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Bagha's Notes on Being FIV+

News from me at last!

Hey people -- it's been a while. Gosh, last I made a diary entry was when I was getting those injections! I had another batch in October, which left me feeling quite knocked-out (post-interferon depression or something like that) but I soon was back on all fours ready to resume my normal life.

Well, semi-normal: my human didn't let me out as much as before. Once in the morning, once during the day (most days), and once in the evening -- I used to really be able to go out as I pleased, before.

What else? Well, at some point (my memory is fuzzy as to when, but not too long after those injections) she started giving me a treat each morning. You know, a pill that actually tastes nice, that she doesn't need to shove down my throat. She tells me it's heart medication -- true, I'm not as sportsy as when I was young.

These last six months, I've clearly started to feel that I'm past my prime. I've lost quite a bit of my spring, and my joints tend to ache. But, being the cat that I am, I haven't complained -- I just took the habit to move around less. More sleeping, less running, less jumping, less going out. It's especially my rear end that pains me, so I use it less when climbing, for example. More with the front paws, less with the back ones -- so my behind is getting a little bony, I have to say.

Oh yes, I almost forgot! Last november, my human added a huge extension to our flat. It's very nice, because it has lots of places to sleep in, and the windows open directly on the garden. It also came with extra humans to pet me, and mainly, open doors and windows for me when I want to go in and out. Paradise!

It also means that my she lets me go out as I please now. Maybe she's not worried about me having to stay out in the cold or wet for long hours while she's away, as there are almost always humans there to give me access to the new basement flat.

She also found out one of my hiding-places -- in the heating room of the building the other side of the street. It's nice, because I can just stay there, warm and dry, and she'll come and find me (if all else is closed). I don't think she's very enthusiastic about me crossing the road to go there, but come on -- I've been doing this for long enough now, she should know I'm car-wise.

About a week ago she started giving me more pills. Well, an extra one a day. It's a nasty one, hard to swallow, and she really has to stick it right down my throat for me to swallow it. I spat out quite a few. I do try to cooperate, though, because I have a suspicion it might be for something in the lessening of my joint pain. It's hard to explain, but I feel like I lost a few years. Jumping on the couch is easier. I feel like going out and moving more.

Let's hope it lasts!

And I promise I'll try not to wait 18 months before giving you my next update. Meow!

Settling Down But... Injections!

Well, what can I say. Things aren't too bad. I'm not getting the horrible frothing atropine eye drops anymore, so I can see through my right eye again and I don't find the sunlight quite so blinding. My eye isn't 100% normal though, it's a bit "fuzzy" and sensitive to light. But I'm glad we're done with the atropine.

I go out in the morning and a couple of times during the day, still with my human. She seems to have taken a liking to this new habit of coming out with me. Maybe she needs the fresh air, too. An added perk to having her accompany me is that she takes time to play with me in the grass -- pretty cool.

HOWEVER, there's one thing I'm really not happy about: injections. Yeah, you heard me right: the dreaded needle. I thought those only happened at the vet's, but she gave me one this morning and one yesterday. That's probably why she poked and prodded me with a needle last time we were at the vet's!

Well, I can tell you that yesterday's injection was NOT pleasant. The girl obviously needs some practice. This morning was a bit better though -- quicker and less painful, I didn't have to yowl and threaten her with my claws.

She tells me this stuff she's sticking in my is Interferon, and it's supposed to help my immune system. Not quite sure how, though.

I'm still taking the toxoplasmosis pills (it's been ten day now!) and I have to say I'm feeling a tad under the weather -- you know, tired, and less enthusiastic about going out than usual. But I still have my appetite, and I'm drinking a lot so that I can spray my territory liberally when I get to go out.

Almost Normal

Well, yesterday didn't finish too badly, and today went along quite smoothly. It's almost back to normal now, except my human follows me around outside and then brings me back in. She must be feeling very needy or something. I still get to go out free in the morning, as I'm more of an early riser than her -- she's still half asleep when she lets me out.

Torture continues. She sticks drops in my eyes, including the dreaded atropine that makes me salivate like mad and makes my eye completely fuzzy and intolerant to light. I mean, I have to walk around with one eye shut in the sunlight. And even when I try, I can't see much through it, and it's making me jumpy. I don't feel completely myself.

Pills are OK, though I wish she'd manage to get them down my throat without me first choking on them for 15 seconds.

I'm on the balcony right now, surveying my territory. There's a new yellow cat in the area -- thank goodness I managed to pee on most of my bushes today. I'll have to mark extra tomorrow so I'm sure he knows I'm the boss around here.