seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
If everyone remembers, my past threads this week were about my family getting ill and my multiple doctor visits last week. My daughter had a suspected virus and had high temps for 6 days. It passed and she's better. Docs said viral and blood work indicated it.
My wife and I last Mon/Tuesday get very sick. We both get horribly sore throats with white patches everywhere, fever, chills, sweats, fatigue, etc. My temp hit a high of 102 deg and I'm usually 96-97 at best. I had pink eye in BOTH eyes too - she didn't at all. My PCP took a throat culture Thursday.
Fast forward to today...my wife is better now. She's back to her old self working out and all. My fever is gone now, my throat hurts less, but I've got major other issues. It's so hard to see everyone get better so easily and I stay ill so long. It's mentally devastating.
My throat culture supposedly came back totally normal. ***? THe doc was sure it was bacterial based on the presentation, but who knows. Is there ANY chance being on long-term Biaxin could have produced a culture negative that actually isn't? I just don't understand these dynamics well enough.
My ears got hit big time by this infection. I'm very off-balance. I feel so plugged up. The back of my throat feels very congested. It's like there's 10 lbs of gunk that won't release. My arms / legs are feeling very weak too at times. Scary feeling and I've been through a lot before.
My PCP just said who knows and wants to toss me off to his ENT as they ALWAYS do.
I'm on Cipro eye drops for my pink eye and have no damn idea if it's bacterial or viral so I'm on day #4 now. Is there a chance the Cipro drops could be messing with my balance. Dizziness is a listed allergic reaction. I know Cipro is a dangerous, dangerous drug.
Now, I'm back to square one and don't know where to start. My PCP, before my culture was negative, put me on 2 gr of Amoxicillin XR 2x day. I couldn't take it yet because the pills are SO SO SO big. I'm afraid of choking and they can't be crushed due to being time release. Crap. it was a 10-day supply.
Now, I'm left with no clue what to do, can't drive because my equalibrium is messed up to get to a specialist, still have some pink eye, and feel 5x worse than before I got this whatever. I'm guessing it was a virus, but how do I know? Could it be a bacterial infection still spreading even though my sore throat isn't there and the fever diminished.
I'm taking ginger capsules, milk thistle, etc.
OR, could this have all been a massive yeast infection all along that is going crazy? Wouldn't a culture have shown candida in my throat if so?
I NEED to get better soon. HELP ME!!!! Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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Pinelady
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Member # 18524
posted
I would make sure your Pink eye is not shingles. I know a fellow who about lost his site because of that mistake.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
How do you find that out Pinelady? I have no signs of the rash or that wicked muscle pain I believe comes with it.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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Remember to Smile
Unregistered
posted
Dear seek, SO sorry you've been so very ill! Cyberhug...
Not sure i can be of much help now, but you have my sympathies.
I found help for some of my ear trouble with Lycopodium homeopathic pellets 6c formulation is best, but 30c would be ok if that's all your wife finds at your healthfood store.
My ears would often feel "too full" and they were shown to have fluid, but not infected. I suffer extreme hyperaccusis flares for about 5 days/month, then some stabbing pains sometimes. Lycopodium knocks out my "fullness" achy problem.
I just use generic $1.29 saline nasal spray, no additives. ALWAYS before bed, and about 4x/day if i'm ill as you describe above.
Plug one nostril closed. Spray other with your head in normal upright position as you inhale. Exhale thru mouth. Keep spraying one side 'til saline runs down back of your throat. Then do the other nostril.
When you've got both to run clear saline down your throat, you can stop and gently blow a bit into a tissue. Don't exhale strongly thru your nose; be gentle.
When you're feeling pretty healthy, don't use saline spray daily. But it's important to always have it in stock at home. Use a sharpie to mark each family member's own bottle. NO sharing!
Saline nasal spray is good to use before you go outdoors on heavy pollen or mold days, and after you come in on a heavy pollen/mold/dusty day. Also excellent before bed after the above.
Hope this wasn't all just old news to you... Sleepy Smile
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posted
Pre-Lyme diagnosis, my daughter was very sick with a high fever for 8 days. Her strep test was negative and her mono test was negative. Her throat was bright red, swollen, and had white spots.
Her PCP thought it was viral. Finally, after 8 days, the PCP gave her abx just in case and she got better quickly.
The PCP thought it could have been a staph infection that developed after the virus. I don't really believe that because her symptoms never changed. But I do believe it was a bacterial infection of some sort that didn't get picked up by her strep test.
If it were me, I would find a way to take the Amoxocillin.
Hope you find some relief soon.
Posts: 984 | From US | Registered: Dec 2007
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
RTS, yes I use saline spray often. it doesn't help a whole lot unfortunately. However, I wasn't using the method you do. I'll try it.
I'm worried because my muscles seem the be locking up oddly. It's like this illness knocked me back a lot. My arms feel very heavy - almost like when I first got sick.
Jkmon, I'm going to try the Augmentin. If I choke, oh well. At least then, I'll get looked at in the ER, right? lol. My glands / lymph nodes on my neck feel so swollen. My lymph system is horrible I think.
