1 week Ago By [email protected] (Anders Anglesey)
A man's lungs are destroyed and he now suffers from septic arthritis in his joints after making a life-changing mistake at his friend's house. Ex-roofer Chris Capper, 33, had visited friends in Mount Elliot, northern Queensland, Australia , when he decided to quench his thirst by taking a glug of spring water at a mate's house in July 2021. But in a cruel twist, Mr Capper believes the unfiltered water made him seriously ill .
Mr Capper, who moved to nearby town Home Hill to care for his sick dad, made appointments with numerous doctors who were left stumped over his sudden illness. When Mr Capper visited doctors he had an x-ray that showed a hold in his lungs. Just six weeks later, the disease had eaten away at about a third of the organ.
The disease also spread to his elbows, leaving him with septic arthritis - a serious joint infection. Mr Capper only managed to learn in July last year that he had been suffering from a lung disease believed to be the result of nonturberculosis mycobateria, which can be found in water and soil. According to the US-based Cleveland Clinic , symptoms of nonturberculosis mycobateria include: Fever Fatigue Weight loss Swollen lymph nodes He now needs to take 16 tablets each day, including four different types of antibiotics, although he still has no answer about when his suffering might come to an end.
The disease spread throughout his bloodstream and went into his left hip, lumbar spine and skin nodules. "I can't help myself at all and the doctors don't know much about the bug so it just feels like they're waiting for me to die," Mr Capper told Daily Mail Australia . "My brain is stuffed from all this medication and they don't even know if it's going to work.
" Mr Capper has made regular 14-hour drives down to Brisbane to get care at Prince Charles Hospital. He added his kidney function dropped to an alarming six per cent. He has been unable to work due to his illness as well as having cared for his dad who died in September last year.
With no other family nearby, he has relied on the help of friends. A report from one of Mr Capper's doctors, which was also seen by Daily Mail Australia, the physician said his primary concern was the former roofer was "slowly dying" from the infection. "Our goal is really to try and suppress the infection and buy him some time," the doctor wrote, adding he recommended Mr Capper get treatment at the closer Ayr Hospital.
In addition to his horror disease, Mr capper suffers from type one diabetes as well as cystic fibrosis - an inherited condition that can severely damage the lungs and other organs. He now spends several weeks at a time hooked up to an IV drip that delivers antibiotics into his system. "My hip is shattered, I've got stomach ulcers and my eyes bleed.
The doctors call it modern day tuberculosis," he said. Mr Capper has organised a GoFundMe in order to buy a $4,500 (£2,290) insulin pump for his diabetes, as well as further fund his medical costs. Daily Mail Australia reported it is understood Prince Charles Hospital has funded some of his medical costs.
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