We found out that our friend Maggie on Blue (expedition style trawler) is a nurse. Tom had been very sick and we were getting very concerned, not knowing what we wrong. He wasn't eating - no appetite. When we saw Maggie in Playa del Coco, he explained to her how he felt and what his symptoms were. She took one look at his eyes (without his sunglasses) and his skin and said "you have Hep A" - as it turned out she's been a specialist in that area of medicine.
Once we found out what was wrong I went online to to some research. You get it from tainted food or water. We have no idea where it came from - it really could have been anywhere. I looked for treatment (there really isn't any), and found out that antibiotics don't work. I called mark Burcaw and he ran through a list of vitiamins, herbs and supplements to take. Otherwise, you just tough it out and get through it - lots of liquid, fruits, veggies, etc. No alcohol, no caffine, no refined sugar/flour products.Unfortunately, I got it too. I have a stronger immune system that Tom ans suspect I was exposed at the same time but my body was fighting it off. By the time we stopped in Quepos, I had a raging fever and the jaundice was begining to set in. It really slows you down!