Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Smith
My thought was any kind of flora/fauna (bug bite, contact) that may have been overlooked or unknown, whether related to the rash or not.
E.G.: In the Western US, there's a disease known as Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis, which is probably why they call it Valley Fever!  ) ( This has nothing to do with PN or rashes - I'm just using it as an example), that's well-known by all the doctors in that part of the country. It's caused by a fungus in the ground. It's usually not too serious for humans (but can be), but it can be devastating to dogs, especially those that rout around in the soil.
But most doctors in the Eastern US have never heard of it (by its colloquial name, anyway) since it's not endemic in the East. People who visit the west for a period of time may contract it, but when they get home, and symptoms manifest, their doctors may be stumped, not knowing to look for it.
You said you moved recently? Does the timeline fit with the onset of your symptoms? Is your new location geographically removed enough that something environmental could be at work (you mentioned a friend who presented similar symptoms)?
I'm jes' spitballin' here....
Doc |
Our friend was in Arizona and got Valley Fever.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/val...ction=symptoms
It was absolutely awful for her. She was terribly sick and just laying around most of the time. She had bumps and lumps on her ankles for one thing. Hard to describe what she looked like. She had pretty much all of the serious things.
The doctor there who should have known about it did not even think of it. That's awful as the doctors down there are and should be aware of it. He figured she had the flu. Oh no, she did not. It wasn't until she got home - way up in the northern U.S that the doctor there knew that's what it was. She had treatment and finally was done with it and it took a long time. She was lucky that she did not die. And that's not stretching it at all.
They have been going to AZ for many years. We also went there for quite a few years. Luckily we never got that. And AZ is not the only place that it can happen. Of course not everyone is in contact with the fungus. However, they have been building and building down there and digging up dirt as they build. So it isn't strange that this can and does happen.
This is not at all to say that Sue has this.