Coccidioidomycosis Books

I contracted Valley Fever in October 2005. I knew nothing about the disease. This book has opened my eyes to this sometimes deadly epidemic. Very well written and to the point. A definate read for anyone who suffers with Valley Fever, their family, caregivers or anyone who travels thru the Southwestern United States. Sharon and David are very caring people who want to educate the public on what they have learned after extensive research.

After moving to Arizona from Florida I became ill with pneumonia. I had heard of Valley Fever but thought you got it, like the flu and then it went away. After going back to the doctor 3 times and ending up in the emergency room I was diagnosed with Valley Fever. Little did I know that it was going to affect my life, my job and my family. There was little information to be found on the internet but I stumbled around and found this book. (It was released around the time of my diagnosis.) It has been so helpful. I have been feeling better over time beause of the insight provided. Diet is essential. Don't wait to take control of this horrible, debilatating illness. You won't regret the investment.

Do you have valley fever? Do you know what valley fever is? Did you know a tiny cocci spore could travel 500 miles and that there are 15 trillion cocci spores in one cubic inch? Did you know that you contract this disease just by breathing in Arizona, California, Texas, Nevada and other desert regions of the USA? Valley fever usually starts in your lungs and can attack you further by disseminating throughout other parts of your body and can become fatal. I am a valley fever survivor. Not everyone can say that who gets valley fever. Did you know that valley fever could change your life forever from one tiny spore? It did mine. I contracted valley fever in 2003 and have not felt the same since. The above information is only a microscopic piece of knowledge this book contains. David and Sharon Filip have done an outstanding job in providing such incredible amounts of information through their hard, persistent, and ongoing research on this deadly disease called valley fever. This book not only shows such an abundance of information but also is written in layman's terms. It's a book that contains answers to most questions you can think of and more. It has a glossary that can help you understand what your medical reports are saying. There is no other book of this kind written. I highly recommend this book to anyone who lives in the southwest, has visited the southwest, plans to visit the southwest, drive through or change planes in the southwest or just breathes.

I was diagnosed 2 years ago with a disseminated version of Coccidiodmycosis in my liver, kidneys, intestines and joints that put me in the hospital. 4 of our dogs were diagnosed with Cocci as well (3 severe disseminated versions and 1 pulmonary) I almost died and one of our dogs did die before a correct diagnosis was made. In the intervening two years, two of our dogs and I have all had nasty reactivations of the cocci despite having left the endemic area of deep West Texas we loved - where we contracted this fungus. We are 300 miles from the nearest confirmed fungal zone - no cure and no promise that this will not reactivate again in the future. Make no mistake... this miniscule fungal spore can kill you and it will darn sure change you life in ways you cannot predict or prepare for. Afterall.... Cocci Immitus and Cocci Pasadasii are considered bio terrorism threats to only be handled in Level 3 or 4 Bio-hazard labs.

"Valley Fever Epidemic" is the only book on this disease out there of any substance. It contains real information and more importantly, it's CURRENT information. The facts and info in the book are well researched and written in language that every one should be able to understand, digest and remember. I have spent two years educating doctor after doctor and multiple veterinarians about Cocci - from symptoms to what titer numbers to look out for, and suggested treatment plans from other doctors familiar with Valley Fever. FINALLY there is a single book that I can pass out and share with family, friends who don't have a clue why I feel like dirt 20 days out of 30, medical providers, and pharmacists who always think the length of the prescriptions are 6 months too long and must be a typo!

I was in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy when I moved from Massachusetts to Arizona in October 1999. Little did I know that I was at risk for contracting Valley Fever. After living in Arizona for only 1 month, I was faced with the horrible symptoms described so clearly in this book. My new OB/GYN in Arizona was aware of the symptoms of Valley Fever and immediately had me tested and treated. Thankfully, my baby was born healthy. Unfortunately, I have been suffering with Valley Fever ever since! I WISH THIS BOOK WAS AVAILABLE 9 YEARS AGO AND MY DOCTOR IN MASSACHUSETTS WAS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT VALLEY FEVER......I NEVER WOULD HAVE MOVED TO ARIZONA!!!! This book is a MUST for ALL doctors AND pregnant women, especially those who live and/or visit an epidemic area!!!!

This was a very strange novel but refreshing in its metaphor and beauty. It reminded me of "The Metamorphosis" a novel written by Fran Kafta where a man turns himself into a insect after being abused and taken advantage of by his indifferent family and company where he was employed. Reading this book made me suspect that the author himself sought to save himself from the everyday insults of being black and gay by giving birth to a new life, hopefully, freed from the racism of the straight world, indifference from the gay white world and benigh neglect from members of his own race and class. I only wish there were more writers like this guy around creating literate that is not afraid to go beyond "Dick and Jane" fiction and challenge conventional belief. My hat goes off to Mr. Owens for a job well done. I'm sure somewhere, the late great writer, James Baldwin is saying, "You go Brother!"

I read and then re-read Durrell Owens groundbreaking novel. The Song of a Manchild is a great book that exemplifies magnificent creativity in imaginary fiction writing. The story line is so engaging and thought provoking, you begin to visualize the story as being a possible reality. It's humor is so funny it makes you laugh, it's spiritual context is uplifting, and the rebirth is triumphant.

I was moved by Mr. Owens narrative powers as a writer in this book. The dialogue, pace, tone, and tenor of the book reminds me of the way fiction is written by other great famous fiction writers.

Additionally, it's not a wonder that The Song of a Manchild was nominated by Lambea as best male gay fiction. I wish more fiction stories can be produced with such conviction as Mr. Owens has shown in his novel.

I believe Durrell Owens is well on his way of becoming one of the best known fiction writers of the 21st century.

I have not completed the book as yet but so far it is very interesting & intertaining.

I boring read. I got grossed out during the beginning of the book. I figured the book would be a great read if the author developed the plot. Well of course it wasn't. I think the book belongs at the bottom of a trash can.

There are some novels that you know from the first page will be a waste of time. Promising writers can manage to entice a reader to hang in there after the first ten to fifteen pages, mediocre writers might take sixteen to twenty pages to do it while the abysmally untalented could trick you into false hope within the first chapter; but when you know from the first five pages that a story has taken off, crashed, burned, and ready for burial, well I don't know what type of writer could do that. Not much interested in spending any time writing about the "plot" or "characters" as this story is so implausible and the writing so puerile that it doesn't warrant in-depth review (that would falsely imply that there was some depth to the novel). Jeffery Mingo's review below is more analysis than the novel deserves and I agree with him completely. I can't believe I paid full price for this dreck!

I bought this book thinking it would have information about the disease. It does not. This is page after page of websites and instructions about what to expect if you are in a clinical trial for a drug. All this book has done is to gather the same info I got on my own from doing a normal Google search. Total waste of money and I am returning it. It contains no real information about the fungus, symptoms, or treatment.