Dog Community

Sick as a dog... not sure what's wrong

Posted : 6/2/2006 11:31:27 AM

My father has been sick with flu like symptoms since last Friday. His fever has been a constant 102 or a little higher. He's about 52 (I never remember his age), and smokes a pack of cigarettes a day.

What's even worse, I am sick with the exact same symptoms. Mine started Tuesday afternoon while I was at work. I came home and my temperature was 102.2 and it hurt to move. I had my mother inlaw drive me to the doctors Wednesday morning because I wasn't safe to drive. Very dizzy, and completely out of it. Around 1 pm that afternoon all the symptoms disappeared, and I drove to the rest of the appointments. I was fine for 24 hours, then yesterday at about 5pm it came back even worse. My temp was 103, and I just layed on the couch in pain.

My doctor couldn't help me, because he had no clue what it was. And my dad was waiting to hear an answer because he can't afford to go to the doctors at the moment.

Here's the symptoms...

Fever, body aches, muscle aches, head aches, nausia, vomiting, very soar throat. And right now my neck is very stiff and soar. Last thing... I have LOST 3 pounds from not eating. Your not supposed to lose weight when you're pregnant...

[linkhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007186.htm]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007186.htm[/link]

Then West Nile Virus was brought up by one of our friends. It normally only affects the weak, my father isn't as healthy as he was 10 years ago, and I'm pregnant. Funny thing is, I was bitten by a mosquito last weekend, and thought nothing of it. There was a confirmed case of West Nile Very close by. I have not been around my dad or his room mate in two weeks or more. So what's going on here?!

forpaws

Posted : 6/2/2006 11:57:03 AM

Pregnancy Is a weakened immune system.

Girl you need to get to the ER like NOW if your doctor cannot help you.
I read the symptoms from that link and you have all but the runs at the moment.
Please don't read any more of these messages and get to the Hospital NOW PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

hlb118

Posted : 6/2/2006 12:25:06 PM

I wish it were that easy. I'm at work, and I took the day off on Wednesday. My boss was already pissed at me, even though I was pretty much half dead AND went to some units and took pictures while I was sick.

He came in about 30 minutes ago, and I told him that I have a fever, and after doing some reading, it could be West Nile Virus. He looked at me like I was a complete idiot. I felt like smacking him. His words were.... "You'd be dying then, no one survives West Nile Virus, and it stays in your body for the rest of your life." Shows how much he knows. So I have to prove to him from a doctor or something that I need to be seen. Or he will not let me go.

Well I'm going to try to contact another doctor and get his/her opinion. I was reading a little more, and birds, horses, and mosquitos have been testing positive in the Redding, Central Valley area.

forpaws

Posted : 6/2/2006 12:30:26 PM

Shannon, if you tell him you are going to the doctor's, regardless if it is at the ER or not, as long as you do go see one and get a doctors note to bring to him because I am certain they will take you off work for a few days. He cannot fire you for that and if he does you can suie the heck out of him for that.
Call a doctor and make an appointment or just go to the ER, either way you need to be seen by a doctor, especially since you are pregnant.
Smack him for me!! lol No don't do that.... I'll get around to it myself one day. lol

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 6/2/2006 2:46:24 PM

No offense meant, but your boss sounds like an idiot. Call a cab to go to the ER and tell the driver you boss is going to take care of it ... both ways. [:@]

Joyce & Max

rwbeagles

Posted : 6/2/2006 2:52:03 PM

You were asking abit ago about the cat boxes as well right? Well toxoplasmosis has flu like symptoms and body aches as well so you really, REALLY, need to rule that out. ASAP

tell them you have cats at the ER.

j

Posted : 6/2/2006 2:54:19 PM

I'm with the others. Your boss sounds like a loser, and he's in violation of several laws by not allowing you to go to the doctor. You do not need his permission to seek medical care. Also, the fact that you're pregnant and have a high fever makes this an emergency, because your body temperature is not supposed to rise that high during pregnancy. It's dangerous for the fetus. *Please* go to the hospital NOW. Right off the top of my head, your symptoms sound a lot like Meningitis to me, though I could be wrong. That's not something you want to fool around with.

j

Posted : 6/2/2006 2:59:30 PM

Just in case you need some more convincing:

Meningitis

Symptoms

Symptoms of bacterial meningitis usually develop suddenly, while those of viral meningitis may develop suddenly or gradually over a period of days. For example, the symptoms of viral meningitis after mumps may take several days or weeks to develop.
The most common symptoms of either form of meningitis include:

Fever.
Severe and persistent headache.
Stiff and painful neck, especially when trying to touch the chin to the chest.
Vomiting.
Confusion and decreased level of consciousness.
Seizures.

Other symptoms of meningitis include:

Sluggishness, muscle aches and weakness, and strange feelings (such as tingling) or weakness throughout the body.
Eye sensitivity and eye pain from bright lights.
Skin rash.
Dizzy spells.

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hlb118

Posted : 6/2/2006 3:06:07 PM

I just tried to touch my chin to my chest, man that didn't feel good. I'm trying to call the nurse right now to see what I can do. Once I get confirmation from a doctor/nurse that I need to be seen.... I'm out of here.

j

Posted : 6/2/2006 3:12:25 PM

I don't mean to be rude, but why are you waiting for confirmation? This is not even maybe an emergency, it is *definitely* an emergency. Are you trying to get confirmation for your boss? Don't worry about him. Tell him that for the safety of your unborn (does he know you're pregnant?) you have decided that you are going to the emergency room and you will provide him with written proof that you did so. If it's for your insurance, I don't know of any insurance companies that will refuse to pay for emergency room visits, especially when you're pregnant and having the kind of symptoms you are. Phone calls have a way of taking ages to be answered for these kinds of things, because doctors and nurses usually assume that you will go to the emergency room unless it's a routine thing you're calling about. Your symptoms are not routine. JUST GO!!

jensw

Posted : 6/2/2006 3:18:54 PM

If you need more encouragement to go, add me to the list: GO, NOW! Your boss CANNOT deny you the right to seek medical care, and you really need to get it now. If you're worried about the cab fare being too high, I'm sure many of us here will be happy to kick in some cash to help with the costs. You really need to see a doctor.

hlb118

Posted : 6/2/2006 3:19:09 PM

I called the nurse, and she said to come in right away. Everyone (not here, my boss, and my sister) made me feel like I was exaggerating. When really my fever is coming back, I'm breathing really fast, and my neck and head hurt really bad. I can't get a hold of any one to give me a ride.

Why am I crying? Oh well, I'm trying to find a ride right now.

Thanks for all the info. I feel like crap right now.

magilacudy

Posted : 6/2/2006 3:21:58 PM

Can you take a cab, or is someone at work able to leave to drive you. You really need to get out of there now. It may be nothing at all, but better to be safe. I wish I was there, I'd rush you in myself. Go on stop reading this and get to the ER pronto.

willowchow

Posted : 6/2/2006 6:50:52 PM

Right off the top of my head, your symptoms sound a lot like Meningitis to me, though I could be wrong

I read this earlier and thought the same thing. A friend of mine had it a few years ago and the symptoms were similar, especially the stiff neck.

Anyway, hope you feel better soon.

thedoc617

Posted : 6/2/2006 7:59:28 PM

Please please please let us know what happens when you get back.
I hope you fell better ((((hugs)))