Cat Scratch Fever, its not just a song. - by BrokenArts
Spaztick on 30/9/2007 at 03:48
Quote Posted by Taffer_Boy_Elvis
My dad died of cancer when he was 37 years old. I'm 36. I had a lump like you're describing underneath my arm about 3 months ago. It hurt like hell. I was thinking the worse, because it was all red around it. I took a better look later that day, and saw a bit of a white head at the center of the bump. Well, I squeezed it and the most unholy puss you've ever seen came out of my armpit. I kept squeezing, and eventually everything was out. It flared up a bit for the next day or two, and I kept squeezing the puss out. It healed up. But this thing at first scared the hell out of me because of my family history. I think we all need a 2nd opinion on stuff like this when you think your life is at danger. Congrats on being cancer-free BA!
Sounded like a cyst, or a lot of white blood cells and stuff gathering in that node.
BrokenArts on 30/9/2007 at 03:51
That or an ingrown arm pit hair. :P
Thanks TBE. :--) Glad you are ok as well.
TJKeranen on 30/9/2007 at 03:55
Facing a potentially terminal illness is a horrible feeling. I'm really glad to hear it turned out well for you, BA. :)
Silly kittens.
And god damn it, TBE. :)
Tocky on 30/9/2007 at 04:58
Glad to hear your swollen lumps are in the right places again. I don't think Hallmark makes a card for that one.
SubJeff on 30/9/2007 at 08:59
Quote Posted by Spaztick
Except misdiagnose here with cancer when she didn't have it.
What? As far as BA has described he said it
could be a neoplasm and he suggested an appropriate investigation. He was also worried more about the enlarged nodes which sounds about right to me (and the "good" doc was the same, of course). BA doesn't say if a scratch was at the site of the swelling - would've made a lot of difference.
Also - I think an MRI is over the top (ultrasound would have sufficed) but it's not the docs fault that BA can't afford an MRI and the system there (unlike in the UK) means you can't get a scan if you can't afford it.
Quote Posted by Spaztick
Sounded like a cyst, or a lot of white blood cells and stuff gathering in that node.
White blood cells don't "gather in nodes" like that. You're showing your lack of knowledge here. No wonder you think the orginal doc misdiagnosed the issue. Sounds more like an abscess to me, or an
infected cyst. Uninfected cysts don't contain pus.
Quote Posted by BrokenArts
Blood work came back normal, they don't test for everything though.
But routine blood tests include a full blood count and with cat scratch disease you'd expect a rise in white cell count. The diagnosis is still not certain without aspiration and testing of fluid from the lump, so the kittens could have nothing to do with it and you could be cussing your regular doc for no reason.
BrokenArts on 30/9/2007 at 11:55
It is obviously some sort of an infection or the Doxycycline wouldn't be working. The one thing that was different at that time, was the kittens. It could be something else, again, why would the Doxycycline be working then? Doesn't make sense. Why the blood work came back normal, even some form of cancer would show a rise in the white blood cell count, liver, kidneys, all fine, and the regular GP mentions cancer. Or did they just miss something, who knows.
One particular scratch it didn't heal too well, it finally did heal. If I wouldn't of mentioned the cat scratch at all, god knows what else they would of tried to do.
Regular doctor did what he could, not the best diagnoses, send me to someone else, but a surgeon? Yes, lets just yank the thing out, what no middle ground? Yeah over the top a bit. He's only a regular GP.
Cash price for an MRI is $650.00. I just don't have a spare 650.00 laying about at the moment, thats cheap compared to what the insurance would of been charged.
Health care in the US, love it.
Yes, they have to actually test the node in order to see if it is indeed cat scratch, how many people would allow that to happen? I'd rather not have to go through possible testing of the node, be easier to treat the problem, I had all the classic symptoms of it. Thats what they did, and it worked.
As for the me bitching at my doctor, I wouldn't actually bitch at him, I would just inform him of what did work.
In the end, it all worked out anyway.
Thanks TJ and Tocky. :--)
SubJeff on 30/9/2007 at 14:45
Quote Posted by BrokenArts
It could be something else, again, why would the Doxycycline be working then?
It's likely an infection but it doesn't mean it's form the cat scratches. People get localised skin/cyst/other infections all the time. You don't even describe any of the typical symptoms of it - the only thing going on is that you HAVE cats!
Quote:
Why the blood work came back normal, even some form of cancer would show a rise in the white blood cell count, liver, kidneys, all fine,
It depends what type of cancer it is. Why would breast cancer cause a rise in any of these? It wouldn't.
Quote:
Regular doctor did what he could, not the best diagnoses, send me to someone else, but a surgeon? Yes, lets just yank the thing out, what no middle ground? Yeah over the top a bit.
Oh, rly? Standard management of cat scratch lesions is incision and drainage with antibiotic cover. You said that the lesion increased in size rapidly - sounds like a surgical referral to me.
Quote:
Yes, they have to actually test the node in order to see if it is indeed cat scratch, how many people would allow that to happen? I'd rather not have to go through possible testing of the node, be easier to treat the problem, I had all the classic symptoms of it.
You can't have really been worried then. What is wrong with node aspiration? It's just needle in the lump (likely with local anaesthetic cover in the US). Much less unpleasant than dying from cancer! I'd hope that most people would opt FOR sampling in order to get a definitive diagnosis.
Quote:
In the end, it all worked out anyway.
Yeah. To be honest the biggest issue I see here is that you could not afford the investigation suggested. MRI may be over the top but it would have given you so much information that you now don't have. I'm glad you're feeling better. I only piped up because I find it silly when people start dissing when they don't have the facts right.
BrokenArts on 30/9/2007 at 15:21
I did have my facts right, you get pipped up easily sometimes subject.
Cat scratch effects the lymph nodes in the upper body region,
this is quoted from the CDC.
Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a bacterial disease caused by Bartonella henselae. Most people with CSD have been bitten or scratched by a cat and developed a mild infection at the point of injury. Lymph nodes, especially those around the head, neck, and upper limbs, become swollen. Additionally, a person with CSD may experience fever, headache, fatigue, and a poor appetite. Rare complications of B. henselae infection are bacillary angiomatosis and Parinaud's oculolandular syndrome.
And wikipedia says treatment options.
Treatment
Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and multiple other antibiotics have been used successfully.
I had all those. Enough arguing, you can argue all you want, I'm done. I'm still recovering, and will spend my time and energy doing just that. I do think it was because of the kittens, end of story.
Shadow Creepr on 30/9/2007 at 17:06
I'm glad you are feeling better and are on the mend. :)
SubJeff on 30/9/2007 at 18:28
Quote Posted by BrokenArts
I did have my facts right, you get pipped up easily sometimes subject.
But you just didn't. I know what cat scratch disease is, thanks. I don't need wikipedia to tell me how to treat it. You've stated that the GP misdiagnosed you, when according to you he didn't.
