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Post by wsteinhoff on Jun 30, 2016 23:01:09 GMT -5
Hey guys. I realize it's been a while since I've been on here much. Things have been pretty busy. Between medical things of my own, my dads' sudden heart surgery, his current recovery, and cleanup after a small tornado, and a weasel killing a lot of my pigeons outside and having to "weasel proof" the loft and aviary, I just haven't had much time. I'm fine, my dad is doing well he just can't drive or carry more than 5 pounds for a while so I'm having to drive him around and help carry things, and we luckily didn't have much damage from the tornado because our house is in sort of a dip between some woods and hillsides (now my neighbors on the other hand...). There's a lot of fallen trees and branches needing cut and moved to be burned. Skye was sick and went to the vet. A swab of her throat showed some gram-negative bacteria. What caused it I don't know, maybe some mild form of e-coli, finding that out would be more tests and the vet isn't exactly cheap. They put her on oral ciprofloxacin for 2 weeks and that actually just ended today. This oral medication though has caused problems of it's own though. To her it's as if I'm feeding her like a mate would do (the banana flavor of the medication doesn't help) so it's stimulated some behavioral issues and egg laying that I'm working on reversing now that she's off the antibiotics. The egg laying wouldn't be a big deal if she isn't bleeding when she lays them. That suggests she needs calcium and protein but she gets that and I have now bought extra calcium just in case. I'm thinking it's the tissue is thinner in that area and so passing the egg is breaking some blood vessels.
The other birds are doing well. Bishop for some reason has decided he no longer eats any veggies besides peas and I can't convince him to try anything else. I won't give up though! Casey is enjoying building nests. He likes using alfalfa hay and wool from the sheep. Anyways that's what's up at the moment. I hope you're all doing well.
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Post by biteybird on Jul 1, 2016 1:43:07 GMT -5
Hi Will, glad to hear you're OK! I was wondering where you'd got to. Sorry you've been in The Wars with all those things and hope your Skye recovers well. Bishop obviously feels the need to re-direct your attention back to him...  |
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Post by julianna on Jul 1, 2016 13:24:31 GMT -5
Welcome back... I also wondered what happened as I miss your great advice. You surely have your hands full and I am sorry to hear all the bad news. I hope you can find time to visit now and again and take good care of your family.
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Post by easttex on Jul 1, 2016 16:17:50 GMT -5
It's good to have you back. It seems unannounced absences are rarely the result of good fortune.
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Post by cnyguy on Jul 1, 2016 20:24:46 GMT -5
Good to see you back on the Forum. You certainly have had lots going on in your life lately. Hope everyone (human and avian) is recovering well from their medical problems. |
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Post by wsteinhoff on Jul 1, 2016 21:54:29 GMT -5
Thanks. I hope things will be better soon, life's been a little hectic lately but not as much now.
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Post by Caseysmom on Jul 3, 2016 22:37:35 GMT -5
Glad you are back and things are getting better for you!
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Post by aaron on Jul 6, 2016 19:05:27 GMT -5
Welcome back! Glad to hear things are settling down for you... sounds like they have been quite intense! I hope all of the health problems your family has faced continue to improve!
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Post by wsteinhoff on Jul 19, 2016 23:12:58 GMT -5
I'm doing better now. I've had some issues for a couple weeks with acid reflux. After eating a dinner one night I ended up with horrible stomach pain, heartburn, and stomach acid burning in my throat. It's better now with some medication and probiotics and with a bit of my own testing it seems my lactose intolerance has returned and instead of just getting indigestion I'm getting worse symptoms. Then I had to be on medication for poison ivy. I don't get poison ivy, never have, until now anyways. I touched the plant with one hand, washed it well right away, but had a severe reaction and ended up with blisters everywhere from my eyelids, to my hands, to my feet. So I guess I've got to watch for poison ivy and watch more of what I eat. Now hopefully the bad luck is gone and over with.
