Typhoid Complications

[TyphoidMeredith]

I have an usual job. I am a graduate student, currently writing up my dissertation but recently returned from 2 years of conducting field work with wild orangutans in the peat swamps of Indonesian Borneo. Last year I had a severe case of falciparum malaria that wasn't diagnosed until the 5th day I had the fever. I did eventually recover, although full recovery took 6 months. Then just before leaving Indonesia I contracted typhoid fever, all 6 types of S.typhii that they test for in Indonesia. They actually said it was Tyhpus, but the symptoms all matched Typhoid exactly, the little card that I was given confirmed I had S.typhii, and I have since discovered that they use "Typhus" to mean either Typhus or Typhoid... I have been back in the US now for over 2 months but my typhoid symptoms, while they wax and wane, have persisted during this time. I did have my blood tested and was told that S.typhii is no longer present, I had my stools checked for parasites, and I even had a sonogram to rule out gall bladder, etc. complications. I did discover that I have fairly serious anemia, which I was told is most likely a typhoid complication, so I have started eating both fish and chicken again after being a vegetarian for over 10 years. Although the complications from anemia seem to be better, I have lost a lot of weight, feel generally lathargic, have frequent mood swings, loss of apetite, and on/off abdominal pain with occasional diarrhea. The doctors don't know of anything else to do at this point and just say that I am probably "still recovering from typhoid" . I have even received the nickname "typhoid meredith", which I think may now follow me around for the rest of my days... does anyone have any ideas of what more I can do to try and improve my general health given these symptoms?
Many thanks, "typhoid meredith"

Unfortunately I don't think many people on this website have experience with typhoid...

Have you seen Infectious Disease specialists? What about a doctor of Internal Medicine?

Seems like you should take some kind of supplement that cleans out the body and make sure to drink lots of fluids.

[acuann]

Please try Traditional Chinese Medicine, I think it would be very helpful. Also you should get tested for B12 deficiency, often goes hand in hand with iron deficiency.

Best wishes
DOM

[TyphoidMeredith]

Thanks to all who have been replying to my thread. Most of my colleagues live in Switzerland and several go to Chinese doctors who they swear by. I think this sounds like a reasonable next step. I did try to see an infectious disease specialist, but ended up getting trapped by the student health sysem at my university - it can be difficult financially to see specialists at my university without going through student health - when i went through student health they basically said that my blood tested as typhoid free but was anemic; yet anemia itself (which I had for a time after malaria) does not in itself appear to explain all of the symptoms I have been experiencing on a continued basis. Thanks for the suggestions (!) and I will see what sort of health care I can get while abroad.