8th May 2003
Might want to grab a coffee first...
Before I even get into my question, I want to first extend my deepest and most sincere gratitude to all of you for being there for me when I needed support. This means more to me than anything and is probably one of the few reasons I'm still sane after all of this. I also want to aplogize for not replying or following up on some of the responses I received to earlier posts. I guess I've been so busy freaking out over my problems and going to the clinic and ER just about every other day that I sometimes lose sight of things and forget to do follow-ups on my posts. Again, I'm sorry and hope none of you were offended. Anyway, here's a brief summary of the past month and 1/2 followed by a question or two. I'm at my wit's end with this whole thing so maybe someone here can shed some light on why I'm having these problems.
It all began with a tooth infection (molar) that occured at about the same time I had a lipoma start growing in my groin. I took Penicillan VK for 10 days as a "preventative" antibiotic and then had the tooth pulled. About 3 days later I had some swelling and a peice of bone fragment around the area where the tooth had been extracted and so I went back on the Penicillin VK for another 10 days.
After I finished the Penicillan VK and was fairly well healed up, I went in and got diagnosed with a UTI (which is rare for me!) and was prescribed Sufa-meth/Trimeth which I took for a period of 5 days until the doctor switched me over to Cipro (which I then took for 20 days). After the 20-day course of Cipro ran out, I decided I had stopped taking it too soon and wanting to make SURE the infection was completely eliminated, went back a few days later and had my doctor write another 20-day prescription for it. I took the Cipro for another 5 days before deciding that maybe I was overdoing it a little bit with all the antibiotics and also, I felt like I was beginning to experience more side effects from it than the last time around. Anyway, no problem, I called my doc up and asked him to switch me to another antibiotic. He refused so I actually drove down there and asked him again. This time he relented and wrote me a 10-day prescription for Doxycycline.
While I was taking the Doxycycline, I was still having problems with my UTI/groin and so I was admitted overnight to the ER where I was given Fentynal and a few other drugs by IV (sedative, painkiller, etc). They also injected me with contrast dye and other things when they did my CT scan. The next day, I was released and went back home and continued taking the Doxycycline. A day or so later, my throat became extremely sore and swollen. The lymph nodes in my throat and behind my left ear also became swollen. It felt like I had cotton balls lodged in my throat because the swelling in my throat was pretty severe.
I suspected either lowered resistance from my prolonged use of antibiotics and thought that perhaps I had contracted something at the clinic or ER. the other thought I had was that maybe I was starting to have an allergic reaction to the Doxycycline which I had now been on for 4 days. I went to the local clinic and was told to stay on the Doxycycline and was told that it was probably a viral or bacterial infection but that it most likely was'nt strep throat. I was also given another antibiotic (Azithromycin - "Z-Pak") and told to take it for the next 5 days. I was also given Prednisone (a steroid) for the swelling and pain in my throat) as well as a bunch of other meds (painkillers, etc).
About an hour ago I called the doctor's nurse and begged to be taken off of the Doxycycline "just in case" it was causing my sore throat. She agreed and told me I could discontinue it but that if my throat swelled up too much I should come in again and be seen or go to the ER.
In conclusion, I have no idea what is going on here with me. I find it rather strange that my roommate is around me all the time and yet he has none of the symptoms that I have and appears to feel just fine even though I've had this "thing" for about 4 days now. Another interesting note is that I called the local clinic here yesterday and whoever I spoke with (nurse?, receptionist?) told me that everyone had "it" and that her co-worker had had it for two days and finally had to call in sick. She also told me that she was coming down with it herself so I was thinking "ok, it's just a cold". However, when I went in today, noone seemed to know anything about this "thing" that was going around so it was all a bit confusing to me.
Well, these are the best "clues" I can provide. The information is complete and accurate. The only question is, what do you folks make of it all?. What does it sound like is happening to me?. Does any of this sound even remotely familiar?. Have I gotten myself on an antibiotic "merry-go-round" and can't get off or something?. Could it be the Doxycycline?. Does this sound like a superinfection?. Is there any way to break the cycle of taking antibiotics and then getting sick so that I have to take even more of them infinitum?. Any help on figuring this thing out would be greatly appreciated!.
Thanks - Stumped
[This message has been edited by jimbrown (edited 05-08-2003).]
