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Original poster

Has anyone got any idea what this could be ??

30 replies

NervousNutty · 23/04/2009 10:26

My brothers gf has just spent a week in hospital after being struck down by a mysterious illness.

She was taken to hospital on the Saturday with severe stomach pains but sent home again. My brother tok her back on the Monday and she was kept in.

Symptoms included stomach pain, problems opening bowels, severe dizzyness, anemia, and mobility problems.

Tests showed that her bowel was slightly swollen but they said that was just because she was a little constipated.

Then they suddenly decided it could be something serious (what i don't know) and tested her spinal fluid but this came back clear.

She is now home but cannot walk unaided or really do much for herself at all.

The doctors are now just saying that it must be a virus or something she picked up on a recent trip to Mexico. They have on idea what it is, how long she will be afected of anything.

Apparently they aren't going to do anymore tests just give her physio.

OP posts:
Mercy · 23/04/2009 10:35

Sorry to hear this Nutty (are you back?!)

I'm no expert obviously but I know someone who had Hepatitus A following a trip abroad and the symptoms sound similar.

Original poster
NervousNutty · 23/04/2009 11:56

Hi, yes I am back although trying not to visit as frequently as before lol.

I assume they will have tested for Hep A whilst she was there but I will ask my brother.

It's just really baffling at the mo as she was such a fit and healthy person.

OP posts:
Original poster
NervousNutty · 24/04/2009 10:45

Just had a txt from my brother to say his gf is being readmitted as she has gone downhill again

I asked him what had happened and he just said 'i don't know but she is just really bad'.

Fgs why can't they find out what it is.

OP posts:
belgo · 24/04/2009 10:49

are they testing her for tropical illnesses? Dengue fever, malaria for example?

Did she have any bites when in Mexico?

Original poster
NervousNutty · 24/04/2009 10:54

I'm not sure tbh, but you'd think so wouldn't you, as they know she has just been there.

She went in Feb, would it take this long to get sick from something like that ??

It is so frustrating. She is 25 and my brother said she has the mobility of a 90 yr old at the mo.

OP posts:
belgo · 24/04/2009 11:06

That does sound worrying. Hope they can treat her quickly.

Original poster
NervousNutty · 24/04/2009 11:14

Thanks, me too.

OP posts:
tiredsville · 24/04/2009 23:45

Isn't there a flu epidemic in Mexio at the moment?

Original poster
NervousNutty · 25/04/2009 08:27

Hadn't heard about that, but will look into it, thank you.

No news from my brother yet.

OP posts:
parachutes · 25/04/2009 08:34

NervousNutty I'm sorry to hear all this as I know how worrying it is when you're waiting for a diagnosis. There is also the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (my uncle was in there many years ago and they helped him enormously when no-one else could) so if all else fails your brother, or someone, could try to involve them?
HTH and good luck.

jenwa · 25/04/2009 08:39

I have seen that flu virus just before on the news in Mexico it seems to be spreading too.
Hope she is ok.

Original poster
NervousNutty · 25/04/2009 10:53

Thanks for the link. Can't seem to get hold of my brother at the mo, but will pass it on to him when I do.

She was in Mexico 2 mths ago though now, would she not have become ill sooner if it was anything related to that ??

As far as I know, the very first indication that she was ill was quite bad anemia and dizzyness and that was about 3 weeks ago.

She has also recently lost alot of weight, although that was intentional as she was doing weight watchers but am wondering now if that is also a symptom.

OP posts:
Original poster
NervousNutty · 25/04/2009 12:00

Just had a taxt from my brother. Gf is still very poorly and is having an MRI and possibly a brain biopsy too.

I asked if they have any idea what they are looking for and he said they are now saying it might be a brain infection.

OP posts:
Original poster
NervousNutty · 25/04/2009 12:03

Sorry, should have said, she is having those things on Monday not today.

OP posts:
Original poster
NervousNutty · 25/04/2009 21:20

Ok, now they are saying that they think it is a clot on her brain. She has almost compltely lost any use of the right hand side of her body.

They won't know for sure though until they do the mri on monday

OP posts:
ConnorTraceptive · 25/04/2009 21:22

God how awful that she has to wait until monday

boredwithmyoldname · 25/04/2009 21:23

did she have any shots for Mexico?

boredwithmyoldname · 25/04/2009 21:24

oh so sorry about the news about the clot, sorry I didn't read that

best wishes

Original poster
NervousNutty · 25/04/2009 21:29

I know, waiting until monday seems ridiculous to me but apparently they don't do MRI scans on the weekend ffs.

She cannot keep any food or water down now either so is on a drip and anti emetics.

I was trying to think of something I could send her but my brother said she is just lying there really as they have told her to basically do nothing, not even sit up.

She can't even watch tv because she is too dizzy.

I just hope that mondays tests find out what it is and treatment starts asap.

It is just so scary, it was only 3 weeks ago that I watched her stroll down the catwalk for a weight watchers fashion show looking absolutly fabby and now this.

OP posts:
Original poster
NervousNutty · 25/04/2009 21:29

Thank you for the best wishes xx

OP posts:
ConnorTraceptive · 25/04/2009 21:33

She must be very scared poor girl

I have never understood why hospitals operate like a monday to friday business

Original poster
NervousNutty · 25/04/2009 21:33

I really struggled to hold it together when retelling what my brother had said to my mum.

He hadn't been able to see his gf for 3 days because of work (he works over an hour away, and her parents were with her), and when he got there today she sobbed saying she thought he'd left her because she was ill.

It is so fucking crap and it is making me so mad that they won't do something right now fgs.

OP posts:
Flightattendant25 · 25/04/2009 21:35

Oh God poor thing

I hope they find out exactly what it is really quickly and can do something to help her.

Original poster
NervousNutty · 25/04/2009 21:35

She is petrified, as anyone would be. I don't get the mon-fri thing either, I mean she is ill fgs, she can't turn it on and off.

She is so lovely too, not that i'd wish it on anyone who wasn't but ykwim.

OP posts:
ConnorTraceptive · 27/04/2009 10:52

any news?