Mycobacterium chelonae and Serum Sickness

[BreatheLife]

My last sputum culture showed I am growing a new bug called Mycobacterium chelonae. Please write me if you have ever grown this before and what your experiences with treating it have been. For example, how long you were on IV's, its affect on your PFTs, if you were able to eradicate it, etc. I was in the hospital a few weeks ago after getting a bad cold and I mentioned having low grade fevers for the past several months, so they decided to check me for the mycobacterium and that is how they found it. I have an appointment with an infectious disease doctor on the 20th and will get started on antibiotics then.

The problem with this is I have also recently been diagnosed as getting serum sickness from antibiotcs. My main symptom of this serum sickness is severe joint pain. It is very painful and when it gets bad can be quite distressing as its hard to focus on anything else, it even makes me walk funny sometimes. I took IBprofen and Percocet when I was on the IVs and occasionally even needed to take morphine. I really hate how narcotic medications make me feel, I don't get that happy sort of feeling that some get from them. If anyone has dealt with serum sickness before please let me know what has been the most beneficial thing to help with the pain. Because so many antibiotics cause this serum sickness, switching antibiotics won't be much of an option.

From what I have read, treatment of Mycobacterium chelonae can be for quite a long time. Please write or PM me with any experiences you have had in treating this bug, good or bad.

Best and thank so much!

 

[BreatheLife]

My last sputum culture showed I am growing a new bug called Mycobacterium chelonae. Please write me if you have ever grown this before and what your experiences with treating it have been. For example, how long you were on IV's, its affect on your PFTs, if you were able to eradicate it, etc. I was in the hospital a few weeks ago after getting a bad cold and I mentioned having low grade fevers for the past several months, so they decided to check me for the mycobacterium and that is how they found it. I have an appointment with an infectious disease doctor on the 20th and will get started on antibiotics then.

The problem with this is I have also recently been diagnosed as getting serum sickness from antibiotcs. My main symptom of this serum sickness is severe joint pain. It is very painful and when it gets bad can be quite distressing as its hard to focus on anything else, it even makes me walk funny sometimes. I took IBprofen and Percocet when I was on the IVs and occasionally even needed to take morphine. I really hate how narcotic medications make me feel, I don't get that happy sort of feeling that some get from them. If anyone has dealt with serum sickness before please let me know what has been the most beneficial thing to help with the pain. Because so many antibiotics cause this serum sickness, switching antibiotics won't be much of an option.

From what I have read, treatment of Mycobacterium chelonae can be for quite a long time. Please write or PM me with any experiences you have had in treating this bug, good or bad.

Best and thank so much!

 

[BreatheLife]

My last sputum culture showed I am growing a new bug called Mycobacterium chelonae. Please write me if you have ever grown this before and what your experiences with treating it have been. For example, how long you were on IV's, its affect on your PFTs, if you were able to eradicate it, etc. I was in the hospital a few weeks ago after getting a bad cold and I mentioned having low grade fevers for the past several months, so they decided to check me for the mycobacterium and that is how they found it. I have an appointment with an infectious disease doctor on the 20th and will get started on antibiotics then.

The problem with this is I have also recently been diagnosed as getting serum sickness from antibiotcs. My main symptom of this serum sickness is severe joint pain. It is very painful and when it gets bad can be quite distressing as its hard to focus on anything else, it even makes me walk funny sometimes. I took IBprofen and Percocet when I was on the IVs and occasionally even needed to take morphine. I really hate how narcotic medications make me feel, I don't get that happy sort of feeling that some get from them. If anyone has dealt with serum sickness before please let me know what has been the most beneficial thing to help with the pain. Because so many antibiotics cause this serum sickness, switching antibiotics won't be much of an option.

From what I have read, treatment of Mycobacterium chelonae can be for quite a long time. Please write or PM me with any experiences you have had in treating this bug, good or bad.

Best and thank so much!

 

[BreatheLife]

My last sputum culture showed I am growing a new bug called Mycobacterium chelonae. Please write me if you have ever grown this before and what your experiences with treating it have been. For example, how long you were on IV's, its affect on your PFTs, if you were able to eradicate it, etc. I was in the hospital a few weeks ago after getting a bad cold and I mentioned having low grade fevers for the past several months, so they decided to check me for the mycobacterium and that is how they found it. I have an appointment with an infectious disease doctor on the 20th and will get started on antibiotics then.

