Goodbye to good health :(

[tornado33]

Hi all
Had the biggest health crisis of my life, including a full week in hospital.
About a month or so ago noticed a burning sensation when urinating, wasn't too bad at first but got worse week by week. I noted urine had become cloudy, say GP got antibiotics. Had ultrasound, showed enlarged prostate, stronger antibiotics did nothing. Then eyes affected in space of 2 days become very red and full of gunk. parents took me to emergency, was admitted.

In a few days I deteriorated further and knee joints became affected, could barely walk. Constant testing for bugs revealed nothing. Eventual diagnosis was a rare but very disabling Reactive Arthritis, also known as Reiters Syndrome. Its an autoimmune disorder where immune system begins to attack parts of the body, I have the "Classic triad" Reiters Syndrome of unary tract, eyes and joints being attacked.

Prognosis is a very slow recovery at best 3 to 6 months. I went from running 50 kms a week to not even able to walk to local bus stop. I envisage there will be muscle wasting, also the joint swelling and inflammation could result in permanent damage. Online blurb says some sufferers can be left permanently disabled.

I'm on Indocid Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory medication. It can have side effects in the gut and liver. Ive had a lot of time off my 8 hours a week part time cleaning job, will return on Friday. I certainly wont be capable of anything more for some time.
Astronomy is out, cold night air plays havoc, I get chills and fevers, and cold on knees makes them worse and cannot lift anything heavy.

So that's my sad story, I think I must say goodbye to good health from now on. Cheers, Scott

[sheeny]

Sorry to hear that, Scott. These times can be testing. It doesn't sound like fun, so try to stay positive and make the most of each day. The goal posts have just been moved for a while...:thumbsup:

Al.

[cometcatcher]

That's a bugga! Hopefully you will be in the group that recovers at 3 months.

I had to quit running also (not that I ever went far) but switched to cycling which is easier on my joints. But make sure you give yourself lots of time to recover first.

[troypiggo]

Jeez. Wouldn't wish that on anyone! Sorry to hear, and hope it is something you can get back on top of!

[Octane]

I'm so sorry to hear this, Scott.

As a fellow September 2nd baby, I wish you all the very best in your recovery.

You're in my thoughts.

H

[tornado33]

Many thanks all. Will see the Rheumatologist on 6th August, hopefully might have a better prognosis by then. Cheers, Scott

[theodog]

Gee Scott, that's a really bad break.
Hope all goes well and quickly in your recovery.
Maybe spend the time designing a remote system:P
Get well soon Buddy:thumbsup:

[Paul Haese]

That must have been very frightening for you Scott. I have had my share of scares but nothing as extreme as that and each time I was pretty worried for a bit. I wish you the very best of luck in getting over this problem.

[astroron]

Hey Scott, that is a real bummer of a rap :(
I hope you can get back to some semblance
of good health.
My thoughts go with you in your recovery.
All the best Mate.
Cheers:thumbsup:

[Renato1]

That is truly astounding.
Best wishes and hope you get better sooner rather than later.
Regards,
Renato

[Ric]

Hi Scott

Talk about the rough end of the pineapple.

I wish you a very speedy recovery.

[xelasnave]

Hi Scott,
That's a plate full for sure.
Take it one day at a time and see the positive side that the medical folk can help.
Good luck.
Alex

[ZeroID]

Bummer !
Sorry to hear of your situation. Not good. Take care of yourself first but maybe you can access some of the networked scopes for a bit of remote viewing. There is a regular world wide group that feed live views to other watchers, can't remember it's name right now. Someone will chip in with it if I don't find it in time.

[Octane]

^ NightSkyNetwork.

H

[RickS]

Hope it works out OK for you, Scott, and it turns out to be an easily managed condition.

Cheers,
Rick.

[ZeroID]

Thanks H ..:thumbsup:

[wavelandscott]

Sorry to hear about your illness. Hope you get some relief and recovery. Good health is a precious but overlooked thing. Positive. Ives headed your way!

[tornado33]

Thanks all
Found I still have to stay on anti inflamatories (indocid) as doc wants me to ease off them due to affects on liver and gut but could barely walk this morning, took a pill and not so bad now. Cheers, Scott

[leon]

Wow Scott, that is bloody terrible, one certainly doesn't know what is around the corner, I do hope you eventually make a full recovery.

Leon

[tornado33]

Thanks all. An update. I was prescribed indomethan anti inflammatory which I only take when necessary. I have been cleared to start exercise by my rheumatologist team. I can also do some running as long as I don't push through pain. I still cannot squat right down if I need to pick something up. So do appear to be recovering but may be some months to a full recovery. Rheumatologist thinks no permanent damage to my knees. I dodged a bullet re eyesight. Was told I could have gone blind if I didn't go to emergency when I did.

There is still the risk of ongoing symptoms or relapses so will take it a day at a time. Cheers all. Scott

[sheeny]

That's good news about your eyesight, Scott. It's such a precious sense to us humans and especially to astronomers and photographers.

I hope your knees recover. It sounds good so far. As an ex-long distance runner I have shot knees. I pushed them for a lot of years, after I stopped running, bushwalking and doing search and rescue, but its frustrating now not being able to run without pain, or indeed walk down a reasonably steep hill without pain. As for squatting, well I haven't been able to do a deep squat since I broke my leg when 12 YO (fracture through the knob of the lower bones 1/2" below the knee didn't set straight). It's not so bad... you adapt, but hopefully you won't have to.;)

The joys of growing old!:P

Take it easy.

