Updated List of California's Valley Fever Specialists: Coping with Valley Fever Deep Bone, Muscles, Neck, and Joint Pain

How to Find a Doctor Who Knows about Valley Fever or Cocci Treatment:

Coping with Valley Fever Deep Bone, Muscles, Neck, and Joint Pain:
Updated List of California's Valley Fever Specialists

If you live in the Central Valley of California or anywhere else and you happen to catch Valley Fever disease or Coccidioidomycosis, then you need to consult your primary care physician, insurance and start throwing the names of these infectious disease specialists around. Once the night sweats become unbearable and the deep bone pain brings tears to your eyes, you will need to think about this list. Once your energy is sapped and you become so weak and tired that all you think about is to take a nap, think about the Valley Fever risks that exist in many parts of California and Arizona. Start retracing your journey. It is now time to think about how close you have been to the dirt, ground etc.

Depending on your case, the symptoms of Valley Fever can vary, but you will be acquainted with what appears to be generalized pain all over your body. For me, it was the constant headache, occasional dry cough, joint pain and a deep-bone abscess which eventually required surgery. Some people may have lesions and scars in any areas of their body. Shoulder, back and arm pain is very common. Even though you may not feel like eating, please make sure you eat lots of spinach, green stuff, drink milk. This is the best time to watch your diet.

Some of the medications that may be prescribed to you are Flucanozole, Diflucan, and Amphotericin B otherwise known as "Shake and Bake."


Here is a list of Valley Fever specialists who can help diagnose and treat your case. Two of them helped me tremendously. They are on top of my personal list. Dr. Boro who often consulted with Dr. Libke brought me back from the grips of and jaws of hell. As many of you know by now, it was not always easy to come up with the diagnosis. Many other diseases had to be ruled out. Well, here is my short list of resources for the Central Valley. (I hope to add more names as they become available. You can send me the names of Valley Fever specialists who have treated you too).

ValleyFeverPublisher presents

1. Dr. Herbert Boro at Kaiser Permanente in Fresno, CA (He saved me.)

2. Dr. Libke on MD to MD referral, Fresno, CA (He contributed to my treatment)

3. Dr. Daniel Boken in Visalia, CA

4. Dr. ED Nichols (323--8477), Bakersfield, CA

5. Dr. Reddy, Infectious Disease Specialist, Fresno, CA

6. Dr. Pyreddy, Pulmonoligist in Fresno

Dry and Windy Conditions That Produce Airborne Valley Fever Spores: How to Protect Oneself Against Cocci and Find Treatment

The drier and windier conditions that exist in California, usually after long periods of drought and wild fires, the likelier one is to catch or inhale the spores of the fungus that cause Valley Fever or Coccidioidomycocis. I can easily remember those hot and windy August months in 1990 when I arrived in Coalinga, CA. The city of Coalinga was not developed as it is right now. The dirt from the recently plowed surrounding fields got into my eyes and anywhere in the city. West Hills College campus was not spared. I was not ready to miss a class because of a wind storm. I rode my bike to class at all times. Besides the various trips to the Coalinga hills where oil is being extracted by animal and bee-like devices, I had various opportunities to be exposed to the fungus. Being an immigrant to the San Joaquin Valley, I did not know the impact of the dry and windy weather would have on me. Nobody prepared me for what would come next. Nobody warned me and my fellow islanders about the likelihood of catching the disease

Most Central Valley hospital staff know that they will see an increase in cocci cases whenever there are arid months followed by drought. From St Agnes Hospital, Community Hospital, to Kaiser Permanente, infection control coordinators, nurses and physicians see thousands of cases of people who came in contact with the disease. According to the California Department of Public Health, between 50,000 and 100,00 people develop symptoms of Valley Fever each year in the United States. California has about 35,000 + of these cases. The disease is more common than you think. Yet most Americans and specially Arizonans and Californians have no idea about its impact. It is a costly disease to treat. You still have to spend a lot of money without a steady income. Pray that you have a good insurance if you get sick! Money and health insurance will increase your survivability.

What can we do about the fungus?

The cocci live in the soil and produce spores. Dry top soil gets loosened up. And the wind just picks it up. Besides the wind, we have construction activity, agricultural work and other natural disasters such as earthquakes, wild fires that tend to disturb the soil. You may have noticed that various builders get water trucks to spray water and clean construction sites to keep the dirt from escaping. Once the spores become airborne, people breathe them in. They tend to locate in the most lungs which are an ideal growth spot. Keep in mind they can grow anywhere else in your body. Once you are diagnosed with Valley Fever, make sure you find a good infectious disease doctor who can manage your treatment. While you may feel lousy most of the times, do not hesitate to participate in activities such as reading, play, arts, writing and even dance. Walk, sharpen your mind and eat healthy meals! Consult with your physician regarding the exercise. Above all, take it easy!

What are the symptoms of this disease (Valley Fever)?