The problem with this is I have also recently been diagnosed as getting serum sickness from antibiotcs. My main symptom of this serum sickness is severe joint pain. It is very painful and when it gets bad can be quite distressing as its hard to focus on anything else, it even makes me walk funny sometimes. I took IBprofen and Percocet when I was on the IVs and occasionally even needed to take morphine. I really hate how narcotic medications make me feel, I don't get that happy sort of feeling that some get from them. If anyone has dealt with serum sickness before please let me know what has been the most beneficial thing to help with the pain. Because so many antibiotics cause this serum sickness, switching antibiotics won't be much of an option.

From what I have read, treatment of Mycobacterium chelonae can be for quite a long time. Please write or PM me with any experiences you have had in treating this bug, good or bad.

Best and thank so much!

 

[BreatheLife]

My last sputum culture showed I am growing a new bug called Mycobacterium chelonae. Please write me if you have ever grown this before and what your experiences with treating it have been. For example, how long you were on IV's, its affect on your PFTs, if you were able to eradicate it, etc. I was in the hospital a few weeks ago after getting a bad cold and I mentioned having low grade fevers for the past several months, so they decided to check me for the mycobacterium and that is how they found it. I have an appointment with an infectious disease doctor on the 20th and will get started on antibiotics then.
<br />
<br />The problem with this is I have also recently been diagnosed as getting serum sickness from antibiotcs. My main symptom of this serum sickness is severe joint pain. It is very painful and when it gets bad can be quite distressing as its hard to focus on anything else, it even makes me walk funny sometimes. I took IBprofen and Percocet when I was on the IVs and occasionally even needed to take morphine. I really hate how narcotic medications make me feel, I don't get that happy sort of feeling that some get from them. If anyone has dealt with serum sickness before please let me know what has been the most beneficial thing to help with the pain. Because so many antibiotics cause this serum sickness, switching antibiotics won't be much of an option.
<br />
<br />From what I have read, treatment of Mycobacterium chelonae can be for quite a long time. Please write or PM me with any experiences you have had in treating this bug, good or bad.
<br />
<br />Best and thank so much!

 

[mich]

Hi Kristi,

I get serum sickness like reactions to every iv antibiotic I am on. It used to start right before I finished iv's, but now starts about 3-4 days into iv's and last up to 2 weeks after iv's are finished. I get fevers as high as 101 and severe joint pain and some muscle pain. The joint pain is in every signle one of my joints, fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, elbows, knees, hips, etc. The top of my head even hurts to wash it or put a shirt on. I also have trouble walking and bending. I sometimes have to drag my feet because my knees hurt too much to bend. It always starts the same time every day, 3:00 pm. I start to get a low grade fever and mild joint pain and as it gets later, the fevers go up and the joint pain gets untolerable. I take Darvocet for my pain, but like you only take it when I can't tolerate the pain because I also do not like the way narcotics make me feel. As soon as I start getting serum sickness, my doctor puts me on Prednisone and that does seem to help. Sometimes I do Prednisone every other day and the days I don't do the Prednisone, I get the serum sickness big time. I am also starting to get serum sickness now with inhaled and oral antibiotics as well. You are the first person with cf other than me that I know who gets serum sickness.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm sorry, I can't help with the Mycobacterium chelonae. I don't know anything about that.

Take care,
Michelle
34 wcf

 

[mich]

Hi Kristi,

I get serum sickness like reactions to every iv antibiotic I am on. It used to start right before I finished iv's, but now starts about 3-4 days into iv's and last up to 2 weeks after iv's are finished. I get fevers as high as 101 and severe joint pain and some muscle pain. The joint pain is in every signle one of my joints, fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, elbows, knees, hips, etc. The top of my head even hurts to wash it or put a shirt on. I also have trouble walking and bending. I sometimes have to drag my feet because my knees hurt too much to bend. It always starts the same time every day, 3:00 pm. I start to get a low grade fever and mild joint pain and as it gets later, the fevers go up and the joint pain gets untolerable. I take Darvocet for my pain, but like you only take it when I can't tolerate the pain because I also do not like the way narcotics make me feel. As soon as I start getting serum sickness, my doctor puts me on Prednisone and that does seem to help. Sometimes I do Prednisone every other day and the days I don't do the Prednisone, I get the serum sickness big time. I am also starting to get serum sickness now with inhaled and oral antibiotics as well. You are the first person with cf other than me that I know who gets serum sickness.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm sorry, I can't help with the Mycobacterium chelonae. I don't know anything about that.

