granitecrane38 said:Does anyone actually know much about this illness? I've been scouring the web but all I can find is the cause, some symptoms, and the fact that it can be fatal... My boyfriend is out at sea right now, and they're suspecting he's come down with malaria... He’s docking at the port tonight so they can get him into a hospital. I won't know anything else until tomorrow besides what I already know—just that based on his symptoms, they're leaning toward malaria and such... If anyone out there knows even a little bit about this and could type out some info, it would honestly mean the world to me...
What exactly are you looking for here? Honestly, there's a pretty good chance they'll pull through, even if it really is malaria... Unless, of course, the infection sat there too long and caused some serious internal damage, but she’d probably already know if things were that bad...
Yeah, well, not until they finish breeding all those antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains... then you'll see how much fun we're having.
My son hasn't even touched antibiotics unless it was for an ear infection, scarlet fever, or cellulitis. I’ve never once reached for them just to clear up some respiratory thing.
Look, chest X-rays are basically the gold standard when you're trying to pin down pneumonia. If there aren't any infiltrates on the X-ray, then you don't have pneumonia. Period. Honestly, an ear infection can be such a liar... I’ve been in situations where I was positive I could hear crackles in someone's lungs, only for the X-ray to come back totally clear.
Sure, if those white blood cell counts are over 12, they're definitely elevated, but nobody's arguing that an ear infection needs antibiotics. Personally, I'd just put her on them for ten days. That should be plenty of time.
Oh, and one more thing... A lot of labs out here just spit out the total white blood cell count without giving you the full differential—you know, the part that shows the actual ratios of different types of leukocytes. That can be really misleading, especially when you're dealing with kids.
I watch movies just to escape... honestly, it's pure escapism for me right now. That’s why I can’t stand local cinema, or those pretentious indie flicks, or even Fassbinder. I just want to see the hero make it out alive and ride off into the sunset 🙂 Or, if they absolutely have to die, they should at least go out making some massive, glorious mess first.
Then there are the historical epics... I guess I'm just a sucker for history. I remember thinking Luther was actually pretty great 😍 and tonight I decided to treat myself to A Bridge Too Far.
Look, prescribing any kind of antibiotic—even Zithromax—just because someone’s had a cough for two weeks is total nonsense. Don't get me wrong, if you've got an ear infection, you need treatment, and Zithromax is usually the go-to, though Kevin works most of the time too. But fourteen days? That's just overkill.
In general, pediatricians hand out way too many antibiotics. Only about 10% of upper respiratory infections are actually bacterial, yet it feels like at least half of them end up with a prescription. A red throat doesn't automatically mean you need meds! You shouldn't even be diagnosing pneumonia without an X-ray. But honestly, it's just easier for the doctors at the clinic to scribble a script than to deal with sending a patient to the lab or getting an X-ray done... then they have to follow up anyway.
Just venting a little, sorry... I've just seen it happen way too often lately.
Parents shouldn't be pushing for their kids to "get something" either. It would be much better if they insisted on a blood test or a CRP check instead. That's how you actually cut down on all this unnecessary antibiotic use.
Just to kick things off... have you actually had a CMV serology done yet? Because a CMV infection can trigger plasma cell reactivation, which basically means your body starts churning out antibodies for old illnesses you thought you'd already moved past.
If it isn't that, then we might be looking at some other kind of immune system glitch. I mean, Parvovirus B19 persistence is incredibly rare, and even EBV doesn't hang around that often. Then again, there's always the possibility you're dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome triggered by EBV. There isn't really a specific cure for that one, unfortunately... though I guess the small consolation is that it eventually clears up, even if it drags on for years. Have your liver enzymes been normal? How's your CBC looking? Any swollen lymph nodes?
I don't think anyone's overreacting here. If this were any other kind of toxic smoke, everyone would be running for cover, but since it’s a socially acceptable poison that supposedly benefits the country, suddenly we’re all just "being dramatic."
If someone shoved you into a tiny room with an open fireplace and started burning wet grass right in front of your face, with all that smoke filling the space, wouldn't you complain? Or would they just tell you, "Relax, you're being sensitive, it's just a little smoke?"
goddammit, Austin Baker86, just take some vitamins, drink plenty of fluids, and try to get some fresh air to clear out your lungs. Honestly, I don't have any better advice than that...
