Question about an illness

[NJcruisenewbie]

Alright, alright. I know sometimes my posts come across as unduly harsh. But I still stick to my guns a bit on this one. While people here might be well-intentioned, and I respect the OP's concern. I just think this is a very problematic way of trying to glean information about an unknown illness. I agree with the poster who said this person should be seeing an ID specialist. But I fear that an inquiry here is likely to identify a lot more false possibilities and concerns than it is to shed any real light on the issue. As mentioned, there is no way of knowing if this has anything to do with the cruise or travel. But an ID specialist, taking a real history of both the symptoms and the individuals activities would be much more likely to lead somewhere productive.

 

Sorry my blunt approach ruffled some feathers. But I do tend to think a great deal of people here have feathers that ruffle a tad easily!

 

How do you know the ill people haven't consulted an ID specialist? I went to 2 different ID specialists about an illness I had several years ago and after 18 months of being ill with different symptoms and recovering the best any doctor (same many besides the 2 ID ones) could deduce is that it was viral. I've had 2 relapses so now doctors are thinking autoimmune.

 

It's remotely possible that someone on here is also ill with similar symptoms and could shed some light. I certainly don't see the harm in asking for any ideas people could have. With my illness I was online researching possibilites and took ideas to various doctors.

 

OP, I hope your friends get to the bottom of this and have a speedy recovery.

[leisuretraveler223]

How do you know the ill people haven't consulted an ID specialist? I went to 2 different ID specialists about an illness I had several years ago and after 18 months of being ill with different symptoms and recovering the best any doctor (same many besides the 2 ID ones) could deduce is that it was viral. I've had 2 relapses so now doctors are thinking autoimmune.

 

It's remotely possible that someone on here is also ill with similar symptoms and could shed some light. I certainly don't see the harm in asking for any ideas people could have. With my illness I was online researching possibilites and took ideas to various doctors.

 

OP, I hope your friends get to the bottom of this and have a speedy recovery.

 

I don't know that they haven't consulted an ID specialist. But if they are going to come here and ask for input, that is the best I can give them.

 

While I respect that you don't see the harm in asking here, I generally do not think casting that wide of a net is a very practical or effective strategy.

 

Furthermore, if this is appropriate here, where do we draw the line? Is this really what you want to see here? This isn't a support service, it's essentially a travel service.

 

Again, I wish the OP no ill will. But it is my opinion that this is neither likely to be effective, nor should it be viewed as appropriate.

[am07]

Is it possibly 5th disease? That involves muscle weakness, joint pain and fever. Just a thought. I hope you are able to determine what ails you and your loved ones.

[Margy23]

Hmm, that is interesting. We were on the same ship / same itinerary in the end of July. The day after we flew home, my husband had me take him into urgent care because he couldn't stand up straight and was very dizzy. He did not have a fever though. He did have swelling on both feet and his blood pressure was severely high. They diagnosed him with Vertigo.... He has taken the meds and really wasn't sure if they helped or not but the dizziness, swelling and blood pressure has gone back to normal. He still feels ill and the drs don't know what is going on...

Please keep us posted on any diagnosis you may get.

I wholeheartedly agree with those who see the sharing of our experiences as a way we can help each other. This second poster discussed symptoms similar to those of the first couple, so if someone is able to post a clue from their experience that helps these CC members' doctors diagnose and treat their conditions more quickly and efficiently, we are acting as a caring community.

 

As for those who are carrying on about this not being the place for medical information to be shared, I can't decide where they're coming from. Do they really not understand the potential value of this sharing or are they being purposely obtuse because they enjoy drama?

 

One of my favorite words is synergy - the whole is greater than the sum of the parts - and hopefully that's what we can achieve. My best wishes for good outcomes for all.

 

Margy

[NMG318]

Sometimes its just best to ignore the trolls.

[rharvey999]

Wow I just read the messages of today. Please accept my sincere thanks, and the thanks of my dearest friend that is hurting right now, for the comments of those who understood the gist of my original comment.

 

I have been a member of Cruise Critic for over 10 years now and have seen the opinions of some that make me shake my head and sigh. Then I reflect on my own life and am thankful I don't have to deal with them on a regular basis.

 

For those who understood my original post...again thank you. My wife and I were in the medical field our entire working life and now truly appreciate our retirement. Of course I did not post that earlier, thinking that it was not necessary.

 

Our friends and their physicians are doing everything they can to figure out what is going on. My friend's wife asked if I would post something on CC to see if anyone out there had experienced a similar result after returning from a cruise to the area in which we cruised.

 

I spoke with her tonight asking if she had been following this thread and I offered to resend the link to access my original question. Now I question whether I want her to see it. Of course the vast majority of those that have posted are obviously caring and understand what our friends are going through.

 

For those who don't care I will keep my comments about your investments to myself.

[Sailor_Sally]

A few years ago I went on a cruise to Turks & Caicos .After we returned we were both seriously ill . I spent ten days in bed with strange symptoms . My So was also very ill . My Physician tested me for a lot of infectious diseases but could not pin point it . I think we contracted it when we were in Turks and came upon a water machine . The water was probably old & maybe contaminated . I have never been that sick in my life . I literally slept 18 hours a day & could not do anything . Very scarey !

[AZCactusCruiser]

I don't know that they haven't consulted an ID specialist. But if they are going to come here and ask for input, that is the best I can give them.

 

While I respect that you don't see the harm in asking here, I generally do not think casting that wide of a net is a very practical or effective strategy.

 

Furthermore, if this is appropriate here, where do we draw the line? Is this really what you want to see here? This isn't a support service, it's essentially a travel service.

 

Again, I wish the OP no ill will. But it is my opinion that this is neither likely to be effective, nor should it be viewed as appropriate.

 

So are 100 different threads on how you can sneak wine on board appropriate? How about all the threads about what to wear on formal night? Just a tad bit of overkill there IMO. :eek:

 

Any information shared about an unknown disease can be valuable and it doesn't matter where that information comes from. I'm sure their doctors and specialists would refuse possible solutions because they came from Cruise Critic instead of Mayo. I can see the Dr. saying " Well that is an interesting possibility, but because it came from a Cruise Critic message board, I just can't accept it." When dealing with the unknown, there are no wrong answers until proven otherwise.

 

And again I have to disagree that this isn't a support service, if you really think about it, that is exactly what it is.

 

Just my opinion. That and a dollar will get you a drink at McDonalds.

[grams98]

I had vertigo for the first time after a train ride through alps, 1992. It lasted for 8 months. No doc could exactly figure out what caused it, but suspected inner ear irregularities. Long story short, after 2 more relapses, i finally found a neurologist at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago who ONLY sees patients with vertigo. He truly helped me solve my medical condition long term. Albeit the two sick people on these boards have other symptons too, so did I, but as long as vertigo is one of your ptoblems, this dictor will see you. If you have never experienced loss of balance and or vertigo, you have no idea at all the terrible way these people feel. I would have done almost anything to seek information, especially asking other fellow cruisers, if such a thing as the world wide web had existed in1992. So, if the above people want the name of the doctor and contact info, just let me know. Thank God I found this doctor. Grams98