The final (?) word on my fungus
Well, I continue to get better. My hips are the only joints that still hurt at times (the Celebrex helps) and my lower legs, though not perfect, are in much better shape. But I do get very tired very easily, and often feel fatigued. I'm back at work, but not taking on too much.
There was some question on my diagnosis when my blood test for Coccidioides (the fungus) was negative...but I had elevated antibodies for the bacteria Streptococcus! An extreme case of Strep could cause similar symptoms, but I never had the hallmark sore throat. Plus blood tests for fungal infections are notoriously inaccurate.
So I went to see an infectious disease specialist at Beth Israel, Dr. Stanley Yancovitz, who was kindly recommended to me by some former antifungal clients. I mention him by name because he was great and I highly recommend him to anyone who ever needs an ID; but I digress... I told him the whole sordid tale and he did an exam—and he concurs with the fungal diagnosis. The elevated Strep antibodies were probably from a previous illness. There are other tests that could be done, but he felt that the clinical evidence for Valley Fever was overwhelming and I am getting better, so there was no need for them. A few more weeks of taking it easy and eventually I will be as good as new (or at least as good as I was).
The one interesting caveat is that he said I should always report it as part of my medical history because the fungus can remain dormant in your body for the rest of your life. Under normal circumstances I’ll never have another acute attack now that my immune system has put it in check; but if I’m ever severely immunosuppressed (eg, if I had an organ transplant) it could flare up again.
So what did I learn from all this? Fungal infections suck. Sporanox sucks. Side effects suck. A lot of doctors suck. But my friends and family don't suck. And neither do Stella D’oro Breakfast Treats.
The best medicine of all...me and my niece Ashley on my first “day out".
PS: Karen "MBL" Landes has recent posted a few comments/corrections under the post from our trip to Vega$. If you wish to read them, scroll down and click "comments" at the end of that post!
There was some question on my diagnosis when my blood test for Coccidioides (the fungus) was negative...but I had elevated antibodies for the bacteria Streptococcus! An extreme case of Strep could cause similar symptoms, but I never had the hallmark sore throat. Plus blood tests for fungal infections are notoriously inaccurate.
So I went to see an infectious disease specialist at Beth Israel, Dr. Stanley Yancovitz, who was kindly recommended to me by some former antifungal clients. I mention him by name because he was great and I highly recommend him to anyone who ever needs an ID; but I digress... I told him the whole sordid tale and he did an exam—and he concurs with the fungal diagnosis. The elevated Strep antibodies were probably from a previous illness. There are other tests that could be done, but he felt that the clinical evidence for Valley Fever was overwhelming and I am getting better, so there was no need for them. A few more weeks of taking it easy and eventually I will be as good as new (or at least as good as I was).
The one interesting caveat is that he said I should always report it as part of my medical history because the fungus can remain dormant in your body for the rest of your life. Under normal circumstances I’ll never have another acute attack now that my immune system has put it in check; but if I’m ever severely immunosuppressed (eg, if I had an organ transplant) it could flare up again.
So what did I learn from all this? Fungal infections suck. Sporanox sucks. Side effects suck. A lot of doctors suck. But my friends and family don't suck. And neither do Stella D’oro Breakfast Treats.
The best medicine of all...me and my niece Ashley on my first “day out".
PS: Karen "MBL" Landes has recent posted a few comments/corrections under the post from our trip to Vega$. If you wish to read them, scroll down and click "comments" at the end of that post!