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Saturday, January 8, 2011
Just Some Quick Notes on Getting to Know Sleepee
He hasn't been taught to stay off kitchen counters, nor, apparently, to keep his head out of simmering pots on the stove. And Yamaha keyboards are just another kitchen counter to him.
He hates to be held, snuggled, or carried. Front declawed, but back claws come out and he cries as he struggles to get away.
He loves to come up to us and ask to be petted or scritched. He wants to be with the family, in the same room, watching us and contributing a soft meow once in a while.
His voice sounds like the feline equivalent of a dog that has been debarked: very very soft and hoarse.
He eats dog food.
He is gentle with the baby (21 months old and respectful), and more or less ignores my parrots.
He rubs his chin on everything. This is his home now, and his stuff. We are his.
He liked the shelf in the utility room closet until I made it his; now he won't go there.
He likes to do his thing, not ours.
He hates to be held, snuggled, or carried. Front declawed, but back claws come out and he cries as he struggles to get away.
He loves to come up to us and ask to be petted or scritched. He wants to be with the family, in the same room, watching us and contributing a soft meow once in a while.
His voice sounds like the feline equivalent of a dog that has been debarked: very very soft and hoarse.
He eats dog food.
He is gentle with the baby (21 months old and respectful), and more or less ignores my parrots.
He rubs his chin on everything. This is his home now, and his stuff. We are his.
He liked the shelf in the utility room closet until I made it his; now he won't go there.
He likes to do his thing, not ours.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Meet Sleepee :)
I have had a few cats over my lifetime, but only one for a long time. I got Bruce when he was 7 months old, and he died at 15.5 years old in September of 2009. I loved that cat so much...and it has taken me this long to be ready for another cat. I've been watching our local animal shelter for cats on a weekly basis all through 2010, and have seen some lovely animals. But I just wasn't ready.
Then last week I saw Sleepee. The information about him stated, "Sleepee is an owner surrender which is sad when they are older cats and their home is the only one they know. He was loved big time and it shows in his personality. He is the condo room greeter and you will not get out there without being rubbed on by Sleepee. Please consider an older cat, he is already neutered and knows what it is like to be loved and wanted. We are trying to move many of our cats that have been at the shelter for a long time, as there is an endless supply of cats coming into the shelter daily and Sleepee has been there for a very long time. He is around 10 years old and I don't know how much longer we will be able to keep him from being put to sleep."
He touched my heart. And a calm older cat is exactly what I wanted! So I wrote to the shelter to get more information. A reply email told me that he is good with dogs and other cats and children, and that he's an indoor cat and not a hunter (essential since I have parrots, even though I have no intention of ever having my precious birds out when he could access them in any way). They said that he is friendly, loving, and laid back. He sounded perfect!
I discussed him with my husband and got his blessing. Before I could act, however, I was taken ill and hospitalized for several days. Thankfully Sleepee was still there when I got out, and after I took a couple of days to recover we decided to go bring him home. I called the shelter to let them know that we were coming.
On the way to the shelter this afternoon (hubby works nights and needed some sleep first) we stopped at Tractor Supply for a litter box and litter and cat food. (BTW, they have their own premium brand of foods for dogs and cats now, no dyes or fillers or anything, we've had our dogs on it for a while and now Sleepee is on it too, great food!) As we were checking out the cashier asked if we were getting a cat, and I told her that we were on the way to the shelter to pick one up. She is apparently involved with the shelter, asked which cat, and when I told her she gave us 10% off of everything! That was really nice :).
We got to the shelter and asked to see Sleepee. We were put into a room to get acquainted with him. As soon as he was brought in to us, he jumped right up and demanded to be petted. I checked him over, noting that he seemed much younger than 10, perhaps 7 if that, so he must have been very well cared-for. His eyes, ears, and mouth/teeth all looked great, as did his coat and skin although he was in need of a good brushing and had a few mats on his back legs. Given this, and his friendly demeanor, we brought him home. They packed us up a nice package of kitty goodies and his medical records and we were on our way, Sleepee in his carrier seat-belted in the back seat.
