Legionnaires Disease

[TRB]

Last Thursday went to bed with chest pain (painful when breathing in) then woke up at 2am unable to take anything other than the shortest intake of breath before it hurt like crazy. Called NHS direct who sent an ambulance. By this time I couldn't stand up straight so probably couldn't have driven safely to the walk-in wounded place (wife was away).

Paramedic's opinion was it was a torn intercostal muscle (which apparently it is as well) but I've really not been right since getting back from a job in Belgium on the 24th October. Horrible air conditioning in the exhibition centre plus a properly cheap stty hotel. Came down with man-flu or something while over there and felt like my lungs were stuffed full of cotton wool so unable to use lungs properly. Since then I've been really 'run down' (or whatever) and can't seem to get myself well. Most days at a random time my body will completely shut down and I just need to lay down or go to sleep. I'm able to sleep for 16 hours straight which is something I never do. Gradually my lungs are getting more and more restricted - the capacity feels reduced so I'm taking more, but shorter breaths.

Went to docs (on instruction of wife) Thursday afternoon. She thinks perhaps it's legionnaires disease and I had a blood test and chest x-ray yesterday. Should get the results next week.

Looks like it can be treated, and to be honest I'm kind of hoping it IS legionnaires as at least I'll have an explanation. I'm 41, probably a stone or 2 overweight, but crucially (for catching said bugs) a smoker! It's a notifiable disease so would have to be reported to the exhibition centre in Belgium and/or the hotel in France.

I didn't think there was much of it about these days, and certainly didn't think I'm come a cropper!

[fourfoldroot]

Legionnaires has a one in ten death rate,so you ought to kinda hope it is a torn intercostal muscle,or something a bit less serious like pleurisy which will give similar symptoms.

edited for speeling

Edited by fourfoldroot on Saturday 9th November 15:30

[V8A*ndy]

I remember reading about this not sure if it's totally correct.

Hotel rooms and shower heads that have not been used for a long time. You turn on the shower and breath in the air the shower head expels.

Hope you get better soon.

[Silent1]

If you've got suspected legionnaires don't you have to be quarantined?
IMHO you haven't got it.

[TRB]

Silent1 said:

If you've got suspected legionnaires don't you have to be quarantined?

It's not contagious.

Silent1 said:

IMHO you haven't got it.

Let's hope you're right.

[Mastodon2]

fourfoldroot said:

Legionnaires has a one in ten death rate,so you ought to kinda hope it is a torn intercostal muscle,or something a bit less serious like pleurisy which will give similar symptoms.

edited for speeling

Edited by fourfoldroot on Saturday 9th November 15:30

I would imagine the one in ten death rate you're quoting does not apply for people seeking medical care for the disease, or if it does, that one in ten represents the elderly and children dying. I'd imagine a man in his 40s, even a smoker, would be able to fight the disease with medical care.