Hi All,
My brother has ataxia and has been sent to hospital with pneumonia. He also has a very high white cell count and a fever. Antibiotics are not working, and they found several swollen lymphnodes. He is going for a full body scan today. I am very worried.
I'm so sorry, is he still in Italy? xB
So sorry to hear. Good luck.
Pneumonia is a problem for all of us and sounds like he is in a good place and hopefully the antibiotics will start working x
Thanks Litty. We are relatively new to this 'game' and often confused. I didn't realise there was a connection between pneumonia and ataxia. Hopefully the results from the CT scan will be ok. X
Hi Larobby, Hope the C.T. scan results went well for your brother. My daughters inflammatory markers have been consistently high over the years causing her Ataxia to increase. She is now on disease modifying drugs which have decreased the markers. My daughter has had to have I.V. antibiotics a few times over the years. Hope your brother is feeling better very soon.
Hi
My husband too has had pneumonia and with sepsis at times. Hope things go well for your brother Larobby. X
Today my husband seems poorly and I'm wondering if he has a chest infection, it's difficult as he never complains and if I ask him 'do you feel unwell' he always indicates that he doesn't. He ven said that as they were taking him to ITU last year, he also runs a very low temperature normally and so medics don't recognise a high temp for him.
I'm interested in the drug you speak of Leona as my husband has been offered a drug, his neurologist has said he feels his ataxia has become worse, due to infection. The deterioration is showin on MRI scan so I'm thinking this is permanent rather than reversible with meds.
Sorry it's taken so long to reply. The drug my daughter is on is Mycophenolate Acid, she was commenced on this drug 3 years ago when she was 7 years old. Prior to commencing on this medication my daughter became more Ataxic with each infection as her ESR levels increased. When she was commenced on this drug I was extremely worried that she would become more susceptible to infection however this has not been the case. The Ataxia appears to have plateaued, whether this is due to the drug or just coincidence, I am not sure. I hope this answers your questions. Good luck to you and your husband.
I opened this forum to ask if anyone has any idea why I keep urinal infections and chest infections I take lots of antibiotics sometimes 4 different courses it clears up then a few weeks later it all flares up again I sweat like mad in bed ive had ataxia now for some years myGp is useless the practice is under special measures
Hi Guyb, my husband gets urinary tract infection (UTI)as well as the pneumonia. Unless the doctor sends off a urine sample it cannot be treated successfully. The lab cultures the sample to see which antibiotic it is resistant too.
Our doctor called this morning and has prescribed antibiotics without even seeing him. Oh well better than nothing at all
That’s just like my Gp he’s never there he just prescribes over the phone I’m worried as to why all these infections keep coming back x
How about starting this off as a new post, see if you get more replies
Hi! I found myself in a smilar situation to you 6months ago. My brother,was in hospital after a fall,and he developed a chest infection ???pnuemonia. if there is active infection...our whitecell count rises, antibiotics usually work. The normal cycle includes coughing to rid the lungs of any gunk. However, if your diaphram muscles are weakened by Atazia, then the body becomes less efficient in getting rid of the rubbish. The rubbish collects at the base of the lungs as can be seen on x-ray. So the antibiotics have done their job but are not clearing the lungs.
As we know Ataxian symptoms get worse when there is lack of sleep or mounting stress so your brother needs all that is familiar....leave a mobile with your brother no on it so the nursing staff can call you and he can hear your voice. Ask nurses if they could get put with your brother so he gets consistancy.....explain why. He may get very frustrated at time.
His drinking is extremely important to prevent further infections and to replenish the fluids lost through fever. You will find there is not ehough nursing staff to ensure this but the patient in the next bed might?????
Unfortunateley I will end on a legal note.Does you brother have a person who holds his power of attourney, if not get one.....speak to your solicitor. This puts you in control NOT the drs you may not be next of kin but power of attourney is a close 2nd.
I will be thinking of you both......if you think I could help you in any way do not hesitate to p.castledine@googlemail.com
Hi all
Had my PIP assessment yesterday and looks like things are going to go well but will find out in 6 weeks time!
The bloke was really nice and couldn't apologise enough for having to assess me when I have this condition.
Fingers crossed
Sadly the CT scan revealed several lymphomas. Biopsy next week 
How does an ataxia terminal stage look like?
Ataxia
Is Ataxia always evident on MRI?
