Troy Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Im currently on an overseas holiday from Australia to Turkey where I have contracted the worst case of the flu I have ever experienced or could ever imagine. Its been 5 days of **** and its getting worse with various hospital admissions and horrible fevers...... I have a continous sore throat, a painful cough ocassionally with flem, runny nose, sneezing, loss of appettite, headache, dizziness, fatigue and my chest xrays show tracheal bronchitis and infection. Worst of all is the fever.....On day one it started with a temperature of 38.3c (100.9 F) and today it was up at 39.7c (103.4 F) I keep waking up in the middle of the night with these fevers spend the next few hours applying ice packs and wet towels to bring my fever down to a comfortable level so I can go back to sleep, but then in the morning it starts over again and lasts many hours.I am very scared for my safety because I have Autonomic Neuropathy and POTS with severe hypothalamic temperature dysregulation that began 9 years ago and my worst symptom for my dysautonomia has been the severe overheating which I experience everyday regardless of air temperature and now I feel like this fever and the flu is really pushing areas in my brain for temperature control to the limit and im concerned its going to leave me with further damage. The country that Im holidaying in is still a developing country and the hospitals here are horrible and they use medications I have never heard of, I have continuously refused medications and injections due to my chemical sensitivity. I have been put on amoxycillin for 5 days but my condition is getting worse, based on my blood test C-reactive protein (CRP) I have a high level of 24.3 the normal being lower than 5 indicating an inflammation or infection so they changed my antibiotics yesterday to Tavanic (Levofloxacin) which I read is a risky fluoroquinolone type antibiotic with very severe CNS type side effects.... Im confused whether my influenza is viral or bacterial and if it is viral I dont understand how antibiotics could help at the same time can a virus cause such fevers or high crc levels. Im reluctant to use the new antibiotics due my chemical sensitivity, dysautonomia andall the horror stories about Levofloxacin. Im regretıng ever going on holiday and feel trapped here in this country with this horrible flu, I would appreciate any guidance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelissaCrystal Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 So the hospital really couldn't help with the overheatnig? I'm not sure what hospitals are like there (whether or not it is expensiive), but with all this talk of swine flu and whatnot, I think it's better to be safe to keep going there whenever you get bad. People do die from the flu, and us Pots people are vulnerable to bad sicknesses like that. You be careful and PLEASE stay hydrated. If you can't hydrate yourself properly due to fluid loss, go to the hospital for an IV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 You need to trust the doctors or get advice from a doctor that your consulate recommends. You have a serious infection so I would probably not worry about POTS or autonomic issues - concentrate on getting over the flu. POTS itself hasnt been linked to any deaths and Im sure you will pull through. You might get a nasty relapse afterwards though. Dont stress either way. Its hard when your sick and in a foreign country. How do you know you have hypothalmus issues? Has there been a formal diagnosis of that? I travel a lot and when i was in mexico i got super ill (before swine flu before you ask) - but two months in mexico i only had POTS symptoms twice in that time! Then i got home and it came back ten fold! weird!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Posted May 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Thanks for the support guys, the hospitals here give me a serum drip everytime I show up and they suggest a medication called Novalgine (Metamizole sodium) to reduce the fever which I keep refusing....I looked it up and apparently Novalgine is banned in over 30 countries including Australia and the US due to risk of agranulocytosis.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MetamizoleAs for my hypothalamic temperature dyregulation my autonomic specialist Proffessor Murray Esler and neurologist have both said on many occasions that I am one of the most unusual and worst cases of overheating due to Dysautonomia that they have ever seen. My constant daily overheating has been linked directly to my recreational drug overdose to ecstacy and amphetamines 9 years ago which resulted in immediate hospitalisation and onset of Dysautonomia and the cause is belived to be hypothalamic damage due to the hyperthermia caused by the ecstacy overdose and neuro toxicity leaving me low grade fevers everyday for the past 9 years. Since then this flu is really testing my boundries and I would be suprised if it dosent leave me with further long term temperature complications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 So when you say you overheat you mean you OVERHEAT as in temperature wise. gees... Well i hope that isnt the case and I guess there isnt much you can do now other than refusing that treatment if you are improving and taking it easy. How did you find flying with your symptoms? Are you on any treatments for POTS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Posted May 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 How did you find flying with your symptoms? Are you on any treatments for POTS?Before I decided to fly I read almost every thread in this forum about air travel experiences from others so I want to thank everyone here for sharing their stories and making me feel reassured that it was possible. I stayed well hydrated like everyone suggested and I was given oxygen for the entire gruelling 21 hour flight and a wheelchair for change-overs. The landings and take off were the worst as the change in pressure gave me some chest pains, and I wore travel socks and did the recommended excercises on the plane to avoid thrombosis and pooling. Due to a severe chemical sensitivity I only take one medication for my pots which is a betabloker (Betaloc) to control heart rate from postural changes.So when you say you overheat you mean you OVERHEAT as in temperature wise. gees...Yes exactly, by that I mean jumping under a cold shower or turning my air conditioner on in the dead cold of winter and being able to comfortably walk around in a t-shirt in 4 c weather or ending up in the emergency room simply due to fevers and temperature spikes purely as a result of my dysautonomia and temperature dysregulation and covering the car window with sheets to avoid sunlight like a some vampire whilst travelling to doctors appointments so I wont go into detail about summer as Im sure you can imagine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramakentesh Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 So does your actual body temperature increase or is it your perception of heat and cold that is out of whack? When you say you had sensitivities do you mean that you had a reaction to Florinef and midodrine? What kind of reaction if you dont mind me asking? Your a male yeah?Im glad the flight was ok for you. My POTS can play up after I get back from a holiday yet im usually totally fine during the holiday or even better than usual. Go figure... