Artie and his Issues

[artiemom]

 
Good for her.  She went it alone.  That was her choice.  And, thankfully, it worked for her.  HOWEVER...now that you have a GOOD N Vet to talk with, I think that your choice is right for YOU!  And he may have some suggestions/new information that will do the trick for Artie.  Why would you ever NOT take advantage of that?  As for how do you tell her?  Don't.  Just say, "Thank you for the information.  I'll consider it."  And you did.  And rejected it as not right for you.  Not her place to preach.  Sorry...I just...well...with all you two have been through, you just deserve the peace of mind that having a partner in his care will bring you.  

You know I am thinking of you and Artie, and saying prayers for you daily!  HUGS!
 

 I know.. I was just venting... It is my decision, and I decided a long time ago, NOT to do it alone.. I did cut down on keeping in touch with her because of this.. but....

I need help and I an now getting GREAT help.... and a GREAT,  N VET....I am not about to change

 

[LTS3]

 
one of the volunteers at the shelter called me. She had a cat with MegaColon---no specialist at all.. just did it on her own. If the cat did not poor for several days, she just upped the laxatone and miralax, and fluids.. she is telling me not to waste my money and go to a specialist...

I do not feel comfortable with this approach.. she is also telling me to discontinue the cisapride.. she is afraid of the drug.. she also feels that cats cannot handle human drugs.. or many drugs at all..

From all I have read, each cat that has megacolon, goes on cisapride.. I do not have any desire to stop this drug. it helps him poop.. and I have absolutely no intention NOT to go to the N Vet.... ....

but how do I tell her that?  she said I am wasting my money.... I do not feel it is wasting money....

Ignore her. Her choice was to manage her cat alone with little to no vet advice. I'm sure she means well but just ignore her telling you that you are wasting time and money. Artie is YOUR cat, not hers. You know what is best for Artie. Artie needs a specialist to manage his various issues.

 

[Margret]

 

 
one of the volunteers at the shelter called me. She had a cat with MegaColon---no specialist at all.. just did it on her own. If the cat did not poor for several days, she just upped the laxatone and miralax, and fluids.. she is telling me not to waste my money and go to a specialist...

I do not feel comfortable with this approach.. she is also telling me to discontinue the cisapride.. she is afraid of the drug.. she also feels that cats cannot handle human drugs.. or many drugs at all..

From all I have read, each cat that has megacolon, goes on cisapride.. I do not have any desire to stop this drug. it helps him poop.. and I have absolutely no intention NOT to go to the N Vet.... ....

but how do I tell her that?  she said I am wasting my money.... I do not feel it is wasting money....

Ignore her. Her choice was to manage her cat alone with little to no vet advice. I'm sure she means well but just ignore her telling you that you are wasting time and money. Artie is YOUR cat, not hers. You know what is best for Artie. Artie needs a specialist to manage his various issues.

I think if it were Jasmine, I would try to avoid talking to this person about my cat's problems.  You don't need to justify what you're doing for Artie, and you don't need the added stress of being required to do so.  If she insists on talking about Artie and how you "should" be dealing with his illness, ask her to please stop.  If she refuses, either avoid her entirely or, if you can't do that, just let it go in one ear and out the other.  Don't let yourself be drawn into arguing with her; that just enables her rudeness.  But feel free to come here and tell us all about it if you need to blow off some steam.

Good night, all.  Margret

 

[artiemom]

Update:

Just before bed last night, Artie did another poop.. 4 x 1.5 inches.. soft, but dry....

I left out a lot of food for him.. he only ate half of it...Now I know his limit...

I gave him 1/2 cc of lactulose yesterday.. 

this morning, I was sleeping on my side.. I felt eyes on me.. yup, Artie was on my bedside table watching me!!!  He came over to cuddle and gave a small meow. While I was cuddling with him, he did give a slight tap-tap... a long time since he has done that!

