I have West Nile

[snowfire]

Or, at least, the doctors think I do. I go in next week for a blood test to find out for sure- apparently the titer won't show anything until two weeks after symptoms appear. I hope it's just the flu. eww.... my entire body feels like complete ass. Maggots, consider this your friendly reminder to WEAR BUG SPRAY.

And don't come anywhere near me if there are mosquitos around.

[Baconzoo]

So sorry to hear that.......

Gatoraide

Baby wipes

Comfort near the bowl

[Tavi]

That sucks ass!!

You probably just have some strange flu virus that will go away quickly. Hopefully anyway.

I thought everyone had been exposed to that west nile prick by now.

Good luck; hope you feel better.

[iceman]

Originally posted by Baconzoo

Gatoraide

Baby wipes

Comfort near the bowl

I'm gonna put that on my gravestone unless Salvador Dali beat me to it.

[Blurred]

Originally posted by snowfire


And don't come anywhere near me if there are mosquitos around.

I'd take my chances, you're kinda fly.

[freshie247]

Hey Snowfire,

I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with that.It's not a confirmed thing ,so hope for the best.We're all thinking of you & wishing you the best.Hang in There!

[crashnburn'd]

Definatley a shitty deal... Had a friend last summer go through the same things it sounds like you probably are now, luckily everything turned out fine after it was said and done.

Good luck, feel better soon.

[TJ.Brk]

any loss of motor function yet. ie weakness, muscle spasm, lack of balance.

The worst part is how it can attack the brain rather quickly unless treated fast. Please tell me that they started you on a drug protocol.

Have somebody pick you up some "pedialite". Better than any kind of sports drink out there for rehydration.

Good luck. I'll say a prayer for you.

[Lone Star]

I can't decide which image in my brain is less appealing-- having West Nile or having my insides eaten away by Deet.


Get better soon!

[Tippster]

Hey, the docs think I got it last summer. Fucked up my gizzard for a while, but the screaming gallops subsided, as did the general feeling of being beaten with a club. You'll pull through - the folks who die never get diagnosed and usually have a suppressed immune response (elderly, children, infirm) so a strapping young lass as yourself shall be just fine.[/Doctor Tipp]

Positive vibes (and a stack o'Baby wipes might help...)

-Tipp

[Telenater]

Best wishes, that's nasty stuff, but you'll kick it.

[Viva]

Stoke sent. Take care.

[fez]

Originally posted by TJ.Brk
Have somebody pick you up some "pedialite". Better than any kind of sports drink out there for rehydration.

my favorite hangover cure from college, tastes like shit, but does the job for sure.

Good luck, and pray for cold weather to kill all those mosquitos!

[AltaPowderDaze]

A friend of mine had it full blown. He's ok now. I'm sure i've been exposed too many times to count, but like others in the south i had no real problems. good luck and hope it blows over soon.

[summit]

Liz,

So sorry to hear that. Hopefully it isn't WN. My cousin had it and it knocked him out of a whole season of cross country (running).

[Telekóptero]

fire, that's horrible to hear. You're in our prayers. You'll come thru, i know it!

[PlayHarder]

Good luck.
Friend spent 2 months in the hospital last summer with it, he's fine now - but said it really sucked for a while. Hope you just end with a mild case.

[homerjay]

Get well!!!!!!!!!!!

[glademaster]

Good luck and get well soon! That sucks big time but I'm sure you'll pull through just fine.

[The Reverend Floater]

Hang in there, boss. Get a subscription to netflix and keg of pedialite. We'll party!

[Below Zero]

Hope you get better. Stay strong. Everything will turn out all right!

[bad_roo]

Your chances are favourable. Still a rather bum deal. Freakin' bugs.

[snowfire]

wow, you guys are so nice to me! I really appreciate all the kind thoughts/prayers. Thanks. I think Tippster said it best with the whole "beaten with a club" thing... it's exactly that, or being run over by a Mack truck. Unfortunately, 400 level science labs do not give you sick days. Neither does my job right now. The docs haven't started me on any antivirals, they said the only thing I can do right now is to let my body fight it off, take good care of myself, and watch closely for signs it's gone neurological. They've already called me this morning to check in. So, if I start posting REALLY weird shit, let me know. I'm still hoping it's only the flu.

anyways, thanks guys. it was really nice to show up for a long day of work and read this.

[Ubersheist]

Originally posted by snowfire
So, if I start posting REALLY weird shit, let me know. I'm still hoping it's only the flu.

... biting my tongue...

Best wishes. I hope it passes through you quickly (no pun intended).

[SLCFreshies]

Hope you do well. As has been said before, you are young so the chance of you developing a brain infection is lower.

As for treatment, as far as I know, there is no known effective treatment for West Nile. There are no controlled clinical trials for any agent in the treatment of West Nile. Two drugs, ribavirin and interferon-alpha-2b, were shown to be active against the virus in a lab, but no one knows if patients who are given these drugs do better. In fact, there was an Israeli study (albeit flawed) that showed that people who were treated with ribavirin did worse. There was another case where a patient with WNV was treated with both drugs and did not improve. There is an ongoing trial now for intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of West Nile, but no one knows if it's effective or when to give it.

The bottom line is that treatment is supportive (i.e., keep an eye on ya, make sure you're hydrated, and no specific medications.)

Here's a good review article on WNV in case y'all are interested.

Again, keep well and best wishes.