[BeanDip]

So both of my birds have scaly face mites. Technically maybe I should say "scaly leg and face mites", since my starling's legs and feet are also affected (my p'let only has them on her face/head area). I believe we caught them early enough because I'm still not able to see any visible damage from the mites on Miss Pudge. Neither bird has any crusting or flaking around their beaks or anywhere on their faces. The only visible signs I can see are the thick, raised scales on my starling's feet and some smooth white blotches on his legs.

I took a hand-held microscope to Pudgie's bare skin and was able to see the microscopic honeycomb texturing in her skin in places, and when she asks me to preen her, I lightly run my fingernails over her skin and can find the dead mites under my fingernails (only seen with the microscope... these things really are tiny!).

Anyway, both birds have gotten their first dose of Ivermectin. Gretta seems to be doing much better. The scales on his legs and feet have already started to fall off, leaving smooth and healthy new scales in their place. (It was about time for them to molt off anyway, but they should not have been that thick and raised.)

Pudgie, on the other hand... I'm extremely worried about. When I came home and started doing my research on these things, I found that secondary bacterial infections are not uncommon for any mites that actually burrow into the skin (which these mites do). My vet never mentioned anything like that. Maybe he felt that since we caught it early enough, it wouldn't be an issue? Since the first Ivermectin treatment though, Pudgie has grown very quiet and withdrawn. She spends most of the day sleeping and hasn't been eating or drinking nearly as much as normal. Today I noticed that her cere and lower beak look swollen and maybe slightly pinker than normal (I think... I hope I'm not just being over-paranoid). I do know that treatment for any internal parasites or mites, or even external parasites that burrow, can be extremely uncomfortable and even painful as they die off and/or try to get away from the medication. Within about 24 hours of the Ivermectin treatment, Pudgie was going crazy. I could tell the medication was working but OMG... this poor baby! I thought she was going to fly right out of her skin. She kept screaming suddenly and then jumping or flapping in a way that seemed like she was trying to get away from herself. That did seem to calm down some after a couple of days. I have a few questions though for anybody who has actually had experience in dealing with this type of mite, whether in a parrotlet or any other type of bird.

1. From what I described, does it seem like she could have developed a secondary bacterial infection? I read on a lot of sites that these infections are not uncommon, but I couldn't really find any information about how I would know if she actually has one... what signs to look for. At what point is another trip to the vet warranted?

2. I know that for internal parasites or air sac mites (internal mites), a strong medication like Ivermectin can cause a massive die-off of the bug, which in itself could kill the bird. As the parasites die, they release toxins (ammonia?) into the bloodstream. Killing off too many internal parasites or mites at once can cause more damage than the parasite itself. Burrowing mites are not technically an internal parasite. But since they do burrow under/into the skin, I'm wondering if the same thing could be happening here? I believe that as the medication reaches them, they actually exit from the skin (which is why I am able to scrape them off with my fingernails). But I'm not sure how many or what percentage do that, or how many are dying or dead still burrowed inside her skin or flesh. And if so, could this be creating a toxicity in her bloodstream?

3. The medications do not kill eggs, therefore a second treatment has to be given after 2 weeks to kill off any eggs that were missed but have since hatched. The first treatment was so miserable for her that it nearly broke my heart to watch her go through it. Is there anything I can give her to help alleviate the irritation and itching and/or pain? I read online that it's safe to give birds tiny amounts of Benadryl and that's supposed to help quite a bit. I'm not comfortable doing that though without knowing exactly how much to give. My vet didn't seem to think it would be uncomfortable for her... possibly she would experience some minor discomfort as they crawl around he said. But what she was dealing with was no minor discomfort as far as I'm concerned. Gretta didn't seem to have a problem with the treatment so maybe Pudgie is just extra sensitive to it? If anybody has dealt with this type of mite in a parrotlet, is this a normal reaction?

I feel like there was something else I was going to ask but now I can't recall what it was. I have been very sick myself and have been unable to work for 3 weeks so I really can't afford another vet visit right now if it's not absolutely necessary. If it seems that she might have a secondary bacterial infection though and will need medication to treat that, I'll figure out a way to get her there. But if this is just typical irritation from the treatment, I'd at least like to be able to help relieve some of her discomfort, especially when it comes time for the second dose.

