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Immune System deficiency & Fibro

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Posted 10/30/2010 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
I recently had a very bad, bad lung infection with severe inflammation, pleurisy and thickening of the lungs w/fluid. In addition of course, fever, pain in every muscle, extreme fatigue and the inability to cough. For three weeks I could barely breathe with no cough...then the cough developed and coughing up yellow/blood mucus.  With everything that was going on, my white bool cell count was normal, in fact the dr stated that except for my lung x-ray & my physical symptoms, the bloodwork did not support a virus or bacterial infection..yet I was diagnosed with atypical pneumonia.  I was asked if I ever engaged in IV drugs or other activities that would place me in danger of contracting HIV (I tested negative before my son was born +12 years ago...routine gyn/ob test).  My husband (+13 years) wonders why when the kids come home with the sniffles, I end up with a severe infection & in bed for up to two weeks??  My kids are afraid to get stomach bug or the flu, because mom ends up in the ER getting fluids and a 101-103 fever!

Has anyone else had a problem with fighting infections and being somewhat immuno-compromised since being dx and/or symptomatic??  I was just diagnosed in May (although symptoms have been present for 3 years) by a doc that finally listened. Most of the others, were concerned with my anemia or my irregular periods.  

Thanks - Court - turn

Posted 10/30/2010 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Court, I have ended up with pneumonia a couple of times one was a viral and the other a bacterial pneumonia. I realized something with mine though. Each time I got it I had used cold medicine to try and get rid of it. I no longer use any kind of medicine when I get a cold. I just suffer it out and I havent gotten pneumonia since. I wish that would have worked as far as the lung cancer. lol Oh well I can blame that on smoking since I was 13, but thats another story. Hope maybe this helps.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley
Posted 10/30/2010 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Court, I'm sorry that you are prone to infection. I hope the doctors can
figure out why you are immune defficient.

I'm somewhat immune deficient because I'm on an immunosuppressant med...
Methotrexate for some autoimminue stuff I have. I have to be very careful of
infection and stop my methotrexate when I get an infection. Right now, I have
a sinus infection going on and am taking antibiotics. When I do stop my MTX,
my autoimmune diseases are more likely to flare. It's a catch- 22 situation.

Hope you can remain infection free and avoid getting sick :)

Hugs, Robin
Posted 10/30/2010 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
I have a problem w/my immune system, but I had that issue before I was diagnosed with fibromyaliga, inflammatory arthritis and asthma. I don't know if they are all related or not, but tht is a good question. I can have a raging sinus infection or UTI and have no fever and no spike in white blood cell count. My normal temp is 97.3. If my temp gets over 99, my doc puts me on antibiotics.
Posted 10/31/2010 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
The doctor that asked about HIV is wrong. HIV is bodily fluids not blood to blood transmissioin.

I had Hepatitis C (the bad one) not from IV drug use but from tattoos. I treated with interferon and ribaviron. They killed my immune system. If the grkids come over and have the sniffles I get it 10 times worse. I had viral pneumonia about 6 months ago and it about killed me, 3 days in the hospital.

I blame the treatment for myn bad immune system.
Posted 10/31/2010 5:25 AM (GMT 0)
My normal temp used to be about 97.4-97.7 until I was put on methotrexate last October by the rheumo treating...psoriatic arthiritis (without blood or x-ray confirmation). My temperature increased to over 99.0, with three months of constant infections (H1N1, sinus infections (twice), bronchitis, stomach virus) and I convinced the rheumo doc to take me off the methotrexate to allow my immune system to recover.

The problem I have is that none of my bloodwork points to anything! I can be running a 100.2 fever with normal blood counts RBC, WBC all normal with only my eosinophils sky high!

I've had trouble with repeat throat, sinus and lung infections since I was in college (strep throat landed me in the hospital for 3 days) and testing indicated I had mono my senior year. Two years ago, I was told I had Lyme disease (yet don't ever remember a tick on me) and a year later told the test was wrong. I told the doctor treating me for the Lyme of the extreme exhaustion, sore joints, stomach upset..but he seemed unconcerned...too bad for me that 1 year later I am still experiencing the symptoms only much worse and more severe.

HIV is spread by blood to blood transmission...just ask all the people that contracted it from a blood transfusion before they began testing blood for HIV.  " HIV is transmitted from person to person via bodily fluids including blood, semen, vaginal discharge, and breast milk-only saliva and tears are not associated with transmission.

Post Edited (MV_VHYC24) : 10/30/2010 11:31:22 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/31/2010 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
I only meant that one does not have to be an IVDU to contract HIV. Of course IVDU is one of the ways to get it but there are other ways which is all I meant
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