Maine

[buckabucka]

We're fairly rural and we get both religious people AND beef quacks in pick-up trucks!


I'm wondering if I might have the flu. I thought it was just a cold, but my fever will not go away (it's only been two days, but I am sick of it) and I only want to sleep. Not sure if it is too late for tamiflu, but I may go to express care and see what they say....

TAMIFLU

(oseltamivir phosphate)

FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION
 
INDICATIONS AND USAGE
1.1
Treatment of Influenza
TAMIFLU is indicated for the treatment of acute, uncomplicated illness due to influenza infection in patients 2 weeks of age and older who have been symptomatic for no more than 2 days

I'm thinking I'm too late. Initial symptoms (dizziness, sneezing, severely runny nose) were Thursday, although the fever did not start until Friday morning. When I get my fever down, I feel pretty good, just tired, so maybe it is not the flu. My congestion is going away. I'm going to school today to clean up from Friday's sub. Then I plan to set up my own lessons for Monday, as well as sub plans for Monday, since I don't know how long this fever will last.

In chicken-related news, two of my hens that quit for the winter have started back up again.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

I've had a few start back up, sporadically, also.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

I have never heard of these beef quacks. Always interesting what people will do. I have only once gotten the religious nuts... our driveway is pretty hidden so that even our neighbors don't know we are here.

Hope you feel better, bucka!

 

[lazy gardener]

Bucka, hope you're better soon. This winter has been horrific for my family. I worked to day, and the flu is rampant in the building I was in. Hope I didn't bring any contagion home to my family. I'm 3 miles beyond no where. And the beef quacks seem to prefer trying to peddle their wares in the "out back".

 

[buckabucka]

Thanks for the well-wishes. I almost hope it is the flu, so I'll know I have immunity. I did not fall asleep during the day, which is an improvement. Fever is back though. I blew off working at school, so I'll have to go tomorrow.

 

[CoopChick719]

Have you checked her for impacted crop?

I have not checked for impacted crop. What should I be looking for?

Everyone at work has something. So far not the flu! Sneezing, coughing, runny noses and headaches. Don't let it go too long if you get anything. My sister has bronchitis from ignoring her symptoms.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Check in the morning before she wakes and starts eating. Her crop at that point should be empty. If you massage her chest and feel it lumpy on the right side where the crop would be, it is likely to be impacted crop. I've lost 2 to this and the symptoms I notice first are they are bone thin from basically starving. They get something stuck in there (like long grass) that doesn't clear the crop. If you turn them upside down often stuff will drain out of their beaks. It's nasty. I have not had any survive it. Some people do surgery on the crop, but that's not something I'm going to do at this point in my chicken keeping life, without anesthetics. I've administered olive oil (along with food and chick grit) and massaged the crops, and culled when necessary, but that's it.

Keep us posted.

 

[islandgirl82]

Yes Bucka, I hope you're feeling better soon!

For those of you with woodstoves, have you ever tried leaving a pot of water with Four Thieves essential oil to simmer on your stoves? It's used to kill airborne viruses and I have yet to get sick when I use it.

I had (uninvited) company over Christmas who complained much about it being too hot in my house so I let my stove go out and in doing so ended up with a bronchial infection what felt like almost instantly. I love the oil though...especially with little ones in school bringing home all kinds of who knows what and we've all managed to evade further illness since firing up the stove again. And it smells SO good.

 

[buckabucka]

I've never had a hen with impacted crop, but I certainly wouldn't be up for doing surgery! Maybe DH would be up for that. He always did home surgeries on our cat. I've successfully treated sour crop though.

My fever is gone! My lungs have some crud settling in, but I feel so much better. I plan to work tomorrow, so I ran into school to do a little work. On the way home, I stopped at the grocery store. The woman in front of me in line sneezed (she covered very well, but I held my breath anyway), and then the cashier was stopping to blow her nose between customers (she used hand sanitizer, but still...). And while the cashier was blowing her nose, she said hello to someone in the other line, and I looked over to see the recipient of her greeting with a tissue on her nose too. So I guess it is not just the kids who are sick. I sure would like to make it a few weeks before I get the next illness coming down the line!

 

[suzMEchicks]

Hi everyone. The CDC is saying the flu is spreading throughout the land but it's just starting in Maine. We have only a few patients so far and mostly very elderly. Fever yes but also severe body aches weakness cough. Unfortunately the flu shot is a little weak this year as well. There is a wicked bronchitis going around too that has people coughing for more than a month! I just got over that myself. That had to be a hell of a virus because I never get anything! So it's gonna be a long winter. We need to stay hydrated.Wash our hands religiously. I wipe everything down at work at the beginning and end of my shifts with those antibacterial cleaning cloths, especially the phones.Vitamins especially vit C and plenty of rest.
On chicken related note, I too feel bad about them being out in subzero. When I'm home I find myself out there several times a day just to check on them. They are definitely eating frozen eggs but not the regular ones. Sigh. The days are getting longer for sure. That's one good thing!