\n
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
I knew something was wrong.<\/span><\/h2>\nMy kidneys were hurting me.
\nI was peeing every 20 minutes, was in acute pain,
\nand my\u00a0urine had blood in it. This had persisted
\nfor the past 3 days.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I had tried the usual remedies: cranberry juice,
\nd-Mannose, and even\u00a0GSE – but none of them
\nworked. Now, I needed to see my GP.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
My GP took me right away, did the urine culture, and
\nsuggested I get started on antibiotics right away.
\nI wasn’t convinced. I wanted to get the results of the
\nurine culture (which would take 5 days) to know what
\nI\u00a0had first, and what would treat it most effectively.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
She warned me of Sepsis<\/strong><\/span>, and to stay on top of any change of symptoms – high fever, increased heartbeat or
\nrespiration, feelings of dizziness, and alert her right away.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Mayo Clinic<\/span><\/a>\u00a0describes Sepsis:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n“…Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nSepsis occurs when chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight
\nthe infection trigger inflammation\u00a0throughout the body. This inflammation
\ncan trigger a cascade of changes that can\u00a0damage multiple organ systems,
\ncausing them to fail.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If sepsis progresses to septic shock, blood pressure drops dramatically,
\nwhich may\u00a0lead to death.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\nAnyone can develop sepsis, but it’s most common and most dangerous in elderly\u00a0people or those with weakened immune systems. Early
\ntreatment of sepsis, usually with antibiotics and large amounts of
\nintravenous fluids, improves chances for survival.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Many doctors view sepsis as a three-stage syndrome, starting with sepsis and progressing through severe sepsis to septic shock. The goal is to treat
\nsepsis during its mild stage, before it becomes more dangerous.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Sepsis<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
To be diagnosed with sepsis, you must exhibit at least two of the following symptoms:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n- Fever above 101.3 F (38.5 C) or below 95 F (35 C)<\/em><\/li>\n
- Heart rate higher than 90 beats a minute<\/em><\/li>\n
- Respiratory rate higher than 20 breaths a minute<\/em><\/li>\n
- Probable or confirmed infection…”<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Why was I so reticent to take some antibiotics?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
Although antibiotics are life-saving in many cases,<\/span><\/strong>
\n they can also have tremendously serious side effects,<\/span><\/strong>
\n like: \u00a0C. Diff, torn achilles heel, and\u00a0permanent neuropathy.<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I believe that the antibiotics that have been<\/span> around
\nfor the past 30 years, rather than the newer “designer ones”\u00a0are less dangerous in terms of long term side effects.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Click here to read the Paper on Old-Fashioned Antibiotic Uses<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
It was a painful and\u00a0difficult 5 days awaiting the results.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
My GP called me and\u00a0confirmed: E. Coli!<\/span>
\n And the best antibiotic to treat it was: Cipro!<\/span><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
I was not happy about taking Cipro.
\nShe prescribed (horse-sized) Cipro pills for 3 days.<\/span><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
To prevent getting C. Diff, I started taking massive
\namounts of probiotics:
\nVSL #3DS, Floracor-GI, S. Boulaardi, and Culturelle.
\nI wanted to make sure to flood my colon with enough
\nvaried strains in huge quantities to prevent C. Diff.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I had to make sure to take the Probiotics 3 hours after the Cipro to ensure they wouldn’t cancel each other out.<\/span><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
How would I possibly have gotten E. Coli?<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I started to re-trace my steps.<\/span><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
About 8 days\u00a0prior to, I had started my 10 year old<\/span> ferrel cat on a new dry food\u00a0(grain free of course).<\/span> It was expensive and healthy for her. But I noticed,<\/span> after a day or so, she developed urinary problems:<\/span> she was spending lots of time in the litter box,<\/span> she was\u00a0straining and in pain, and I saw blood in her urine.<\/span><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
I felt badly for her, picked her up as I always did, and<\/span><\/h2>\n caressed her silky back. She was clearly in pain.<\/span>
\n (And I didn’t realize I had an open cut in my finger).<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
I took her to the Vet, and he confirmed she had E. Coli.<\/span><\/h2>\n He told me some companies ( even good ones) have<\/span>
\n had issues with food contaminated E.Coli. He put her on<\/span> some antibiotics for 7 days.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
I called the store\u00a0where I had purchased her food,<\/span> and told them about the E.Coli contamination my vet<\/span> suggested. They issued\u00a0me a full refund and told me<\/span> to throw out her food.<\/span><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
And a few days later, my symptoms started, and<\/span>
\n then increased in severity, pain and seriousness.<\/span><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
So,<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>How would I possibly have gotten E. Coli?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe natural behavior of cats is to groom themselves alot.
