'Therapy Birds' got me wondering...

Mayden · Sep 10, 2013

And so, I've made a poll... (I think!)

Just out of curiosity, and I'm not sure if polls can be anon or not, so I'm going to keep it 'black and white' in the sense that I'm not asking for details or descriptions (unless you want to post here!) but a simple answer.

Poll is anon, apparently!

Do you have a (chronic/current) health condition that affects your life day to day and own birds?

or

Are you in top notch health and own birds?

Just so we can gage how many of us sick (and healthy folk!) are drawn to birds on this forum.

There were a fair few posts on the 'Therapy Birds' thread with people giving their anecdotes, etc of their conditions, so I wonder how many more of you are out there that manage to juggle health and bird care. I've noticed through my overall forum/life experiences that sick people seem to gravitate towards either cats or birds as their chosen companion, so would like to see what it's like on here

Health condition's include pretty much anything, mental, physical, emotional.
Or do you have a clean bill of health

This is not a thread for healthy vs sick in regards to who provides great parrot care or not. Please keep any concerns regarding parrot care unvoiced in this thread.

crimson · Sep 10, 2013

funny you should post this. I have asthma, and had it for about 3 years, about the same time I started getting my birds.

I had a pulminary function test done earlier this summer, results came back normal.

saw my specialist and he wanted me to go for an allergy test and some blood work.
I just had the blood work done this morning, 7 viles worth! ouch, my arm.

still waiting to hear from them about the appt. for my allergy test.

for now I'd have to say I am semi-healthy

Featheredsamurai · Sep 10, 2013

I consider my self healthy, I sometimes get anxiety but it's very mil lol

crimson · Sep 10, 2013

Ashley, I think a lot of people deal with anxiety, but never admit it. I have some anxiety issues, but nothing serious.
This world we live in is way too complicated.

Jayyj · Sep 10, 2013

I've wondered about this as well given the recent thread which revealed at least three of us with ME/CFS. It was certainly a big factor in me getting involved in caring for a bird, as I don't think my lifestyle pre-illness would have allowed me to provide enough hours of contact a day with a bird.

It's probably fair to say I was emotionally pretty fragile at the start of this year, partly related to the constant struggle of dealing with the illness itself but also the fact that it was beginning to hit home how much of my previous lifestyle had been sacrificed to get things to a manageable condition, and that they were things I wasn't going to get back any time soon. Having Alice to care for has filled that void - and brought something new to my life that I might not have stumbled upon had circumstances been different.

faeryphoebe1 · Sep 10, 2013

Mayden, apart from the other stuff in the therapy birds thread, I have fibromyalgia and asthma. I need to see a specialist about the possibility of CFS/ME due to my increased fatigue (somtimes debilitating) over the last 5 years. Apparently, I'm allergic to my workplace, lol because that's where the wheezing occurs.

What symptoms did/do you folks have that led to the eventual diagnosis of CFS/ME and was it difficult to diagnose? Are there any therapies to help with the severe fatigue?

jugoya · Sep 10, 2013

lols...

My post on that last thread is self explainitory xP

But yes; Bipolar with birds, snakes and lizards.

Mayden · Sep 10, 2013

faeryphoebe1 said:
Mayden, apart from the other stuff in the therapy birds thread, I have fibromyalgia and asthma. I need to see a specialist about the possibility of CFS/ME due to my increased fatigue (somtimes debilitating) over the last 5 years. Apparently, I'm allergic to my workplace, lol because that's where the wheezing occurs.

What symptoms did/do you folks have that led to the eventual diagnosis of CFS/ME and was it difficult to diagnose? Are there any therapies to help with the severe fatigue?

Things in the US may be different, but it's basically a battery of tests to rule out everything else that could cause the symptoms, these is generally blood work to rule out things like aneamia, diabetes, MS, and a ton of autoimmune diseases too. It really is a case of trial and error, ruling everything out leaving you with just ME/CFS. It was a long process for me because of my age, 'growing pains/fatigue'. They will do a physical examination and see if you meet the critera, ask you questions regarding everything from your head to your toes and everything in between.

Once a diagnosis is made, management varies between pain meds, antidepressants and talking therapies. If they offer you graded exercise therapy, I'm warning you that it does more harm than good to most ME/CFS patients and 'pacing' is a better approach.

Good luck, I hope it something different and treatable instead.

BillsBirds · Sep 10, 2013

I've had birds all my life. My Mom & Grandparents had birds since before I was born. And I've had my own since I was a child (now 61). So, my disability & illnesses came along while having birds. And since, my birds have been my "Therapy". They give me a reason to take care of myself, so, I can take care of them. A reason to get up, and stay alive, on my worst days. Birds have been a major part of my whole life, and I don't have any idea where I'd be, or what I'd have done, without them.

Jayyj · Sep 11, 2013

Pretty much what Mayden said, except to add there is usually an obvious viral illness that acts as a trigger for ME - glandular fever being the most common but pneumonia and rheumatic fever are also candidates. It took nearly two years for me to get a diagnosis, dozens of blood tests for everything under the sun, and lots of frustration.