He took me over to the litter box... only 2 small thick poops came out.. 1 x 1 1/2 inch thick.. soft but dry... hoping he goes more....

He refused his food this morning---- oh NO!!!

I am not panicking.. I will give him his sub-q's later, after I get my morning stuff done and he is relaxing.. 

He just went over to his food... hallelujah!! I can hear him lapping it up!

I may give him a bit more lactulose.. I think he needs 3/4 tsp of Miralax daily, in addition to a bit of lactulose.. at least that is my conclusion... 

Hopefully the N Vet will approve...

I slept really good last night.. finally... just hanging around the house today.. vacuuming, washing clothes, putting clothes away. and I may actually cook supper for tonight and have a good meal.. 

I really need to get my hair done.. I look like a witch.. I think I may call for an appointment.. need to make an appointment to get my taxes done also...I am a klutz when it comes to that. I need and feel more comfortable with an accountant..

 

[tallyollyopia]

 This is my happy dance, because both of you are doing much better. 

 

[LTS3]

Artie, don't give your Mom a scare ok?

   Be a good boy for Mom

Glad you got some sleep Artiemom

You really need it. Just do some relaxing today with Artie. Have you ever tried software for taxes? I use TurboxTax and it's really easy. It may not work too well if your taxes are complicated, though.

 

[angels mommy]

Sounds like a good update. Artie's still pooping, & eating! [emoji]128513[/emoji]
I'm glad you got some good sleep, & feel better. There's nothing like getting good sleep, especially when you really need it!
I did that yesterday. I slept in for quite a while. After Sammy woke me up for her breakfast, I went back to sleep. It was nice!
I hope you get your hair appt. That will make you feel better too.
I'm getting mine done today. [emoji]128077[/emoji]

 

[neely]

I slept really good last night.. finally... just hanging around the house today.. vacuuming, washing clothes, putting clothes away. and I may actually cook supper for tonight and have a good meal.. 

I really need to get my hair done.. I look like a witch.. I think I may call for an appointment.. need to make an appointment to get my taxes done also...I am a klutz when it comes to that. I need and feel more comfortable with an accountant..

Yay, for a good night's sleep!!!  Try to get your household chores done and then definitely treat yourself to a hair appointment.  It will make you feel like a million bucks. 

  Regarding your taxes, you have a lot on your plate with Artie's care and if it's less stressful for you to go to an accountant than by all means do it.  Have a wonderful, carefree Saturday. 

 

[foxxycat]

Hope your day goes well. Try to stay at a consistant dose for the poop meds. Remember it takes 4 days to see results sometimes and any changes take 4 days to show up=try to see if a steady dose of both meds works..what day did you start the lacto? Sorry for not remembering..I have memory problems..duh. Some days I don't even know who the hell I am! LOL.

I envy you ladies getting your hair done. To me it's more stressful worrying about what they will do to my hair because what I may like they may have a different idea..on top of board straight hair is impossible to curl. I have used every gel and mouse under the sun...curls...nope!! Perm?! NOPE. Curls come out soso and 4 weeks later byebye! Then they cut it a particular way-one lady used different lengths for my bangs...looked dumb!! I hope you have better luck than I do!

It's been about 10 years since been to a stylist. I cut it myself...always have since I was 11. I can't do fancy cuts but feathering I got down to a science.

So enjoy your hair appointment!  The best part is when they wash your hair...maybe I will just go to have them um..can you wash my hair?? but nope I got to fix it myself!

 

[artiemom]

@foxxycat      I started 0.5 cc of lactulose on Wednesday.. On Thursday I gave 0.5 and then 1.0... Friday --none.. this morning 1 cc...

I will be more consistent. I was reacting to his poops, instead of being more proactive.. 

no more poops yet.. sigh.. 

Artie was so good with his sub-q's...He was asleep in his quilt/tent. I warmed up the bag, hung it up on the hook above him, marked the line, drew back the covers, and just did it.. He did not move, no flinch!! his ears went back, but nothing else. 

