Different illness manifestations: living in different regions/countries

[Crankin]

Shooting Star, Google "Valley Fever," and you will understand about the fungi. It's a serious thing.

[emily_in_nc]

Yikes! We were thinking of spending a couple of months in Tucson in the winter, and now I'm a bit worried about that plan... Valley Fever sounds awful.

[OakLeaf]

Also I've woken up with swimmer's ear three times recently, when I haven't been swimming or using earplugs. The only thing I can figure is that it's so humid that if I get water in my ears during a shower, it won't dry all night. And it's not even close to as humid as it gets.

[Crankin]

Emily, Tucson doesn't have the air inversions Phoenix has, unless something has changed, although the risk of Valley Fever is still the same. Almost everyone who lives in the southwest has had Valley Fever, although most do not know it. I didn't know I had it, until 2005, when I went for a CT scan for something else and some "spots" showed up on my lungs. My PCP freaked and sent me to a pulmonary doctor, who thankfully, looked at me when I walked into his office and said, "Where did you live in Arizona?" But I have to explain this every time I have an x ray, as x ray techs, etc. do not know what they are looking at. I pretty much can guess which one of my bronchial illnesses was Valley Fever, and truly, I haven't been the same since.
I would still visit Tucson for a couple of months, but be mindful of any bad air alerts, use a humidifier, and avoid exercising very early in the AM in the winter.

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks for the info, Crankin. I did think it was interesting that the article stated that most who have had Valley Fever don't even know it. It's such a foreign thing to me, being an east coastie. Had not even heard of it. I have mild asthma so certainly don't want to do anything to make it worse. But I am still very much attracted to Tucson. I do nothing "very early" in the morning other than sleep, so that, at least, would not be an issue!