A Little Fable - Page 23

I have been, SS, I just can't bear to go with out any loving.....
And I've been talking to them, when I'm up in the middle of the night with pain I pull a chair up to their crates & just talk my heart out to them, & Ansgar at least talks back, Beckett looks at me soulfully, Lil' Bit couldn't give a s**t!  Lol! That's who they are...!
jackie harris
(feeling GREAT today!)

I think the positive effects from petting them probably outweigh the negatives of the small chance they're actually carrying anything zoonotic. I know I couldn't resist petting mine in the same situation!

Glad you're feeling great today, Jackie!

Some of the biggest dangers to those receiving chemo are systemic fungal infections. Not sure how great that risk would be due to petting dogs.

 I too am glad you are feeling better today, Jackie. The worst may be over for you.

I sure hope so! jackie harris

The most common fungal infection chemo patients get is a yeast infection. This can be either oral, or on other areas (vagina, perineum, or even in the folds of skin at the top of the thighs or under the breasts.) It's easily treated with topical creams or nystatin oral solution.

Needless to say it is NOT transmitted from canines to humans!

Our wound care specialist said if a patient has a really red skin rash, it's either yeast or an allergy. You don't always see the typical white crud that accompanies the vagina infections most of us ladies are familiar with!

 

This might not be the best place or time to discuss the dangers of the side effects of chemo?

If it's my post you're referring to, Blitzen, I put it there because my husband suffered from a horrible yeast infection for over a week, and NO ONE knew what it was, or seemed interested in doing anything for it, even though I told the staff THREE TIMES to get him on some treatment for it!  Forewarned is forearmed. This is one of those things doctors may miss, because they are not with the patient as much as the nurses are.

Anyway, yeast infections are one of the least serious side effects of chemo, but they can make your darn uncomfortable!

Hey, Jackie's a nurse. She knows all about this stuff! 

And I think too many doctors are phobic when it comes to animals. You are much more likely to pick up an infection from your own species, or even have a bug that's already present in your own body get out of control due to the immune system being out of whack.

So glad that the pain is retreating, Jackie!!  

As for the potential for exposure to something opportunistic by having contact with the dogs, if there's something that could put you at risk that might carry into the house with them, chances are Carl and anyone else who comes in is also bringing that in on their clothes and shoes as well--in addition to all the other potentially infectious organisms we transport around with us on a daily basis. Some cuddling with Ansgar, Beckett and Lil' Bit sounds like it would more likely be therapeutic than detrimental.  I'm pretty sure your medical team knows you're savvy enough to know where to draw the lines, Jackie, and are human enough to know that not having contact with your dogs is simply an unrealistic expectation.