On to better thoughts, the birds are all doing great. I feel like I've been neglecting them a bit with all that's gone on but that's changing. Bishop appears to be back to trying new foods! He was doing so well then decided peas and corn are all that is good. I made a couple of concoctions with produce from the farmers market and he likes them. One is a mix of acorn squash, zucchini, banana pepper, jalapeño pepper, and the pepper seeds. The other is quinoa, squash seeds, and ginger. He ate some egg this morning, a cherry, and some whole wheat bread. The vet had said in Bishop's visit early this year to give him high fiber and low fat and whole wheat bread for more fiber. Picky bird wouldn't have it. Now he's eating it and it's got some high fiber in it. He sees me with that little piece of bread and goes nuts now. Between the bread, quinoa, squash seeds, and veggies there's no doubt he's getting his fiber now.
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Post by biteybird on Jul 20, 2016 5:50:57 GMT -5
Great news - I'm glad you're doing better. It sounds as though Bishop has a renewed vigour about him! Maybe he appreciates you more since you weren't well. |
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Post by aaron on Jul 20, 2016 10:35:41 GMT -5
Ugh... that poison ivy reaction sounds horrible! I used to get it a lot when I was younger, although never that bad! Glad to hear you are feeling better!
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 20, 2016 16:31:37 GMT -5
Wow, and I thought I was going through a rough patch. Glad things are getting better for you. As one who suffers from gastric reflux, you really need to be mindful of what you eat - it means missing out on some favourite foods - for me it is Mexican and Indian - I just cant eat them anymore  So I make a very mild version at home - but it's not the same. |
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Post by wsteinhoff on Jul 20, 2016 17:22:40 GMT -5
Wow, and I thought I was going through a rough patch. Glad things are getting better for you. As one who suffers from gastric reflux, you really need to be mindful of what you eat - it means missing out on some favourite foods - for me it is Mexican and Indian - I just cant eat them anymore So I make a very mild version at home - but it's not the same. I can eat the same foods luckily, I just have to take some medication before I eat anything with dairy in it and use lactose-free milk. I've had to do that my whole life until a year ago when I suddenly could eat dairy and be fine, but it appears that was short lived. |
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Post by Jan and Shah on Jul 20, 2016 17:32:49 GMT -5
I have no problem with dairy provided I don't have full cream milk - has to be skim. The other dairy products are fine. I have a bleed that appears every so often - it drops my iron levels dramatically and I become very ill and have ended up in hospital. They cant find where it is coming from. But I noted that every time my iron levels drop, I have had a bout of reflux. On one examination they noted that my oesophagus was very inflamed so I assume that the bleed is coming from there. I have a tablet each night but I believe it is just to settle the stomach and wont stop the reflux if I have eaten anything naughty. I also cant eat past 7pm at night as it also sets off the reflux when I go to bed. The joys of getting older |
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Post by wsteinhoff on Jul 20, 2016 17:53:18 GMT -5
I have no problem with dairy provided I don't have full cream milk - has to be skim. The other dairy products are fine. I have a bleed that appears every so often - it drops my iron levels dramatically and I become very ill and have ended up in hospital. They cant find where it is coming from. But I noted that every time my iron levels drop, I have had a bout of reflux. On one examination they noted that my oesophagus was very inflamed so I assume that the bleed is coming from there. I have a tablet each night but I believe it is just to settle the stomach and wont stop the reflux if I have eaten anything naughty. I also cant eat past 7pm at night as it also sets off the reflux when I go to bed. The joys of getting older Yeah the tablets don't seem to help too much. I took them but still ended up spending a couple of weeks sleeping upright in a chair because I couldn't lay down. It sucks to have a problem and nobody can tell you what's causing it. The dairy causing my reflux is more of a guess but it seems that's it. I'm still searching for what is causing some other issues I have and it's been many years. For you it's more age related but for me it's hard for anyone to figure out anything because of my age. It makes me wonder what will happen as I do get older. |
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So I make a very mild version at home - but it's not the same.