If I catch it early enough, the migraine doesn't even get a chance to kick in. Even if I wait until the pain is already hitting me hard, it brings the whole thing down to a level where I can actually get through the day... sort of. It’s worth every damn cent.
honestly, just go see a doctor... get some blood work done and have them check your liver enzymes. It’s totally possible you never actually cleared the infection and the virus is just flaring up again. And yeah, the reality is EBV stays tucked away in your system forever, just like all those other herpes viruses. comforting, isn't it...
Yeah. What you’re talking about is that so-called complex migraine, where you actually deal with real neurological symptoms. Did they ever run a TCD on you? Honestly, for diagnosing migraines, it's way more useful than a CT... try talking your doctor into prescribing Maxalt—the ones that dissolve on your tongue. They cut the attack right at the start. For me, they were the only thing that actually worked.
I'm guessing we're looking at parvo B19 here? How long does that stuff actually hang around... Also, what's the IgM titer looking like? And is there any positivity for EBV or EA?
What you’re describing definitely doesn't sound like heart pain to me. Honestly... it sounds more like a spinal issue or maybe some pinched nerves between your ribs. A little light stretching, keeping the area warm, and maybe some Advil should do the trick.
Anyway, that's basically why I quit posting on this forum and stopped trying to give useful advice wherever else I could... If people care more about how I handle their little provocations than whether I actually know what I'm talking about, then they can just go to hell.
I just love people who get this huge rush of joy from baiting someone, only to take a single forum post and act like they’ve suddenly diagnosed a stranger’s entire personality or professional credentials. It's exhausting...
So you're basically admitting you were just trying to push my buttons on purpose.
Honestly, you aren't even worth the breath it takes to reply.
And like I said before, everyone who walks through the doors of my clinic gets the same treatment from me... whether they're total idiots or not.
The whole idea of favoritism is built on protectionism. But look, I don’t play those games. Every single one of my patients gets treated exactly the same—doesn't matter if they're old, young, polite, rude, wealthy, or broke. I've never asked anyone for a damn thing, and I'm not starting now. If someone happens to be so happy with my work that they leave a little something behind... well, I'm not going to turn my back on them. If that's considered a crime, then let them come arrest me. If it's a sin, then I guess I'll just burn in hell... so you can stop breathing down my neck.
Look, I never claimed healthcare was clean, but saying corruption hits 20%... that’s just a massive stretch.
But I can already see where this is going. It'll turn into one of those debates where people cherry-pick a single sentence you said, rip it out of context, and then start throwing stones...
Noah Vaughn didn't go around claiming her mother takes a $167 from every single patient she sees—especially given her profession, where I doubt she even gets a free drink from every fiftieth person.
And besides, if someone hands you a bottle of wine after you've finished treating them, how is that even bribery? You did your job, you were honest, you were professional, and you weren't looking for a handout... they're just showing gratitude. There was this one elderly gentleman who brought me a handmade wall lamp and a candlestick after I helped save his wife... was that a bribe? Was that corruption? Or is it just being human and wanting to say thanks when you feel the need? I've never asked for anything, nor have I ever expected it. But if someone has already invested their time, money, or resources into me, it feels almost wrong not to accept a gesture of thanks...
Yeah, right... I’m just so incredibly corrupt. Because of all my "dirty money," I’ve been driving this old Hyundai for seven years now—and honestly, I love the thing—plus I’ve got a mortgage that’ll probably outlive me. As for all that cash from those blue envelopes? I don't know what to do with it... I just toss handfuls of bills out the window every day at five PM. Come and get it if you want...
Can we please stop obsessing over these isolated incidents? Just look at the economy and the local government and tell me where the real corruption lives. Sure, maybe a few doctors are shady, but it’s not some widespread epidemic, no matter what the news outlets claim. But try getting a building permit around here without greasing a few palms first... 😠
Man, I really feel for you regarding those bad experiences. Honestly, I’ve been there too... even with colleagues who barely know my name. Some people just stay complete jerks, no matter what line of work they’re in. And unfortunately, in one specific branch of medicine—not naming names here, obviously—you find way more of them than in others. It’s people like that who end up giving the whole profession a bad name.
And look, >—I try, I really do. But when someone yanks you out of REM sleep at four in the morning, and your heart is still thumping against your ribs ten minutes later because of whatever alarm went off... it's hard to be objective, let alone full of empathy. Believe me, I try my best to keep my true thoughts about them under wraps.🙂
At the end of the day, though, my word is my bond.