Valley fever (cocci) is a fungus that lives in your lungs. Usually is in the ground and people breathe it when the ground is disturbed or the spores are in the air.
I have valley fever that is now dormant....does anyone know if you have any immunities to getting it again if you should return to the endemic area Arizona......No one can answer this...trying to decide whether to return there this winter or not @ginus
I was diagnosed with Valley Fever in 2002, settled in lungs but cleared up after several months of Diflucan. Currently in Scottsdale area and wondering if it has re-activated. What would be signs or symptoms of re-activation?
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Nov 2, 2018
@frank4848 Hello Frank. I too am sorry that you caught Vally Fever. It can be anywhere from feeling rotten to down right debilitating. I caight it back in 1991 within the first year of moving to Tucson, Az. Doctors mistakenly diagnosed me with pneumonia at first. When common antibiotocs didn't resolve it and I grew sicker; I was finally tested for it. I remember that it gave me nodules and a small hole in my lung. I don't remember what they put me on antibiotic-wise. It was probably an antifungal. I was bedridden for two months. I know other people who also have had it. Dogs too. A close friend of mine lost his wife to it. It had disseminated to her brain. Do not fret, that is a very rare occurance. Some people get it with very mild symptoms and it goes away. How about you? Is it making you very ill? Are you coughing a lot?
@frank4848@ethanmcconkey hi frank! Yes I have been diagnosed with Valley Fever and I am one of the rare ones with is dissemination to my brain and spinal cord. I believe the only reason it got so serious with me is because I went to doctors who didn’t believe me when I said I had valley fever (not through Mayo Clinic) and I am already immunosuppressed because of an autoimmune disease, valley fever sat for too long without being treated and was able to spread a lot faster. You are in good hands with the Mayo Clinic. My ID doctor here and Neurologist saved my life back in January in the Mayo hospital ☺️ Please let me know if you have any questions!
I was diagnose with Valley Fever and my doctor prescribe Flucanazole medication to treat this disease. Prior to this medication, I was on cholesterol medication for a long time which brought my cholesterol in range. Ever since I'm on Flucanazole I had to stop taking my cholesterol medication and of course my cholesterol level is high now. Trying to find out if other individuals out there is experiencing the same situation. If so, what did your doctor recommend for you to lower your cholesterol.
I was diagnose with Valley Fever and my doctor prescribe Flucanazole medication to treat this disease. Prior to this medication, I was on cholesterol medication for a long time which brought my cholesterol in range. Ever since I'm on Flucanazole I had to stop taking my cholesterol medication and of course my cholesterol level is high now. Trying to find out if other individuals out there is experiencing the same situation. If so, what did your doctor recommend for you to lower your cholesterol.
Hi @frank4848, I moved your new message to the discussion on Valley Fever where you were exchanging info with @windwalker and @jjtaylor95. I'd also like to bring @carbxbe8206 and @camaroyo in case they have experience with Fluconazole and cholesterol levels.
Frank, might you be able to make some lifestyle choices like changes in eating, adding physical activity, quitting smoking or reducing alcohol intake? What change would be possible for you?
I was diagnosed with Valley Fever in Jan 2022 although all my blood tests said Negative for Valley Fever and TB, and Negative on all the other blood tests they took from me. It was explained that sometimes the blood tests can be a false negative. I also had a CAT scan and it showed a large mass in my lower right lung. Did biopsy in Hospital and it was negative for Cancer. I took Fluconazole 2 x day for almost 7 months and my lung doctor took me off my cholesterol meds during the 7 months. I took a blood test every month for my liver and coccidioides which was negative every time. In the meantime, I lost so much hair on my head, had sweats constantly, muscle aches and headaches. After almost 7 months, and 3 CAT scans later, the growth has not grown and stayed the same as the first CAT scan. My lung doctor took me off the Fluconazole as of last week, and said since it hasn't grown, just leave it in my lung. I'm still a little leary about the diagnosis, but my lung doc says Valley Fever.
Billie Evans
I was diagnosed with Valley Fever in Jan 2022 although all my blood tests said Negative for Valley Fever and TB, and Negative on all the other blood tests they took from me. It was explained that sometimes the blood tests can be a false negative. I also had a CAT scan and it showed a large mass in my lower right lung. Did biopsy in Hospital and it was negative for Cancer. I took Fluconazole 2 x day for almost 7 months and my lung doctor took me off my cholesterol meds during the 7 months. I took a blood test every month for my liver and coccidioides which was negative every time. In the meantime, I lost so much hair on my head, had sweats constantly, muscle aches and headaches. After almost 7 months, and 3 CAT scans later, the growth has not grown and stayed the same as the first CAT scan. My lung doctor took me off the Fluconazole as of last week, and said since it hasn't grown, just leave it in my lung. I'm still a little leary about the diagnosis, but my lung doc says Valley Fever.