 

[ParrotletsRock]

Oh my, I am so sorry, my that sounds horrible. I have a budgie hen who when I got her developed scaly face 5 months later. I took her to the vet for treatment and brought the drop home to apply to my p'let. Those were my only 2 birds at the time. I never noticed any side affects of the drug or the dying mites. My birds acted completely normal. One thing you can do to relieve things is to dip your finger in olive oil ( letting all excess drip off) and using this oily finger to rub the legs, cere and beak of the birds. This will not only sooth the dry itchy skin, but it also will help smother the mites. I would be very worried your p'let is having a reaction to the meds more than the mites... Have you talked to your vet about it? I hope you get things cleared up for her soon.

PS. Do not get oil in eyes, nares, or feathers.

 

[BeanDip]

I already made the mistake of Neosporin in her head feathers. On the forum I use for my other bird, I repeatedly read that Neosporin is okay to use as long as it's cream and not ointment. My p'let's skin on her head was so red and angry so I did some research on the ingredients of the Neosporin to make sure it really is okay to use, then smeared the cream all over her head, making sure to rub it in good to get it into her skin and not just her feathers. BIG MISTAKE!!! It actually did help her skin and seems to have helped relieve some of the pain and itching. But I didn't realize that the cream would be so greasy. I thought that since it's cream and not ointment, it would just rub right in.

I went back to the other forum to figure out what the heck and only then did I see how many times it said something along the lines of "but never put on feathers". It was usually referring to using it on the legs or feet or other unfeathered body parts, but I guess I hadn't paid attention to that part... only the part about using cream instead of ointment. I've tried to wash it out of her feathers using a cotton ball soaked with water and a little bit of Dawn dish soap, but she'll have none of that. So she's been running around with a punk-rock hairdo for the last few days.

It doesn't help anything that she lost a lot of feathers on her head before this, or maybe because of this but just before I had noticed... still not sure. So she's got tons of extra sensitive blood feathers poking through and that only makes it more painful when she scratches or wants me to preen her head.

No, I haven't talked to my vet since the initial visit. To be honest, I'm not sure I fully trust him. He still thinks that p'lets are not sexually dimorphic and that Pudgie is most likely a male because of certain "perverted activities" that she enjoys. He is an avian vet but I'm not sure how many p'lets he has seen, and I'm fairly certain Gretta is the only starling he has ever seen as a patient, although he's euthanized plenty of them. It sounds like I need to make a call anyway, but never having dealt with mites of any kind before, I wasn't sure if this is a common reaction. Frankly, I trust the opinions and advice of the people on this forum more than my vet's right now. But if a call or visit to the vet is in order, so be it.

 

[ParrotletsRock]

Is there a different vet you can call? I have never heard of neosporin for scaley face mites... I have heard or olive oil, mineral oil, baby oil (I think this one should not be used due to perfumes) any cooking oil, petroleum jelly and such... Scaly face is sort of like scabies in people only it usually affects the cere, beak, feet legs and sometimes the vent area of birds. It can take 6+ months for them to get bad enough to be recognized and treated. The way you are describing her reaction is very concerning to me. I belong to our sister site www.talkbudgies.com scaly face is quite common over there and never have I heard of any reaction such as hers. I just wonder if a second opinion is in order from a different vet, however other avian vets are not easy to come by are they sending healing, soothing thoughts to your feathered little.

 

[ozzie3860]

Call your avian vet for follow up advise. If they will not help you or you do not trust them then get another one.

 

[BeanDip]

Oh, I didn't use the neosporin for the scaly face. I just used it to try to calm her skin. She had been scratching at it so hard that it was all red and swollen and very perturbed. Neosporin is soothing on cuts and scratches, and aside from the obvious healing factors, I thought some light-weight topical antibiotic wouldn't hurt. Hoping to prevent any secondary bacterial infection that might take hold.

Since hers is mostly around her face (around her beak, nares/cere, eyes), I'm not sure I want to attempt oil. That's a little too close to vital parts for my comfort. And I definitely don't want to be using it on her head. If she had it on her feet or legs then I would feel much more comfortable applying it there. I did put olive oil on my starling's legs and feet but he just jumped straight into his bath and started washing his feet. When that didn't work he jumped into the apple cider vinegar bowl. And when he spied the olive oil bottle again, he went screaming into his room and hid. He's weird that way... he can't stand his feet or legs to be touched (he will barely tolerate me shining a small flashlight on them) and absolutely hates to have anything foreign on his feet.