Al.

[MarshMan]

I sincerely hope you get better... Auto Immune problems are a pain, more than literally. I just (2 weeks ago) received this diagnosis, after 20 years of symptoms, no Doc, except my current one, worked it out.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidradenitis_suppurativa

Hidradenitis. It's an Auto-Immune disease where the immune system attacks the sweat glands in the skin, which can result in lesions, very large infected areas... I wont go on. I don't have it that bad, early stages of symptoms.

From some research I did, seems its related to Gluten intolerance, another Auto-Immune disorder. So, having felt rather off stomach and general health wise for a number of years, I took gluten out of my diet, and what do you know, the Hidradenitis has rapidly cleared up, and other pains I was getting in my joints, like inflammation, swelling, etc, also cleared up, within a week of getting rid of Gluten.

I supplemented the Gluten free diet with high Zinc and Vitiman A doses, after some further research, and I am feeling an amazing amount better.

Ok, so why am I prattling on. Well I read in your original post about your symptoms, and I had some similar ones, including the sore joints, and cloudy urine, all now gone. They seem common to Auto-Immune diseases.

Maybe, something else is triggering the Reiters off? Seems my Hidradenitis, was being, and had for about 20 years, been triggered off by my Gluten intolerance. The Gluten set off the Auto-Immune response, so it seems.

Just passing on a bit of info, so maybe you can keep an eye on some dietary stuff, could be relevant, may be another trigger? With your eyesight at stake, I would be remiss if I didn't pass on what I know, it may be helpful.

On the flip side, as I am Gluten, egg white and Lactose intolerant, my diet consists of water, meat and beans..... Oh yeah, vegies too. Not so bad, have lost some weight without wheat products, and meat is awesome of course.

Good luck and as I said, I sincerely hope you get it beaten. I'll keep reading for you, if I find anything relevant, I'll post it.

[theodog]

Great to hear that you're on the path to recovery.
Gives a great excuse to not jog 50k's a week though.

I jest.

Just great to hear you're feeling better.

[el_draco]

Thats how I felt when I went from walking 10 km for fun to 10m at a struggle, in one week... Toasted half the circuitry in my ticker. Then I got a severe Gluten intolerance and a couple of other delights at the same time. Felt like SHI*TE; bloody horrid but a couple of years later and I have a new equilibrium. I can do most stuff again and have learned a little patience. A freezer suit makes the worst cold weather pleasant.... Give yourself some time.

[Jen]

I hope you get better soon Scott

[SimmoW]

Sounds awful Scott, thanks for keeping us informed of your progress. Yes you really dodged a bullet with your vision loss. Take care

[sil]

You'll fight on and adapt. I had a stroke early last year, my left side was paralysed. Year and a half on I can walk (painfully and with a stick), have no use of my left arm. So my good telescope is pretty much never going to be usable for me ever again (dont have room or money for an observatory to keep it assembled). But I have adjusted to be able to use some of my other gear and continue to enjoy astronomy in some capacity. One day at a time mate.

[xelasnave]

Well Scott I would say you are having more good luck than bad.
Although my legs are not what they once were the fact is at least I can walk.
And I think as the years pass by being able to be thankful for what you have left is best as it is easy to focus on the down side.
I have just spent 2.5 hours getting a real nasty cancer thingy cut out which was on my chest...and one on my ear but it seems I am over the worse of it.
It was only a month ago I thought I had liver and colon cancer but they were not found.
My point is life is really a day to day thing and one is best counting blessings rather than letting anything get you down.
Stay positive no matter how difficult things get..it's all we have really.

[tornado33]

Thanks all.
An update. I have started cycling and running. 2 days ago I really tested myself and ran 23 kms and at an average pace of around 5 mins 30 sec per km and wasn't too sore when I got home. Just this week I have been able to squat all the way down without knees protesting too much. Last week I ran a 5k race in 21:10. Just left with some light dermatitis on head and lower back that gets slightly itchy at times. So quietly confident the worst is behind me. Cheers. Scott

[xelasnave]

Scott your efforts are inspirational

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

Very glad to hear there is improvement. All the best from another old creaky IISer.

Cheers

[Hagar]

Good to hear you are on the mend Scott. Amazing how easily life can turn. Age is also a bugger with the body and the brain.

[tornado33]

Many thanks all. Some more good news, today I competed in the Maitland River Run 11.5km and got first in my age grade 50-59yo male in a time of 48:53. Later on i ran in the 1 mile event in 6:27 and after all that don't feel too bad :)

[sil]

..I'm just happy if i can make the walk to the loo before peeing. Good news is relative, probably quantum too :)

[tornado33]

Hi all, another update. I ran in the first Half Marathon before getting sick, the inagural Istasium run, last Sunday, got a time of 1:31:56, just over 2 minutes slower then my personal best when I was 2 years younger. My knees handled it okay, some soreness in the calves probably just general post workout soreness. Still a bit of dermatitis on head and back, and knees do get a little sore and stiff stopping me from squatting right to the floor but generally okay for running and cycling. Had a general checkup at my GP's rooms, including a cardiogram. My resting heart rate was 40 BPM, thats technically Bradycardia (too slow a heart rate) but is actually good for very fit people :) From what I read of Reactive Arthritis there can be future flareups will see what happens. I have another race this coming Sunday the Fernleigh 15.