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I Was Diagnosed With COPD Last November 13th 2018, Was
I have taken so many different meds since November 2018 that I can't taste food, I can only eat oatmeal....I feel hopeless....The doctors (Internal, Gastrointestinal, Pulmonologist) I've been seeing are in Nuevo XXXXXXX Mexico....I do not have health insurance therefore the cost in Mex is lower. My question is this....will I die from these infections in the febrile reactions analysis? It seems as though the antibiotic I'm taking now (400mg of Fosfomycin or phosphomycin) is causing my Irritable Bowel Syndrome more problems. I feel bad all the time, yesterday I threw up with a small amount of blood in the vomit and called the doctor...was told to suspend antibiotic for 2 days....Another question: can these infections be treated intravenously?
I have taken so many different meds since November 2018 that I can't taste food, I can only eat oatmeal....I feel hopeless....The doctors (Internal, Gastrointestinal, Pulmonologist) I've been seeing are in Nuevo XXXXXXX Mexico....I do not have health insurance therefore the cost in Mex is lower. My question is this....will I die from these infections in the febrile reactions analysis? It seems as though the antibiotic I'm taking now (400mg of Fosfomycin or phosphomycin) is causing my Irritable Bowel Syndrome more problems. I feel bad all the time, yesterday I threw up with a small amount of blood in the vomit and called the doctor...was told to suspend antibiotic for 2 days....Another question: can these infections be treated intravenously?
Brief Answer:
Explanation on the test results and their clinical importance with possible effective treatments
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service.
The infections you mention especially the Typhoid/paratyphoid and rickettsia cause high fever, I do not see this mentioned in your symptoms.
I do not understand the use of Fosfomycin in your case, generally it is used for urinary and prostate infections.
As for typhoid the test done is the one that developing countries do because it is cheap, there are many false positive cases though that is why the developed countries use the culture to diagnose it in combination with the clinical presentation (repeated blood culture and sometimes marrow culture).
On the other hand if you do not have a way to have the proper tests for typhoid then it might be better to have the antibiotics for it because it may cause serious problems and even death if not treated properly. The same thing is with rickettsia infection. Brucellosis generally has a more mild presentation and may be complicated with chronic arthritis (joint pains).
To conclude:
- due to the importance of the infections tested it might be better to have the proper antibiotics.
- these infections (especially typhoid/paratypoid and rickettsia) tend to develop resistance towards main antibiotics so using them regularly and as it should is important
- best choices for typhoid and paratyphoid are fluorquinolones but due to high chance of resistance now Azithromycine or Ceftriaxone (this is intramuscular injection) is used.
- For rickettsia azythromycine or doxycycline is recommended (these are oral)
- for Brucellosis doxycycline for 6-8 weeks is used
To conclude I would say:
- you may take Ceftriaxone intramuscular for typhoid/paratyphoid infection
- and doxycycline orally (once a day after lunch) for 6-8 weeks for brucellosis and this will also cover rickettsia.
Please confirm these treatments with your doctor and make sure you do have the right follow ups with him. Antibiotics have a high risk to cause colitis from C.difficile which in itself is dangerous causing bleeding with stools and can be quite severe so please do not just take the antibiotics without any further advice from your doctor and the right follow ups. I still think you do not seem to have the typical symptoms that these infections cause, so the treatments mentioned are based only on the lab results which in some cases (typhoid/paratyphoid) are not so accurate and have many false positive results (show infection while there is none). In this case the best approach would be to have the cultures done and make sure if you have the infection or not then just using the antibiotic (I understand your point with the finances but taking antibiotcis when not needed might prove dangerous).
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
Explanation on the test results and their clinical importance with possible effective treatments
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service.
The infections you mention especially the Typhoid/paratyphoid and rickettsia cause high fever, I do not see this mentioned in your symptoms.
I do not understand the use of Fosfomycin in your case, generally it is used for urinary and prostate infections.
As for typhoid the test done is the one that developing countries do because it is cheap, there are many false positive cases though that is why the developed countries use the culture to diagnose it in combination with the clinical presentation (repeated blood culture and sometimes marrow culture).
On the other hand if you do not have a way to have the proper tests for typhoid then it might be better to have the antibiotics for it because it may cause serious problems and even death if not treated properly. The same thing is with rickettsia infection. Brucellosis generally has a more mild presentation and may be complicated with chronic arthritis (joint pains).
To conclude:
- due to the importance of the infections tested it might be better to have the proper antibiotics.
- these infections (especially typhoid/paratypoid and rickettsia) tend to develop resistance towards main antibiotics so using them regularly and as it should is important
- best choices for typhoid and paratyphoid are fluorquinolones but due to high chance of resistance now Azithromycine or Ceftriaxone (this is intramuscular injection) is used.