I have read about petroleum jelly though and I'm wondering if that might be better? I know it can be a little messier but since it's so much thicker, maybe it will more readily stay where I put it? I don't know... just a thought. I also read about certain essential oils that you can mix into the petroleum jelly in small amounts - peppermint oil, lavender oil, clove oil. The peppermint oil is supposed to kill them (the mites, not the birds, lol); the clove oil is supposed to help draw them out; the lavender oil has antibacterial and antifungal qualities (not that she would need the antifungal, but the antibacterial may not hurt). I've been hesitant to try any of these things just due to them being so strong. I'm not sure if adding even one drop to a big glob of p-jelly would be too strong for a tiny bird. There seems to be quite a bit of controversy over the safety of essential oils for birds. I know a lot of people use them without problem and other people refuse to ever consider it, stating the harmful effects it could have on a bird. We all know that just because something might be safe or even beneficial for us does not mean the same for a bird.

I've spent dozens and dozens of hours researching natural remedies because if she's having this sort of reaction to the meds, I would think adding more or a different kind of med on top of that could just compound the issues. But most everything I have found either doesn't really work for her particular situation, or there's just too much controversy about the safety of it for me to feel comfortable trying it.

There is no other avian vet in my area. If I weren't so sick myself I would consider driving her some distance to another avian vet. The vet clinic I have taken my cat to for years does not have a licensed avian vet on staff, but they do have a licensed wildlife vet on staff who works on wild birds a lot. Maybe I should try them? Also, I know that just because a vet may not be avian certified does not mean they might not get their share of birds. I had to be more picky when it came to Gretta, considering the type of bird he is. The birds' vet is not only an avian vet but also a wildlife vet, which is perfect for a starling. But since we are talking about a parrotlet here, maybe I'll have some luck finding somebody here who isn't avian licensed but has still worked with p'lets often enough... or even budgies or lovebirds or similar.

I'll make some calls to see what I can do. You've said enough to definitely convince me that something isn't right and that this is beyond my capabilities. This has been so hard on her and I don't want to make it any harder or longer than it needs to be... not to mention I could be putting her life at risk. Starlings are so much stronger, bigger, and sturdier than parrotlets, and considering the fact that they were both prescribed the same amount of medication (1 drop each), I thought maybe it was just because Pudgie got a little more medication (in ratio to her size, anyway). I'm also a member of the budgie forum - it was suggested I go there to post about her possible egg-binding when I first brought her home. I'll check around on that forum too for some past posts; maybe i'll find some natural or herbal remedies that I can try in the meantime, or use in addition to whatever comes next.

Thank you so much for your replies!

 

[ParrotletsRock]

Both my parrotlet and budgie got 1 drop of meds also.. It was selemectin, which is a derivative of ivermectin.. I believe it is what is used in revolution for dogs. (dosage being calculated for birds of course). Be very careful with essential oils as some can. Be very toxic to birds... I think clove oil is a no go... I believe that is what they use on glue boards to help the poor little rodents caught on them die faster

 

[Dixie-1]

If it were me , I would listen to my avian vet before I would run around taking well intended , but possibly dangerous advice gleaned from various forums . Your distrust as I understand it comes from him disagreeing about the sex ? You are asking him to cure a mite infestation , not sex your P,let ! If you feel a second opinion is needed , by all means get one , from another vet rather than an internet forum .

 

[BeanDip]

If it were me , I would listen to my avian vet before I would run around taking well intended , but possibly dangerous advice gleaned from various forums . Your distrust as I understand it comes from him disagreeing about the sex ? You are asking him to cure a mite infestation , not sex your P,let ! If you feel a second opinion is needed , by all means get one , from another vet rather than an internet forum .

Ummm... no, there are several reasons I don't fully trust the birds' vet to do the best job possible on my babies. The sexing was just an example because to me, it seems like something any avian vet should know. If I were to take my cat to a vet who couldn't even tell if it's male or female, it would definitely make me wonder what else he doesn't know. Why should a bird be any different? I'm willing to bet I wouldn't be alone in that thinking.

