Why Couldn't I Just Win the Lottery? - [Crazies]

Posted by Chubbypanda at 4/02/2007 10:50:00 PM

or...

E. coli in Orange County



My regular readers might have noticed that I missed my regular Friday post last week, and that I haven't responded to any comments or email. Since Thursday morning, I've been caught up in what has to be the worst case of food poisoning it's ever been my misfortune to suffer, with teeth-clenching cramps, fever, diarrhea, nausea, and dizziness. Saturday night, I noticed signs of internal bleeding, which prompted me to head straight to my doctor's this morning. She diagnosed me as having an invasive organism that was attacking the lining of my intestines and prescribed antibiotics for me. She also handed me a fax she'd received that morning from the County of Orange Health Care Agency.


(Letterhead and first paragraph.)


Here's a close-up of the most important point.


(Key point.)


Yes, fellow residents, E. coli O157 has come to Orange County. I get to be one of the lucky contestants. The nurses took a few vials of blood and gave me some sample jars that I'm still trying to figure out how to fill neatly. I'm not sure when the tests will come back, but I've been ordered to rest at home until the doctor sees me again on Thursday. As I haven't been able to keep anything other than watery rice gruel, chicken soup, and flat 7-Up in my stomach since Thursday, you may not see a restaurant review post here this week. Don't worry, I'm working hard to get well. E. coli O157 didn't beat me in the five days it had me. Hopefully, the tasty antibiotics will kick its ass.

As a note of caution, I didn't get my unwelcome guests by eating at home. Last week, before I got sick, I was so busy at the office that I ate all of my meals out, mainly in the Huntington Beach and Irvine areas. If anyone in those parts of Orange County or elsewhere is suffering from fever, abdominal cramps, and "bloody and unusually severe diarrhea", I urge you to see your doctor at once. This is a very serious illness. The earlier you’re diagnosed, the sooner you can be treated.



Read the full fax from the County of Orange Health Care Agency here.

For more information about E. coli O157, visit the United States Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

For a fact sheet for the Orange County Public about E. coli O157 from the County of Orange Health Care Agency click here.

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23 comments:

  1. elmomonster said... 4/03/2007 04:23:00 AM

    Oh geez. Sorry to hear that CP. Here's to speedy recovery. Now I kinda want you to list every place you've eaten (perhaps privately?).  

  2. elmomonster said... 4/03/2007 04:27:00 AM

    Uh...CP, was it a SoupPlantation in Lake Forest? Article in LA TIMES.

    I know you were in Lake Forest for The Hat!  

  3. elmomonster said... 4/03/2007 04:50:00 AM

    By the way, I heard this story in one of those teasers last night, where the say "E. Coli found in Orange County restaurant...story at 11" which left me going "WHERE???"

    And then I read this! WHYYYY!!!! Sorry for the frequency of my comments. Get better CP!  

  4. Julian Hsu said... 4/03/2007 06:45:00 AM

    Hey, sorry to hear about the bug that got ya. Hope you feel better soon.  

  5. Anita said... 4/03/2007 07:39:00 AM

    Panda, you've had a terrible run lately. I hope you're able to eat tasty food again soon. :S  

  6. nhbilly said... 4/03/2007 11:12:00 AM

    hope you're feeling better....  

  7. Wandering Chopsticks said... 4/03/2007 01:01:00 PM

    Aww, man, double whammy sickness in the past month. Hope you feel better soon. :(  

  8. Eric said... 4/03/2007 02:22:00 PM

    Ouch, this totally sucks man. I hope you're back up and running soon. Here's to a speedy recovery.  

  9. tigerfish said... 4/03/2007 03:54:00 PM

    Work hard to get well fast! Where was the origin was this E-coli out-break. Months ago in Norcal, it was the spinach E-coli outbreak. Hope you are already better by the time you read this. Take care.  

  10. Yuzu said... 4/03/2007 03:56:00 PM

    Aww man, that's a major downer. :( Give that E. coli a serious ass-kickin'!  

  11. Jeni said... 4/03/2007 05:38:00 PM

    Dude, I think D's sister in OC got it too. She got sick Friday night eating at Shin Sen Gumi yakitori. I'll have her check this out. Sorry man!  

  12. Deb said... 4/03/2007 07:51:00 PM

    Oh my gosh Panda Man!! No idea where it could have come from? Have you called any of the places you'd eaten (that may be going a little far but at least you..and they...would know). Take care!!!!!!!  

  13. Passionate Eater said... 4/03/2007 08:10:00 PM

    Oh no, that is terrible! I hope you feel better soon. Your post totally reminded me of that Married with Children where Al Bundy was eating all of the fried clams that he stole from the all-you-can-eat buffet, and he found out they were contaminated. :( Except your case is different, because you're much better looking, more suave, and far more intelligent that Al Bundy!