When I finished, I pinched off the area, telling him that he was such a good boy... and covered him up again.. all he did was turn around and went back to sleep..

He needs to poop!  I vacuumed, and he did not run from the "monster".... hope he is feeling ok.. 

Artie had a good brushing this morning.. as soon as I asked if he wanted to be brushed, or to get a 'brushy', he jumped down from the coach, ran over to his other cat tree, started purring and waited for the brush..

I weighed him again.. he is now 10.68 lbs.. that is the heaviest he has been in over a year. Hopefully it is not all poop....

Thinking about things. I wonder if the S Vet meant to say that he was not constipated but, obstructed from a piece of poop.. I guess there is a difference. That is what she warned me about when I said I was not going to give him the Reglan.. but she had a weird way about not explaining things.. and if it was, why didn't she suggest to try the Reglan again, now that he is stronger???   all very weird...

anyway.. I am done with her.. now Artie needs to poop....

Wonder if the N Vet can show me how to massage his belly... I am afraid I may put too much pressure on such a small animal.. and do it wrong. His belly is very sensitive.. 

I was talking to a family member. She loves cats, but not to the extent us here do.. She told me that I have much more patience than she would ever have. She said if Artie was her cat, he would not be here now. She would have put him to sleep a while ago...

But she did say that, I am doing what I feel is right, and that there is nothing else I can do.. I am at the limit with the N Vet...

It is just the drive into see him. A long ways to travel... with a yowling cat.. well, I hope it is not bad with stop and go traffic.. Artie hates that.. he prefers highways.. alas there are none on the way to the S Vet.. and I think one major road is bumpy.. Artie hates bumps, turns, slow downs and stops.. I guess you could say; Artie likes speed!!

did a quick dusting, vacuum, are washing clothes.. took a break on here, now it about time to put the clothes away... 

lazy day... the 2 windows have been open about an inch each.. to get some fresh air in here.. the sun is away from my side of the building so I am about to close them.. 

My hair is stick straight!! Even when I had a perm, my hairdresser would have the hardest time trying to have my hair take... it was terrible.. she talks about it to this day!!!  and take into account all my cowlicks.. well.. 

My hair is fine..and thin.. It never looks good long. It is always messy and wanting to fall into my face. I have to have bangs. I look best in them..and the part never stays.. The way my hair grows in, is forward on my face.. so I just go with it.. I have shorter hair, and have it straight.. When I color it, it gives the shafts more thickness and body.. 

I have been going to my hairdresser for over 30 years.. once you find one who understands you and your hair, you will follow them everywhere..

 

[foxxycat]

my hair grows the same way. two dif cowlicks on each side. one side has to be cut shorter than the other side in order to make it look the same. I bet you look good with that pixie haircut with the hair combed forward.what about that hair style long in the front and short in the back? I don't have any faith in hair dressers..i have been to a ton of them. I couldn't afford to color my hair so I do it myself..it's been 3 years..it's still not grown out. I put my hair up in a messy bun/or just leave it down. my hair parts in the middle. doesn't do well with side parts. I do French braid my hair when I have patience. The good thing about thin straight hair=its easy to braid. And looks good in a braid. I have had to cut a foot off of hair this past year. It's gotten so long its annoying. I wanted to see if I could grow it to my knees but I couldn't handle it down to my butt. I hacked it back to lower back.

Remember not all kitties poop daily. And he went 2-3 times yesterday right? Just breathe..keep the miralax the same...try the lactulose. You are doing good. Working long days this weekend. Catching up on paperwork and computer work. boring as heck but it's overtime..I will take it...