On the way home Pete started reading his records, and we found out that his DOB was May 29, 2005! He WAS much younger than the website had stated! That was definitely good news! He and Pete had gotten well acquainted in the room while I had left to do the paperwork and pay for him, and we also had to stop on the way home for something, so he and Pete again spent time alone while I ran into the store for a few minutes. When we got home we set up his litter box in a cubbyhole, and he made himself at home on a deep shelf in the closet just above it. (That is where his blanket and food reside, now.)
So now he is part of our family :). He loves Pete especially which is fine with me, I just like having a cat around, watching them do cat things, hearing them talk, etc. but if he bonds more strongly to my husband that is good. (Pete just lost his special little dog that was ALWAYS with him - or on him - less than a month ago. And Sleepee lost his family...) He has spent much of the day under our bed, but will come out when Pete calls him. The dogs and he know each other now even though they aren't 100% comfortable around each other yet. He has sniffed around the bird cages earlier, setting off panic (I'd shown the birds pictures of him this morning, and told them he was coming to live here) but now they just keep a wary eye on him, and he ignores them.
I believe all will go well. Once he is settled in I will brush him and cut off the mats and give him a bath, and then life will go on. A better life for us, one with a cat :)
Some Health Thoughts, and Other Miscellany
I'm sorry, I can't wrap my head around the "muscle pull" diagnosis that I came home from the hospital with. It makes no sense to me whatsoever. I couldn't BREATHE for heaven's sake! Pressure around my ribs...anyway, none of it makes sense. It has been suggested that perhaps my muscles are being used so differently due to the rearranging of my guts and how I move and hold my body since the pain and bloating are gone, compared to before with the constant pain. This may hold a little more water, but there is another theory - not put forth by the doctor - that makes more sense.
My friend Connie suggested this could be part of a detox, something that doctors don't acknowledge or discuss. I have been losing weight quickly, releasing toxins stored in body fat, plus I gave up caffeine cold turkey the day before my surgery on December 1st, plus I was on so many heavy-duty painkillers through much of December that were trying to get out of my system...this makes a lot of sense also, that getting rid of all of the effects and toxins from caffeine and drugs and whatever is being left as the fat is going - well, wherever fat goes.
Since I have been out of the hospital, the dyspnea has been improving. However, my chest still feels pressure, and tight inside, like I can't take a deep breath. I can, but it feels like I can't, and there is tightness when I do. And I have to push and force out the last of the air. And I am fatigued. And I have pain around my ribs.
Today I had a fundoplication-related issue. Drank some chocolate milk, and the pain was horrible! My stomach wanted to sent it back but since the surgery nothing can come back up. I was near tears, and there's nothing to do. I took a Zofran but how can I tell if it helped? It didn't give me relief, but maybe kept it from being even worse...but that was one miserable half-hour.
And today I started with a UTI as well. I'm drinking tons of water (and a little decaf tea)...taking cranberry (3000 mg every few hours)...taking OTC phenazopyridine hydrochloride tablets...but it has been miserable, as only those who have suffered from these can understand.
Between all of the above, I just feel like a sick person. I thought by this time, over 5 weeks post op, I would be feeling better than I have in years, not like a sick person. But I want to go to bed and sleep until it is all fixed and better and I can feel and act and BE healthy...
The black depression seems to have started lifting. It started to lift, oddly enough, in the hospital. I have some theories as to why, but they're probably wrong anyway. I have felt, for the last few days, merely "blue" which is an improvement over "black". I even played my keyboard today, the first time I have actually wanted to play, or felt inspired to play, in weeks. And I'm starting to feel I want to get back to cooking and creating in my kitchen. I have a ways to go to get back to joy, but it will come, if this path continues. God is hearing the prayers of those who are interceding for me, and my own.
And now I'm going to make another post, about Sleepee...
My friend Connie suggested this could be part of a detox, something that doctors don't acknowledge or discuss. I have been losing weight quickly, releasing toxins stored in body fat, plus I gave up caffeine cold turkey the day before my surgery on December 1st, plus I was on so many heavy-duty painkillers through much of December that were trying to get out of my system...this makes a lot of sense also, that getting rid of all of the effects and toxins from caffeine and drugs and whatever is being left as the fat is going - well, wherever fat goes.
