Question: I live in Missouri, USA. On last Tuesday, my friend (male, 66, 5'8", 170lbs, white) and I were out trimming his donkeys' hooves. We were in some high grass. I was bitten by a tick, but he was not, as far as he is aware. We were doing some other mildly hard work in the heat. As soon as we got home, he became very weak and fatigued, and soon became ill. His skin was extremely sensitive and even touching him made his skin hurt. For about two days before this, he had been having diarrhea.

Soon after this, he became very ill. His fever would be around 100 degrees F during the day and then at night would spike to 103. I was checking on him regularly, making him drink water. I couldn't get him to eat anything, food tasted very bad to him and he refused to eat. He vomited several times although this was not a prevailing symptom throughout this whole ordeal. He became congested, so much so that although he had no trouble breathing, he was coughing up phlegm. His mouth has been extremely dry no matter how much water he drinks. This has been going on for over a week now.

He then became so weak, I guess just worn out from being sick, and could barely walk. He was stumbling around all over the place as if he were drunk. As a result...

He fell. Down the stairs. Twice. The first time was not an issue, he was fine and I didn't know about it. The second time, he was trying to go to the bathroom and fell down the stairs on the way there, not even intending to go down. I was in the basement when I heard it, I knew what it had to be and I ran to help him. He was unconscious, but it was not hard to get him to wake. He was extremely confused, obviously concussed. He was talking nonsense and scrolling on his phone when it wasn't even on, for around five minutes. This was admittedly a little funny although I was worried.

I tried to get him to the hospital, he "ran" away from me as best he could, and went upstairs. I tried to stop him but I couldn't risk him falling again. When he laid down, I called an ambulance. He did not understand what was going on. When the ambulance got here, he was apparently lucid enough to answer a few pathetic questions about his name and location, so he was able to deny treatment, which I thought was fucking ridiculous. He was quite obviously unwell and his temperature was 104.

Since that happened about three days ago, he has been mentally slow and somewhat confused, saying things that don't make any sense and doing things that don't make any sense. I am extremely worried.

This morning, I was able to get him to the hospital by lying to him and telling him we were going to the farm. The doctors do not know what's wrong with him. I don't know where the illness ends and the concussion begins, as he was already so fatigued before he fell that he was reacting slowly.

His ears hurt and he has some sharp pains in his face sometimes.

We HAVE been tested for covid-19 and came up negative.

He does have some medical issues. He has some kind of genetic tremor which he takes cyclobenzaprine for. He has high blood pressure. I can't remember what else, but he takes around 7 medications every night and one in the morning.

He is my best friend. I'm only 21 but he has been incredibly kind to me, he is a very smart man who I care about a lot. I'm very worried that even if he comes out of this alive, he will not be mentally sound. I don't know what the hell I would do if anything were to happen to him. Will you please take the time to tell me your opinions?

Ask any questions you need to. Thank you.

I live in Missouri, USA. On last Tuesday, my friend (male, 66, 5'8", 170lbs, white) and I were out trimming his donkeys' hooves. We were in some high grass. I was bitten by a tick, but he was not, as far as he is aware. We were doing some other mildly hard work in the heat. As soon as we got home, he became very weak and fatigued, and soon became ill. His skin was extremely sensitive and even touching him made his skin hurt. For about two days before this, he had been having diarrhea.

Soon after this, he became very ill. His fever would be around 100 degrees F during the day and then at night would spike to 103. I was checking on him regularly, making him drink water. I couldn't get him to eat anything, food tasted very bad to him and he refused to eat. He vomited several times although this was not a prevailing symptom throughout this whole ordeal. He became congested, so much so that although he had no trouble breathing, he was coughing up phlegm. His mouth has been extremely dry no matter how much water he drinks. This has been going on for over a week now.

He then became so weak, I guess just worn out from being sick, and could barely walk. He was stumbling around all over the place as if he were drunk. As a result...

He fell. Down the stairs. Twice. The first time was not an issue, he was fine and I didn't know about it. The second time, he was trying to go to the bathroom and fell down the stairs on the way there, not even intending to go down. I was in the basement when I heard it, I knew what it had to be and I ran to help him. He was unconscious, but it was not hard to get him to wake. He was extremely confused, obviously concussed. He was talking nonsense and scrolling on his phone when it wasn't even on, for around five minutes. This was admittedly a little funny although I was worried.

I tried to get him to the hospital, he "ran" away from me as best he could, and went upstairs. I tried to stop him but I couldn't risk him falling again. When he laid down, I called an ambulance. He did not understand what was going on. When the ambulance got here, he was apparently lucid enough to answer a few pathetic questions about his name and location, so he was able to deny treatment, which I thought was fucking ridiculous. He was quite obviously unwell and his temperature was 104.

Since that happened about three days ago, he has been mentally slow and somewhat confused, saying things that don't make any sense and doing things that don't make any sense. I am extremely worried.

This morning, I was able to get him to the hospital by lying to him and telling him we were going to the farm. The doctors do not know what's wrong with him. I don't know where the illness ends and the concussion begins, as he was already so fatigued before he fell that he was reacting slowly.

His ears hurt and he has some sharp pains in his face sometimes.

We HAVE been tested for covid-19 and came up negative.

He does have some medical issues. He has some kind of genetic tremor which he takes cyclobenzaprine for. He has high blood pressure. I can't remember what else, but he takes around 7 medications every night and one in the morning.

He is my best friend. I'm only 21 but he has been incredibly kind to me, he is a very smart man who I care about a lot. I'm very worried that even if he comes out of this alive, he will not be mentally sound. I don't know what the hell I would do if anything were to happen to him. Will you please take the time to tell me your opinions?

Ask any questions you need to. Thank you.