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

I just looked it up, and  Reglan is actually an anti-emetic, so not sure how that would help with Artie's pooping

  Yes, it helps with motility, but not in the colon, it works in helping the stomach empty out sooner.  AND, it can cause constipation (and/or diarrhea).  Of course, I am getting this from Dr. Google...here:  http://www.petmd.com/pet-medication/metoclopramide

His stools are 1 1/2 inches in diameter???????  Well, in my book, that's about 3 times the norm, so maybe one that is that wide, but only 1 inch long is equivalent to 3 inches, and that one that was that thick but 4 inches long would be considered HUGE...at least two days work for any of my guys.  Maybe there isn't much left in him to poop out at the moment?  Plus with the new food, if it has fewer carb than the old food, he might actually poop out less

I'm not even going to get started on hair..mine is a complete disaster

 

[tarasgirl06]

Sounds like a nice day there, and sounds like Artie is feeling pretty happy with his brushies 

  Wonderful that he is gaining weight! Keep up the great work!  And as another poster said, not all cats eliminate daily, especially with all the things going on with them that Artie has been having.  

I would not listen to that female relative.  In fact, I'd be tempted just to not discuss Artie's health with anyone except his medical team and us here, because we all truly care about Artie and about you!  The last thing anyone needs is a negative nellie.  Everyone's entitled to their opinions, of course, but they don't have to rain on others' parades.  

Hoping and praying for a very nice weekend for you both!

(As for hair: mine is 3' long and coarse and wavy.  I call it the "vacuum-cleaner killer" but it has actually "killed" several brush rollers, at least one vacuum motor, and one weed whacker.  I kid you not.  I joke that when people get to Mars, they'll find my hair there because in addition to all of that, I shed a lot.  Terrible WMD 

)

 

[artiemom]

It would be nicer if Artie POOPED!!!   just the 2 nuggets this morning.. and he only ate 1/4 large can of food....

but he is happy and oh, so alert... and strong.. and full of life....

@foxxycat  I did have that haircut, shorter in back and longer on the sides.. not severe because it would not go with my glasses and fat face...

Yes, variations of the bob are me.. and it is easy to style.. my hairdresser does a good job.. 

I got tied up and forgot to call today.. I will call on Tuesday (closed Monday).. they can take me in this week, I know it.. unless my hairdresser (owner) is on vacation. I went to Northeastern with her sister and her dad was my history teacher in school. My dad was a custodian in the same school her dad moved to... so it is a 'family' business

 

[foxxycat]

Now that's cool. Don't worry about the poops...he will poop LOL. Pumps and Floey only go every other day. honeybee is every 3 days although I give her tons of pumpkin and miralax..it's the way she is..she eats like a pig too.. the pumpkin doesn't seem to work on her as much as pumps. im going to try the squash and green beans on her...just trying to use up the half can of pumpkin LOL.

My hair has killed the vacuum and we call em hair spiders. I have to be careful not to comb out my hair at home because then the bits get on the floor and I have caught Bee Kitty eating or chewing on my hair pieces so  I always have roll of duct tape to make sure I don't leave hair all over the place..mostly my hair is in a tight bun for this reason..Honeybee has a bad habit of eating ANYTHING on the floor so I am always getting after Jon to not let bad food fall on the floor or leave pieces of whatever. tape too. she chews packing tape..if I have a box and a piece of tape sticking up she has to chew on it...she chews her toys like a dog. it's the weirdest thing...so we really have to be careful of leaving bits in pieces of things around..and the hair has ended up out her other end=don't ask me WHY or how?! I am pretty religious about making sure I don't leave a hair spider in my bed when I get up=some nights I pull out the bun because it's hurting my head...then hair is left behind..i shed worse than any cat I tell you!!! I don't know why I haven't chopped it off yet.

 

[Alicia88]

 
Update:

Just before bed last night, Artie did another poop.. 4 x 1.5 inches.. soft, but dry....

I left out a lot of food for him.. he only ate half of it...Now I know his limit...