Since I have been out of the hospital, the dyspnea has been improving. However, my chest still feels pressure, and tight inside, like I can't take a deep breath. I can, but it feels like I can't, and there is tightness when I do. And I have to push and force out the last of the air. And I am fatigued. And I have pain around my ribs.
Today I had a fundoplication-related issue. Drank some chocolate milk, and the pain was horrible! My stomach wanted to sent it back but since the surgery nothing can come back up. I was near tears, and there's nothing to do. I took a Zofran but how can I tell if it helped? It didn't give me relief, but maybe kept it from being even worse...but that was one miserable half-hour.
And today I started with a UTI as well. I'm drinking tons of water (and a little decaf tea)...taking cranberry (3000 mg every few hours)...taking OTC phenazopyridine hydrochloride tablets...but it has been miserable, as only those who have suffered from these can understand.
Between all of the above, I just feel like a sick person. I thought by this time, over 5 weeks post op, I would be feeling better than I have in years, not like a sick person. But I want to go to bed and sleep until it is all fixed and better and I can feel and act and BE healthy...
The black depression seems to have started lifting. It started to lift, oddly enough, in the hospital. I have some theories as to why, but they're probably wrong anyway. I have felt, for the last few days, merely "blue" which is an improvement over "black". I even played my keyboard today, the first time I have actually wanted to play, or felt inspired to play, in weeks. And I'm starting to feel I want to get back to cooking and creating in my kitchen. I have a ways to go to get back to joy, but it will come, if this path continues. God is hearing the prayers of those who are interceding for me, and my own.
And now I'm going to make another post, about Sleepee...
Thursday, January 6, 2011
It is good to be home again. Had a lovely #lowcarb breakfast of b/s chicken breast strips cooked in olive oil just until cooked through and very tender, seasoned with onion/garlic powders and sea salt, with melted havarti on top. Then I scraped all the crispy bits off the bottom of the skillet and sprinkled them on top...SO good!The hospital food wasn't bad, but they are all about low-fat, low-sodium and even the "low carb" staples are carby. I ordered a cream soup for one meal - guess what? It wasn't thickened with cream :(. Misnomer there...Anyway, I know what I am getting at home, and it is delicious and filling and lovely. Will blog later about my hospital stay at http://chiachatter.blogspot.com and about the food aspects of my stay at http://cheapeasylowcarb.blogspot com. http://amplify.com/u/bkqam
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
So...Dangit!
(NOTE: If you are seeing this on Facebook, please go to my blog - chiachatter.blogspot.com - to see my whole post. I don't make my points in the first paragraph, which is all that shows up on my Facebook page :).)
Here's my update. After spending 6 hours in the ER getting morphine for "chest pain" I was admitted. I came in because I can't catch my breath, and there is a band of tightness or pressure around my rib cage. I have pain that waxes and wanes but it isn't my chief complaint - or even any complaint. But they seem focused on "chest pain" - once they see a history of cardiac issues they zoom right in on that, and don't seem to hear me when I tell them this type of pain feels like it is from this band of pressure, and is nothing like any angina I've ever had. It has been determined that I have chest pain and nothing I can say is changing that. That I can't catch my breath unless I've got O2 flowing up my nostrils seems to be an unwelcome distraction to them.
All of my tests have come back fine. Tomorrow will be a lot more tests, mostly cardiac but I will also have to repeat a test that is related to my fundoplication that was the most miserable awful test I've ever had. I have to take about 8 swallows of the most vile awful evil liquid ever devised and have pictures taken after each one. I'm not sure why my gut surgeon is involved since everything is going really well, digestively speaking. But he is and I am glad that they are looking into all possible causes, even if they seem determined to look at the wrong problem.
