Moving to AZ? Research on Valley Fever First (Phoenix, Mesa: living, health)

[MotleyCrew]

We know of two people here in our community that caught it when they first arrived. If you get sick, go to a Dr. right away. We did lose our dog after moving him here.

[ChrissyR]

I just happened upon this post. I live in Tucson. I've lived here for 10 years; came from Ohio. I knew nothing about Valley Fever when I moved here. I'm also a Type I diabetic. When I got Valley Fever it was a bad case. I had pneumonia, the rash you get with it, my ankles swelled up to around 3 times there size and I could barely walk. My joints ached. I slept all the time. The most frustrating thing was it took three visits to the ER for them to correctly diagnose what was wrong with me. I lost a ton of weight as I slept all the time and had not much of an appetite. I had what's called diseminated Valley Fever. Some people actually have it go to there brain. Luckily this didn't happen to me. I was treated by an Infectious Disease Specialist. I took Anti-Fungal medicine for months. I still feel like I have some side affects from having it. I'm tired quite alot still, don't have a ton of energy but basically OK. It is true most people don't know they even have it or have had it. I'm still glad I live here but wish I had known about VF so I could have taken care of it sooner. I also would have been more careful about being out around the dust/dirt if it was extremely windy. We had moved into a new housing development where they were still building so soil was being moved around constantly. Also there is a great website called The Valley Fever Center for Excellence. I forget the actual web address. As I said I am still glad I am out here as I love the desert!

[kdog]

Originally Posted by ChrissyR

The Valley Fever Center for Excellence.

Found it. Valley Fever Center for Excellence

The VFCE is a part of Arizona University and seems more objective than the "ValleyFeverSurvivor" website who may be trying to scare the public into buying the book they are writing. VF doesn't seem as scary when you read VFCE. Check it out.

[sheena]

All I can say is I caught it 7 months after we moved to Phoenix in 1988. I was sick, sick, sick, sick. I could not get out of bed, I could not eat, I was extremely exhausted. I went to the Doctor and they took some test and told me I had Valley Fever. I had never heard of it. Anyway they couldn't do anything for me. I was really sick for 6-8 weeks. I lost about 20 pounds but I didn't mind that.

Anyway my friend also caught it and her doctor I guess was a dummy of some kind. He called her on a Friday afternoon and told her she had Cancer. Anyway when she went back to him they figured out she had Valley Fever.
Her dog has it also and is on meds, they say the dog has to stay on meds for the rest of her life. It's pretty expensive. I also worked with another lady who's dog has it and is also on meds. It you catch it quickly the dog should be ok.

I never dismiss Valley Fever as nothing, having had it. I don't care who gets scared by it or who doesn't. All I'm saying is I was SICK!

[JTC]

Thats scary!! Great, now I'm worried about my friend who is down there right now

[sheena]

Originally Posted by JTC

Thats scary!! Great, now I'm worried about my friend who is down there right now

Well don't worry about it like that, but I just wanted to say I was SICK! I got better but it took me a longgggg time and I was only 26 and healthy.

[rascalman]

valley fever is very bad news, my wife was bed ridden with it. very few doctors knew about it ten years ago, but there are many more cases of valley fever now than ever due to the soil being stirred up by construction an landscapers blowing dust from parking lots.I don't want to scare anyone,but it is very serious illness.Pills an treatment is very costly.

[tnp]

Is Valley Fever common in the Kingman area too, or is it mostly the valley areas? I have a dog who already has some health problems, so I'm a bit worried about VF in dogs.

[Ponderosa]

My own experience with VF is typical. I had a blood test one time and they told me I had been exposed to VF. I never knew it. Yes, there are a few who get seriously ill for a time (for some reason they seem to be disproportionately represented on this forum ), but most people do not. In fact most people do not even get it at all. Same for dogs. Dogs born here are said to be much more resistant.

[letenn]

I too am a native, and never had valley fever. I don't know anyone who has had it either. Don't worry about it.