if my dog has blasto - could that be my problem to?

[Louise]

My lab was diagnosed with Blasto this week.  It presented as an eye infection and thankfully the vet knew enough to do a chest exray to confirm.  He is starting treatment but the prognosis is quarded at this point.  The other dogs go in for chest xrays to look for signs tomorrow.

Since mid July I have mysteriously lost weight - 20lbs.  In August, I developed a pain in my chest, which made it difficult to breath.  The doctor said it was stress and muscle spasms.  I was given a shot of morphine, 2 tylenol 3's and 2 vallium and the hosipital - needless to say the immediate cold sweats, and vomiting did little to ease my pain.  I was given a brief prescription for tylenol 3 and vallium and the significant pain subsided within a couple of weeks. However, I have found that the pain is always there.  It is significantly increased by heavy labor and lifting, but hours at my desk, on the computer, can make it start as well.  My chest is tight and I almost feel like I could have a heart attack at any minute, most days.  My chest, neck and shoulders are the areas of most discomfort.  I have no cough, no skin issues, no visible signs.  It does, sometimes hurt to breath - like I just took a deep breath of cold, really cold, january air.  I would say my chest is tight, like I have a cold - with no other symptoms.

Am I letting my imagination get the best of me?  I asked at my Dr's office, but no one there knows anything about Blasto.  They want signs of an illness , to treat.  I am worried that if my dog went from healthy to death's door in 2 weeks, how long does it take to get to this point in humans, and by then, is it relly bad?  I had chest xrays early in 2008, and am thinking that if I could get them to take another set, and compare the two, that it might be an easy diagnosis - for or against. 

I realize I cannot get this from my dog, but it is reasonable, considering that I spend so much time with them, and they are limited to the house, garage and dog run, that I may have picked up the infection from the same source as them.  I have seen the dirt that comes in with them - I am the one that brushes them and cleans the house - the one closest to the dirt. 

Is there a source of information that I could go to, print out, or send a link to my Doctor? Or, should I stop worrying.

[Jen]

In no way would I want you to self-diagnose, or to worry unnecessarily, but from what you've written: Yes, in my opinion it's entirely possible.
 There are other cases here where people and dogs have gotten it from the same environment, as well as an entire family who had to completely leave their home. 

Yes, doctors will discount the idea, but we've finally found out that my mom wasn't suffering from "chronic bronchitis due to smoking": she had Histoplasmosis - apparently for several years, while they did nothing but chastise her for having an occassional smoke. Now she's taking Itraconazole, but only after damage to her heart, lungs, and eyes.
Most likely I've had Histo too, but gotten over it like most people in Indiana.
The doctors roll their eyes when I mention either one, because they think it's rare.
I think they're wrong.

Here is an excerpt from our Blastomycosis Newsletter regarding human diagnoses, and it puts emphasis on the importance of a high index of suspicion and timely diagnosis:

Excerpt: Journal of Clinical Microbiology, October 2004, p. 4873-4875, Vol. 42, No. 10
   “Most patients with blastomycosis exhibit progressive illnesses that require antifungal therapy. In one study, diagnosis was delayed for more than 1 month in nearly half of the cases. Blastomycosis was correctly suspected in only 20% of patients, resulting in unnecessary surgeries and treatment delays. In two-thirds of patients who died of acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by blastomycosis, the diagnosis was either not suspected or considered only after the patient became moribund.”

Here's the link to the entire newsletter: http://blastomycosis.ca/forum/index.php/topic,256.0.html

It has lots of important information regarding diagnosis and treatment.  The informtion is geared toward animal owners, but MiraVista labs serves people as well as animals - be proactive.

Hoping the best for you and your lab-
jen

[Connie]

You cannot get blatomycosis from someone else or an animal. It comes from fungas that is airborn and you have to breath it in. If your pet got it there is a chance you could of inhaled the fungal gases as well. Let your doctor know your pet has it and insist on you getting tested. Loosing weight was not a sign when I had blastomycosis but I did loose weight being on hospital food for 3 months. I had pain on my rightside near my breast and was origally told I had a pulled muscle. I had difficulty in breathing as well. Contact your health unit or infectous control and tell them your story if the doctor won't help. They were both involved in my case here after I was diagnosed. But I would insist on getting tested better safe than sorry.

[Louise]

Thanks,  I have one dog with Blasto (lungs and eye), one cleared, and one on watch (his lungs show spots, but with no other symptoms, they are going to  keep watch by re-xraying every month for the next while).  I talked to my doctor - she was really good about it - set me up an appointment for chest xrays - which I get tomorrow.  I will be seeing her at the end of the month, so hopefully the xrays will be read and we will be able to discuss them with me then. 
I have tried to settle my paranoia, now that I have had time to read all of the posts, the links, and take it all in.  This site has been so helpful... I can't imagine what I would have done pre internet, as no one in this area has any information on Blasto.   

[Connie]

Hi I guess I should of added my second missdiagnosis was when I had xrays on my lungs and they said I had pnomonea. they were very much wrong. A lung biopsy is how mine was found.Hopefully you don't have it. I don't want to scare you but blastomycosis is very scary.

[Louise]

Thanks Connie.  I had the xray this morning.. I won't know until probably next week when I get in to see my doctor.  They send everything away to be read here.   Blasto is scary - lots of people just don't get it.   As a mother, I am seriously worried about my family.  I get that it is not contagious - but the source is in my yard - any of us could have been exposed.  I am getting the "well if you have it pop a couple of pills, business as usual" story.  I have read what people have been through - I am watching my dog - that is not how it is at all. 
My boss handed me some phone numbers for vet's in Kenora - she said "they get it there all of the time" - "they have a easy blood test to check for it" - "the medicine is only $100 a week"  - no problem.  I think that sums up the problem we all face - yes there is a blood test but is it always right? - no.  Does prevalence make it any less serious? -no.  ONLY $100 week - thats not an 'only' amount and what size of dose were they speaking about.  I sit in fear and wait. 

[Doris3175]

Hi, my brother died from Blastomycosis and the doctors here tested every member of the family when we realized the blasto was in the house...Chest X-rays, blood tests called Blastomycosis serology and sputum samples were collected. If you haven't already read my posts, ...2 other persons got Blasto from the house...

Wishing you the best.

[Wilson3]

any news yet?
you can also get blasyto through a puncher wound or from a open sore ,cut it can enter the body that way also not as common but it can happen this way
totally understandible being worrie dfor th efamily blasto  just does that to people and your right others that have never had to deal with it just do not understand once you have dealt with it you always seem to worry what if
take care wilson3