Take care,
Michelle
34 wcf

 

[mich]

Hi Kristi,

I get serum sickness like reactions to every iv antibiotic I am on. It used to start right before I finished iv's, but now starts about 3-4 days into iv's and last up to 2 weeks after iv's are finished. I get fevers as high as 101 and severe joint pain and some muscle pain. The joint pain is in every signle one of my joints, fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, elbows, knees, hips, etc. The top of my head even hurts to wash it or put a shirt on. I also have trouble walking and bending. I sometimes have to drag my feet because my knees hurt too much to bend. It always starts the same time every day, 3:00 pm. I start to get a low grade fever and mild joint pain and as it gets later, the fevers go up and the joint pain gets untolerable. I take Darvocet for my pain, but like you only take it when I can't tolerate the pain because I also do not like the way narcotics make me feel. As soon as I start getting serum sickness, my doctor puts me on Prednisone and that does seem to help. Sometimes I do Prednisone every other day and the days I don't do the Prednisone, I get the serum sickness big time. I am also starting to get serum sickness now with inhaled and oral antibiotics as well. You are the first person with cf other than me that I know who gets serum sickness.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm sorry, I can't help with the Mycobacterium chelonae. I don't know anything about that.

Take care,
Michelle
34 wcf

 

[mich]

Hi Kristi,

I get serum sickness like reactions to every iv antibiotic I am on. It used to start right before I finished iv's, but now starts about 3-4 days into iv's and last up to 2 weeks after iv's are finished. I get fevers as high as 101 and severe joint pain and some muscle pain. The joint pain is in every signle one of my joints, fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, elbows, knees, hips, etc. The top of my head even hurts to wash it or put a shirt on. I also have trouble walking and bending. I sometimes have to drag my feet because my knees hurt too much to bend. It always starts the same time every day, 3:00 pm. I start to get a low grade fever and mild joint pain and as it gets later, the fevers go up and the joint pain gets untolerable. I take Darvocet for my pain, but like you only take it when I can't tolerate the pain because I also do not like the way narcotics make me feel. As soon as I start getting serum sickness, my doctor puts me on Prednisone and that does seem to help. Sometimes I do Prednisone every other day and the days I don't do the Prednisone, I get the serum sickness big time. I am also starting to get serum sickness now with inhaled and oral antibiotics as well. You are the first person with cf other than me that I know who gets serum sickness.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm sorry, I can't help with the Mycobacterium chelonae. I don't know anything about that.

Take care,
Michelle
34 wcf

 

[mich]

Hi Kristi,
<br />
<br />I get serum sickness like reactions to every iv antibiotic I am on. It used to start right before I finished iv's, but now starts about 3-4 days into iv's and last up to 2 weeks after iv's are finished. I get fevers as high as 101 and severe joint pain and some muscle pain. The joint pain is in every signle one of my joints, fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, elbows, knees, hips, etc. The top of my head even hurts to wash it or put a shirt on. I also have trouble walking and bending. I sometimes have to drag my feet because my knees hurt too much to bend. It always starts the same time every day, 3:00 pm. I start to get a low grade fever and mild joint pain and as it gets later, the fevers go up and the joint pain gets untolerable. I take Darvocet for my pain, but like you only take it when I can't tolerate the pain because I also do not like the way narcotics make me feel. As soon as I start getting serum sickness, my doctor puts me on Prednisone and that does seem to help. Sometimes I do Prednisone every other day and the days I don't do the Prednisone, I get the serum sickness big time. I am also starting to get serum sickness now with inhaled and oral antibiotics as well. You are the first person with cf other than me that I know who gets serum sickness.
<br />
<br />Let me know if you have any other questions. I'm sorry, I can't help with the Mycobacterium chelonae. I don't know anything about that.
<br />
<br />Take care,
<br />Michelle
<br />34 wcf

 

[BreatheLife]

Michelle,

My goodness, sounds like you have it quite a bit worse than me. When my doctor first told me about it he said serum sickness is quite rare in his experience and that I was one of the 1% of cfers he has seen that has it. The more he talked about it the more frightened I became, because I thought I just had bad joint pain or cf related arthritis, I didn't realize the severity of it all. He seemed to imply that the more times I go on antibiotics, the worse it will get.