- For rickettsia azythromycine or doxycycline is recommended (these are oral)
- for Brucellosis doxycycline for 6-8 weeks is used
To conclude I would say:
- you may take Ceftriaxone intramuscular for typhoid/paratyphoid infection
- and doxycycline orally (once a day after lunch) for 6-8 weeks for brucellosis and this will also cover rickettsia.
Please confirm these treatments with your doctor and make sure you do have the right follow ups with him. Antibiotics have a high risk to cause colitis from C.difficile which in itself is dangerous causing bleeding with stools and can be quite severe so please do not just take the antibiotics without any further advice from your doctor and the right follow ups. I still think you do not seem to have the typical symptoms that these infections cause, so the treatments mentioned are based only on the lab results which in some cases (typhoid/paratyphoid) are not so accurate and have many false positive results (show infection while there is none). In this case the best approach would be to have the cultures done and make sure if you have the infection or not then just using the antibiotic (I understand your point with the finances but taking antibiotcis when not needed might prove dangerous).
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Brief Answer:
Explanation on the test results and their clinical importance with possible effective treatments
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service.
The infections you mention especially the Typhoid/paratyphoid and rickettsia cause high fever, I do not see this mentioned in your symptoms.
I do not understand the use of Fosfomycin in your case, generally it is used for urinary and prostate infections.
As for typhoid the test done is the one that developing countries do because it is cheap, there are many false positive cases though that is why the developed countries use the culture to diagnose it in combination with the clinical presentation (repeated blood culture and sometimes marrow culture).
On the other hand if you do not have a way to have the proper tests for typhoid then it might be better to have the antibiotics for it because it may cause serious problems and even death if not treated properly. The same thing is with rickettsia infection. Brucellosis generally has a more mild presentation and may be complicated with chronic arthritis (joint pains).
To conclude:
- due to the importance of the infections tested it might be better to have the proper antibiotics.
- these infections (especially typhoid/paratypoid and rickettsia) tend to develop resistance towards main antibiotics so using them regularly and as it should is important
- best choices for typhoid and paratyphoid are fluorquinolones but due to high chance of resistance now Azithromycine or Ceftriaxone (this is intramuscular injection) is used.
- For rickettsia azythromycine or doxycycline is recommended (these are oral)
- for Brucellosis doxycycline for 6-8 weeks is used
To conclude I would say:
- you may take Ceftriaxone intramuscular for typhoid/paratyphoid infection
- and doxycycline orally (once a day after lunch) for 6-8 weeks for brucellosis and this will also cover rickettsia.
Please confirm these treatments with your doctor and make sure you do have the right follow ups with him. Antibiotics have a high risk to cause colitis from C.difficile which in itself is dangerous causing bleeding with stools and can be quite severe so please do not just take the antibiotics without any further advice from your doctor and the right follow ups. I still think you do not seem to have the typical symptoms that these infections cause, so the treatments mentioned are based only on the lab results which in some cases (typhoid/paratyphoid) are not so accurate and have many false positive results (show infection while there is none). In this case the best approach would be to have the cultures done and make sure if you have the infection or not then just using the antibiotic (I understand your point with the finances but taking antibiotcis when not needed might prove dangerous).
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
Explanation on the test results and their clinical importance with possible effective treatments
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service.
The infections you mention especially the Typhoid/paratyphoid and rickettsia cause high fever, I do not see this mentioned in your symptoms.
I do not understand the use of Fosfomycin in your case, generally it is used for urinary and prostate infections.
As for typhoid the test done is the one that developing countries do because it is cheap, there are many false positive cases though that is why the developed countries use the culture to diagnose it in combination with the clinical presentation (repeated blood culture and sometimes marrow culture).
On the other hand if you do not have a way to have the proper tests for typhoid then it might be better to have the antibiotics for it because it may cause serious problems and even death if not treated properly. The same thing is with rickettsia infection. Brucellosis generally has a more mild presentation and may be complicated with chronic arthritis (joint pains).
To conclude:
- due to the importance of the infections tested it might be better to have the proper antibiotics.
- these infections (especially typhoid/paratypoid and rickettsia) tend to develop resistance towards main antibiotics so using them regularly and as it should is important
- best choices for typhoid and paratyphoid are fluorquinolones but due to high chance of resistance now Azithromycine or Ceftriaxone (this is intramuscular injection) is used.