While I do understand your point, my point here was simply to learn from people who have actually had experience with scaly face mites if my p'let's reaction is normal. Not ever having experience with them myself, not to mention the fact that I can be known to over-react when it comes to my babies, having the expertise of people who have been there can be very helpful. Had several people come on here and said something along the lines of "yes, my bird has had them and your bird's reaction is perfectly normal... it can be very hard on them" then I would know that I am indeed over-reacting and I need to just take a step back. But since the one person who replied that actually has dealt with these little buggers before told me that's not how her birds reacted, nor has she read of any other birds reacting that way, that told me exactly what I needed to know - that yes, she does need further help and not the kind of help I can give her.

I believe most people would listen to their vets before going to a forum and asking for advice from people who have actually been there. But maybe most people have a vet who hasn't steered them wrong on several occasions in the past. I'll tell you what... you take your babies to a vet who doesn't have the faintest clue about a problem one of them is having and doesn't seem to care to figure it out... and then honestly tell me that you would trust his/her advice over people with actual real-life experience in dealing with whatever issue you are concerned about. Was I asking for somebody here to "cure" my birds? No, I don't believe I was. And I got the answers I needed... well mostly. Regardless of which vet she goes to next, I would still love to find a tried-and-true way to help ease her through the end of this with as little pain and discomfort as possible. If I end up going back to the same vet, he doesn't believe in pain control for birds so regardless of what new medication he were to give me (if any), I would still like to find a natural way to try to make this horrid process easier on the sweet little Pudge.

 

[BeanDip]

Dixie, I have to ask... but please don't read this in a negative "tone of voice" because that's not my intention. I legitimately want to know because you got me thinking.

I'm curious if, after having several people on this forum tell you that your p'let is a girl, as well as seeing the same thing on multiple informational websites and the one and only book you have about parrotlets, and then you bring her to a licensed avian vet who has been practicing for over 25 years and he tells you that you can't tell a p'let's sex by looking at them but he's sure it's a boy because, well, females just don't engage in "that type of behavior"... who would you listen to? Would you disregard everybody on the forum and the websites and book and listen to your vet? After all, he did go to school for this and it's what he does for a living.

I'm asking because maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I am being too hard on him. Maybe sexing a p'let is not as basic or as easy as I seem to think it is. It's definitely possible that I'm not giving him enough credit where it's due. After all, I do have to admit that most of the issues I have that cause me to not completely trust him with my babies' lives have to do with my starling, not my p'let. And he already told me he doesn't have much experience with actually treating starlings. I did have a bit of an issue, I guess, when I brought my p'let back in after that with a concern about possible egg-binding and he seemed to not even want to acknowledge the possibility because... well, Pudgie's a boy and we all know boys don't make eggs.

I also could be putting more emphasis on the whole sexing thing than I should because I dealt with a sort-of similar situation with my bearded dragon. She saw the same vet a few times over the years and that vet told me, without hesitation, that it was a boy. And I didn't question him... I had no reason to. So imagine my shock when, after several years, Ivan "pooped" out a massive egg. I freaked out. It looked like an egg, it felt like an egg. But it couldn't possibly be an egg. Boys don't lay eggs! And I knew it wasn't poo (that's about all I knew). So off the three of us (me, Ivan, and the mysterious mass) rushed to the emergency vet in the middle of the night. Almost $400 later I learned that Ivan is really a girl and yes, that really was an egg. I'm still a little perturbed about that one but at least I can laugh about it now.

So yeah, I guess it's a sensitive subject for me, especially in light of the whole "egg binding thing" with The Pudge. I guess I would expect that the vet of any animal would/should know their gender because medical issues can come up that pertain specifically to that gender and it would be awful to be dismissed and to lose your pet over something that might be obvious if only they had the gender right. But maybe it's possible that he's been right all along and Pudgie really is a boy. Maybe I jumped to the wrong conclusion when I decided that the vet is wrong just because everything/everybody else is saying she's female. Or maybe he isn't right but I just shouldn't concern myself with that unless whatever medical issue has something specifically to do with her gender. I don't know. I just know that you did get me thinking on that one.

 

[ParrotletsRock]

Did you ever consider DNAing your p'let just to make sure?

 

[BeanDip]

Did you ever consider DNAing your p'let just to make sure?

