I suppose that I could get it in the US but the cost would probably be greater than what it is here; especially when factoring the travel, accommodation, specialist cost, hospitalization, procedure costs. I only have the government medical insurance here because the private ones refused me extended coverage since the 80's. Once refused, always refused in the insurance business.

the diagnosis came about after I had a mini stroke a couple of weeks back. The doc spotted skin irritation over my wrists and on my elbows and thought that it looked more like a rash than a reaction to the Diclofenac cream that I've been putting on those joints for inflammation control. He thought that it looked like some sort of an infection.

he ordered a repeat on some blood work and it suggested that I had some sort of an infection, so he then ordered blood tests for a bunch of things like systemic fungus & hepatitis, but also included viruses...everything from Lyme's to Parvo. The Parvo came back positive.

Those results came in a couple of days ago, so his office called me and said that my doc wanted some more blood work done. I had that done yesterday and those results came in today showing high white blood cell counts and high platelets; so the blood work is still indicating an infection. At least the immune system is trying to deal with it.

Problem is, that it may be going about it incorrectly (aberrant immune reaction), which is affecting the joints and possibly neurological and cardio-vascular systems as well.

Figures. Sometimes I wish this body would just catch a normal cold or something once in while instead of doing this sort of a freak show seemingly every time an otherwise common virus comes along.

With love, Erika