Some of you may have a natural immunity to the disease. And those of you who do not have it will catch it. Why? All of us have to breathe to live. The disease shows up as a mild, flu-like illness, with high fever, cough, headache, rash, and muscle aches within three weeks after exposure. Can you imagine abou Now, understand that your body will put up a huge fight to keep you healthy. If you are lucky, your body will be successful in fighting it off. The unlucky ones will develop a chronic lung infection. The disease may disseminate and cause a wide-spread infection. During my treatment for Valley Fever, I saw other patients with major skin lesions, meningitis, bone and joint infection. The lesions can occur anywhere in the body, from head to toe. What kills patients are the cases of disseminated valley fever. The complications can be lethal. Valley Fever survivors know a few things about what it takes to beat this disease. This is why I wrote this article to help those who are going through their treatment right now.

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California Cocci Secrets Revealed: How is Valley Fever Diagnosed and Treated? Is There any Vaccine against the fungus or Cocci?

You may not know you are infected with the cocci infection weeks and months later. By that time, you may be living in another state or country. Now you may wonder how many people may have been unknowingly exposed to cocci while visiting, working, and studying in California. Is there any booklet or brochure from the Tourism Department on this disease? Maybe yes, maybe not. Yet, California needs healthy tourists who will return to spend money here. Sick and dead people do not travel!

You can pick up the infection while being on business in California, and specially in the hot breeding grounds such as Bakersfield, Coalinga and elsewhere in the great San Joaquin Valley. It is not uncommon to develop the Valley Fever symptoms way later after you have been back home. What are you going to do when no doctors know about or can recognize the disease?
In my own case, if I left California or went back to the Caribbean after catching the fungus, I would be certainly dead in no time!

The public health nurse or treating physician will be interested in your line of work and the areas you had been visiting and living. Location or places you visited in the past few months will give him some good clues as to what to shoot for. Just like for most people and for me, by the time we have an appointment with an infectious disease doctor, we will have already exhausted many other possibilities. Also, our mind will play tricks on us. The loss of appetite, high fevers, bathing in night sweats, joint pain and fatigue will bog us down. You may have what appears to be the flu.

By then, your system will have been engaged in a terrible fight with the cocci. It will be a near-perfect invasion of your most important organs, tissues and cells. Your red cells will start being depleted. Left untreated, valley fever attacks can be deadly.

Healthcare providers, your doctors or hospital may order a serological test to check for antibodies against the fungus. My treating doctor explained that he was looking for a tither that shows exposure. He then sent it to the University of California, Davis. The results of that test from UC Davis will confirm how long the patient has had the disease in his body and the stage it is at. Just like cancer, doctors have to find out the valley fever stage.

Infectious disease doctors also conduct other tests. Some of them may include a biopsy of the affected tissue or a culture of tissue or body fluids such as sputum. Before they can zero in on the Valley Fever, they have to rule out other common infectious diseases such as TB, HIV and others. That is why it is very difficult to tell just by the symptoms. Otherwise, it would be like playing doctor.

Most Valley Fever providers and treating physicians will tell you that Valley Fever symptoms are very vague and non-specific. What this means is that they can masquerade like regular flu or symptoms common with other diseases. In my case, a biopsy of my upper left buttock's affected area was taken and sent away to be cultured.

I clearly remember having ridden my bicycle with some college mates above the oil-rigged hills and mountains of Coalinga, CA. Some of us fell off the bikes. I landed on my left side. I got up and rode down the hills without paying too much attention to the pain. It was the same type of fall I would get when playing soccer with the guys. I came back down and helped my host family clean up the backyard. Little did I know that being in good physical shape would eventually help me fight the fungus!

Now it is safe to say that many cases of Valley Fever do not require the heavy-duty treatment I went through. You may not go through "shake and bake," for example. If you are one of those at risk of developing severe disease, your doctor may prescribe flucanozole which is for acute, uncomplicated coccidioidomycosis. The center for disease control and prevention recommend that patients who develop pneumonia in both lungs and other systemic disease should receive antifungal therapy. And it is not unusual to spend months or even years on antifungal therapy before you can truly resume your work and other activities. Well, I was one of these patients with comorbidities who required more than a year of treatment and numerous visits to my doctor's office. Valley Fever treatment requires and takes time, patience and money, all at the same time. It is not a game. It is life or death for most of us and specially those with no previous immunity against the cocci.

How do we cohabit with Valley Fever? Is there a Vaccine against the disease?

Folks, the California secret is finally revealed! Valley Fever is not going to go away. And there is no vaccine that can prevent it. All you can do is stay away from dust and dry soil. Drought is not good for anybody here in the Central Valley. Farmers need water for our large variety of crops. More cases of the disease surface after a drought and earthquakes. Keep your windows closed and make sure to water before tilling or planting. Wear a mask when venturing out on windy days in the Valley.

Thanks to my Caregivers, my Doctor, my friends and family!