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Posted May 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 You presented some great questions and they have been asked before by various specialists, but its a very complex problem, majority of the time (bout %98) my temperature increases, when measured the thermometers verify this, on occasions after sudden temperature spikes the hospital has documented by temperature at 38.1 c without any other causes other than dysautonomia.But then there are times when I develop hot patches on my body areas which are really hot to touch, mainly on my face, inside elbows, thighs, chest, crown of my head but then at te same time my fingers and feet are icy cold other times my oral temperature is really high but ear temperature and under arm are low or vice versa and there are times when my core temperature rises and Im hot all over but other times I overheat only on the skin surface and Im hot to touch but my core temperature is fine although I feel extremely feverish so you see it is a very complicated problem and then there are times (about 2%) when I actually felt hot without an increase.I am a male and I have had reactions to florinef about 8 years ago when I tried it I cant exactly remember the reaction but it was unpleasant so ı havent gone back. Furthermore ı have reactions to any medication that acts on my autonomıc system especıally anelgesics, sedatives, paın kıllers, caffeıne, alcohol, or any recreatıonal drugs whıch ı ceased 9 years ago they all ıncrease my temperature and mess around wıth my vıtals some causıng respıratory depressıon.My POTS can play up after I get back from a holiday yet im usually totally fine during the holiday or even better than usual. Go figure...Interesting you say that, some of my symptoms ceased here on my travel as well which made me think whether ıt had something to do with Australia perhaps the change of gravity pull on the different part of the hemispere or alttitude or aır moisture or timezone etc?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masumeh Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 I have never been to Turkey, but I've been to Iran and currently reside in Saudi Arabia...so I'm just next door. You should be able to find some familiar over-the-counter and prescription drugs there, but by different brand names. Ibuprofin is Junefen here in the Middle East, and Tylenol is Penodol or Fevadol (not sure about Turkey specifically). As a general rule for navigating medical care in the Middle East--Find a CONSULTANT from Britain, US, or Canada. Ask for a consultant by appointment, and avoid the ER. ER is training ground for residents who don't know what they're doing and experienced doctors who aren't good at what they do and cannot find a better position. Make an appointment, and ask over the phone about the doctor's nationality and where he/she obtained their medical degree from...if it's Egypt or Syria, BAIL. I'm not saying this to be racist...but this is just the reality of medical traning standards internationally. In Sudan, for example, doctors can be little Dugie Housers, because it's a four-year degree (like a BA in the US). They just don't get as much training. Good luck! Hope you find some excellent medical care soon. You also might consider an emergency flight home, especially if your medical insurance will cover it. Oh, also you can probably get the local clinical nurses to visit you at home/hotel to administer IV fluids (saves you energy and a money). That is fairly common in the middle-east. Just explain to them that you are unable to move due to the severity of your illness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzygirl Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Oh my.. my prayers are with you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broken_Shell Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 My thoughts & prayers are with you. I hope you are feeling stronger soon. I hope that what you have doesn't turn out to be this swine flu either!~ Broken_Shell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Posted May 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Thank you all for your support and well wishes, I think your prayers did me some good as I spent my first night in 6 days without experiencing a high fever. Im still very run down and ill but at least the fevers gone for now.masumeh thank you for your great advice, and you are so correct about the ER, it was horrible, they requested that I pay first which was fine with me but then their computers were down so they coldnt process payemnet so they refused to treat me until they were working again so I had to wait an hour with high fever inside the ER without treatment. It was also very unhygenic, the nurse was rolling a cotton ball around in her hands without gloves which she used on me after she pulled out the syringe. Soon as Im well enough I will consider an emergency travel back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carinara Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Hi Endure, i have just read your post today and hope that you are feeling better now.I just wondered if the doctors in Turkey speak enough english to understand you? In case you need any translation help, please let me know, my partner speaks turkish fluently.All the best, carinara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Posted May 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2009 Thank you Carinara, thats a very kind and generous offer, Im ok though as I speak fluent turkish as well. I am now on the way to recovery I feel like nuch better except for a nasty cough. I feel like I`ve just come out of an all out battle and it will be some time before Im back to my usual self. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miriam Poorman-Knox Posted May 3, 2009 Report Share Posted May 3, 2009 Endure, You are my new hero. My daughter went to university in Greece and spent time in Turkey. When we went for her graduation I was terrified that I would need care. So, I prayed instead of sending a worried reply. I Do know of some work in this field. When you get home e-mail me and I will get the info to you. Miriam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flop Posted May 3, 2009 Report Share Posted May 3, 2009 Hi endure,I'm glad to hear that you had some time free from the fevers and hope that this means that your body is now getting over the flu. You are quite right that influenza is caused by a virus (lots of different flu viruses exist including the current H1N1 / swine flu). The worst flu symptoms are usually fevers, muscle aches, sore throat and dry cough.What can happen with flu is that while your body is busy fighting the flu virus something else comes along to make you sick as well. A common thing is to get a bacterial chest infection on top of the viral flu. This is probably what showed up on your chest x-ray and why they started you on the amoxicillin.Hope you continue to improve.flop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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