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Thank you all for your replies.
My Dad's white cell count is normal apparently which I guess is a good thing.
His blast levels are 10%, so I guess he only just fell into the category of RAEB type 2.
He has already tried broad spectrum antibiotics, even before going into hospital. Since being there, they have tried a few antibiotics and now it seems they are clutching at straws and trying whatever they can.
Tonight they started him on malaria medication on the long shot that somehow malaria has been dormant in his body for years and now has manifested. We are from South Africa, but the last time he could have been exposed to malaria would have been over a decase ago. It does not show up in any test and believe me, they have done every test under the sun.
Today we decided to be proactive and though a friend who runs a concierge medical business we have been put in contact with a leading hematologist (supposedly) in Chicago. We are sending him my Dads records and he will consult and look into everything (outside of insurance of course and at a ludicrously expensive rate, but we just want a 2nd opinion and mind working on this).
My Dads fever is getting worse (it has been 5 weeks now). It spikes up once or twice a day to just under 103 degrees, sometimes over. The spikes last about 2-4 hours and he really suffers during that time. Other times his fever just sits around 100 degrees, so its almost a constant fever.
I have bought the pdf for $22, plus downloaded the other free one and also requested the free information packet. I have done hours and hours of research too, but of course I am not a doctor. What I have read on RAEB-2 has just been bleak and its tough to read allot of the statistics!
I wont say which hospital he is currently at, but we are not happy with his main doctor right now. The specialists (hemotologist, infectious disease guy) are good and we dont want to loose them by moving elsewhere, but maybe its for the best to be in a really good facility.
We have been recommended Scripps clinic in La Jolla but right now we are not really sure what to do.
If his fevers stay as they are, they cant even give him blood transfusions, and even thinking about treating the MDS right now (besides with procrit) is not an option until the fever is resolved.
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