I don't get a bad fever with this serum sickness like you and because I had a bad cold I wasn't put on Prednisone in the hospital. I am also diabetic and Prednisone really makes my blood sugars difficult to control, so that might be tough to use for any long period in the future.

Thanks for the response, this serum sickness is still a bit of a mystery to me but hearing about it from another cfer is helpful. I wish you luck the next time you have to go on antibiotics. Hopefully some type of "cure" or treatment for this gets developed, it really is quite painful to deal with.

Best,
Kristi

 

[BreatheLife]

Michelle,

My goodness, sounds like you have it quite a bit worse than me. When my doctor first told me about it he said serum sickness is quite rare in his experience and that I was one of the 1% of cfers he has seen that has it. The more he talked about it the more frightened I became, because I thought I just had bad joint pain or cf related arthritis, I didn't realize the severity of it all. He seemed to imply that the more times I go on antibiotics, the worse it will get.

I don't get a bad fever with this serum sickness like you and because I had a bad cold I wasn't put on Prednisone in the hospital. I am also diabetic and Prednisone really makes my blood sugars difficult to control, so that might be tough to use for any long period in the future.

Thanks for the response, this serum sickness is still a bit of a mystery to me but hearing about it from another cfer is helpful. I wish you luck the next time you have to go on antibiotics. Hopefully some type of "cure" or treatment for this gets developed, it really is quite painful to deal with.

Best,
Kristi

 

[BreatheLife]

Michelle,

My goodness, sounds like you have it quite a bit worse than me. When my doctor first told me about it he said serum sickness is quite rare in his experience and that I was one of the 1% of cfers he has seen that has it. The more he talked about it the more frightened I became, because I thought I just had bad joint pain or cf related arthritis, I didn't realize the severity of it all. He seemed to imply that the more times I go on antibiotics, the worse it will get.

I don't get a bad fever with this serum sickness like you and because I had a bad cold I wasn't put on Prednisone in the hospital. I am also diabetic and Prednisone really makes my blood sugars difficult to control, so that might be tough to use for any long period in the future.

Thanks for the response, this serum sickness is still a bit of a mystery to me but hearing about it from another cfer is helpful. I wish you luck the next time you have to go on antibiotics. Hopefully some type of "cure" or treatment for this gets developed, it really is quite painful to deal with.

Best,
Kristi

 

[BreatheLife]

Michelle,

My goodness, sounds like you have it quite a bit worse than me. When my doctor first told me about it he said serum sickness is quite rare in his experience and that I was one of the 1% of cfers he has seen that has it. The more he talked about it the more frightened I became, because I thought I just had bad joint pain or cf related arthritis, I didn't realize the severity of it all. He seemed to imply that the more times I go on antibiotics, the worse it will get.

I don't get a bad fever with this serum sickness like you and because I had a bad cold I wasn't put on Prednisone in the hospital. I am also diabetic and Prednisone really makes my blood sugars difficult to control, so that might be tough to use for any long period in the future.

Thanks for the response, this serum sickness is still a bit of a mystery to me but hearing about it from another cfer is helpful. I wish you luck the next time you have to go on antibiotics. Hopefully some type of "cure" or treatment for this gets developed, it really is quite painful to deal with.

