Like It's Getting Paid For It.

[dodger_sister]

That’s how hard my week has sucked. (My subject line will probably be the only witty thing you’ll find herein, just fyi). I will now be emo and drink my coffee.


I took Papa Bear to the vet on Monday because he had suddenly refused to eat. He used to beg for a snack all the time and he stopped doing that. He needs the extra snacks because of his digestion problem. So I got him wet food and heated it up and that worked for a few days and then he just stopped eating all together. The vet was also alarmed at how unvocal he was, though he did slap the vet in the face for prodding at him. (Usually Papa has things to say about his displeasure, he has a foul language problem, guess he got that from me). The vet said he was also anemic and mildly dehydrated. They kept him for fluids and to run blood work.

It turns out it is his kidneys. They have kept him all week for fluids and basically what is kitty-dialysis. Now the thing is, sometimes cats get kidney problems because they aren’t eating. Or sometimes they stop eating because they have kidney problems. Idk which one this is - the cause or the effect.

The vet is hopeful based on how much more responsive Papa was today (but I had to go there myself yesterday to get him to eat for me, because he wouldn’t eat at all for them). The big thing right now is that he lost so much weight this last month. I kind of know nothing more atm. He may be fine with at-home injections. He may need to go get dialysis once a week - which brings into account the decision of can I afford it, can I actually manage to get him there every week since I myself don’t drive and is it worth it to put him through it? Or the treatment may not have worked at all and this is all a moot point. None of you will believe that in 33 years, I have never had to put an animal to sleep before - even counting my childhood pets, a total of something like 10 cats and 3 dogs and they all died naturally. (Unless my parents were lying to me about what happened to Barney).

They redo the blood work on Monday, so we’ll know then if the treatment worked. He can come home tomorrow, so I’ll at least get to spend the next weekend with him before any decisions have to be made. As you can imagine, I feel like shit and am just trying not think about it.

My mother is being a passive-aggressive crazy person as well, and I could try to explain but it would make this post really long and I don’t have the energy. But right now, while I am dealing with this stuff with Papa, I don’t need to also have to argue with my mom over bullshit. And my great aunt died this week too. I didn’t really know her - I met her a few times when I was younger - but she was the last of my grandma’s sisters and now all of those ladies are gone and that is kind of sad to me.

Next time I will talk about TV, I swear. Though, the way I am feeling about my shows currently, it may not be anymore uplifting of a post. Let me cheer you up - liptonrm made this post of vid recs for this awesome collection of vids that she showed to me recently and it is, well...awesome. If you watch nothing else, watch the last one on the list - Dance Across The Floor for “Scrubs” - it will make your heart happy...Dance Party Vid Show.

Comments

[ceitfianna]

*hugs* Oh poor Papa Bear. I'm glad you know what's wrong and I wish that helped more.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Yeah, right now it is a wait and see kind of thing. He came home this evening, so this weekend is going to be focused on getting him to eat as much and as often as I can. The result of the kidney test doesn't matter if he won't eat at all, but he ate better for me in the few hours he has been home than he did the last day before he went to the hospital, so that's positive. /hugs/

[rhymephile.livejournal.com]

Poor Papa Bear. Let's hope the vet can fix what's ailing him and he can get back on his kitteh fooses soon. I know the stress of dealing with a sick cat and not being able to do anything. Butternut was sick a few years ago where she was throwing up a lot and wouldn't eat *or* drink. It was horrible. I am also a wimp and cried over her non-stop. She eventually got better (and we never found out what the cause was) but I was a wreck for like two weeks! Scritches to Papa.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It is very nerve-wracking since they can't tell you how they feel at all. Papa had some issues a few years ago and we had no idea what was going on then. My sister likes to remind me how we thought we were going to lose him then, but he totally pulled through that time, so he may this time. I'm trying not to be too positive or too negative until I know for sure either way. Papa is home now. He seems really weak to me (not being very active all week has probably made the arthritis worse) but he gave me kisses and was purring, so even if he feels bad, he is happy to be home. That's something, right?

[vikingprincess]

I really, really hope that you see an improvement in your bestest kitty over the weekend. *big huge squishy hugs*

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

Thank you. The goal this weekend is to keep him hydrated and make him eat every chance I get. The more we get in him, the better chance he'll have of upping his kidney levels. I'l take some big smishy hugs, thanks. Ssssh on the bestest kitty thing, the other cats all think they are my favorite!

[vikingprincess]

uh oh, I didn't know the other cats had internet access! ALL kittehs are teh bestestest!

This makes me wish I was in the same city so I could ferry you to the vet. I have guilt over my kitties. Lingering, lingering guilt. And also much missage.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

hahaha Actually I have this one cat who likes to sit side by side with me while I am in my computer chair and stare at the computer screen while I type. So much that I have a little pile of his favorite toys sitting on my desk for him to play with while I type. And sometimes we watch Cat TV (http://www.cattv.com/catwebsite.php) together too.

I finally found someone who is able to help with the cat and getting him to vet! Mostly the problem is that some people who were helping me got jobs/school now and my one aunt now lives with my mom, which means I can't call there without getting into a fight with my mother (who keeps yelling at me about even considering putting my baby to sleep, like I need that guilt). But I found someone who gets out of work by 4 every day and also they said Papa can have his injections at home too, so...YAY!!