\nMy cat was no different, and always groomed herself
\nthoroughly after eating. And when she contracted
\nE.Coli from the contaminated food, she groomed herself
\ntoo. And when I picked her up to caress her, I didn’t
\nknow she had E.Coli, and I didn’t realize I had an open cut
\non my finger.<\/span><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
And so when I caressed her, touching those areas where<\/span> she had groomed herself with the contaminated E. Coli<\/span> bacteria, I contracted the E.Coli bacteria from her<\/span> through the\u00a0open cut on my finger.<\/span><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
My cat was better within a few days.<\/span>
\n And I got better within 5\u00a0days.<\/span>
\n And thankfully, because of the preventive measures I<\/span> took, I didn’t get the dreaded C. Diff.<\/span><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
The moral of this story is: You can get E. Coli from your cat!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
To learn more about E. Coli, here are some resources<\/span><\/strong><\/span>:<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n <\/p>\n
1) From the Public Health Agency of Canada<\/span><\/a> (click here)<\/span><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
2)\u00a0“Petting Zoos Could Spread E. Coli”<\/a><\/span> (click here)<\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
3) \u00a0From FoodSafety.Gov<\/span><\/a> \u00a0(click here)<\/h2>\n\n\n“E. coli<\/h1>\n
![\"Ecoli\"](\"http:\/\/www.foodsafety.gov\/images\/ecoli.jpg\" "\\"Ecoli\\"")
<\/p>\n
E. coli<\/em>\u00a0is the name of a type of bacteria that lives in your intestines and in the intestines of animals.
\nAlthough most types of\u00a0E. coli<\/em>\u00a0are harmless, some types can make you sick.<\/p>\nThe worst type of\u00a0E. coli<\/em>, known as\u00a0E. coli O157:H7<\/em>, causes bloody diarrhea
\nand can sometimes cause kidney failure and even death.\u00a0E. coli<\/em>\u00a0O157:H7
\nmakes a toxin called Shiga toxin and is known as a Shiga toxin-producing\u00a0E. coli<\/em>\u00a0(STEC).
\nThere are many other types of STEC, and some can make you just as sick as\u00a0E. coli<\/em>\u00a0O157:H7.<\/p>\nOne severe complication associated with\u00a0E. coli<\/em>\u00a0infection is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
\nThe infection produces toxic substances that destroy red blood cells, causing kidney injury.
\nHUS can require intensive care, kidney dialysis, and transfusions.<\/p>\n
\nI was peeing every 20 minutes, was in acute pain,
\nand my\u00a0urine had blood in it. This had persisted
\nfor the past 3 days.<\/p>\n
\nd-Mannose, and even\u00a0GSE – but none of them
\nworked. Now, I needed to see my GP.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
My GP took me right away, did the urine culture, and <\/p>\n She warned me of Sepsis<\/strong><\/span>, and to stay on top of any change of symptoms – high fever, increased heartbeat or <\/p>\n Mayo Clinic<\/span><\/a>\u00a0describes Sepsis:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “…Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Sepsis occurs when chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight <\/p>\n If sepsis progresses to septic shock, blood pressure drops dramatically, Anyone can develop sepsis, but it’s most common and most dangerous in elderly\u00a0people or those with weakened immune systems. Early <\/p>\n Many doctors view sepsis as a three-stage syndrome, starting with sepsis and progressing through severe sepsis to septic shock. The goal is to treat <\/p>\n <\/p>\n To be diagnosed with sepsis, you must exhibit at least two of the following symptoms:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I believe that the antibiotics that have been<\/span> around <\/p>\n Click here to read the Paper on Old-Fashioned Antibiotic Uses<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was a painful and\u00a0difficult 5 days awaiting the results.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n To prevent getting C. Diff, I started taking massive <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n caressed her silky back. She was clearly in pain.<\/span> <\/p>\n He told me some companies ( even good ones) have<\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n So,<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>How would I possibly have gotten E. Coli?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The moral of this story is: You can get E. Coli from your cat!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n E. coli<\/em>\u00a0is the name of a type of bacteria that lives in your intestines and in the intestines of animals. The worst type of\u00a0E. coli<\/em>, known as\u00a0E. coli O157:H7<\/em>, causes bloody diarrhea One severe complication associated with\u00a0E. coli<\/em>\u00a0infection is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
\nsuggested I get started on antibiotics right away.
