Sherman Island

[Bravo1]

Has anyone who does a lot of sailing at Sherman Island developed any unusual health issues?

[fearlu]

Yes. I begin serious adrenaline withdrawal right around October 15th!

On a more serious note: I have heard of sinus problems and allergy-like symptoms from the Delta waters as well as a few odd skin conditions over the years. Also, you may be aware of the toxic algae blooms that have happened in times past-- this species appears in the water as "bright-green cornflakes" and is best avoided.

Do you have something going on or are you just asking since you know it's a potentially toxic soup of everything NorCal can send down a river?

[Bravo1]

I definately have something very unusual going on that my doctors have been unable to diagnose. It may or may not be related to sailing at Sherman Island. I have, though, sailed 29 times this season at Sherman Island and have on occasion swallowed water.

[neda]

There are lots of mosquitos at Sherman Island. You may want to be tested for West Nile Virus, if you have any symptoms that could resemble this. For symptom information, reported cases, etc., I suggest the CDC website or the WestNile.ca.gov site. Whatever you have, hope you're better soon.

[surfdog55]

Yo Bravo
What ever you've got I hope the doc's can cure it. I've sailed prox. 60days at Sherman Island this year and don't believe I have any ill effects. Except sore knees, neck and back. Water gets in my mouth but I don't swallow it. Good luck with the doc's.

[spennie]

If your problem is flu-like/sinus related, get checked for "Valley Fever", I forget the medical name for it. It's a difficult to cure fungal infection people seem to get in farm areas, hence the name. Doctors often don't check for it since it's fairly unusual. It eventually killed my mother-in-law (no jokes, now!), but she was old & weak, you can be cured.

[spennie]

Got this e-mail Tuesday via my website:

Since I don't have an account on iwindsurf.com, I couldn't add info to that guy (Bravo) asking about illnesses in the Delta.

The disease you speak of is called Coccidiodomycosis. There is a way to treat it, however, it is not enjoyable. The treatment is with Amphoteracin B. The biotech companies have tried to revise the 'chemical' to target the cocci a bit more specifically with the goal of creating less drastic side effects (terrible, but probably the only choice of treatment that I know of...maybe new modes of treatment are around but I haven't kept up with it).

Anyway, if you could add that info to the iwindsurf.com forum, I'd appreciate it. If Bravo is interested in sharing the symptoms, maybe some more people can add some info. (your's, by the way was a great piece of info). This disease is common in Barstow (dry, windy, lots of soil thrown around) and lots of people that did the Woodstock thing also contracted 'cocci'.

I know multiple physicians (even smart ones) that sail, so maybe they'll be able to put in their 2 cents with that.

Thanks for helping.

Donna
(Norcal Bay area)

[beallmd]

Valley Fever is also known as San Joaquin Valley Fever and is more common in that general area ,but dry soil areas are the natural habitat. It is one of those illnesses to consider when someone is ill either acutely or chronically. To be clear; it is a ZEBRA; that is there are more common illnesses that cause similar symptoms; viruses etc Put it in the list of possible illnesses when looking at a certain set of symptoms that might relate. It is hard to identify with certainty and most who have had it have NO symptoms at all and it is a later finding on a chest X ray. This is where a good internal medicine doctor or possibly an infectious disease specialist comes into play.

It is often presented at conferences as a mystery illness to a group of Docs to test their skills in diagnosis. There was a story of an NFL player who lost his energy and performance ability, lost weight and was chronically ill and turned out to have Valley Fever. He had been through a lot of diagnostic tests until some one finally figured out that was his problem. It turned out he had been driving up Interstate 5 when he went through a dust storm and contracted it.

On the other hand, Gail Devers an olympic track multi Gold medalist had a strange undiagnosed illness that caused her the same type symptoms; weight loss, loss of energy and diminished performance. She was at that time at UCLA-one the preeminent medical centers in the country and it took a long time (2 years?) to come to the correct diagnosis and treatment etc. She had Grave's disease; a thyroid condition. So these thing can have nothing to do with infection etc.

Then you get into Mononuclealosis and chronic fatigue syndrome and other so far unidentified illnesses that likely are low grade chronic viral illnesses etc. Complicated area unfortunately- hope that helps.

[Bravo1]

Since a reader has suggested that it would be helpful to share my symptoms, I will do so. The symptoms are urinary and gastrointestinal in nature. Since August 18, I have experienced noturnal enuresis on a daily basis. During the day, I do not have urinary incontinence issues. Starting August 24, I have experienced diarrhea on a daily basis. On August 28, I informed my doctor what was going on. He ordered blood, urine, and stool testing along with a physical exam. Also, a sigmoidoscopy and a bladder ultrasound were performed. While my doctor was away for a couple of days, another doctor called and said that I was becoming slightly anemic. My temperature is subnormal being around 95.6 whenever I take it using a Braun ThermoScan. Occationally, I have slight headaches. Other than these issues, I am in pretty good shape from strenuous mountain biking 3 times a week. This summer, though, sailing took precedence over the biking. I have sailed 29 days at the Sherman Island Access. As I have mentioned previously, sailing may have nothing to do with these issues.

[Bravo1]

Fairly severe abdominal cramping is another symptom that I failed to mention. In any case, I now have appointments scheduled with a Gastroenterologist and a Urologist. Also, my doctor called tonight and wants be to start taking iron glycinate for the anemia issues.