- For rickettsia azythromycine or doxycycline is recommended (these are oral)
- for Brucellosis doxycycline for 6-8 weeks is used
To conclude I would say:
- you may take Ceftriaxone intramuscular for typhoid/paratyphoid infection
- and doxycycline orally (once a day after lunch) for 6-8 weeks for brucellosis and this will also cover rickettsia.
Please confirm these treatments with your doctor and make sure you do have the right follow ups with him. Antibiotics have a high risk to cause colitis from C.difficile which in itself is dangerous causing bleeding with stools and can be quite severe so please do not just take the antibiotics without any further advice from your doctor and the right follow ups. I still think you do not seem to have the typical symptoms that these infections cause, so the treatments mentioned are based only on the lab results which in some cases (typhoid/paratyphoid) are not so accurate and have many false positive results (show infection while there is none). In this case the best approach would be to have the cultures done and make sure if you have the infection or not then just using the antibiotic (I understand your point with the finances but taking antibiotcis when not needed might prove dangerous).
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I want to deeply thank you for the reply. Now I believe I'm going in the right direction. I have an appointment with an infectious disease doctor next week to get the right tests performed to be sure.
Another concern I have is some research I have done to find the exact symptoms of what I'm feeling and believe or not it is on this web site for congestive heart failure. I have all of these symptoms and basically none others:
Also the continuous spitting what you describe may be part of pulmonary edema ie. Fluid in the lungs ,
which may be because of congestive failure .
The most common symptoms are .
Swelling in the legs or dependent portion of the body .
Abdominal distension and fullness
Decreased appetite nausea
Facial puffiness .
unable to lie down flat
Breathlessness when she lies flat in bed , while she is more comfortable sitting .
Difficulty in taking breaths , air hunger .
Palpitations.
By all means a consultation with your doctor to increase her diuretics and maintenance of other vitals is justified.
My questions are these:
What meds are used to treat Congestive Heart Failure?
What type of doctor do I need to see to confirm?
Can the numerous antibiotics I've been taking for over 2 months be the cause of diarrhea and loss of taste?
Another concern I have is some research I have done to find the exact symptoms of what I'm feeling and believe or not it is on this web site for congestive heart failure. I have all of these symptoms and basically none others:
Also the continuous spitting what you describe may be part of pulmonary edema ie. Fluid in the lungs ,
which may be because of congestive failure .
The most common symptoms are .
Swelling in the legs or dependent portion of the body .
Abdominal distension and fullness
Decreased appetite nausea
Facial puffiness .
unable to lie down flat
Breathlessness when she lies flat in bed , while she is more comfortable sitting .
Difficulty in taking breaths , air hunger .
Palpitations.
By all means a consultation with your doctor to increase her diuretics and maintenance of other vitals is justified.
My questions are these:
What meds are used to treat Congestive Heart Failure?
What type of doctor do I need to see to confirm?
Can the numerous antibiotics I've been taking for over 2 months be the cause of diarrhea and loss of taste?
I want to deeply thank you for the reply. Now I believe I'm going in the right direction. I have an appointment with an infectious disease doctor next week to get the right tests performed to be sure.
Another concern I have is some research I have done to find the exact symptoms of what I'm feeling and believe or not it is on this web site for congestive heart failure. I have all of these symptoms and basically none others:
Also the continuous spitting what you describe may be part of pulmonary edema ie. Fluid in the lungs ,
which may be because of congestive failure .
The most common symptoms are .
Swelling in the legs or dependent portion of the body .
Abdominal distension and fullness
Decreased appetite nausea
Facial puffiness .
unable to lie down flat
Breathlessness when she lies flat in bed , while she is more comfortable sitting .
Difficulty in taking breaths , air hunger .
Palpitations.
By all means a consultation with your doctor to increase her diuretics and maintenance of other vitals is justified.
My questions are these:
What meds are used to treat Congestive Heart Failure?
What type of doctor do I need to see to confirm?
Can the numerous antibiotics I've been taking for over 2 months be the cause of diarrhea and loss of taste?
Another concern I have is some research I have done to find the exact symptoms of what I'm feeling and believe or not it is on this web site for congestive heart failure. I have all of these symptoms and basically none others:
Also the continuous spitting what you describe may be part of pulmonary edema ie. Fluid in the lungs ,
which may be because of congestive failure .
The most common symptoms are .
Swelling in the legs or dependent portion of the body .
Abdominal distension and fullness
Decreased appetite nausea
Facial puffiness .
unable to lie down flat
Breathlessness when she lies flat in bed , while she is more comfortable sitting .
Difficulty in taking breaths , air hunger .
Palpitations.
By all means a consultation with your doctor to increase her diuretics and maintenance of other vitals is justified.
My questions are these:
What meds are used to treat Congestive Heart Failure?