I'm having issues with the "heart healthy" diet they have me on, that is totally opposite to what I have eaten for the last nearly-7 years, that has gotten my blood lipids back into normal ranges and has kept my blood sugar normal and on a good path. Both of these issues they keep asking me about, and can't seem to believe that this overweight middle-aged woman doesn't have high cholesterol (as defined by bad science) and diabetes. The nurse told me that my blood lipids would be checked in the morning to determine if I need statins. I told her that I will not be taking statins, and she reiterated that we don't know if I will need them or not. I will save that particular "battle" for after the results come back since that will be a moot point. At another hospital I was put onto a statin drug. I asked for my blood results and they were totally fine, yet the doctor argued with me that I needed to be on a statin due to my "risk factors" - ie, a high-fat diet, age, and weight. The way the medical profession thinks is way beyond me...but I never took their drug then and won't now
So back to the "heart healthy" diet. I will become a diabetic if I have to stay on this for very long. No fats, lots of carbs as both sugars and starches. It is infuriating, and if I'm not discharged tomorrow, the doctor and I will have to revisit the diet that he ordered for me. I am pretty much decided that I can get through a day or 2 without eating any of it, if my options remain limited to unhealthy foods.
But mainly, I want to know why I am short of breath whenever my O2 is off. That is not the goal of the hospitalist that is handling my case (and must be all of about 17 years old!), but it is mine. Make it so I can breathe as well as I was breathing 48 yours ago, and send me home. And I will be a happy camper :)
Here's my update. After spending 6 hours in the ER getting morphine for "chest pain" I was admitted. I came in because I can't catch my breath, and there is a band of tightness or pressure around my rib cage. I have pain that waxes and wanes but it isn't my chief complaint - or even any complaint. But they seem focused on "chest pain" - once they see a history of cardiac issues they zoom right in on that, and don't seem to hear me when I tell them this type of pain feels like it is from this band of pressure, and is nothing like any angina I've ever had. It has been determined that I have chest pain and nothing I can say is changing that. That I can't catch my breath unless I've got O2 flowing up my nostrils seems to be an unwelcome distraction to them.
All of my tests have come back fine. Tomorrow will be a lot more tests, mostly cardiac but I will also have to repeat a test that is related to my fundoplication that was the most miserable awful test I've ever had. I have to take about 8 swallows of the most vile awful evil liquid ever devised and have pictures taken after each one. I'm not sure why my gut surgeon is involved since everything is going really well, digestively speaking. But he is and I am glad that they are looking into all possible causes, even if they seem determined to look at the wrong problem.
I'm having issues with the "heart healthy" diet they have me on, that is totally opposite to what I have eaten for the last nearly-7 years, that has gotten my blood lipids back into normal ranges and has kept my blood sugar normal and on a good path. Both of these issues they keep asking me about, and can't seem to believe that this overweight middle-aged woman doesn't have high cholesterol (as defined by bad science) and diabetes. The nurse told me that my blood lipids would be checked in the morning to determine if I need statins. I told her that I will not be taking statins, and she reiterated that we don't know if I will need them or not. I will save that particular "battle" for after the results come back since that will be a moot point. At another hospital I was put onto a statin drug. I asked for my blood results and they were totally fine, yet the doctor argued with me that I needed to be on a statin due to my "risk factors" - ie, a high-fat diet, age, and weight. The way the medical profession thinks is way beyond me...but I never took their drug then and won't now
So back to the "heart healthy" diet. I will become a diabetic if I have to stay on this for very long. No fats, lots of carbs as both sugars and starches. It is infuriating, and if I'm not discharged tomorrow, the doctor and I will have to revisit the diet that he ordered for me. I am pretty much decided that I can get through a day or 2 without eating any of it, if my options remain limited to unhealthy foods.
But mainly, I want to know why I am short of breath whenever my O2 is off. That is not the goal of the hospitalist that is handling my case (and must be all of about 17 years old!), but it is mine. Make it so I can breathe as well as I was breathing 48 yours ago, and send me home. And I will be a happy camper :)
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Jan 2nd...Not As I Planned
Today I have been short of breath all day, with some pressure/weight in my chest, and pain around my rib cage. Duration over 12 hours. Aspirin hasn't helped. I didn't take a sublingual nitro because it's not like any angina pain I've ever had. (I was diagnosed with prinzmetal's angina in 1997.) My sister is going to drive up here and take me to the ER. Hubby has to go to work, it is his 2nd night on his new job. The ER where I had the surgery is an hour away, that's where she wants to go. I will update when I know what's going on.
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