We didn't end up taking C to the ped, he peed twice after I got home. But he felt clammy and then he threw up, so I probably should have. I'm going to work from home tomorrow so I can take him if need be.
My cat pooped five times today, all over the house. She also tracked it and I cleaned whatever footprints I could see but who knows what all I missed. I want to puke thinking about it. Thankfully the cleaners come this week. I'm calling the vet in the morning and see what testing she recommends and will do at least some of it. Also MH is checking with his parents to see if either of them, or anyone they know, could take her in, at least temporarily. I've got to get her out of this house ASAP, which breaks my heart. But I can't do this anymore. She will be confined to a bathroom tomorrow while I figure things out.
Hugs geners, thatgirlrachel, hmm I have an older explorer I wonder if I will struggle too.
Aw the vp debate is at my almamater tonight! It's been so cool to see it on tv!
Do you have the 4ever? Please let me know how it goes when you install it. H & I didn't get a chance to tighten ours up tonight, but it's on our to do list. I'm hoping we can squeeze another inch or so of room for the drivers seat.
I'm doin ok DoesItComeInPink thanks for asking. I've just been really busy lately with H's family and we're getting ready to move. I've just now had the time to check in on everybody. How are you doing?
Hugs obscurereference you're not a failure and there's nothing wrong with needing a little help when you have alot on your plate. Dh is about to start a new job and we're moving so I'm a little nervous because I'm used to being so close with my family and having their help. I'm sure I'll be feeling like you soon and noticing the lack of help.
Hugs to you as well geners that's a lot going on. I hope your cat gets better soon so you can at least check that off of your list.
Afm I made a dr app for myself because for the past few months my feet have been very swollen off and on, mostly the left. But pretty swollen on both sides. Plus I've been kind of dizzy and had head aches. I'm worried it might be blood pressure. My BP was always good pre baby and my feet never swelled. Idk. Plus I have really back tracked on the weight loss front and im just really ready to make a big change in my lifestyle.
I hope maybe the vet might have an idea, or maybe can give some metronidazol or something to treat your cat's symptoms? our dog has a sensitive tummy and sometimes gets bouts of lower-gi distress. we always start with resting her gut (no food for 24 hours) and then small frequent bland meals and then slowly reintroduce her regular diet over 2-3 weeks. My mom's elderly cat actually ate chicken baby food as a bland diet towards the end of her life.
Post by obscurereference on Oct 5, 2016 7:49:09 GMT -5
thatgirlrachel Am I missing something? Why not install behind passenger seat? Maybe the passenger won't have the greatest room, but that's better than the driver not having space to comfortably drive.
geners , I'm so so so sorry you are going through so much. Take a deep breath. Try to remind yourself that it won't always be like this. C won't always be up at all hours of the night, you won't always have to wear glasses all day, and hopefully your cat won't always be shitting all over your house. Hugs to you and I hope your day turns around soon!
This phrasing made me lol, which was much needed, thanks I definitely need the reminder that it won't always be like this. MH and I just kept saying last night, this too shall pass, this too shall pass.
geners , big hugs! Iz has been doing the mommy reach/cry for several weeks, it's heartbreaking, however H says that she's usually fine within about a minute of me walking out the door, and actually does better when I just say goodbye and leave.
I wish I could figure out what was going on with your cat, have you tried confining them yet? sometimes you just have to do what you can to deal with the situation when you can't figure it out. my cat spent several months wearing a cone because we could not figure out if she was pulling her hair out or if it was just falling out, we couldn't find a medical reason for either, so she suffered in a cone for a few months so we could at least know if she could grow her hair back.
totally not an inexpensive fix, but you could eventually take-up the carpets and put down laminant or wood flooring (we put traffic master click together laminant in our basement that looks great and cleans easy in a weekend). short term a carpet steamer might help?
I'd go back to your optomitrist and tell them you're getting headaches and your Rx is wrong, I'd expect them to fix it for free and update your lenses for free; you've only had your frames a short time I'd see if you can exchange or return them too.
family stuff is hard, I have no advice, just hugs.
does your H know how much you miss your friends, can he plan a night at home so you can get out and see them?
I feel you on the work front, most days I feel like I'm just barely getting by at work and often at my weekly meetings with my boss there's something I've forgotten to do. I'm feeling guilty (and H's new job is making me feel more guilty). I'm attempting to set new limits on TCFing (here and FB) at work (like maybe only when I'm pumping and/or eating lunch). I don't think this work/mom guilt is unique, finding a new balance is hard, this first year so far just feels like we're in survival mode most the time.
