Posted by Diane
on September 26, 2007, 7:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Houseplants"
64.12.117.138
Well i guess i must be the odd one out here because i have reptiles, fish, cats, houseplants a garden and a pond on my lawn. I have had the same two cats for almost 18 years now. I have had numerous iguanas for over 12 years, i have had fish numerous times in my lifetime, my latest tankfull i've had almost 2 years. Ive had my pond out on the lawn for about 5 years and my garden for 5 years also.... I got cepacia while i was hospitalized for the first time 10 years ago. The lizards, cats, houseplants etc. had nothing to do with it. When i was diagnosed with an aspergilloma last year, i asked my Doctor if i shold get rid of my houseplants and she said no because it is highly unlikely it came from there and also she didnt want me to live in a concrete world ( so to speak) Aspergillus, cepacia, pseudomonas etc. are all airborne pathogens and no matter how much you remove the items on the "list" from your home, to avoid contact with these pathogens, if you're gonna get it, you're gonna get it. I would think the most important thing you can do is proper handwashing and proper sanitizing when hospitalized. With my animals i always wash my hands after handling them or cleaning their cages. Its isnt the animal itself that causes problems it is their feces. I always wear gloves when cleaning the cages and the cat litter etc. Now with Birds the problem with them is.... they can get respiratory illnes that can transfer to humans especially to those of us with cf. I Currently have a pheasant i hatched from an egg ( she is 4 months old now) but she is going to a farm eventually. I dont know, but to me a life without animals doesnt sound too good .
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