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Author Topic: Valley Fever in the Southwest per CDC  (Read 3294 times)

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Offline mikeyb39

  • Member
  • Posts: 980
Valley Fever in the Southwest per CDC
« on: March 28, 2013, 06:54:54 pm »
All you guys be careful in these area.  the article says folks with HIV are more proned to having it worse.

http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/28/17503123-valley-fever-on-rise-in-southwest-cdc-says?lite

Some scary shit out there.
11/02/2010  cd4-251, vl-591000
12/09/2010  started Atripla
02/18/2011  cd4-425, vl-800
06/10/2011  cd4-447, vl-70
10/10/2011  cd4-666, vl-80
01/05/2012  swiched med (prezista,norvir ,isentress, )
02/10/2012  cd4-733, vl-UD  Viread removed
06/10/2012  cd4-614, vl-UD
12/14/2012  cd4-764, vl-UD
09/01/2013  cd4-785, vl-UD
03/06/2014. cd4- 1078, VL-UD
09/05/2014  cd4-850 , VL-UD
09/05/2014 switched meds isentress, prezcobix -still only two antivirals
10/14/2015  cd4-600 , VL-UD

Offline darryaz

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  • Posts: 450
Re: Valley Fever in the Southwest per CDC
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2013, 11:30:18 pm »
Scary is an understatement.  I read once that in the 1940's and 50's the U.S. government researched using Valley Fever as a biological weapon.

I was infected with Valley Fever when I lived in Arizona.  The dust from those dust storms you see on the news in Phoenix is LADEN with fungus spores.  In the past 5 years I've spent a total of 12 weeks in hospital.  I've had coccidioidal pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis (which caused me permanent brain damage and required brain surgery)

The article mentions average medical bills of $50,000..... in my case it was more like $350,000.

The treatment for fungal infections has not changed much since the 1950's (there has been very little research into fungal diseases during the past 40 years).  Patients undergo daily IV's of a HORRID drug called Amphotericin-B (popularly known as Ampho-terrible).  It has awful side effects which last long after the fungus is under control.

So as the OP warned, if you live in an area where ANY fungal disease is common, keep close tabs on your CD-4 count and get to the doctor at the FIRST HINT of any flu-like symptoms.

Offline wolfter

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  • Posts: 5,470
Re: Valley Fever in the Southwest per CDC
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2013, 11:43:24 pm »
All areas of the world have fungal spores that all immune deficient people should be concerned with. 

I never realized just how deadly fungal infections were until I had the cryptococcal meningitis.  A month of Ampoterrible followed by mega doses of fluconazole.  I also developed a brain mass that needed removed.

There's unfortunately not a lot we can do to avoid exposure to these nasty little spores.

Wolfie
Being honest is not wronging others, continuing the dishonesty is.

Offline RapidRod

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  • Posts: 15,288
Re: Valley Fever in the Southwest per CDC
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2013, 09:32:24 am »
All areas of the world have fungal spores that all immune deficient people should be concerned with. 

I never realized just how deadly fungal infections were until I had the cryptococcal meningitis.  A month of Ampoterrible followed by mega doses of fluconazole.  I also developed a brain mass that needed removed.

There's unfortunately not a lot we can do to avoid exposure to these nasty little spores.

Wolfie
I've known for 13 years how deadly fungal infections are, I still have my bouts with it. Trouble most of the anti fungal medication are not compatible with HIV medication.

Offline darryaz

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  • Posts: 450
Re: Valley Fever in the Southwest per CDC
« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2013, 09:54:22 am »
Trouble most of the anti fungal medication are not compatible with HIV medication.

Hmmmm.....  I didn't realize that.  I take a fairly large dose (400mg/day) of Fluconazole plus Atripla and haven't had any problems with that combination. 

We do have to stay aware of my liver enzymes, but they've been good for the past 2 years.  It's my understanding that nearly all anti-fungals cause elevated liver enzymes.

Offline RapidRod

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  • Posts: 15,288
Re: Valley Fever in the Southwest per CDC
« Reply #5 on: March 29, 2013, 01:43:49 pm »
I went through all the anti fugal medications there was and ended up on a non approved drug (Noxafil)from Europe, it was later approved in the US a year later. Most HIV medication reduce the functions and total benefits of the antifungal drugs. In my case Atripla prevented the Itraconazole from working. 

Offline darryaz

  • Member
  • Posts: 450
Re: Valley Fever in the Southwest per CDC
« Reply #6 on: March 29, 2013, 01:58:21 pm »
Itraconazole is listed on the Atripla website as a drug that SHOULD NOT be taken with Atripla.  It is not compatible with the Efavirenz component.
« Last Edit: March 29, 2013, 02:00:34 pm by darryaz »

Offline RapidRod

  • Member
  • Posts: 15,288
Re: Valley Fever in the Southwest per CDC
« Reply #7 on: March 29, 2013, 02:08:15 pm »
It is now, it wasn't at first. I still have the inserts from where it wasn't listed as a contradiction, nor was Sativa and Truvada.

 


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