I feel you on the half marathon training, I've been following the weekend warrior plan and am lucky if I get more than one run in a week. I do feel better once I've gotten out, but most days there are just too many barriers.
You're doing absolutely the best you can with a lot of stressful things going on, be kind to yourself and tackle one problem at a time.
She's actually pooping mostly on hardwoods or tile, it's when she poops on the shag rug or the soft-tile playmat for C that really upsets me. The playmat is easily cleaned at least. We do have a plan to replace the tile and shag rug in the basement family room with carpet in the next year or so (definitely not doing it until this situation is resolved!) so it isn't the end of the world that she's gone on that rug a few times (feels like it in the moment, though, lol). I'm calling the vet shortly to talk about next steps (I am going to ask them about the things you just posted - the metronidazol and also reseting her gut - thanks! Neither was mentioned by them previously - they've prescribed steroids, which she's on, RX food, which hasn't helped, and a pheromone diffuser which doesn't seem to be making a difference yet). She hasn't pooped yet today but the first time she goes outside the box, she's getting enclosed in the bathroom with some blankets, toys, food, etc. for the day.
I go back to the optometrist tomorrow for a follow-up on the latest round of this infection, so I'm going to ask them to look at my glasses. I am wondering if they put in the wrong prescription. It's partially my fault in that I arrived five minutes before they closed to pick them up, so we rushed through me trying them on. They are super nice so hopefully they'll work with me on this. And hopefully the infection is gone and we can find some contacts that don't irritate my eyes!
MH is actually the one encouraging me to see my friends. The problem is they usually get together at night (there was just a girls' night this past Saturday that I passed on) and it's just so hard with C's sleep being a mess, nursing etc. and I'm so tired by the time he's finally down. I did just commit this morning to going to "Friendsgiving" with them in a few weeks (it's in the afternoon, so easier), I am really looking forward to that I am bummed about my BFF though - I know she's busy when she's only in town for a weekend, but I literally just wanted a short window of time to meet up with her to give her a gift for her son's first birthday (I had a name puzzle custom-made for him).
thatgirlrachel Am I missing something? Why not install behind passenger seat? Maybe the passenger won't have the greatest room, but that's better than the driver not having space to comfortably drive.
No, you aren't missing anything. I am just more comfortable (emotionally) having her in the middle seat right now. But, I may change my mind if I try the passenger seat and compare the room. I blame it on the shape of the front seats. I'll try to copy a google image that shows how the top part of the front seats sticks out a little further than the rest of the seat.
Post by thatgirlrachel on Oct 5, 2016 8:12:19 GMT -5
obscurereference, You make a good point too, because the drivers side and middle back seat are one piece, and the seat directly behind the passenger is it's own seat and can be adjusted back-to-front and can recline. I just remembered that. That may give me a lot more room than I realize. I am going to try "tightening" the seat in the middle and if that doesn't work I may try to passenger side. Thanks for making me remember that!
geners Hugs. I know all too well the feeling of everything going wrong at once. I agree with all of what gdaisy09 said. Definitely go back to the eye doctor about your lenses. I wear glasses all the time, and when I get a new pair it always seems like something's off. Sometimes it can be as simple as the way they're sitting on your face and it's an easy fix.
It really sounds to me like sleep is the number one problem for you guys. I think all the other stuff, while not great, seems like a bigger problem due to extended lack of sleep. I know you say you and your H are fine, but I'm guessing either of you are getting enough sleep! How are the new things in your routine going?
I really think you should confine the cat temporarily. It will not hurt him. I've had to do that with cats in the past and while they don't like it, they usually get over it pretty quickly. I wouldn't worry about germs. I'm sure you're doing a great job cleaning it up. Refresh my memory. How old is the cat? What does the vet say?
You got this! Things will get better!
I'm wondering if the fit is at least part of the problem with my glasses - these new ones keep sliding down my nose, it's making me crazy. I'm getting them adjusted and also having them check the prescription when I go there tomorrow.
I do think lack of sleep is probably really coloring everything that's going on right now and magnifying it all. The new routine is good, not much changes over the first couple weeks so we haven't seen much difference but starting tomorrow night we reorganize the nighttime routine and attempt to put him down drowsy so we will see how it goes. I really hope this way of teaching him to put himself to sleep is effective given that it doesn't involve letting him CIO. Getting up with him at the end of every sleep cycle is wearing us down.