I gave him 1/2 cc of lactulose yesterday.. 

this morning, I was sleeping on my side.. I felt eyes on me.. yup, Artie was on my bedside table watching me!!!  He came over to cuddle and gave a small meow. While I was cuddling with him, he did give a slight tap-tap... a long time since he has done that!

He took me over to the litter box... only 2 small thick poops came out.. 1 x 1 1/2 inch thick.. soft but dry... hoping he goes more....

He refused his food this morning---- oh NO!!!

I am not panicking.. I will give him his sub-q's later, after I get my morning stuff done and he is relaxing.. 

He just went over to his food... hallelujah!! I can hear him lapping it up!

I may give him a bit more lactulose.. I think he needs 3/4 tsp of Miralax daily, in addition to a bit of lactulose.. at least that is my conclusion... 

Hopefully the N Vet will approve...

I slept really good last night.. finally... just hanging around the house today.. vacuuming, washing clothes, putting clothes away. and I may actually cook supper for tonight and have a good meal.. 

I really need to get my hair done.. I look like a witch.. I think I may call for an appointment.. need to make an appointment to get my taxes done also...I am a klutz when it comes to that. I need and feel more comfortable with an accountant..

My grandma says the same thing when she needs her hair done - "I look like a witch."  She's had the short old lady perm for as long as I can remember.  LOL

 
Artie, don't give your Mom a scare ok?

   Be a good boy for Mom

Glad you got some sleep Artiemom

You really need it. Just do some relaxing today with Artie. Have you ever tried software for taxes? I use TurboxTax and it's really easy. It may not work too well if your taxes are complicated, though.

I always use taxslayer.  Probably pretty much the same thing under a different name.  Piece of cake.

 
@foxxycat      I started 0.5 cc of lactulose on Wednesday.. On Thursday I gave 0.5 and then 1.0... Friday --none.. this morning 1 cc...

I will be more consistent. I was reacting to his poops, instead of being more proactive.. 

no more poops yet.. sigh.. 

Artie was so good with his sub-q's...He was asleep in his quilt/tent. I warmed up the bag, hung it up on the hook above him, marked the line, drew back the covers, and just did it.. He did not move, no flinch!! his ears went back, but nothing else. 

When I finished, I pinched off the area, telling him that he was such a good boy... and covered him up again.. all he did was turn around and went back to sleep..

He needs to poop!  I vacuumed, and he did not run from the "monster".... hope he is feeling ok.. 

Artie had a good brushing this morning.. as soon as I asked if he wanted to be brushed, or to get a 'brushy', he jumped down from the coach, ran over to his other cat tree, started purring and waited for the brush..

I weighed him again.. he is now 10.68 lbs.. that is the heaviest he has been in over a year. Hopefully it is not all poop....

Thinking about things. I wonder if the S Vet meant to say that he was not constipated but, obstructed from a piece of poop.. I guess there is a difference. That is what she warned me about when I said I was not going to give him the Reglan.. but she had a weird way about not explaining things.. and if it was, why didn't she suggest to try the Reglan again, now that he is stronger???   all very weird...

anyway.. I am done with her.. now Artie needs to poop....

Wonder if the N Vet can show me how to massage his belly... I am afraid I may put too much pressure on such a small animal.. and do it wrong. His belly is very sensitive.. 

I was talking to a family member. She loves cats, but not to the extent us here do.. She told me that I have much more patience than she would ever have. She said if Artie was her cat, he would not be here now. She would have put him to sleep a while ago...

But she did say that, I am doing what I feel is right, and that there is nothing else I can do.. I am at the limit with the N Vet...

It is just the drive into see him. A long ways to travel... with a yowling cat.. well, I hope it is not bad with stop and go traffic.. Artie hates that.. he prefers highways.. alas there are none on the way to the S Vet.. and I think one major road is bumpy.. Artie hates bumps, turns, slow downs and stops.. I guess you could say; Artie likes speed!!

did a quick dusting, vacuum, are washing clothes.. took a break on here, now it about time to put the clothes away... 

lazy day... the 2 windows have been open about an inch each.. to get some fresh air in here.. the sun is away from my side of the building so I am about to close them.. 

