Remember that time I posted about my flesh-eating skin disease that was wreaking havoc on my legs and my ability to walk or function normally? Well that day at urgent care, they did some bloodwork just in case to determine if there was some underlying reason for my freakish skin rash.
Fast forward a week.
I call urgent care on Monday: "Hi, this is Kara. I was in last week and had some bloodwork done. Can you tell me if the lab results are in yet and if I need to follow up with the doctor?"
UC: (far too chipperly) "Why, yes! Your results are in and the doctor wants to see you! How about TODAY?!"
Me: (omgomgomgomgomg I have AIDS and I'm pregnant and I have 12 STDs and cancer and MS) "Sure, I'll be there at 4:30."
So I spend the rest of my day panicking and make it to my appointment late because that just happens to be my extra-long day of training. I sit in a waiting room for half an hour convincing myself of the misery I'll soon suffer due to all the infectious, communicable diseases I've contracted.
Dr. comes in.
"You tested positive for valley fever."
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Dudes, OLD FOLKS and TOURISTS and COWS get valley fever. Not Arizona natives in generally good health. If you want a super clinical summary of valley fever, check here. Basically though, it's a pretty common thing we desert people can get - fungal spores become airborne when there's a lot of digging or farming or wind and lodge themselves in your lungs where they breed into phlegmy agents of doom. It's not contagious. The common symptoms, including my rash, include all the malaise, cough and fatigue I was feeling for 2-3 weeks in January which I had just attributed to post-holiday comedown. From exposure, valley fever can take months to fully exit your body.
Seriously? You guys. I can think of about a zillion other types of fevers I'd rather have. Like dance fever. Or disco fever. Or Saturday night fever...shoot, I'd even take CABIN FEVER over this!
I did a chest xray yesterday morning, but unless my xray comes back with a bunch of little gremlins living inside my lungs, I'm supposed to let the disease run its course without medication. I feel fine - my legs are 90% back to normal (aka non-diseased looking) and I haven't had any type of cough or respiratory issues. Heck, I even sleep and eat just fine. But if you don't take it easy when you're recovering from valley fever, you can get MENINGITIS.
OMG.
MENINGITIS.
I'm sorry for all the pauses and exclamations, but I'm really just aghast that I have this. I can still work and I can't spread it to anyone else, so that's good because I love my jobs, but I swear I feel more tired than I should most days and I'm taking this as a sign that it's time to cancel ALL my post-work appointments and watch reruns of Top Chef and have lovely friends bring me homemade cupcakes.
It's tragic, really. I was looking so forward to that teeth cleaning I had scheduled next week.
I had never heard of valley fever! Glad it's not something deadly. :) Although the idea of possibly getting meningitis would have me shakin' in my boots as well . . . guess you better take it easy!
ReplyDeleteTake it easy peasy! Are you gonna be at the thingy in AZ next month?!
ReplyDeletelay down immediately. i had cat scratch fever once - no jokes. i kinda wanted to get a tattoo that stated it. still might.
ReplyDeleteright now i have bieber fever and it's had me down for a week. do you think i have to go get a blood test?? wtf if i get meningitis??
paranoia sets in.
take care lady. i just cancelled my dentist appt. too!!
i'm glad your flesh isn't going to eat itself.
xo,
c
I can think of about a zillion other types of fevers I'd rather have. Like dance fever. Or disco fever. Or Saturday night fever...shoot, I'd even take CABIN FEVER over this! BAHAHAH!!! you are so funny! and please take it easy so that you will be just fine!!!!
ReplyDeletep.s. the last time i had a monster case of iritis they wanted to test me for all sorts of fun auto-immune diseases including TB! i was mortified! and everybody was treating me like i had the PLAGUE! no fun! but i don't have TB. whew!
Wow, I am surprised because all we Arizonans KNOW that it's people who haven't been here very long who usually contract valley fever. That's a bummer but it sounds like it will run its course pretty quickly in you since you are young and healthy. I have when doctors' offices do that, too. Anyway, take it easy...I'm sure you won't get meningitis, though.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! I am so sorry hun! I've never heard of valley fever.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love how you said "dance fever". I just laughed out loud.
ahh, so random!!! I did laugh when you said "DUDE, TOURISTS, OLD PEOPLE AND COWS GET VALLEY FEVER", that's so random!! I had shingles one time on my back and it was so gross and so weird and random (and painful), I felt weird the entire time that I went through it because I was just like ugh, why do I have this! You sound like you're in good spirits about it (since you brought so many jokes to this post) and it's nice that you can't spread it! But that's lame and weird, such is life I guess- you'll be okay, just get through it!
ReplyDeletewow, no meds? they put my son on heavy duty anti-fungals for 6 months! he had to have a monthly blood test to make sure the meds weren't injuring his liver. of course he had a mass of infection the size of a lemon in his chest. and was up to a 104+ fever for days in the hospital. and he was five. so i'm sure you're way better off. :D I hope this exits your body quick!
ReplyDelete