Best,
Kristi

 

[BreatheLife]

Michelle,
<br />
<br />My goodness, sounds like you have it quite a bit worse than me. When my doctor first told me about it he said serum sickness is quite rare in his experience and that I was one of the 1% of cfers he has seen that has it. The more he talked about it the more frightened I became, because I thought I just had bad joint pain or cf related arthritis, I didn't realize the severity of it all. He seemed to imply that the more times I go on antibiotics, the worse it will get.
<br />
<br />I don't get a bad fever with this serum sickness like you and because I had a bad cold I wasn't put on Prednisone in the hospital. I am also diabetic and Prednisone really makes my blood sugars difficult to control, so that might be tough to use for any long period in the future.
<br />
<br />Thanks for the response, this serum sickness is still a bit of a mystery to me but hearing about it from another cfer is helpful. I wish you luck the next time you have to go on antibiotics. Hopefully some type of "cure" or treatment for this gets developed, it really is quite painful to deal with.
<br />
<br />Best,
<br />Kristi

 

[mich]

Kristi,

My doctor also told me serum sickness like reactions are rare and I think I am the only adult at my cf clinic who has this. It has definitely gotten worse with more exposure of antibiotics.

If you ever get a rash related to the serum sickness, I think there is a chance it can effect your heart or kidneys. I don't mean to scare you, but you should be aware of any rashes and report them.

I know what you mean about the Prednisone. I am impaired glucose intolerance and Prednisone makes my sugars high too, not to mention all the other unpleasant side effects, but it is the only thing that works for me.

Good luck with it and if you ever need to talk or have any other questions about my serum sickness, feel free to message me. Like I said before, you are the only other person with cf that I "know" who gets serum sickness.

Take care,
Michelle
34 wcf

 

[mich]

Kristi,

My doctor also told me serum sickness like reactions are rare and I think I am the only adult at my cf clinic who has this. It has definitely gotten worse with more exposure of antibiotics.

If you ever get a rash related to the serum sickness, I think there is a chance it can effect your heart or kidneys. I don't mean to scare you, but you should be aware of any rashes and report them.

I know what you mean about the Prednisone. I am impaired glucose intolerance and Prednisone makes my sugars high too, not to mention all the other unpleasant side effects, but it is the only thing that works for me.

Good luck with it and if you ever need to talk or have any other questions about my serum sickness, feel free to message me. Like I said before, you are the only other person with cf that I "know" who gets serum sickness.

Take care,
Michelle
34 wcf

 

[mich]

Kristi,

My doctor also told me serum sickness like reactions are rare and I think I am the only adult at my cf clinic who has this. It has definitely gotten worse with more exposure of antibiotics.

If you ever get a rash related to the serum sickness, I think there is a chance it can effect your heart or kidneys. I don't mean to scare you, but you should be aware of any rashes and report them.

I know what you mean about the Prednisone. I am impaired glucose intolerance and Prednisone makes my sugars high too, not to mention all the other unpleasant side effects, but it is the only thing that works for me.

Good luck with it and if you ever need to talk or have any other questions about my serum sickness, feel free to message me. Like I said before, you are the only other person with cf that I "know" who gets serum sickness.

Take care,
Michelle
34 wcf

 

[mich]

Kristi,

My doctor also told me serum sickness like reactions are rare and I think I am the only adult at my cf clinic who has this. It has definitely gotten worse with more exposure of antibiotics.

If you ever get a rash related to the serum sickness, I think there is a chance it can effect your heart or kidneys. I don't mean to scare you, but you should be aware of any rashes and report them.

I know what you mean about the Prednisone. I am impaired glucose intolerance and Prednisone makes my sugars high too, not to mention all the other unpleasant side effects, but it is the only thing that works for me.

Good luck with it and if you ever need to talk or have any other questions about my serum sickness, feel free to message me. Like I said before, you are the only other person with cf that I "know" who gets serum sickness.

Take care,
Michelle
34 wcf

 

[mich]

Kristi,
<br />
<br />My doctor also told me serum sickness like reactions are rare and I think I am the only adult at my cf clinic who has this. It has definitely gotten worse with more exposure of antibiotics.
<br />
<br />If you ever get a rash related to the serum sickness, I think there is a chance it can effect your heart or kidneys. I don't mean to scare you, but you should be aware of any rashes and report them.
<br />
<br />I know what you mean about the Prednisone. I am impaired glucose intolerance and Prednisone makes my sugars high too, not to mention all the other unpleasant side effects, but it is the only thing that works for me.
<br />
<br />Good luck with it and if you ever need to talk or have any other questions about my serum sickness, feel free to message me. Like I said before, you are the only other person with cf that I "know" who gets serum sickness.
<br />
<br />Take care,
<br />Michelle
<br />34 wcf