The pink eye in both eyes seems to be improving from what I can tell. Hopefully, I'm not color-blind now. My fever is still gone so that's good.
I'm really thinking of stopping the Cipro eye drops. I'm wondering if they could be poisoning me or something. I don't feel the same. Odds are it was viral anyways.
My voice is still very hoarse and my energy is horrid.
I wonder if now is the time to try Red Root Tincture?
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Did they test you for mononucleosis (mono)?
Posts: 819 | From East Coast | Registered: Apr 2009
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Pinelady
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Member # 18524
posted
Good question kitty.
Eye complications -- Eye complications occur in about 2 percent of individuals. Eye complications are much more likely to occur when the shingles rash occurs around the eye. These complications are serious and can lead to vision loss.
Eye inflammation -- Eye inflammation (called herpes zoster ophthalmicus) typically begins with fever, headache, decreased vision, a droopy eyelid, and a generalized feeling of being unwell. These symptoms are accompanied by pain or extreme sensitivity of the eye, forehead, and top of the head.
Early diagnosis and treatment are important in preventing worsening eye inflammation and vision loss. People who have zoster lesions near an eye should be evaluated immediately by an eye specialist. Treatment usually includes oral acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir plus steroid eye drops to reduce inflammation
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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seekhelp
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Member # 15067
posted
Yes, I was tested for mono - negative. I had mono before in 1996. It was the beginning of my horrible change in quality of life. I'll never forget it.
You can't get it twice anyways, right?
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Try Manuka honey. It has to have an active factor. When my daughter came down with mono, I had her suck on a spoonful every couple of hours so it would coat the back of her throat. Maybe she had a milder case but she was up in and running in a couple of days.
When I had mono, I was sick for two years until I got my tonsils out. Doctors no longer look for bad tonsils and mine had been left with huge pock holes after the mono that were trapping food, bacteria, etc. A virtual toxic cesspool in the back of my throat.
I think the Amoxy is a good idea. If you still have tonsils, go see the ENT.
Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006
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sparkle7
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Member # 10397
posted
Sounds like side effects from taking abx for a while... Many of the symptoms you are describing are side effects of abx on top of some kind of flu, virus, bacteria thing. Sorry, I know everyone here thinks I'm nuts & anti-prescription medicine. I'm really not. I just don't like the idea of endless abx...
The abx may have effected your immune system making it harder for your body to fight infections. It would seem to me that taking more abx would just make things worse.
At some point, your body has to be able to "heal" it's self. In general, drugs suppress symptoms & drive everything deeper. This is why I like herbs... Less chance of toxin build-up, depleted immune function, yeast, fungus, etc.
Maybe it's time to gradually get into some detox protocols...? There are no easy answers. It just takes time. I know you just want to pop a pill & be over it. Sometimes, you have to take another path.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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seekhelp
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Member # 15067
posted
Sparkle, you're saying a fever, white pus on throat, chills and fatigue are due to the antibiotics and not a virus/bacterial illness?
Three years have passed and I've done basically monotherapy 99.9% of the time. While it disgusts me to be on anything this long, I need to try one last shot at real Lyme treatment. I believe I have been grossly, grossly undertreated by my doctors and it upsets me a lot.
Ironically, I thought maybe getting this virus (if that) was a sign my body was finally recognizing things and fighting? For 3 years, I didn't get anything as much as a cold, while others got sick. It's like my body was immune to common illnesses.
Yeah, I agree detox is needed. It's just what makes us think our body can just say 'lights on' and beat these horrible infections if all the literature from Keebler and others is right about how virulent Lyme / Babesia is? I'd think they could suppress your immune system indefinitely if not eradicated. What would make this miracle change occur?
I don't know what to think honestly. I'm so damn sick of guessing what's the true issue/culprit. it's an exercise in futility and sometimes makes me wonder why keep bothering. Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
We had some weird viruses passed around the house the last couple months.
That includes pink eye (both eyes)
Sores in mouth that can be numerous or present as a single sore at the tip of tongue in some people (I didn't have this one, but it apparently hurt especially when eating sugary things).
A cold/flu type virus that caused lots of congestion, and completely plugged both of my ears. I had vertigo as well, and the pressure wasn't fun either. After about 7 days, I put myself on Ceftin as I suspected a sinus infection, but that honestly didn't do much for it. It cleared after a while.
Once my ears were unplugged, I used a nasal rinse (like a netipot but a squirt bottle at CVS) for a couple weeks. I was on vacation when ears were plugged, so flying wasn't fun.
Everybody in my house got it 1 or all of these viruses (total of 5 people in the house). Maybe it was really one virus since they happened all around the same time, but if so, it did so many different things.
The cold/flu/sore throat/congestion or whatever I had was probably the most contagious as everyone in the household had that.
Perhaps you caught these summer bug(s) and have a secondary infection. Or perhaps the virus (or viruses) are still lingering.
A strong colloidal silver (one you can only get at a doctors office) helped my mom and my sister with the sores on tongue and the pink eyes. NAC helped everyone with their congestion and cough (though I couldn't take it because it interacts with a protocol I was on). A very potent elderberry extract wasn't helpful for me as I took it right at the first sign of viral infection, and I was still sick for weeks. However, others in our strange household think it helped them.