The cat is 10 years old... The vet doesn't really know what to say, I don't think - any tests she has had so far have come back negative (routine bloodwork, physical exam and stool sample) and she doesn't necessarily recommend a full GI panel because her stools are inconsistent so she doesn't think it's a digestive issue. Next steps are likely ultrasound or biopsy to check for things like intestinal cancer. To me it seems more behavioral - she's always been extremely sensitive and finnicky and I don't think she likes having different people in the house all day. The vet recommended a calming pheromone in a plug-in diffuser in the rooms she spends most of her time in, so I started that last week. Haven't seen much difference yet. I kind of want to ask about kitty Prozac (or similar), several people have recommended that to me.
geners Hugs. I know all too well the feeling of everything going wrong at once. I agree with all of what gdaisy09 said. Definitely go back to the eye doctor about your lenses. I wear glasses all the time, and when I get a new pair it always seems like something's off. Sometimes it can be as simple as the way they're sitting on your face and it's an easy fix.
It really sounds to me like sleep is the number one problem for you guys. I think all the other stuff, while not great, seems like a bigger problem due to extended lack of sleep. I know you say you and your H are fine, but I'm guessing either of you are getting enough sleep! How are the new things in your routine going?
I really think you should confine the cat temporarily. It will not hurt him. I've had to do that with cats in the past and while they don't like it, they usually get over it pretty quickly. I wouldn't worry about germs. I'm sure you're doing a great job cleaning it up. Refresh my memory. How old is the cat? What does the vet say?
You got this! Things will get better!
I'm wondering if the fit is at least part of the problem with my glasses - these new ones keep sliding down my nose, it's making me crazy. I'm getting them adjusted and also having them check the prescription when I go there tomorrow.
I do think lack of sleep is probably really coloring everything that's going on right now and magnifying it all. The new routine is good, not much changes over the first couple weeks so we haven't seen much difference but starting tomorrow night we reorganize the nighttime routine and attempt to put him down drowsy so we will see how it goes. I really hope this way of teaching him to put himself to sleep is effective given that it doesn't involve letting him CIO. Getting up with him at the end of every sleep cycle is wearing us down.
The cat is 10 years old... The vet doesn't really know what to say, I don't think - any tests she has had so far have come back negative (routine bloodwork, physical exam and stool sample) and she doesn't necessarily recommend a full GI panel because her stools are inconsistent so she doesn't think it's a digestive issue. Next steps are likely ultrasound or biopsy to check for things like intestinal cancer. To me it seems more behavioral - she's always been extremely sensitive and finnicky and I don't think she likes having different people in the house all day. The vet recommended a calming pheromone in a plug-in diffuser in the rooms she spends most of her time in, so I started that last week. Haven't seen much difference yet. I kind of want to ask about kitty Prozac (or similar), several people have recommended that to me.
Thanks
we had our kitty on prozac for a while, I'm not sure we ever got her to an effective dose before we moved on to other things. I did find that the pheromones helped some.
Post by obscurereference on Oct 5, 2016 8:34:51 GMT -5
geners I had a thought about your cat. What kind of litter box do you have? We had a cat that would randomly decide the current litter box was no good and pee on the floor until we changed something. Like, we had to take the cover off at some point because she didn't like it anymore even though it was fine for the previous 5 years. Or she wouldn't go in the box if something appeared in the room that she didn't like. Any chance something like that could be going on? Cats are weird!
geners I had a thought about your cat. What kind of litter box do you have? We had a cat that would randomly decide the current litter box was no good and pee on the floor until we changed something. Like, we had to take the cover off at some point because she didn't like it anymore even though it was fine for the previous 5 years. Or she wouldn't go in the box if something appeared in the room that she didn't like. Any chance something like that could be going on? Cats are weird!
That is an interesting thought... we have experimented a bit since all this started. We added a second box, switched back to unscented litter, and recently moved one of the two boxes across the room (we'd read that if you have two next to each other like we did, the cats view it as one big box and it's better to have two). I am thinking maybe we try adding a third, there is a room we could put it in that's even more out of the way. I could try taking the cover off, too. There are definitely variables we could mess with and see if we can find something that works. They are so weird!!
I read somewhere that if a cat has a scary experience while in the box it can cause them to never use it again - the example they gave is the furnace kicking on while she's using the box. Our two boxes are in the basement laundry room, so it's possible the furnace or the washer/dryer could have startled her at some point. The article did not give tips on how to overcome this though!
She's sitting on my lap at the moment, purring up a storm. I wish she could just tell me what's bugging her!
Then Comes Family, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.