One problem with getting a diagnosis is that a lot of GPs don't really have a good grasp on what ME/CFS actually is, so some won't consider it at all, and others will diagnose CFS for any unspecific malaise they can't put their finger on. Having done all the tests I was also treated for depression for about six months as my doctor felt that the most likely explanation for my symptoms. In the end it was the fact that I could no longer ride a bike for more than a few minutes, where previously I averaged 10 miles a day, and that any attempts to exercise or push myself physically put me into significant pain where previously I was in pretty good shape that raised a red flag, and then he checked my notes and spotted that I'd had pneumonia a few months before he started trying to treat me for the ME symptoms.

I do think based on my experience and on talking to other sufferers that there are unique symptoms of ME that could be picked up on far quicker if there were wider understanding of it, but can't really fault my GP on the hours he put in trying to get to the bottom of it. It's a miserable illness.

JerseyWendy · Sep 11, 2013

Even though everyone always calls me "Crazy", I voted that I was healthy, simply because I was never officially diagnosed.

I mean c'mon...we all know I have some screws lose and frequent "blonde" moments...other than that I can't complain.

Kalidasa · Sep 11, 2013

Healthy

and grateful for it.

Mayden · Sep 11, 2013

Kalidasa said:
Healthy and grateful for it.

Too many take their health for granted Kalidasa, glad to hear!

Mayden · Sep 11, 2013

Jayyj said:
Pretty much what Mayden said, except to add there is usually an obvious viral illness that acts as a trigger for ME - glandular fever being the most common but pneumonia and rheumatic fever are also candidates. It took nearly two years for me to get a diagnosis, dozens of blood tests for everything under the sun, and lots of frustration.

One problem with getting a diagnosis is that a lot of GPs don't really have a good grasp on what ME/CFS actually is, so some won't consider it at all, and others will diagnose CFS for any unspecific malaise they can't put their finger on. Having done all the tests I was also treated for depression for about six months as my doctor felt that the most likely explanation for my symptoms. In the end it was the fact that I could no longer ride a bike for more than a few minutes, where previously I averaged 10 miles a day, and that any attempts to exercise or push myself physically put me into significant pain where previously I was in pretty good shape that raised a red flag, and then he checked my notes and spotted that I'd had pneumonia a few months before he started trying to treat me for the ME symptoms.

I do think based on my experience and on talking to other sufferers that there are unique symptoms of ME that could be picked up on far quicker if there were wider understanding of it, but can't really fault my GP on the hours he put in trying to get to the bottom of it. It's a miserable illness.

Ah yes, forgot to answer the 'symptoms' question. I've got majority of them, from brain fog, to fatigue, to dizzy spells when changing position (postural hypotension?), digestive troubles, sensitivity to light, sound and touch, the list goes on.

My doctors could not pin a specific starting point for my illness, because I was showing symptoms from 11 years old (now 20, almost 21!) and they put it down to growing pains, fatigue from that, etc. But stress can be a trigger too, emotional stress (trauma, abuse, etc) can just have as much as effect on a body as actual physical stress (illness) which is where I believe my illness to have stemmed from. (I did suffer from Swine Flu and such, but this was after my symptoms started.) But Swine Flu, Gland Fever (Epstein Barr Virus) seem to be two of the major culprits.

It has been noted that it seems to effect type A personalities more. So the people who are workaholics, active in all aspects of life, 'GET UP AND GO' type folk. Believed to be because "we don't know when to stop" when our body needs to heal, and so our systems get shot because of it.

I was a dancer, did martial arts, rode horses, out every single day... to being bed bound at times. My grades suffered, my attendance, my ability to do anything other than 'survive' suffered. They will probably test your 'tender' points too, which are little points on your body (for those with Fibro, I'm sure you know!) that are increasingly tender with these illnesses. After so many, it's usually Fibro, but if it's a few, then ME/CFS more likely.

I personally swear by Dr Perrin's diagnostics and treatment. Unfortunately due to lack of funding (and my own lack of money, boo!) I had to quit the treatment, but I'd look into it anyway if you can, I felt it finished the jigsaw that was my mystery illness for me.

Here's a link to my two blog posts about it with Dr Perrin's videos embedded too. (feel free to remove it mods if it's breaking rules!)

ps. my blog has been neglected recently.

catgisicki and ME

: Update: Perrin Technique
catgisicki and ME

: Perrin Technique Videos

Jayyj · Sep 11, 2013

Thanks for sharing this, I read the Perrin post, and it's good to get feedback on things like this. I've had a few courses recommended and keep thinking it's something I should look into. I'm quite lucky that having worked through pacing strategies and my boss very kindly allowing me to shorten my day at work and to be flexible when I'm going through a bad patch, I have things under control at the moment. The frustration comes when I go out for a meal or to see a band and the following few days my back and leg muscles are burning and I feel like my brain's been wrapped in cotton wool. Stress is certainly a big factor, mainly that I can't seem to focus when I'm trying to deal with problems and I get overwhelmed and emotional where previously I could easily have dealt with something.

