FearlessYeti
10-24-2005, 01:16 PM
Sex: Male
Age: 23 (24 in Dec.)
Hi
I've always had strange immunological issues which are pretty ambiguous and haven't been pinned down yet, including symptoms mirroring wegener's, CF, SLE, sarcoidosis, etc. and my labs have always shown significantly increased histamine and eosinophil levels. (However I always test negative for ANAs, RF, sweat test, etc. - I still need my ACE checked but they are stubborn about that; seeing immunology on Nov. 9th to try and make some headway). Chest X-rays and sinus CT are always normal (beyond normal; the picture of health, apart from some pronounced broadening of my lung space)
Anyway, this has always been passed off as "allergies" and "asthma," and tends to result in unusually severe upper respiratory infections at least once or twice a year. (Usually more). They also coincide with unusual tertiary symptoms including those of the above mentioned syndromes which, presumably, I don't have. I also experience muscle weakness, occasionally to the point of not being able to walk without a cane. Typically I'm treated with Augmentin and/or Erythromycin for 21 days, and it resolves.
For some reason, this year has been particularly miserable. I've had five of these episodes beginning in January, and with the exception of this current one, they have occured precisely two months apart to the day. Sputum specimens and throat cultures don't show any bacteria resistance to beta lactam antibiotics, and no anaerobes.
This last one however has persisted despite our best efforts. Today is day thirty eight of it, despite 28 days of Levofloxacin (this was an attempt to use the greater penetration and lack of cross resistance between beta lactams and fluoroquinolones to stop it from coming back, just in case the lab missed something resistant), which was ruled a clinical failure, and (so far) 11 days of Augmentin (which they put me back on despite concerns of beta lactam antibiotic resistance ...) At the end of 14 days, they will reassess and decide whether to give me seven to ten more days. At the moment, I actually feel worse, rather than better.
In the past, concurrent Augmentin and Erythromycin did the trick in this kind of situation, but my doctor os reluctant to give me another antibiotic, opting to see whether this is all just an immunological "episode" that will pass on it's own. That may well be the underlying cause, and I'm well aware of the concern about resistance being bred, but I also know what sinusitis smells and tastes (literally - sorry to be gross) like and that by not taking the gloves off we are making it stronger. This is a bacterial infection, and needs to be more effectively (and in my opinion, more agressively) treated. If I had my way I'd be on Moxifloxacin or Clarythromycin and along with more Augmentin. But I'm just the patient, so what do I know?
I can't afford to see anyone else, as I have only city provided health coverage and very little money. Can immunologists prescribe?
Suggestions?
Age: 23 (24 in Dec.)
Hi
I've always had strange immunological issues which are pretty ambiguous and haven't been pinned down yet, including symptoms mirroring wegener's, CF, SLE, sarcoidosis, etc. and my labs have always shown significantly increased histamine and eosinophil levels. (However I always test negative for ANAs, RF, sweat test, etc. - I still need my ACE checked but they are stubborn about that; seeing immunology on Nov. 9th to try and make some headway). Chest X-rays and sinus CT are always normal (beyond normal; the picture of health, apart from some pronounced broadening of my lung space)
Anyway, this has always been passed off as "allergies" and "asthma," and tends to result in unusually severe upper respiratory infections at least once or twice a year. (Usually more). They also coincide with unusual tertiary symptoms including those of the above mentioned syndromes which, presumably, I don't have. I also experience muscle weakness, occasionally to the point of not being able to walk without a cane. Typically I'm treated with Augmentin and/or Erythromycin for 21 days, and it resolves.
For some reason, this year has been particularly miserable. I've had five of these episodes beginning in January, and with the exception of this current one, they have occured precisely two months apart to the day. Sputum specimens and throat cultures don't show any bacteria resistance to beta lactam antibiotics, and no anaerobes.
This last one however has persisted despite our best efforts. Today is day thirty eight of it, despite 28 days of Levofloxacin (this was an attempt to use the greater penetration and lack of cross resistance between beta lactams and fluoroquinolones to stop it from coming back, just in case the lab missed something resistant), which was ruled a clinical failure, and (so far) 11 days of Augmentin (which they put me back on despite concerns of beta lactam antibiotic resistance ...) At the end of 14 days, they will reassess and decide whether to give me seven to ten more days. At the moment, I actually feel worse, rather than better.
In the past, concurrent Augmentin and Erythromycin did the trick in this kind of situation, but my doctor os reluctant to give me another antibiotic, opting to see whether this is all just an immunological "episode" that will pass on it's own. That may well be the underlying cause, and I'm well aware of the concern about resistance being bred, but I also know what sinusitis smells and tastes (literally - sorry to be gross) like and that by not taking the gloves off we are making it stronger. This is a bacterial infection, and needs to be more effectively (and in my opinion, more agressively) treated. If I had my way I'd be on Moxifloxacin or Clarythromycin and along with more Augmentin. But I'm just the patient, so what do I know?
I can't afford to see anyone else, as I have only city provided health coverage and very little money. Can immunologists prescribe?
Suggestions?