Before I even get into my question, I want to first extend my deepest and most sincere gratitude to all of you for being there for me when I needed support. This means more to me than anything and is probably one of the few reasons I'm still sane after all of this. I also want to aplogize for not replying or following up on some of the responses I received to earlier posts. I guess I've been so busy freaking out over my problems and going to the clinic and ER just about every other day that I sometimes lose sight of things and forget to do follow-ups on my posts. Again, I'm sorry and hope none of you were offended. Anyway, here's a brief summary of the past month and 1/2 followed by a question or two. I'm at my wit's end with this whole thing so maybe someone here can shed some light on why I'm having these problems.
It all began with a tooth infection (molar) that occured at about the same time I had a lipoma start growing in my groin. I took Penicillan VK for 10 days as a "preventative" antibiotic and then had the tooth pulled. About 3 days later I had some swelling and a peice of bone fragment around the area where the tooth had been extracted and so I went back on the Penicillin VK for another 10 days.
After I finished the Penicillan VK and was fairly well healed up, I went in and got diagnosed with a UTI (which is rare for me!) and was prescribed Sufa-meth/Trimeth which I took for a period of 5 days until the doctor switched me over to Cipro (which I then took for 20 days). After the 20-day course of Cipro ran out, I decided I had stopped taking it too soon and wanting to make SURE the infection was completely eliminated, went back a few days later and had my doctor write another 20-day prescription for it. I took the Cipro for another 5 days before deciding that maybe I was overdoing it a little bit with all the antibiotics and also, I felt like I was beginning to experience more side effects from it than the last time around. Anyway, no problem, I called my doc up and asked him to switch me to another antibiotic. He refused so I actually drove down there and asked him again. This time he relented and wrote me a 10-day prescription for Doxycycline.
While I was taking the Doxycycline, I was still having problems with my UTI/groin and so I was admitted overnight to the ER where I was given Fentynal and a few other drugs by IV (sedative, painkiller, etc). They also injected me with contrast dye and other things when they did my CT scan. The next day, I was released and went back home and continued taking the Doxycycline. A day or so later, my throat became extremely sore and swollen. The lymph nodes in my throat and behind my left ear also became swollen. It felt like I had cotton balls lodged in my throat because the swelling in my throat was pretty severe.
I suspected either lowered resistance from my prolonged use of antibiotics and thought that perhaps I had contracted something at the clinic or ER. the other thought I had was that maybe I was starting to have an allergic reaction to the Doxycycline which I had now been on for 4 days. I went to the local clinic and was told to stay on the Doxycycline and was told that it was probably a viral or bacterial infection but that it most likely was'nt strep throat. I was also given another antibiotic (Azithromycin - "Z-Pak") and told to take it for the next 5 days. I was also given Prednisone (a steroid) for the swelling and pain in my throat) as well as a bunch of other meds (painkillers, etc).
About an hour ago I called the doctor's nurse and begged to be taken off of the Doxycycline "just in case" it was causing my sore throat. She agreed and told me I could discontinue it but that if my throat swelled up too much I should come in again and be seen or go to the ER.
In conclusion, I have no idea what is going on here with me. I find it rather strange that my roommate is around me all the time and yet he has none of the symptoms that I have and appears to feel just fine even though I've had this "thing" for about 4 days now. Another interesting note is that I called the local clinic here yesterday and whoever I spoke with (nurse?, receptionist?) told me that everyone had "it" and that her co-worker had had it for two days and finally had to call in sick. She also told me that she was coming down with it herself so I was thinking "ok, it's just a cold". However, when I went in today, noone seemed to know anything about this "thing" that was going around so it was all a bit confusing to me.
Well, these are the best "clues" I can provide. The information is complete and accurate. The only question is, what do you folks make of it all?. What does it sound like is happening to me?. Does any of this sound even remotely familiar?. Have I gotten myself on an antibiotic "merry-go-round" and can't get off or something?. Could it be the Doxycycline?. Does this sound like a superinfection?. Is there any way to break the cycle of taking antibiotics and then getting sick so that I have to take even more of them infinitum?. Any help on figuring this thing out would be greatly appreciated!.
Thanks - Stumped
[This message has been edited by jimbrown (edited 05-08-2003).]