My hair is stick straight!! Even when I had a perm, my hairdresser would have the hardest time trying to have my hair take... it was terrible.. she talks about it to this day!!!  and take into account all my cowlicks.. well.. 

My hair is fine..and thin.. It never looks good long. It is always messy and wanting to fall into my face. I have to have bangs. I look best in them..and the part never stays.. The way my hair grows in, is forward on my face.. so I just go with it.. I have shorter hair, and have it straight.. When I color it, it gives the shafts more thickness and body.. 

I have been going to my hairdresser for over 30 years.. once you find one who understands you and your hair, you will follow them everywhere..

Artie is my kind of cat!  Need for speed!  I can't stand to let John drive.  He has this thing about following the speed limit and blah blah blah.  It drives me nuts.  Yet, I have never gotten a speeding ticket (knock on wood).

So, I hear a loud crash and go into the kitchen just in time to see Murphy jumping from the top of the fridge to gobble down the treats he just knocked off.  They were in a big plastic container.  And of course Connor and Mickey were right on my heels going at the treats, too.  Guess I've gotta keep them in a closed cabinet.

I actually love my hair.  It's really fine and silky and naturally blonde.  As long as I keep it all long enough, I have no issues.  However, my hair is really naturally curly.  When I was a kid, my mom used to cut my bangs - very badly.  LOL.  But that wasn't the problem.  When they were really short, they were fine.  Then they hit a certain length and they would curl up like horns on the side of my head.  NOTHING would keep them down.  I tried all kinds of gel, mousse, and hair spray then got frustrated and got them hacked off.  I was finally able to let them grow out when I was around 13 or 14.  It drove me crazy the whole time - and I refuse to ever have bangs again.  And this is why I will never get short hair.  I don't want to try to deal with those curls and I can't imagine how much of a pain it would be to straighten it all the time if it was that short.  I would look like Little Orphan Annie.  The way my hair is now, if I let it air dry it comes out wavy.  If I blow it dry it, it gets pretty straight but I usually run the straightener over it.  I don't think I'm going to keep doing that every day, though.  I mean, I just stick it in a ponytail for work and it looks nice enough as long as I blow dry so I think I'm just gonna mostly do that and save my hair some damage.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

So...overall, not a bad day.  Not the best, but not bad.  So far, so good.

As for looking like a witch, my darling, there are so many many worse things to look like.  Myself, if I could ever find a hairdresser that would LISTEN TO ME, I would follow her to hell and back!  I seem to find hairdressers who relate to me about like S Vet relates to you.  SIGH.

 

[DreamerRose]

I have a theory that women with curly hair want straight hair, and women with straight hair want curly hair. There was a woman at work with red hair who came in one day with lovely flowing curls down to her shoulders. They weren't kinky curls or frizzy curls, just beautiful cascades of loose curls. She looked like a Renaissance princess. We all admired her and told her how beautiful it looked. She apologized and said she overslept that morning and hadn't had time to straighten her hair.

 

 

[margd]

The best haircut I've had in recent years was one I recently gave myself.  I'd been sick and bedridden for awhile and my baby fine hair had knotted badly close to the scalp.  I tried to comb it out but failed so I just hacked it all off with a pair of scissors, planning to then get it professionally repaired.  I didn't even use a mirror.    To my astonishment, the result was exactly what I wanted in a haircut.  It was nicely layered and actually looked terrific.  I knew I wasn't just deluding myself when my daughter visited and told me how great it looked. I swear this is a true story!   If I ever repeat this, of course, it will come out looking like I stuck a finger in an electrical socket.   

I'm sending "Artie, please poop" vibes your way.  

 

[artiemom]

Yes we need the "poop prayers ". No poop and not eating. Refused his new food. On my lap now. Had to wake him up.