Hey Jason,

MusicAddict is my wife and we got some very good news yesterday. We actually traveled down to Tucson for an appointment with a specialist in Valley Fever. What we learned is that it only becomes permanent if you get the 'disseminated form' that travels to different areas in your body, which only happens to a minority of people. The rest of those who get Valley Fever don't necessarily even know it, because it never becomes disseminated and just seems like a bad cold that their immune system fights off. Once you fight it off like that, you become immune to it, whereas the person who is unfortunate enough to not successfully fight it off (when it becomes disseminated) is stuck with it for life.

The doctor determined that MusicAddict has all of the signs of fighting it off--and that if it was to become disseminated it would have happened by now and would have been really obvious. The doctor says that the other symptoms are likely from other chronic health issues that flared up at the same time, and wouldn't be characteristic of disseminated valley fever at all.  As far as the Valley Fever goes, apparently MusicAddict has actually fought it off and won't ever have to worry about it again. This is amazing to us, given how weakened her immune system is at this point, but we're very grateful!!!

They think most people who live in AZ will get VF eventually, so it isn't just a rural thing.

Glad to hear she is doing better.  I guess my co-worker is just screwed.  I think he is still on meds. 

Here is a link to some enlightening information in the event you would like to treat Valley Fever naturally, or at least eat the proper things that discourage the yeast from living in your lungs.

www.valley-fever.org/valley_fever_org_natural_therapies.html

I suspect that I also have Valley Fever as I have had a cold so severe for a couple weeks now that I cannot even sleep at night. And, yes, I was out in dust for one full day right before this happened. I guess that tomorrow I will start a mostly raw vegetable diet, throw away the orange juice I have stocked up, and generally try to eat better to starve whatever it is that I have.

Amphoteracin B (not sure if I spelled that right) is used to treat Velley Fever although I think it's only used to treat the disseminated version. The treatments are very much like going in for chemo. Three or four times a week for four or more hours at a times hooked up to an IV so you can get the meds.  The disseminated version is a real witch to have and wrecks havoc on your joints among other things. My brother had it and had to have three surgeries on his knees to remove the cocci. It never did really work.

Please take a look at this link: www.valleyfeversurvivor.com/facts.html