from side to slide like I’m bull riding all the while screaming profanities like a sailor on a sinking ship. 

“No thank you. I’ll just die here! You can cover me with the shower curtain when I’m gone.”

After I screamed some sense into his foolish man brain we set about getting me dry and clothed. If I was going in an ambulance I was going to be properly dressed. It took about twenty minutes to get me up and dressed. By that time I’d decided nothing was broken and all I wanted was to get back on the boat. Walking was difficult at best so it took another ten or fifteen minutes to walk me back to Dazzler. Here I spent the next few weeks in complete misery being nursed back to health by the ever diligent and assertive Medical Officer who also happens to be the Captain on Dazzler. His tactics are, as he calls them, “firm but fair” and he doesn’t miss a thing but I’ve no doubt he has my best interest at heart.

The bruise itself was massive. It went from my spine around my left side and down my hip and thigh. Leg injury? What leg injury? I have a leg injury? Really…I can’t feel anything but the pain raging through back, my left side and my hip as my bum tingles and with a lovely numbing burning sensation that surely is the work of Satan himself.

I’ve seen the doctor multiple times throughout the lockdown for this injury and it turns out I fractured a vertebrae and compressed three disks. Yeah, I know. I’m a go big or go home kind of gal. The thing that bothers me most is I don’t even have some great story filled with pirates and rum to go along with it. I’m just simple a middle aged woman who walked up a ramp, tore a calf muscle and then fell in the shower injuring her back. 

I’m sitting here thinking that I’ve traveled over 15000 nautical miles in seas that most normal people would never dream of sailing. I’ve walked on decks that were pitching and rolling 30° from side to side with green water crashing over me. I’ve used sharp knives preparing meals in the same conditions and yet my worst injuries happen walking up a freaking dock and taking a shower. Where’s the adventure in that???

One quick note here about the New Zealand medical situation. Here in NZ if you are injured as a result of an accident it doesn’t matter if you are a citizen or not, your medical care is covered almost 100%. Throughout all of the doctor’s visits, vascular scans, x-rays, medications, specialists etc…we were only out of pocket around $200 USD! In the states we figure we’d already have been up close to $10K.  

And, last week the specialist decided they wanted me to have a battery of blood tests to be sure I don’t have osteoporosis or some other underlying condition that caused my bones to break so easily. They took blood for 19 tests! We paid the equivalent of around $220 USD. I did a little research. In the US these blood tests would have run between $5-8K! So for less than $500 USD I’ve received some of the best care I could ever imagine. And the doctors and staff at White Cross were absolutely fabulous. I’m very grateful for each of them. One things for sure the Kiwis could certainly teach the U.S. about medical care and costs. Of course we know nothing will ever change there because big pharma & hospitals etc…have their hands in the pockets of the politicians. OK…enough about that…this is not a political blog.

He’s not just the Captain and Medical Officer….he’s also the awesome Chef and he kept me very well fed!

Anyway, as you can see we haven’t had much to report from the decks of Dazzler in the past six weeks and there was no way I could sit at the computer and type to even give you the info on the injuries. No, I spent the first month pretty much flat on my back. I do have to say that my love and the official Dazzler Medical Officer has done an absolutely amazing job taking care of me even if at times I felt like an unruly child being controlled  by a strict parent. He is truly one of God’s angels and do know I’m so very blessed to have him in my life. Thanks Dear!

We’re now in stage 2 lockdown, which means everything is pretty close to being back to normal. We have to check in and out of restaurants and stores, no groups larger than 100 people and there’s still a lot of social distancing going on but people are out and about again and that includes me. I’m still a long way from being completely healed, at least a couple of months more, but I’m doing much better and for that, I’m grateful. 

Now that I’m up and about again we promise to get more posts up there for you. Hope everyone is doing well and handling the crisis as best as you can.

Until next time,

Jilly & Dan

P.S. As for how we feel about being in New Zealand throughout this whole Covid thing, we couldn’t be happier. They have handled this like true champions. As of this posting we’ve only had 22 deaths and just 1504 confirmed & probable cases. It’s been truly impressive to watch how the Kiwis and their government took this on.