If you have the same virus we had, it can be nasty and annoying, and just takes time to go away.
Posts: 967 | From A deserted island without internet access | Registered: Sep 2009
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IgG � Igenex Positive; CDC/NYS Negative with 31+; 39 (IND); 41++; 58+ Posts: 339 | From Tennessee | Registered: Jun 2010
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sparkle7
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Member # 10397
posted
re: Sparkle, you're saying a fever, white pus on throat, chills and fatigue are due to the antibiotics and not a virus/bacterial illness?
-
The original infection is probably some bug. If you have taken abx for a long time - they may have suppressed your immune system so it's hard for your body to beat it.
A large part of the immune system is in the gut. If you mess up your natural intestinal function - it may make it hard for your body to fight a bad bug.
I posted an article about a week or so ago about how the intestinal system is considered "the second brain". It does control alot of different functions in the body. We all know what abx do to the gut...
Dizziness & vertigo can be side effects of some abx. Fatigue can be the symptom of many things.
I would imagine that this is the way that bugs become abx resistant... Someone becomes ill. The doctor doesn't know what it is & prescribes abx. It spreads to you & maybe others... The abx don't help. The illness becomes more virulent. Your body can't fight it. Etc....
Just an educated guess... I would think that a doctor could tell if it's viral, bacterial or other. If it's viral - I don't think abx would be helpful.
Just seems that you have to start thinking "healing" rather than "killing". I don't know the answer. I'm sorry you are suffering. It sounds awful. At some point, we have to allow the body to heal itself.
When I hear of mouth sores, white patches - it could be yeast or it could be some variation of a herpes virus. Herpes can effect the eyes. There are alot of weird bugs floating around that may be engineered or escaped from labs. We don't know what we are fighting. If the doctor doesn't know - what could I tell you...?
I prefer the herbs because they have less severe side effects. Abx can be a dangerous game. You have to do what you think is correct, though.
If some of your family's blood work said viral - why abx? Doesn't make sense.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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glm1111
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Member # 16556
posted
Seek,
Sorry you are feeling so sick. I am thinking that the Kroeger herbs could help you because along with being antiparasitic they can also attack the bacteria, fungus etc.
Also very important when you are ill is to keep toxins moving out of the G.I. track.
It can make a world of difference especially when the colon is toxic. Do you have any access to getting a colonic? Remember the old cliche "Disease Starts In The Colon"
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
Gael, this stuff started after being on those herbs for 3-4 days, though I think it was a total timing coincidence. There are no colonics facilities in my area that I know of. It's not something I've even remotely considered, though if you would've asked me Saturday, I would've done anything. lol.
Sparkle7, my doc kept saying bacterial from the presentation, but to be fair he had no throat culture results. What I don't understand and docs don't discuss because they despise long-term Abx is if being on them can cause a culture to be negative falsely. Any idea?
if it was yeast, why not positive on culture?
The problem I have is when I get off Abx, I got deep muscle pain that literally makes me want to vomit. I'm unable to do any p/t work which means no money to pay my family's bills, feed young child, etc. Tough choice.
If I could find herbs that were as effective, I'd do it in a heartbeat. They have risks too. For example, taking Art surely isn't candy and has liver risks.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Might the virus your daughter originally had be Coxsackie (hand, foot & mouth? It just ran through our kids' school. High high fever and both my kids got the white mouth sores. My daughter also got the foot and mouth rash, but my son didn't. When you mentioned white spots in mouth and high fever, that's what I thought of.
I have the common cold right now. Both my kids and DH had it, but it is hitting me much harder. I kind of expected this b/c of my health situation.
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sparkle7
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re: Sparkle7, my doc kept saying bacterial from the presentation, but to be fair he had no throat culture results. What I don't understand and docs don't discuss because they despise long-term Abx is if being on them can cause a culture to be negative falsely. Any idea?
---
I don't know.... greengirl suggested coxsackie. I looked at the Wikipedia page & it sounds alot like what you describe you & your family had/have. Coxsackie is related to herpes... No abx are going to help that.
I don't care for the idea that we just have to take abx for the rest of our lives to keep the monster at bay - so to speak. If that's what it happening, it's a tough decision. If you have serious pain, you may want to consider taking pain meds or going to a pain clinic.
Getting off of abx is going to be a transition. There are very good herbal alternatives. Artemesia has worked wonders for me! I can't believe that you would consider taking cipro but you are afraid of artemesia... (Not a criticism - just trying to make light of the situation.)
If it were me - I'd give the abx a good try but if they didn't seem to be making me better, I'd have to look elsewhere. If the relief is temporary - I just don't think it's a good idea to take them with no endpoint in sight.
You might as well take pain meds instead - until you can find something that does actually work on a more permanent basis.
That's just my opinion. The side effects of long term abx usage are quite severe. I don't think they are meant for that... Others may disagree.
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I'm afraid of choking and they can't be crushed due to being time release. Crap. it was a 10-day supply.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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