    Hope that your bad luck will turn into good luck soon.

    ... And, if you win the lotto, I'm sharing the proceeds!  

  14. KirkK said... 4/03/2007 09:09:00 PM

    Oh man.....E coli is nasty stuff. Good thing you got some medical help in a timely manner...that stuff can do permanent damage! Get well soon....and suck down those ABX's  

  15. Kathy said... 4/03/2007 10:09:00 PM

    ohno! Get better sooon! gesh, of all the people it could have happen to, you certaintly did NOT deserve it! Rest up! :)  

  16. Rasa Malaysia said... 4/03/2007 10:32:00 PM

    I am sorry to hear that you take care and get well soon.  

  17. ChristianZ said... 4/04/2007 12:32:00 AM

    Ouch! Get better, man. I eat In Irvine and Huntington Beach all the time. Maybe I better switch to eating in Placentia and Midway City.  

  18. Arisuu said... 4/05/2007 12:53:00 AM

    Wow, I wish you a speedy recovery!

    I also heard on the news that it was a Souplantation in Lake Forest where 7 people were affected.

    I'm a regular reader on your site, but first time commenting. Take care and get plenty of rest.  

  19. Chubbypanda said... 4/05/2007 09:57:00 AM

    Elmo,

    I want to wait for my test results to come back first and figure out the length of incubation. Then I'll be happy to tell you privately all the places I think might be suspect.

    Nope. Never been to that Soup Plantation. Ever.

    Working on it, my friend. I love my antibiotics.

    Julian,

    Thanks, buddy.

    Anita,

    I've noticed that. I'm annoyed that I had to spend some hard earned vacation time on this. =(

    nhbilly,

    I am now, thanks to the antibiotics. Thanks so much for commenting.

    WC,

    Thanks! Flu + invasive bacteria = bad time for panda this quarter.

    Eric,

    Thanks, buddy. Appreciate it.

    Tigerfish,

    Thanks. Working hard at resting. I've been wondering about vegetable sources as well, since I don't eat much meat.

    Yuzu,

    There was some ass kicking going on, but not by me. Then I walloped it over the back of the head with some antibiotics when it wasn't looking. Now I've got it tied up in the basement.

    Jeni,

    Awww... Poor thing. Too bad bacteria don't have tires, eh? =)

    The only thing I've eaten at Shinsengumi recently has been ramen, and Cat and Elonweis both had some too.

    Deb,

    I thought it best to wait for the test results. The County of Orange Health Care Agency will get the names of the restaurants from me afterwards.

    PE,

    Awww... Thanks for all the compliments! If I win the lotto, I'm hosting the biggest food blogger meet you ever did see and flying you in to enjoy it. =)

    Kirk,

    The first three days I honestly thought I might die. Thanks buddy. I'm popping the ABXs like Pocky.

    Kathy,

    Thanks! My only consolation is I'm pretty sure I couldn't have gotten it from a baked good. =b

    Rasa Malaysia,

    Thank you.

    Christianz,

    Something weird is going on. They shut down Woodbridge Elementary in Irvine to sanitize it since one of the kids came down with e. coli. I think it might be a supplier issue.

    Arisuu,

    Thanks for commenting. I hope you've enjoyed my articles.

    - Chubbypanda  

  20. Anonymous said... 4/07/2007 03:41:00 AM

    Umm-

    If your doctor thinks it is E.Coli 0157, it SHOULD NOT be treated with antibiotics as it can cause kidney complications. Just supportive care...

    I would assume at this point you are feeling better...?  

  21. Chubbypanda said... 4/07/2007 08:34:00 AM

    Anon,

    The doctor felt that given my condition when she saw me, and that e. coli was only one of a number of possible organism which could be invading my system, antibiotics were necessary. She explained her reasoning to me and the risks before prescribing the antibiotics. At that point, I was so sick I would have taken paint thinner if she'd said it might make me better.

    In any case, I'm feeling much better now. I felt better within a day or two of starting the antibiotic treatment. It's quite possible that what I had wasn't e. coli. We're still waiting for the test results. In my post, I only stated that e. coli was a possibility, and urged my readers to get checked out by their doctors if they developed any of the symptoms I described.

    - Chubbypanda  

  22. Captain Jack said... 4/07/2007 10:27:00 AM

    Holy Cow CP,

    I was just catching up on your postings and saw this! I hope by the time you read this the antibiotics are kicking ass. Sorry for the belated get well soon.  

  23. Chubbypanda said... 4/07/2007 10:25:00 PM

    Hey Cap'n Jack,

    I'm almost all better now. Don't mind telling you that it was real rough going for a while. Thanks for the support!

    - Chubbypanda  

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