If you expect to beat Valley Fever, if you expect to survive this disease, you will need all the help you can get. Some of the most important people in your life will be your doctor, immediate family members, friends and caregivers. Your nurse will be a key person. Believe me, each one of them will turn out to be your cheerleader when your dark days arrive. On many occasions, you will feel so lousy that you will not want to do anything or even get out of bed. Your energy will be sapped away. As you are losing energy, you will need to replace it with good nutrition.

Talking about the caregivers, doctors and family members, you will soon realize they are your first line of defense. You will not be able to do without them. Depending on whether your valley fever case was disseminated, you will have lots of appointments with your doctor. You will see him or her so much that you will get tired of them. But, try to never miss your appointments.

Thanks to my then-program coordinator, Suzanne, I never missed a doctor's appointment. She was and continues to be my main advocate. Since I had bone-deep surgery to remove an abscess, I had to have a nurse in the first few months of treatment. Once she was gone, I depended on my caregiver, my host mothers.

Thanks to Suzanne and Mrs. McKinney for helping save my life! Valley Fever is not a game. It is real. Thanks to my doctor. Above all, thanks to God! Two years before I landed in Coalinga, CA, a Japanese student caught Valley Fever and died of its complications. Islanders, Asians such as Philipino, Japanese, Pacific islanders and those with weak immune system can easily catch the disease.

Thanks to all my friends who sent notes, prayers and cards to the hospital! Thanks to St Agnes nurses too!

Get Equipped to Fight Valley Fever: Proper Exercise and Nutrition Will Get You There

walking around the block will help. You do not want to lose all your muscle mass. If you have a treadmill, get on it. The worst thing is that you get tired easily and may not want to do any exercise. You will sweat at the drop of a hat. Fatigue is one of the enemies.

Also important is proper nutrition. With high fever, you may lose appetite and refuse to eat. That is a big mistake you can avoid. Even if you do not have the taste of the food, eat something anyway. You do not want to starve to death. Your body will be going through so much trauma that you will need to compensate. Have somebody feed you. Spinach is good for you. Eggs, Fish and anything that has good proteins will help. Do not forget your fruits serving. Take this advice from somebody who had been fighting Valley Fever for close to 7 years.

In the next few postings, I will write about the importance of good caregiving. Caregivers play an essential role in your recovery. If they do not give up on you, you will have a good chance of beating the disease. They will cheer you up and keep you informed on what was going on in your life. Whatever you do, try to stay in touch with family members and loved ones.

Get more advice on how to beat Valley Fever by buying one of my books at:

http://bestsellerpicks.blogspot.com

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Find Some Good Books on Valley Fever: David Filip and Sharon Filip's Book on "The Valley Fever Epidemic"

The founder of the patient advocacy and support, www.valleyfeversurvivor.com, is very familiar and knowlegeaable about Coccidioidomycosis. David Filip’s mother, Sharon Filip is a survivor of the disease. Thumbs up to Sharon!

After his mother’s valley fever infection, David dedicated his time to researching this lethal disease. The results of his research have been published in “The Valley Fever Epidemic,” a comprehensive, complete and up-to-date book written for the lay person on the impact of Coccidioidomycosis. That’s what I call the revenge of a good son. He also published “The Smart Patient’s Handbook” and “The Official Valley Fever Survivor Medical Glossary.”

So far, many infectious disease doctors have reviewed it and written rave reviews of the book.

You can buy this book from Golden Phoenix Books.


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Find out how this valley fever patient and founder of this support group survived the disease and went on to write books published by http://bestsellerpicks.blogspot.com

and
http://justpublished4you.blogspot.com

Who Is At Risk of Contracting Valley Fever?

Just get relaxed: You can not catch valley fever from somebody who has the disease or spores in his/her system. Valley Fever is not a communicable disease. That is why nurses, doctors, even your treating physicians can not catch it from you.

If you breathe, you can catch it on your own. It is all about where you have been. Exposure to the disease is limited to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central and South America. These places meet certain soil and climatic conditions.

What does this mean? Anybody who has ever breathed, played or spent time on vacations or work trips can get exposed to this disease. These places are known as endemic hot places. In the Central Valley, all the areas comprising Bakersfield, Coalinga and else are know as valley fever hot spots. Fresno County Department of Public Health, Dr. Faisal Aranki said that people living in these regions show evidence of exposure to the the fungus. That is what may make the difference between somebody who had no previous exposure to the disease and a local inhabitant who end up catching it. One may become sicker than the other.

It goes without saying that migrant workers and others working the soils of California, specifically, the Central Valley, are at greater risk of developing Valley Fever. Migrant workers from Mexico who had already developed immunity against the disease may not catch it here in the great Valley.

According to Dr. Herbert Boro, Infectious Disease czar at Kaiser Permanente, at risk are people with a compromised immune system, the elderly, African Americans, Asians, and women in the third trimester of pregnancy.