I am sorry you still have guilt over your kitties. I know my sister does over her cat she lost last year and I do over a cat I had years ago. I think some things just hit us like that.

I wish you lived closer too, bb, for lots of reasons!! We would have so much fun together.

[vikingprincess]

Wow, you are an awesome kitty mom! And also, hooray for help with getting PB to the vet! (I'd avoid that conversation as much as possible too.)

I think when a cat --any pet, really-- becomes so totally intertwined with our lives, there's no way not to miss them. At least for two of them, I was holding them when they died. Bittersweet comfort, that. For the first one, I was out of the state when she died, and I'm still not okay with that.

[wolfrider89.livejournal.com]

*hugs you a LOT*

Bb, I'm so sorry this week has sucked for you. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Papa Bear, and for next week to be a much better one.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

/hugs you right back/

It's just very hard not knowing what will happen next with Papa. And now that he is home, it's frustrating not knowing what he needs. Food? Water? Petting? Me to leave him the fuck alone and stop smothering him? (probably mostly the last one).

Thank you for the love, bb.

[wolfrider89.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's gotta be really frustrating. :(

<3

[ranua.livejournal.com]

oh bb, words can't even express how I hurt for you right now. I know the pain you're going through, I just had to make those decisions about my baby kitty. I will keep a good thought for Papa Bear and you and hopefully the gods will be kind.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

Thank you, darling. I remember we talked about your baby kitty and it sounded awful, for you and The Boy. The day before Papa went in to the hospital, we were laying together and he closed his eyes and he looked like he was barely breathing and I thought, "If he has to go, let him go like this, in our bed at home."

Still, maybe Monday will bring good news. I'm trying not to be too positive or too negative but just keep working on getting him eating again.

[misslucyjane]

*hugs and hugs* Good thoughts coming your way, dear.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

/hugs back/ Thank you, darling. I'll take all the goods thoughts. Papa Bear is home now and at the least, seems happy to be here.

[hiyacynth.livejournal.com]

So so sorry that Papa Bear is still having horrible health issues! I'm right there with you with my Scout. Have they checked his thyroid? Because Scout has a lovely combo of kidney disease and hyperthyroid, and the thyroid issues make her lose interest in food and therefore waste away to nothing, which sounds like what might be going on with Papa. Problem is, if you treat the thyroid, the kidney disease gets worse. So we're basically marking time over here, knowing that she has two terminal conditions, and trying to keep an eye on her quality of life. So far it seems manageable, but yeah, when it gets to the point of having to drag them to the vet all the time for unpleasant procedures, and they are miserable at home, too... Sigh. It's so sad! I send you both many hugs. I've had to put down many cats in my life--probably six or seven, though only four of those were "my" cats and not someone else's in my household. It sucks. A lot.

Anyway, I'm thinking of you guys and hoping for the best outcome possible.

Love you.c

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if they checked the thyroid this time. They did when he started losing all that weight a few years back, but now that you mention it, I will definitely check come Monday and if they didn't, I'll have them draw some. In the meantime, they gave him a stimulant for his appetite and he already has eaten better in the few hours he has been home tonight than he did the day we took him in. Still "better" is a relative word, since it wouldn't be enough to even appease any of the other fat babies in this house. The big question is how much do I put him through, especially with his arthritis getting as bad as it is.

It's nerve-wracking. I have ripped off a number of my fingernails, as you know I do.

M said you were having trouble with Scout again. You have had both those cats for as long as I've known you. I've been thinking about you all week too.

Love you bunches, babe.

[fragrantwoods.livejournal.com]

Thinking about you and Papa Bear. And your "last of that generation" aunt...that's a weird feeling. Good wishes for Monday.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

It's just going to be a long weekend, not knowing anything one way or the other. Papa Bear is home right now though and if nothing else, he is happy to be here.

Yeah, I didn't even know my great-aunt really, but they were all girls in that family and now there is no one to carry on the family name and that is weird feeling.

Thank you for the good wishes, darling.

[matchboximpala.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry to hear that Papa Bear is struggling. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

You had a cat named Barney? Did you ever read that Judith Viorst book, "The Tenth Good thing about Barney"? Well, if you haven't, don't read it now because you'll sob your lungs out. But sometime in the future, when things are better.

I hope the family drama gets better soon, too. :(

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Papa Bear seems to be doing a little better. He is eating again, so that is something. We aren't giving up yet and hopefully his kidney functions will continue to get better. Stiil, it is hard to watch your cat get older.

I had a dog named Barney actually. A black lab. He was getting older and the neighbors got a new puppy and the two dogs got loose together one day. The neighbor's puppy came back, but Barney never did. I think I was about seven at the time.

Is "The Tenth Good Thing About Barney" about a cat? Because I also have a cousin-in-law named Barney. ;)

Part of the problem with my mom is that she just had hernia surgery and she keeps having reoccurring problems with hernias. So I don't want her taking my cat to the vet because she shouldn't be lifting him. But she lives with my aunt and every time I try to call my aunt to ask her to take Papa to the vet...my mom answers and then just yells at me about how I'm not asking her do it. No matter how many times I say that I don't want to have my cat and my mom in the hospital the same week because she gets another hernia from lifting him. So now I can't ask my aunt for help anymore either without getting into a fight with my mom, which is not what I need while my cat is so sick.

Why are families so crazy? Thanks for the support though, bb. Sorry to spew all over you.