Yes, I did. Consider it, that is... I didn't actually have it done. I even ordered one of those kits for me to send the genetic sample in for them to test but I just couldn't bring myself to purposely make her bleed or to yank out 3 or 4 whole feathers. I just couldn't justify it considering I have been pretty convinced that she's a female, especially after reading that females do in fact engage in "that type of behavior". Some females, anyway. But maybe it's time to just suck it up and start yanking. Or maybe I should just have it done at the vet? I never asked or looked into that route but isn't that just a minor blood-draw with a syringe? That would probably be the easiest, as long as she's not already under too much stress at the time.

By the way, she's got an appointment for the morning. I decided to go with my cat's vet this time for another opinion. Not her vet specifically, but somebody at that clinic who apparently has plenty of experience with birds (parrots - although I didn't ask specifically about parrotlets... do you think that matters?). They of course couldn't tell me over the phone if it's a reaction to the meds or if she's got something else going on, but they definitely agreed that she needs to come in. She actually seems quite a bit more chipper today than she has been, so that's good. But even if she were to make a miraculous overnight recovery to her 100% self, she's still going in because this is only round one. I'm not going to take a chance on it being a reaction to the medication, only to dose her with the same stuff again in another few days.

Thank you again for your input. I very much value the opinions and advice of the people on this forum... even those I may not necessarily agree with sometimes. It's all very much appreciated.

 

[ParrotletsRock]

Good luck, will be watching for an update!

 

[BeanDip]

One more quick question... do you think I should try again to get this greasy neosporin out of her feathers before her appointment? Or should I leave it in just like it is in case it's a contributor? They should probably see her exactly as she is now... don't you think?

 

[ParrotletsRock]

Gee I am not sure how you would get it out anyhow without stressing her more.. If it is in a place she can preen and ingest it I think I would leave it and see what they suggest.

 

[BeanDip]

No, she can't preen it or ingest it. Dawn dish soap takes it out pretty easily... it's just a matter of holding her still long enough to do it and make sure all the soap is rinsed out too. I'll probably try again tonight but ask them about it tomorrow. I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with any of this... after all, I put it on her because she was feeling so awful, not the other way around. But it won't hurt to ask. I'm just feeling so guilty about everything she's been having to go through that I'll probably burst into tears if I get a "lecture" about greasy feathers. Lesson already learned on that one. So I'll try to get it all out but if I can't and I have to bring in a punk-rock birdie... no big deal.

 

[Dixie-1]

Dixie, I have to ask... but please don't read this in a negative "tone of voice" because that's not my intention. I legitimately want to know because you got me thinking.

I'm curious if, after having several people on this forum tell you that your p'let is a girl, as well as seeing the same thing on multiple informational websites and the one and only book you have about parrotlets, and then you bring her to a licensed avian vet who has been practicing for over 25 years and he tells you that you can't tell a p'let's sex by looking at them but he's sure it's a boy because, well, females just don't engage in "that type of behavior"... who would you listen to? Would you disregard everybody on the forum and the websites and book and listen to your vet? After all, he did go to school for this and it's what he does for a living.

I'm asking because maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I am being too hard on him. Maybe sexing a p'let is not as basic or as easy as I seem to think it is. It's definitely possible that I'm not giving him enough credit where it's due. After all, I do have to admit that most of the issues I have that cause me to not completely trust him with my babies' lives have to do with my starling, not my p'let. And he already told me he doesn't have much experience with actually treating starlings. I did have a bit of an issue, I guess, when I brought my p'let back in after that with a concern about possible egg-binding and he seemed to not even want to acknowledge the possibility because... well, Pudgie's a boy and we all know boys don't make eggs.

I also could be putting more emphasis on the whole sexing thing than I should because I dealt with a sort-of similar situation with my bearded dragon. She saw the same vet a few times over the years and that vet told me, without hesitation, that it was a boy. And I didn't question him... I had no reason to. So imagine my shock when, after several years, Ivan "pooped" out a massive egg. I freaked out. It looked like an egg, it felt like an egg. But it couldn't possibly be an egg. Boys don't lay eggs! And I knew it wasn't poo (that's about all I knew). So off the three of us (me, Ivan, and the mysterious mass) rushed to the emergency vet in the middle of the night. Almost $400 later I learned that Ivan is really a girl and yes, that really was an egg. I'm still a little perturbed about that one but at least I can laugh about it now.

