Abdominal infection & HIV Posted: 02-08-08 21:10pm
a) Is there anything I can do for the
weekend while I contact my hiv specialist,
i.e. what I can do to manage the disease
and avoid getting weaker and lose more
weight?
b)Do you think it is a bug/parasite
instead of apendicitis or something
else?
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DoctorAnswer
Doctor Answer
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HIV and AIDS Answer A3664 Posted: 02-19-08 07:41am
YOU WROTE:
List of pre-existing conditions: HIV +
benign disrrythmia for 1 1/2 months (had
Holter monitor and found it was the benign
type - I can't remember the name at this
moment but will see a cardiologist in 2
weeks
List of other diseases, conditions, or
injuries and their treatment: Kivexa,
Reyataz and Norvir for HIV one daily dose
for the past 1 1/2 years. CD 4 380 and
viral load undetectable. Last test
almost 3 months ago and results have been
constant for the past year.
Current medical status: Came back from
Mexico (one week there) 3 weeks ago. 5
days ago I starting feeling very bloated
after lunch. That evening I had cramps
(felt like past stomach flu I had 4 years
ago) in my lower abdomen (from belly
button and down). Next day that pain was
gone but instead I had pain in right side
of abdomen (almost a straight line from
belly button to the right) that felt
similar to when I run after drinking a lot
of water. This pain becomes worse when I
walk and gets better when I lay down.
Bloating has remained since the beginning
and increases after I eat but I have been
eating very little so I have lost 4 pounds
in 5 days. Family doctor saw me and
explored my abdomen, he said it didn't
seem to be appendicitis but not completely
sure. On Day two had blood (not viral or
cd test done though), urine and ultrasound
done. Everything came back ok, no white
cells high, no problem with kidneys, liver
from ultrasound. Last night (day 4) I had
chills and fever for the first time at
39.5C (or 5 Fahrenheit above normal), felt
extremely bloated and the same crampy
abdominal pain in my mid-lower abdomen
started again. Felt nauseous and vomited
once. Kept feeling nauseous and dizzy for
several hours. In the morning the fever
and abdominal cramps were gone but cramps
came back after I had some juice. Pain in
right side still and always there. I took
a stool sample which I didn’t notice any
blood or mucus (I don’t have diarrhea
btw) for testing today since I completely
forgot about my trip to Mexico and only
remembered that yesterday and told my
doctor about it. I have also noticed that
my heart rate has increased from 60 to 90
heartbeats per minute (relaxed but with a
persistent mild headache). My blood
pressure used to be 105/70 and now
110/80.
Current medical treatment: not being
treated, awaiting how it develops, i.e.
were waiting for abdominal pain in right
side to disappear or get much worse if it
was appendicitis
Chills, fever and an increased body
temperature indicates that your abdominal
symptoms (cramps, vomiting and bloated
stomach) could be due to some type of
infection. Appendicitis is one such
possible intestinal infections.
Inflammation of a mesenteryal lymph node
(lymphadenitis mesenteryale) is another
option. In both conditions, abdominal pain
is usually present without diarrhea. You
might also be experiencing some kind of
viral intestinal infection. Lack of
diarrhea makes it difficult to say that an
infection is located in the intestines,
however. A microbiological examination of
the stool sample can make the diagnosis
clearer.
Weight loss (1,5 kg in 4 days) is not too
much to be worried about because an
intestinal parasite can cause weight loss
and sometimes abdominal pain an is
accompanied with an increased appetite and
stool sample is positive. Fever is not
typical for presence of intestinal
parasites.
Although you are HIV+, your health
condition is fairly good . Therefore, you
might be prescribed symptomatic therapy
like trospium for the cramps and aspirin
for the fever until you contact your
HIV-specialist.
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