Eglu cube or go up with 2m run

[whoopsie]

I have contracted Campylobacter, a very nasty form of food poisoning, and as it is associated with chicken I wonder if mine should/can be tested or treated. I know I can't pinpoint where I picked the infection up from (it takes a while to incubate and may well have been from something I ate) but I want to be as careful as I can.

 

Any advice here?

[Redwing]

I'm not sure - I know that its associated with meat, not sure about eggs or contact with chickens though..

 

A company called Retfords is supposed to be very good for testing chicken poop, skin s"Ooops, word censored!"ings etc.... it might be worth contacting them to see if they can help

[whoopsie]

Thanks Redwing - i'll call them in the morning. They both seem to be absolutely fine though I understand they may not have any symptoms. I do though!!

[Goosey Lucy]

You have my symapthies. I had a nasty bout of this many years ago which the dr thought I contracted through eating cheese which had been sliced by a knife previously used to slice raw meat

 

As for your hens, I would say follow standard hygeine prcedures - wash your hands after touching them or anything henny (coop, eggs etc)

 

Hope you feel better soon x

[whoopsie]

Thank you Lucy. I do all of those but shall be even more vigilant from now on! Have had my girls for almost a year though and can't see where they would have picked it up from in the first place. Cue a big cleaning operation in the garden though!! Paranoid? Moi?

[sadietoo]

A friend of mine managed to pick this up when preparing a chicken dish...she can only assume that at some time she managed to eat something (end of a carrot or something like that ) that had been prepared using the same knife..

 

It made her feel very under the weather for some time, so sending you very best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[lheurebleue]

If it has anything to do with live chickens (raw, ready to eat ones are full of campylobacter) then it's going to be found in their poo. You should always wash your hands after being in contact with chickens.

 

Do you have any other pets? You can also pick it up from their infected poo, but it's more likely you've just eaten something dodgy.

[Lydia]

You have my deepest sympathies. I've had campylobacter and it floored me for quite a while. I can highly recommend Buscopan for the awful tummy pains if you're having them - available over the counter at most pharmacies.

 

I had to complete all the forms from environmental health at the time and it was traced to the local restaurant round the corner. Funnily enough we've given the place a very wide berth every since...

 

According to my GP at the time most cases are traced to poor food preparation.

 

My advice would also be to avoid anything vaguely raw for quite a few months afterwards as it takes a while for your body to settle - things like unpasturised cheeses, raw egg dishes, raw fish etc - things that I would normally eat (and do again now) but which caused a mini repeat bout a few months later for me.

[The Dogmother]

If you are following basic hygiene procedures, then it's more likely that you have contracted it from something you have eaten.

[dixie chick]

My son had this a few years ago and after lots of investigations we narrowed it down to the fact that he had drunk some milk from a bottle that had been pecked open by Magpies - we didn't have chickens at the time. It clearly is a hazard of bird contact and a wretched illness - he lost about 10lb in a week! (could be quite a positive outcome for some of us )

[whoopsie]

Well I could do with losing a bit round the middle..... Seriously I called Retfords this morning and they were great. very unlikely to be from my hens since I don't eat them! but they said send a poo sample anyway.

 

Thanks for all the good wishes and advice. I get IBS anyway so am always careful with foods and hygiene - but it could have come from anywhere.

[whoopsie]

Good news from Retfords - my chooks don't have it!

 

Thanyou to everyone on the site for information and support. I am recovering slowly.

[Chucky Mama]

You are as likely to pick it up from a dog.

[Goosey Lucy]

Glad to hear the news about your chooks, also good to hear you're recovering, just take it easy!

[whoopsie]

Take it easy? Me? Yeah all right i'm trying! Just found out today I should be avoiding dairy products - shame the GP didn't tell me that as I drink loads of milk normally! Oh well i'll get there in the end.