Fortunately I don't get the full set of symptoms, mainly on a daily basis feeling the fatigue and muscle pain, with pins and needles and weird acute pains when I'm in a bad state. I don't have any digestive problems or sensitivity to sound and light, although touch is an issue if I have pins and needles in that area. I also find it hard to cope with cold weather, and a sudden drop in temperature will have me shaking uncontrollably. I wonder if this might be connected to the pneumonia, as I know ME sufferers where glandular fever is the trigger often have gland and throat related issues, but I don't know anyone else who has developed ME through pneumonia to compare notes to.

I can't imagine going through adolescence with it, that must have been awful. I do have a friend who developed it in her early teens. We went to university together and were flatmates for a while, so I have some idea how it impacts people when they're trying to study and it didn't seem easy to say the least. As a small silver lining, I have been impressed how sensitive and supportive people are towards those afflicted with it nowadays compared to the 90s where there was a great deal of skepticism, even within the medical profession.

Mayden · Sep 11, 2013

Jayyj said:
Thanks for sharing this, I read the Perrin post, and it's good to get feedback on things like this. I've had a few courses recommended and keep thinking it's something I should look into. I'm quite lucky that having worked through pacing strategies and my boss very kindly allowing me to shorten my day at work and to be flexible when I'm going through a bad patch, I have things under control at the moment. The frustration comes when I go out for a meal or to see a band and the following few days my back and leg muscles are burning and I feel like my brain's been wrapped in cotton wool. Stress is certainly a big factor, mainly that I can't seem to focus when I'm trying to deal with problems and I get overwhelmed and emotional where previously I could easily have dealt with something.

Fortunately I don't get the full set of symptoms, mainly on a daily basis feeling the fatigue and muscle pain, with pins and needles and weird acute pains when I'm in a bad state. I don't have any digestive problems or sensitivity to sound and light, although touch is an issue if I have pins and needles in that area. I also find it hard to cope with cold weather, and a sudden drop in temperature will have me shaking uncontrollably. I wonder if this might be connected to the pneumonia, as I know ME sufferers where glandular fever is the trigger often have gland and throat related issues, but I don't know anyone else who has developed ME through pneumonia to compare notes to.

I can't imagine going through adolescence with it, that must have been awful. I do have a friend who developed it in her early teens. We went to university together and were flatmates for a while, so I have some idea how it impacts people when they're trying to study and it didn't seem easy to say the least. As a small silver lining, I have been impressed how sensitive and supportive people are towards those afflicted with it nowadays compared to the 90s where there was a great deal of skepticism, even within the medical profession.

Not sure if mine was glandular or not, but I do get the 'throat' symptoms, with inflamed glands, sore throats, etc when I have a big flare. Unfortunately can't really assist with the pnumonia thing, but I too struggle with temp changes and temp regulation. My feet are 24/7 blocks of ice, as are my hands. I also have tremors, but I think that's unrelated to temp!

MECFS has sooo many symptoms and different types and severity for each person that it's hard to find someone with exactly the same as you.

I struggled incredibly with my illness during schooling. Those ages being some of the more 'formative' of your entire life makes things difficult, I have no education or trade to 'fall back on' when I am well again unlike those who say, get sick in their 30's/40's. I will have to do it all all over again when I get the chance, if I get the chance, because the stress of it all will probably trigger a flare.

Currently working part time a week in retail to help make ends meet, but vet nursing is where I want to be. Unfortunately that requires 40hours per week and then some, with exams. Can't risk losing my job to try Vet Nursing, for me to have to drop out for health, ho hum!

I've heard of people emmigrating to Aus/NZ and making a 80-90% recovery... anyone up for joining me? :32:

If anyone is struggling with their illness, MECFS or not, feel free to pm me for a little grumble about it. I understand it's tough and sometimes the people around us forget just how tough it can be.

ruffledfeathers · Sep 12, 2013

I am lucky to have good health. I have some allergies, asthma, aches and pains but nothing major. =) As a young person I was anorexic and very ill, and really didn't think i would live much into adulthood and at that point I had almost given up and didn't care if i didn't make it. I was one of the lucky ones who completely recovered (and i actually always thanked Karen Carpenter because her death in the early 80s brought such awareness to eating disorders and my anorexic journey began shortly after her death....)
I guess i'm still prone to being a little anxious and i'm super hard on myself, but some things are just who we are....and as long as we deal with them effectively, it's all good.

My pets do help me keep it real!! I thank them for it all the time!

Blueridge · Sep 17, 2013

I have severe anxiety and have to take medicine for it, but my parrot Rocky always calms me down and makes me smile

'Therapy Birds' got me wondering...

Do you own birds and have a health condition?

I have a chronic/current health condition and own birds.

I am in good health and own birds.

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