Doc's visit

[avalen]

Sorry to hear you've got Valley Fever Sparkle, but, it can be corrected with the right
treatment. Sorry to say though that its a long process to get well, can take up to 6
months.
For those of you wanting to know more about Valley Fever....
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/valley ... N=symptoms
Lot of landscapers and consruction workers get it because its a fungus in the soil.
Dogs can get it as well and they usually get the "disseminated variaty" where it
would settle in what ever part of the body it chooses. Bandit gets tested for
this quite often with his lungs the way they are.

[VickieP]

Sparkle, I'm surprised to hear that they think it's Valley Fever! I thought you had to have a couple of mountains to have a valley!
(don't be mad, you were the one that didn't want prayers, flowers, etc. you didn't say anything about making you laugh!)

[Sparkle]

Just you wait VickieP, when I start eating again I'll at least have molehills! Well it's a start.

[snowball]

get to feeling better Sparkles!
in our thoughts ok
sheila

[sunshinecruiserTN]

OMG, Sparkle, you get better and keep us updated. You know how nosy we can be! Caring too.

[rvgrammy1953]

No cards.....No Flowers....No Prayers........How about some dares???

I "double-dog-dare-you" to get better really soon cause who's going to make Beth "toe-the-line" in Alaska this summer...

[mtngal]

((((((sparkle)))))

[SeeyaGal]

Get well Sparkle, hate to see you sick. Another friend of ours had that too and was sick for awhile, surprised Bogey did not get it too!!

[Liz]

surprised Bogey did not get it too!!

Bogey was smart enough not to get out of the truck! Get well soon, Sparkle.

[sharon]

Holy crap, Batman! The rest of us get run of the mill stuff like the flu, but not you! You have to go and get something exotic like Valley Fever! Can you never just do something simple???? Just as a warning....I'm not that far from you and if we don't hear pretty soon that you've gone to Phoenix to get that Cat scan, I WILL cancel whatever trips I have planned and personally drive over to Ajo and take your bony old widders butt to get it! You have been warned! As far as the dehydration...I hate water. But when I landed in the emergency room with heart palpitations and was told I have to drink the nasty stuff or I was gonna end up with a heart attack, I try for 2 quarts a day now. Unfortunately, my beloved coffee doesn't count as it's a diuretic. Bummer! So I made a deal with myself...for every cup of coffee I have to drink a cup of water...OK, no hug as I know you don't like them, just take care of yourself and get the tests done.

[Pooker]

Yup, Yup, Yup! And I'll go with Sharon! Drink that water! Dehydration can cause all sorts of problems - big ones! Keep us posted. I suppose telling you to rest is useless. Valley Fever, huh? What kind of valleys are you rolling around in my dear?

No hugs - no flowers - no prayers (well, you won't know if we do that, will you?). Just encouragement to get better.

Pooker

[sharon]

Valley Fever, huh? What kind of valleys are you rolling around in my dear?



Pooker

And I want to know just who you've been rolling around in them with???

[BarbaraRose]

Sparkle, take care of yourself! You need to get healthy and feel good in order to enjoy your future adventures!

I also hate the taste of water and was dehydrated for years. Then I discovered Fruit2O. It is purified water with a slight fruit flavor added (no sugar,no calories, etc) and I love it! Can't get enough of it, so that helps a lot! The strawberry is the best of all the flavors and it is very mild so not real sweet and overpowering.

How does one get Valley Fever anyway? Is it only found in the deserts?

[AlmostThere]

It is common for people relocating to the Valley of the Sun to be concerned about Valley Fever. While Valley Fever can affect some people, it is important to remember that it affects few people very seriously, and many people never even know that they have Valley Fever.

Still, it is not to be considered lightly. According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, the number of reported Valley Fever cases hit a record high in 2006, with 5,535 cases. The number of reported cases in 2007 was 4,832.

Valley Fever: What You Need To Know
What is Valley Fever?
Valley Fever is a lung infection. A fungus becomes airborne when dust around construction areas and agricultural areas is transported by the wind. When spores are inhaled, Valley Fever can result. The medical name for Valley Fever is coccidioidomycosis.
Where is Valley Fever found?
It is found mostly in the Southwestern U.S. where temperatures are high and the soils are dry.

How long does it take to develop symptoms of Valley Fever?
It normally takes between one and four weeks.

Does everyone in Arizona get Valley Fever?
It is estimated that about one third of the people in the lower desert areas of Arizona have had Valley Fever at some point. Your chances of getting Valley Fever are about 1 out of 33, but the longer you live in the Desert Southwest the higher your chances of infection. There are about 100,000 new cases of Valley Fever each year. You don't have to live here to get it--people visiting or traveling through the area have been infected, too.

Are some people at higher risk of getting Valley Fever?
Valley Fever doesn't seem to play favorites, with all kinds of people at equal risk. Once infected, however, certain groups seem to have more instances of it spreading to other parts of their bodies; as far as gender is concerned, men are more likely than women, and African Americans and Filipinos are more likely when considering race. People with problem immune systems are also at risk.

Construction workers, farm workers or others who spend time working in dirt and dust are most likely to get Valley Fever. You are also at higher risk if you are caught in dust storms, or if your recreation, such as biking or 4-wheeling, takes you to dusty areas. One thing you can do to minimize your risk of getting Valley fever is to wear a mask if you have to be out in blowing dust.

What are the symptoms of Valley Fever?
About two thirds of the people who are infected never notice any symptoms, or experience mild symptoms and never even get treatment. Those who have sought treatment showed symptoms including fatigue, cough, chest pain, fever, rash, headache and joint aches. Sometimes people develop red bumps on their skin. In about 5% of the cases, nodules develop on the lungs which might look like lung cancer in a chest x-ray. A biopsy or surgery may be necessary to determine if the nodule is a result of Valley Fever. Another 5% of people develop what is referred to as a lung cavity. This is most common with older people, and more than half of the cavities disappear after a while without treatment. If the lung cavity ruptures, however, there may be chest pain and difficulty breathing.

Is there a cure for Valley Fever?
There is no vaccine at this time for Valley Fever. Most people are able to fight off Valley Fever on their own without treatment. They don't get it again. For those that seek treatment, antifungal drugs (not antibiotics) are used. Although these treatments are often helpful, the disease may persist and years of treatment may be required. If a lung cavity ruptures as mentioned above, surgery may be necessary.

Can my dog get Valley Fever?
Yes, dogs can get it and might need long term medication. Horses, cattle sheep and other animals can also get Valley Fever.

[Mollysmom]

Hey Sparkle,
sorry to hear you've been sickly. Hope you're back to your "old" self soon (and I don't mean old as in elderly - old as in "before you were sick" old )
Take care of yourself and do what the Dr. says !!!
I'm sure your comment about drinks was a joke, but just in case - alcohol doesn't hydrate you, drink some water too ! I know I don't drink enough water - think I'll go have a glass now.
Be safe and keep us posted.