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Don't Let This Happen to You!!!!!!!!!

PGlazenerCooney Feb 24, 2008 03:13 PM

Once again I got caught up in the unexpected nature of life! I came down with a bad Sinus Infection in January. I finally gave in and went to a Doctor. I was given 10 days worth of a powerful antibiotic. The Antibiotic killed the infection, killed all the necessary "Good" bacteria in my body and then started in on me!!!!! On January 31 I ended up in the Emergency Room of a Hospital. Four days later, as I was being released, the Doctor told me that had I not gotten to him when I did I might be dead!!!!!!! Talk about an attention grabber!!!!! Here it is Feb. 24 and I still can't stand for more than a few minutes without getting fatigued, I can't drive, I have to stay away from people as my immune system is somewhere in deep South Texas (I live in the Hill Country in Central Texas!), and this morning was my first Sunday back in my Pulpit since mid-January!!!! I preached while sitting on a stool! What has this to do with Snakes????? My illness and subsequent recovery meant that my collection had to fend for itself!!!!! My Household consists of a 13 year-old, low functioning, Autistic son and a wife that won't venture into my snake room because she "hates" snakes. Because I didn't have a plan for the possibility of being incapacitated, my snakes suffered and two paid the highest price for my negligence. We have a responsibility to our charges. In the days to come I am going to identify two, maybe three, individuals to train that could step in and take care of my collection in the event of an emergency. And I'm going to be more active in offering my help to others. It's the best I can do.

Shalom,
Pat

Replies (11)

draybar Feb 24, 2008 04:38 PM

>>Once again I got caught up in the unexpected nature of life! I came down with a bad Sinus Infection in January. I finally gave in and went to a Doctor. I was given 10 days worth of a powerful antibiotic. The Antibiotic killed the infection, killed all the necessary "Good" bacteria in my body and then started in on me!!!!! On January 31 I ended up in the Emergency Room of a Hospital. Four days later, as I was being released, the Doctor told me that had I not gotten to him when I did I might be dead!!!!!!! Talk about an attention grabber!!!!! Here it is Feb. 24 and I still can't stand for more than a few minutes without getting fatigued, I can't drive, I have to stay away from people as my immune system is somewhere in deep South Texas (I live in the Hill Country in Central Texas!), and this morning was my first Sunday back in my Pulpit since mid-January!!!! I preached while sitting on a stool! What has this to do with Snakes????? My illness and subsequent recovery meant that my collection had to fend for itself!!!!! My Household consists of a 13 year-old, low functioning, Autistic son and a wife that won't venture into my snake room because she "hates" snakes. Because I didn't have a plan for the possibility of being incapacitated, my snakes suffered and two paid the highest price for my negligence. We have a responsibility to our charges. In the days to come I am going to identify two, maybe three, individuals to train that could step in and take care of my collection in the event of an emergency. And I'm going to be more active in offering my help to others. It's the best I can do.
>>
>>Shalom,
>>Pat

Pat,
I hope you get better with every passing day and will be STANDING at your pulpit as soon as possible.
You bring up a very profound point.
We all need a contingency plan in case something happens.
My wife can and will care for the dogs, cats and bearded dragons if something happens to me but I don't think she would be able to care for the snakes.
A definite plan needs to be in place.
I hope you feel better and thanks for bringing the obvious to light.
Jimmy

jtclark Feb 24, 2008 05:28 PM

Sorry to hear about your health issues. You do bring up a great point as I don't have anybody to look after my snkaes if anything were to happen. Take care of yourself and hope things get better for you.
-----
3.2 Corn (Butter-Sunflower '07/Anery Stripe-Ripple '06/Amber-Jack Straw '06/Snow-Casey Jones '06/Amel Motley-Cosmo '03)
0.1 Baird's Ratsnake (Sugaree '04)
1.0 White Oaks Grey Rat (Tennesse Jed '04)
0.1 IJ Carpet Python (Cassidy '04)
1.0 Western Hognose (Samson '05)
1.1 Shepherd mix (Dylan 8yrs, Porter 3yrs)

JasonW Feb 24, 2008 06:03 PM

May I ask what the problem was? I mean people don't get deathly ill for no reason and since you are improving I imagine they found the problem and are now fixing it.If it were the meds the first doc gave you why don't you own someone right now? My last ER visit was free because I mentioned malpractice after they gave me penicillin and I had an allergic reaction to it and my airway swelled shut. Its always nice getting free bills L:OL
Foot Hill Reptiles

choppergreg74 Feb 24, 2008 11:30 PM

Good luck and God bless. I too was sick in Jan and it all came from a sinus infection. The first antibiotic did not work. Then the second did not work. Finally the third did. But by tis time it went to my ears and throat. Remember doctors are praticeing medicine. Key word practice!

PGlazenerCooney Feb 25, 2008 02:07 AM

Thanks for all the good thoughts!!!!!!

Pat

shaky Feb 25, 2008 08:10 PM

Pat, I'm sorry to hear that.
I hope you have some folks near you that are capable. I'm trying to train students a little at a time, but don't rely on kids.
There are all the ins and outs and peculiarities that take a while to learn and it usually is by experience.
Best of luck to you, sir.
BTW, the big corn you gave us is well-loved.
-Jack
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Austin Herp. Soc.

cee4 Feb 26, 2008 05:57 PM

the antibiotics do to you?
Just curious cause my dh had a similiar experience with high powered antibiotics.
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PGlazenerCooney Feb 28, 2008 08:51 AM

The best the Doctors can say is the antibiotic took out the Infection, then destroyed the good bacteria we all have/need for functioning and then it somehow threw off my system. My Blood Pressure was 210 over 110, my blood sugar was around 300, and everything else was all screwwed up. I was on a Potassium drip for three days. And its slow coming back!!! I lost 25lbs in 7 days!!!! Thanks for your concern!!!

Shalom,

Pat

mike17L Feb 26, 2008 08:06 PM

Pat,

Sorry to hear about you being down. I was sick for a week a while back, but nothing that bad. Glad you were able to get back in the pulpit. If you lost anything that I can help replace, dont hesitate to let me know.

Michael Leidner
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South Texas Herps

carl3 Feb 27, 2008 06:32 PM

Lots of the folks who've been on this forum for many years may remember me. I'm not as active as I used to be on the forums...mostly lurking now...anyway...

I'm 31 yrs old and I've had 4 major abdominal surgeries in the past 5 years. My very 1st surgery was a perferated bowel due to a rare case of diverticulitis and surgery was an emergency. I was in the hospital an entire month and lost several snakes.

I have about 150 snakes and a few other misc lizards and tortoises in my collection. My wife doesn't know what to do and doesn't take an active role in the care of my animals. Her involvement is simply asking "When are you gonna sell enough to offset the costs of frozen rodents?".lol. My daughter is only 2 1/2.

After my 1st surgery, I paid my neighbor's 13 yr old son $5/hour to help me clean the snakes. I also gave him a free striped albino corn. I've turned him into a future member of our eccentric world of herpetoculture.

I'm also a h.s. teacher. I tell anyone/everyone I know that they can always turn to a local h.s. to find helpers. There will always be at least one student willing to work for the payment of a snake OR to make money under the table.
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Sincerely, Jason
www.NortheastSnakes.com
NortheastSnakes@verizon.net

PGlazenerCooney Feb 28, 2008 08:46 AM

Wow!!!!! Good idea!!!!! Think I'll get in touch with our H.S. Biology Dept!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

Pat

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