\nI wasn’t convinced. I wanted to get the results of the
\nurine culture (which would take 5 days) to know what
\nI\u00a0had first, and what would treat it most effectively.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nrespiration, feelings of dizziness, and alert her right away.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n
\nthe infection trigger inflammation\u00a0throughout the body. This inflammation
\ncan trigger a cascade of changes that can\u00a0damage multiple organ systems,
\ncausing them to fail.<\/p>\n
\nwhich may\u00a0lead to death.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
\ntreatment of sepsis, usually with antibiotics and large amounts of
\nintravenous fluids, improves chances for survival.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
\nsepsis during its mild stage, before it becomes more dangerous.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\nSepsis<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
Why was I so reticent to take some antibiotics?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Although antibiotics are life-saving in many cases,<\/span><\/strong>
\n they can also have tremendously serious side effects,<\/span><\/strong>
\n like: \u00a0C. Diff, torn achilles heel, and\u00a0permanent neuropathy.<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nfor the past 30 years, rather than the newer “designer ones”\u00a0are less dangerous in terms of long term side effects.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nMy GP called me and\u00a0confirmed: E. Coli!<\/span>
\n And the best antibiotic to treat it was: Cipro!<\/span><\/h2>\nI was not happy about taking Cipro.
\nShe prescribed (horse-sized) Cipro pills for 3 days.<\/span><\/h2>\n
\namounts of probiotics:
\nVSL #3DS, Floracor-GI, S. Boulaardi, and Culturelle.
\nI wanted to make sure to flood my colon with enough
\nvaried strains in huge quantities to prevent C. Diff.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nI had to make sure to take the Probiotics 3 hours after the Cipro to ensure they wouldn’t cancel each other out.<\/span><\/h2>\n
How would I possibly have gotten E. Coli?<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
I started to re-trace my steps.<\/span><\/h2>\n
About 8 days\u00a0prior to, I had started my 10 year old<\/span> ferrel cat on a new dry food\u00a0(grain free of course).<\/span> It was expensive and healthy for her. But I noticed,<\/span> after a day or so, she developed urinary problems:<\/span> she was spending lots of time in the litter box,<\/span> she was\u00a0straining and in pain, and I saw blood in her urine.<\/span><\/h2>\n
I felt badly for her, picked her up as I always did, and<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n (And I didn’t realize I had an open cut in my finger).<\/span><\/p>\nI took her to the Vet, and he confirmed she had E. Coli.<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n had issues with food contaminated E.Coli. He put her on<\/span> some antibiotics for 7 days.<\/span><\/p>\nI called the store\u00a0where I had purchased her food,<\/span> and told them about the E.Coli contamination my vet<\/span> suggested. They issued\u00a0me a full refund and told me<\/span> to throw out her food.<\/span><\/h2>\n
And a few days later, my symptoms started, and<\/span>
\n then increased in severity, pain and seriousness.<\/span><\/h2>\nThe natural behavior of cats is to groom themselves alot.
\nMy cat was no different, and always groomed herself
\nthoroughly after eating. And when she contracted
\nE.Coli from the contaminated food, she groomed herself
\ntoo. And when I picked her up to caress her, I didn’t
\nknow she had E.Coli, and I didn’t realize I had an open cut
\non my finger.<\/span><\/h2>\nAnd so when I caressed her, touching those areas where<\/span> she had groomed herself with the contaminated E. Coli<\/span> bacteria, I contracted the E.Coli bacteria from her<\/span> through the\u00a0open cut on my finger.<\/span><\/h2>\n
My cat was better within a few days.<\/span>
\n And I got better within 5\u00a0days.<\/span>
\n And thankfully, because of the preventive measures I<\/span> took, I didn’t get the dreaded C. Diff.<\/span><\/h2>\nTo learn more about E. Coli, here are some resources<\/span><\/strong><\/span>:<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n
1) From the Public Health Agency of Canada<\/span><\/a> (click here)<\/span><\/h2>\n
2)\u00a0“Petting Zoos Could Spread E. Coli”<\/a><\/span> (click here)<\/h2>\n
3) \u00a0From FoodSafety.Gov<\/span><\/a> \u00a0(click here)<\/h2>\n
\n\n“E. coli<\/h1>\n
<\/p>\n
\nAlthough most types of\u00a0E. coli<\/em>\u00a0are harmless, some types can make you sick.<\/p>\n
\nand can sometimes cause kidney failure and even death.\u00a0E. coli<\/em>\u00a0O157:H7
\nmakes a toxin called Shiga toxin and is known as a Shiga toxin-producing\u00a0E. coli<\/em>\u00a0(STEC).
\nThere are many other types of STEC, and some can make you just as sick as\u00a0E. coli<\/em>\u00a0O157:H7.<\/p>\n
\nThe infection produces toxic substances that destroy red blood cells, causing kidney injury.
\nHUS can require intensive care, kidney dialysis, and transfusions.<\/p>\n