Billie Evans
Do you know if, at the time of the biopsy, they sent any of the specimen to be cultured, to see if bacteria grew?
There are other infections that can cause masses to appear in the lungs. Some of these need to be identified through ,culturing in a special lab for several weeks because they can be slow growing.
Also, what symptoms led you to seek treatment in the first place? Did they go away while you were being treated?
If in fact it is asymptomatic Valley Fever, stopping treatment is common. Has a plan been made to continue to watch the mass to see what happens?
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
Valley fever (cocci) is a fungus that lives in your lungs. Usually is in the ground and people breathe it when the ground is disturbed or the spores are in the air.
I have valley fever that is now dormant....does anyone know if you have any immunities to getting it again if you should return to the endemic area Arizona......No one can answer this...trying to decide whether to return there this winter or not @ginus
I was diagnosed with Valley Fever in 2002, settled in lungs but cleared up after several months of Diflucan. Currently in Scottsdale area and wondering if it has re-activated. What would be signs or symptoms of re-activation?
Hi @frank4848 and Welcome to Connect. I'm sorry to hear of your recent Valley Fever diagnosis.
@windwalker had Valley Fever and may be able to share with you how her experience with the illness was.
I'm hoping that @jjtaylor95 will return to share her experience with valley fever.
How long have you had this illness? How are have you been feeling? What symptoms are experiencing?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@frank4848 Hello Frank. I too am sorry that you caught Vally Fever. It can be anywhere from feeling rotten to down right debilitating. I caight it back in 1991 within the first year of moving to Tucson, Az. Doctors mistakenly diagnosed me with pneumonia at first. When common antibiotocs didn't resolve it and I grew sicker; I was finally tested for it. I remember that it gave me nodules and a small hole in my lung. I don't remember what they put me on antibiotic-wise. It was probably an antifungal. I was bedridden for two months. I know other people who also have had it. Dogs too. A close friend of mine lost his wife to it. It had disseminated to her brain. Do not fret, that is a very rare occurance. Some people get it with very mild symptoms and it goes away. How about you? Is it making you very ill? Are you coughing a lot?
@frank4848 @ethanmcconkey hi frank! Yes I have been diagnosed with Valley Fever and I am one of the rare ones with is dissemination to my brain and spinal cord. I believe the only reason it got so serious with me is because I went to doctors who didn’t believe me when I said I had valley fever (not through Mayo Clinic) and I am already immunosuppressed because of an autoimmune disease, valley fever sat for too long without being treated and was able to spread a lot faster. You are in good hands with the Mayo Clinic. My ID doctor here and Neurologist saved my life back in January in the Mayo hospital ☺️ Please let me know if you have any questions!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI was diagnose with Valley Fever and my doctor prescribe Flucanazole medication to treat this disease. Prior to this medication, I was on cholesterol medication for a long time which brought my cholesterol in range. Ever since I'm on Flucanazole I had to stop taking my cholesterol medication and of course my cholesterol level is high now. Trying to find out if other individuals out there is experiencing the same situation. If so, what did your doctor recommend for you to lower your cholesterol.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi @frank4848, I moved your new message to the discussion on Valley Fever where you were exchanging info with @windwalker and @jjtaylor95. I'd also like to bring @carbxbe8206 and @camaroyo in case they have experience with Fluconazole and cholesterol levels.
You might also be interested in this article from Mayo Clinic experts:
Top 5 lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/reduce-cholesterol/art-20045935
Frank, might you be able to make some lifestyle choices like changes in eating, adding physical activity, quitting smoking or reducing alcohol intake? What change would be possible for you?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI was diagnosed with Valley Fever in Jan 2022 although all my blood tests said Negative for Valley Fever and TB, and Negative on all the other blood tests they took from me. It was explained that sometimes the blood tests can be a false negative. I also had a CAT scan and it showed a large mass in my lower right lung. Did biopsy in Hospital and it was negative for Cancer. I took Fluconazole 2 x day for almost 7 months and my lung doctor took me off my cholesterol meds during the 7 months. I took a blood test every month for my liver and coccidioides which was negative every time. In the meantime, I lost so much hair on my head, had sweats constantly, muscle aches and headaches. After almost 7 months, and 3 CAT scans later, the growth has not grown and stayed the same as the first CAT scan. My lung doctor took me off the Fluconazole as of last week, and said since it hasn't grown, just leave it in my lung. I'm still a little leary about the diagnosis, but my lung doc says Valley Fever.
Billie Evans
Do you know if, at the time of the biopsy, they sent any of the specimen to be cultured, to see if bacteria grew?
There are other infections that can cause masses to appear in the lungs. Some of these need to be identified through ,culturing in a special lab for several weeks because they can be slow growing.
Also, what symptoms led you to seek treatment in the first place? Did they go away while you were being treated?
If in fact it is asymptomatic Valley Fever, stopping treatment is common. Has a plan been made to continue to watch the mass to see what happens?