Coping With Endocarditis

wow what a great forum and what a relief to be able to read about others who have been in the same situation as i have!

I am a fit, healthy 24 yesr old guy living in London who is currently recovering from a six week hospitilisation with Endocarditis. It all began back in November when i began to feel un-well. I thought i had the flu and continued as normal but gradually my symptoms got worse and worse. All over Christmas i felt ill and by the end of Jan i was seeing a specialist, desperate to find out what was wrong. I was tested for everything including HIV which was a very scary time but i never got any answers and the tests continued with no joy.

Eventually i was unable to move, slept constantly, had excessive night sweats, ached all over my body, had splinters under my nails and chills (all the common symptoms) and FINALY was diagnosed with Bacterial Endocarditis after blood cultures. I was taken into hospital immedietly, within a few days i had a pick line put in and began a six week course of antibiotics.

Unfortuantly i have no idea how i contracted Endocarditis. I am young, fit, have never done any drugs or had any invasive dental procedures etc.. Apparently sometimes there seems to be no reason as to why one contracts Endocarditis so i assume i was just unlucky!

I have never felt so ill in my life and the whole experience has shocked me and i feel i am becoming slightly obsessed with it now that i am out of hospital. I feel fine and have been out of hospital over a month now and am back at the gym and socialising etc but i live in constant fewar or it returning. I know that if i take all the precautions it is likely that it will not come back but the fear is still there. I am worried that having the lifestly of a typical 24 year old (i do like to party and drink socially as well as smoke ocassionaly) will bring it back.

My last Echo scan showed that the vegetation had disappeared however my valve now has a moderate leak. Weather this was present before Endocarditis or not i will never know as i had no previous medical problems! However i am aware that valve issues further increase the risk of Endocarditis.

The bottom line is that the last few months have petrified me, but i take comfort in forums like this.. I would like to wish everybody who has ever had, is in the process of having or will someday have Endocarditis the very best of luck!

Nathan