So yeah, I guess it's a sensitive subject for me, especially in light of the whole "egg binding thing" with The Pudge. I guess I would expect that the vet of any animal would/should know their gender because medical issues can come up that pertain specifically to that gender and it would be awful to be dismissed and to lose your pet over something that might be obvious if only they had the gender right. But maybe it's possible that he's been right all along and Pudgie really is a boy. Maybe I jumped to the wrong conclusion when I decided that the vet is wrong just because everything/everybody else is saying she's female. Or maybe he isn't right but I just shouldn't concern myself with that unless whatever medical issue has something specifically to do with her gender. I don't know. I just know that you did get me thinking on that one.

That's an easy one , # 1 , If I had any doubt whatsoever of my Vets skills I wouldn't go to him . I would find a new vet !

# 2 , If I had any doubt as to my birds sex I would do a simple , inexpensive DNA check .

And please don't take this the wrong way, but I have to ask since you have spent so much time and effort trying to prove to everyone how incompetent your vet is . Why on earth are you still taking your animals to see him ?

Sorry you have this problem and best of luck finding a cure !

 

[BeanDip]

That's an easy one , # 1 , If I had any doubt whatsoever of my Vets skills I wouldn't go to him . I would find a new vet !

# 2 , If I had any doubt as to my birds sex I would do a simple , inexpensive DNA check .

And please don't take this the wrong way, but I have to ask since you have spent so much time and effort trying to prove to everyone how incompetent your vet is . Why on earth are you still taking your animals to see him ?

Sorry you have this problem and best of luck finding a cure !

Hey, that's a very valid question as far as I'm concerned. But it also has a very simple answer. I don't have any other options. I wish I did. It was so much easier when I lived close to the city and had choices. But now I live in a small, remote area and the vet that my birds go to is the only licensed avian vet within 120 miles. And he's the ONLY one within 200+ miles who would agree to see my starling. (And even then it took me over a year to convince them to take Gretta on as a patient - up until that point I had to rely on self-diagnosis from research, as well as the advice and opinions of people on the starling forum - not really the best approach but it had to do.) Not really sure how far I would have had to drive had it not been for this vet... I gave up searching after 200 miles.

So I hope you can understand why I value the input of people here as much as I do. I trust their opinions, and especially when it comes to people who have had real hands-on experience dealing with certain matters. I think we've all (or most of us anyway) taken a pet at some point to a new vet and for whatever reason, were just not happy with the care... whether it be due to rudeness or incompetence or any other reason. And usually it is a simple solution, just like you said - just find a new vet! Unfortunately it's not always that easy. I guess I took it for granted when I did used to have options.

Also, I kept reading over and over about how it's important to bring your birds to a licensed avian vet rather than a regular vet, so I've been really hesitant to take Pudgie to a non-avian vet. I'm still not sure how important that really is. But the good news is that she did see a new vet today (not an avian vet) but I was really impressed! Yes, she may not be licensed specifically to work with birds but she definitely seemed to know what she was doing (not that I would really know, but she sure convinced me anyway); very knowledgeable and gentle and most importantly, she actually seemed to listen to my concerns and addressed every one of them. So licensed avian vet or not... I believe little Miss Pudge now has a new doctor. I'm just very disappointed that they still refuse to see my starling.

(Gonna be late for a meeting if I don't hurry off, but will post an update later about the visit.)

P.S. It's not that I was going to such great lengths to prove that their vet is incompetent. The "great lengths" were more of an attempt to explain why I don't really trust his care completely and why I do value this board and the people on it as much as I do. I guess I didn't feel like I could make that second part clear unless I gave my reasons for the first part. I may not have gone about it in the right way but I guess at the time I didn't really know how else to go about it. I hope that makes sense. And if I seemed rude or offended you in any way, I am sorry. It wasn't my intention but now, reading back through parts of it, I can see how I probably came across as very rude. I hope you will accept my apology because I really do mean it.

 

[Dixie-1]

No need to apologize everyone is entitled to their own opinions . I am glad to hear you seem to have found a Vet you are comfortable with. Hope things get better for you real soon .

 

[BeanDip]

No need to apologize everyone is entitled to their own opinions . I am glad to hear you seem to have found a Vet you are comfortable with. Hope things get better for you real soon .

Yes, of course we are all entitled to our own opinions. I am not apologizing for my opinions; I'm apologizing for the way I went about expressing them.