Release Statements before vaccinations: I've had some physicians require
them and others not do so for the same types of vax, so it does happen
but is variable, Russ, and not just with flu shots, either.  I have
noticed that those least likely to require them have more of the "old
country doctor" approach to such things.  (Hey, I know "old country
doctor"; I was shown how to do an emergency stoma surgery on my kid
sister after a bad sting when I was just in junior high -- that would be
several years over 40 years ago now.  Gads, my 40th high school reunion
is in a few years.  BTW, do many kids or young adults in the U.S  even
know what junior high was anymore?  Now everything is middle school
around here with the age divisions different. :-)  Gads, I am getting
old... How the heck did that happen?  I like the calmness it can bring,
though.  So much in life is pretty well peripheral or non-essential,
actually.  Not nitty gritty.  Companies which don't hire older workers
lose the money saving and time saving power of that knowledge and the
experience on which it is based.  But, I am tired, and rambling because
I have worked hard recently, slept too little, and do have such luxury
here, and other FML members know exactly what I mean.  Besides, Bill will
trash it if it should be trashed and I'll respect him on that score.  No
prob.  It's book.  Didn't think I knew that word use did you young'uns?
Bet you don't know that I know "Sukie in the Graveyard" or who suggested
my name (but only my name not context), either -- which is really, really
book.  LOL!)
 
I want to thank Anthony for taking the time to read carefully enough to
know what I was saying and then responding in such a well worded, fair,
and kind way.  Your post was a breath of fresh air on Tuesday, Anthony!
 
I also want to thank, Deva, for her incredibly sweet words on Wednesday.
It is good to know that I sometimes manage to achieve what I so often set
out trying to do: providing information while respecting the intelligence
of the people reading it and their own abilities to investigate further
if needed, and to make up their own minds.  I have periodically been
chastised off list by some who don't share my high opinion of the
intelligence and industriousness of the FML membership, but I'd rather
think better of people's abilities and then tackle questions if they
arise than talk down to them.  I know the people here can and do pull out
dictionaries if I forget myself or shortcut my vocabulary, I know they
can look at their keyboards when I type "sunset" instead of "subset", and
I know they can -- and will -- make their own judgments.  My high opinion
of the membership is one of the main reasons why I have remained here
(besides my dear friends among the membership some of whom I know well
face to face and others whom I have worked with or shared with -- often
for many years --despite not meeting face to face, Bill's hard work, and
the chances to learn and laugh and cry together) and why I have been here
consistently from the birth of the FML.  I am here because most of the
people here are wonderful.
 
I promised Christine yesterday that I would remind people of the dangers
of blockages if I was awake enough to remember too do so.  Blockages
tend to be the most common horrid medical surprise of newbies who have
under-estimated ferret proofing, or have provided latex or rubber toys,
or have given dried fruits or veggies, or... Anyone can himself of
herself facing a blocked ferret, though.  It might be an unpassed and
huge furball, or a found eraser, or a fallen equipment thingie* (the
rubber pieces at the bottom that buffer them when set down), or the
thingies* that stop counter doors from banging, or one who likes to eat
in bed may have a "fur" ball that is mostly fake fleece (documented by a
few vets and owners who bothered to check content), or a ferret may have
decided to devour a used sock (having had one who suddenly was able to
poop true green after getting a petroleum based laxative.  A new area
probably poses the greatest risk.  Either you have way too much to do, or
it would be impolite to get down on your stomach and look around to find
risk factors (not only for blockages) and open cabinets looking for loose
"thingies", but ferrets can suddenly try something new even in a place
you have already ferret proofed.  (That is why my medications are
actually in a locked metal lockbox the same as one would do with a
child.)
 
Complete blockages can cause a build up of toxins if they exist for over
48 hours, sometimes less, meaning that sometimes even then surgery might
not succeed, but it should be tried anyway.  Foreign bodies that have
been ingested can cause perforations which can be fatal, and some can
poison.  A moving stomach partial blockage can run the stomach raw and
necessitate ulcer medication.
 
Christine, thank you in your time of pain to want to turn your suffering
into a way for others to learn.  That is a generous gift to everyone.
 
Oh, everyone, oils do NOT help move those blockages which will respond to
meds, in fact, oil is hard to digest so it actually slows passage except
when it is given in very copious amounts, and then it causes very loose
diarrhea which may be too loose (bird seedy usually in this case) to pull
things along.  The gentlest effective treatments are petroleum jelly
based.  Mineral oil works but tends to cause painful cramping too often.
To work the meds can not be digestible.
[Posted in FML issue 5162]