What type of doctor do I need to see to confirm?
Can the numerous antibiotics I've been taking for over 2 months be the cause of diarrhea and loss of taste?
Brief Answer:
Detailed answer to your questions below
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I am glad to know you are finding some answers about your health.
I did not notice in the previous message any mention of the symptoms related to congestive heart failure. Which of the above symptoms do you have?
Congestive heart failure is easily diagnosed or ruled out with a heart ultrasound and a chest x-ray. These are basic tests that help a lot in clarifying this. A cardiologist is the doctor that performs the heart ultrasound and deals with heart failure but even talking with your PCP might help you understand if you need to see the cardiologist or not.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the heart failure and diuretics might be added to reduce the fluids in the lungs and improve lung edema but please do not take any medications without a confirmation from your doctor that you need them.
Antibiotics may affect the normal bowel flora and cause diarrhea, clarifying the need for antibiotics or not and the use of some probiotics and yogurt might help with this.
As for the lack of taste it may be caused by medications, dental problems, nose or sinus problems, smoking, etc, and sometimes a combination of more than one is the cause.
Internet offers a wide range of information but it is not necessarily good all the time because it may mislead the patients and might cause anxiety so please discuss all your concerns with your doctor and follow his instructions on treatment and follow up.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
Detailed answer to your questions below
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I am glad to know you are finding some answers about your health.
I did not notice in the previous message any mention of the symptoms related to congestive heart failure. Which of the above symptoms do you have?
Congestive heart failure is easily diagnosed or ruled out with a heart ultrasound and a chest x-ray. These are basic tests that help a lot in clarifying this. A cardiologist is the doctor that performs the heart ultrasound and deals with heart failure but even talking with your PCP might help you understand if you need to see the cardiologist or not.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the heart failure and diuretics might be added to reduce the fluids in the lungs and improve lung edema but please do not take any medications without a confirmation from your doctor that you need them.
Antibiotics may affect the normal bowel flora and cause diarrhea, clarifying the need for antibiotics or not and the use of some probiotics and yogurt might help with this.
As for the lack of taste it may be caused by medications, dental problems, nose or sinus problems, smoking, etc, and sometimes a combination of more than one is the cause.
Internet offers a wide range of information but it is not necessarily good all the time because it may mislead the patients and might cause anxiety so please discuss all your concerns with your doctor and follow his instructions on treatment and follow up.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Brief Answer:
Detailed answer to your questions below
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I am glad to know you are finding some answers about your health.
I did not notice in the previous message any mention of the symptoms related to congestive heart failure. Which of the above symptoms do you have?
Congestive heart failure is easily diagnosed or ruled out with a heart ultrasound and a chest x-ray. These are basic tests that help a lot in clarifying this. A cardiologist is the doctor that performs the heart ultrasound and deals with heart failure but even talking with your PCP might help you understand if you need to see the cardiologist or not.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the heart failure and diuretics might be added to reduce the fluids in the lungs and improve lung edema but please do not take any medications without a confirmation from your doctor that you need them.
Antibiotics may affect the normal bowel flora and cause diarrhea, clarifying the need for antibiotics or not and the use of some probiotics and yogurt might help with this.
As for the lack of taste it may be caused by medications, dental problems, nose or sinus problems, smoking, etc, and sometimes a combination of more than one is the cause.
Internet offers a wide range of information but it is not necessarily good all the time because it may mislead the patients and might cause anxiety so please discuss all your concerns with your doctor and follow his instructions on treatment and follow up.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
Detailed answer to your questions below
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I am glad to know you are finding some answers about your health.
I did not notice in the previous message any mention of the symptoms related to congestive heart failure. Which of the above symptoms do you have?
Congestive heart failure is easily diagnosed or ruled out with a heart ultrasound and a chest x-ray. These are basic tests that help a lot in clarifying this. A cardiologist is the doctor that performs the heart ultrasound and deals with heart failure but even talking with your PCP might help you understand if you need to see the cardiologist or not.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the heart failure and diuretics might be added to reduce the fluids in the lungs and improve lung edema but please do not take any medications without a confirmation from your doctor that you need them.
Antibiotics may affect the normal bowel flora and cause diarrhea, clarifying the need for antibiotics or not and the use of some probiotics and yogurt might help with this.
As for the lack of taste it may be caused by medications, dental problems, nose or sinus problems, smoking, etc, and sometimes a combination of more than one is the cause.
Internet offers a wide range of information but it is not necessarily good all the time because it may mislead the patients and might cause anxiety so please discuss all your concerns with your doctor and follow his instructions on treatment and follow up.
I hope this answers your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Antoneta Zotaj,
General and Family Physician
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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