My doctor really believes that it is giardia and he reassured me that the results will be in tomorrow. Apparently, something was up with the "parasite" part of the test that needed more observations. I WILL pass on all info the minute I receive them tomorrow.

I suggest that the investigation start at the water source (wells). I heard that there is a farm upstream that has animals. Their poop could have been washed into the water sources via the rain. Also, I found out that giardia can show signs less than a week depending on the individual. Some people show many symptoms and others show little to no symptoms. The problem is that if it isn't treated, then you can spread it via toilets. The parasite can live in the small intestine for up to a month. There are meds that kill this parasite. I received all of this info from my doctor and my own research.

I still have signs of this parasite and I originally got sick on the saturday of GM.

Please, everyone go get checked out!

I am waiting for test results from the hospital. They originally told me it would take 24 hours but when I called today, the results weren't in yet. And they told me that they don't give out results over the phone, so I have to go back to find out. I'll post them and call the CDC when I get them. Today, I had my first real poop! Yesterday, my boyfriend went to the doctor and got treated for Giardia as well, no stool required. He was given the medicine Tinidazole which is a 2 gram, 4 pill, one doze treatment. I'm jealous, cause I have the 7 day, 21 pill medicine. A Lancaster, PA friend also went to the doctor today, gave a stool sample and received the same medicine as me. When I hear his test results, I'll post them as well.

Thanks, Liz. I second your advice. I know there will be some folks who will come despite being ill, or who know they may have been exposed. Lots of people just don't consider the consequences, and plenty more believe they just at something that didn't agree with them. They never go to a doctor, so they never know for sure what hit them. This makes it hard for us to get people to understand we NEED them to help us out with numbers, symptoms, start dates, etc.

It's not just Gaian Mind, Wicker Man or events at 4QF. As Orren said, a large part of the problem with this illness is that people get sick and travel from one festival to the next. Getting medical help is not a necessity for most viral illnesses, but a positive diagnosis will help the medical establishment to track this better.

The rest of the test results for the Farm will be back soon, but in the meantime, we do know that it's not the Starvin' Artist and it's not the water.

i just wanted to add my experience because it is slightly different then other peoples. i drank only a small amount of water from the north crook spigot as well as using it to brush my teeth and i ate food from the starvin artist as well as enjoying beverages at the dragon. however, i did not get sick and the people that camped across from me drank a lot of the water and also did not get sick. it is possible that those of us that did not get sick had some sort of immunity to giardia, but i can't think of any reason why i would because i have never experienced any symptoms like the ones described in my entire life, which would lead me to believe that i have never come in contact with it in order to build an immunity to it.

upon returning home i did come down with a "summer cold" though and it seems to be going around so, those of you still struggling, be on the lookout.

i would also like to share a few things that i noticed...

the people that got sick sooner rather than later, admittedly, were not washing their hands after using the restroom or, using an alcohol based anti-bacterial hand gel. in their defense, there are no sinks at the port-a-pots or, the north crook to do so.

i understand from the previous thread that 4Q is taking measures to change that and i think that is a good idea because the FIRST line of defense against viruses and bacteria IS washing your hands, but alcohol based, anti-bacterial hand gels are better than nothing at all.

the restrooms were not even close to sanitary. i don't know what 4Q policy on cleaning the restrooms is, but all things considered, they may want to revisit their current sanitation practices if they intend to host large events on their property. myself and others noticed that the port-a-pots were just being "hosed down". maybe there was disinfectant in that water, but they sure didn't smell like there was.

the incubation time of this illness was incredibly short, much, much shorter than any description of giardia i have read and some people in my camp came down with it 72 hours after their arrival at 4QF. others came down with it after only 48 hours and some not until they left five days later, which would seem to suggest a virus.

even if this outbreak does turn out to be giardia the health care professionals i know have told me that a flu pandemic is in the forecast so, as someone that works with the public and has many clients that also work in food service and health care i would like to take a moment to ask everyone to, please, for the sake of those you love and also for yourself, be safe and wash your hands. a lot. : ) also, i know there is some resistance to using alcohol based anti-bacterial hand gels for fear of lowering your immunity, but they do work and they are better than nothing at all.

lastly, this was my first experience at this type of event and, although i was saddened that my friends were sick and i couldn't enjoy their company, i thoroughly enjoyed myself and feel thankful for the opportunity. i would like to end this post by thanking the gaian mind crew for making it happen. honestly, that was a feat of organization and i was blown away. thanks again.

love,
roberta

why i think i had giardia and not the norovirus

Not all Giardia infections are symptomatic, so some people can unknowingly serve as carriers of the parasite.

The norovirus lasts several days whereas giardia can last up to a month. People are still sick.

The symptoms are similar except for the sulfur-rotten egg burp and fart, and disinterest in food. Those are giardia symptoms and I had them.

The norovirus is killed by chlorine, giardia is not. Four quarters used chlorine to flush the wells.

I was treated for a parasite/bacteria, not a virus and I felt better in less than a day and started having solid poops again. My boyfriend and another friend were similarly treated with similar results.

Who knows, the norovirus and giardia could both be at four quarters.

I called the hospital again today. The results are still not available.