Left for the Bridge Tonight

Mom hasn't submitted an entry for awhile because she was afraid to jinx me, so she didn't brag about how well I had been doing.

It all came to an end though tonight.

It was discovered @ an ER visit for constipation that I was in renal failure. A suspicious mass had also formed on my jaw rather rapidly and didn't show signs of being infectious. After spending the night @ the ER(I didn't seem a whole lot better) and a visit to my vet, my bloodwork showed that my kidneys were in bad shape and would be difficult to try and level out w/out compromising my heart. The doc gave me less than 50% chance of survival. Add possible cancer to the mix and my prognosis was considered "terminal". My pawrents had to once again in less than 5 months make the painful decision to let another furbaby go to the bridge.

I'm especially worried for my Meowmy because her Daddy died less than a month ago. I am the 3rd person she loved in 5 months to leave her.

I am greatful to my pawrents for rescuing me that cold, windy November night 13 years ago from that wretched hole in the wall in their laundry room of their apartment. Instead of being disgusted by my flea and tick infested body, they removed 5 or 6 fully engorged ticks and got rid of my fleas. Until I got to the vet to get checked before being exposed to their other cats, Meowmy would sit with me in her car out of the cold and pet me while we listened to calming classical music. She would let me sleep on her nice warm lap. I never forgot what my pawrents did for me and I showed them how greatful I was by being the sweetest and loving cat I could be. I will miss them very much.

If anyone can give me a set of pretty wings so I can really be Esmeralda the Gypsy Angel, I would like that very much.

Purrs!

Last Doctor's Visit

I went to the doc yesterday. Mom and dad were really scared. I had gotten through the week, so they were cautiously optimistic.

Initally, he said that the heart and lungs sounded "good" and better than before. He wanted an xray to see where things were. I was really stressed and was wheezing, so the doc thought I'd have some fluid in my chest.

When he called my pawrents in to discuss things, he said things were "great". My heart was looking better, I had only a little bit of fluid in my lungs and my T4 went from 5.8 to 2.4. He did notice some scar tissue in my lungs which would add to my breathing troubles, but he said that was from old age.

I left the office with some Lasix, but he said I didn't have to go back for 4 months unless there's a problem.

So, for now, all the pawrayers and pawsitive thoughts everyone has sent my way has helped a great deal. I thank everyone from the bottom of my tired, but slightly improved heart.

Info About Me(trying to take my mind off things)

1. What color is your collar?
I'm collar free since I stay inside.

2. What kind of food do you eat?
Purina CV thanks to my heart attack

3. What are your favorite treats?
No treats. More food please!

4. Do you have a Valentine or significant other?
Just my Purrents

5. Do you get table scraps?
No!!!

6. What is your favorite toy?
The Crinkle Cave

7. When is your Birthday?
Don't know. I was an abandoned kitty.

8. How many times a day do you get to eat?
2x

9. Do you have a favorite color?
No. I'm a Torti. I can't make up my mind.

10. Do you hope all your pals put this in their diary?
Sure!

I'm holding my own

For now, I'm holding my own. My breathing is shallow and a little fast, but my tongue is pink and I otherwise act like a regular cat. I hope I can make it until my next vet appointment on Monday w/out incident.

I'm scaring my purrents to death. They are always afraid of another emergency.

Thanks to everyone for supporting me during this difficult and confusing time. The gifts are wonderful too.

Mystery

I just got back from another night at the vet. Mom brought me back yesterday for labored breathing.

New x-rays showed no negative changes. Oxygen cage didn't change much either. They gave me a steroid and lasix and it helped a little.

I have an occasional wheeze and my breathing is tenative. My pawrents have to watch me closely for any changes. The doc says it's all related to the hyperthyroid and heart. I hope this thyroid get under control soon. Maybe some of this breathing nonsense wil settle.

Otherwise, I look and act like I'm feeling great. I love my CV food and hanging in my room w/mom and dad.

Thanks for all the pawsitive thoughts and gifts!

I'm Home!

I'm actually back home! I'm in disbelief! The heart meds helped me!

I'm so happy to be home! It is so wonderful! I have my own room now w/my own litter box, food and water dishes, 3 cat beds, a human bed and an air conditioner! A luxury suite for a kitty! Best of all...NO TOMMY! The doc said absolutely no stress, so we will only see one another through the crack under the door from now on!

I was giving head butts on the way home from the hospital and when I got home to my room, I couldn't stop walking back and forth from dad to mom to give them lots of purrs and head butts and get lots of pets, scratches and kisses!

Since coming home I've eaten well(my new CV cat food), had a drink or 2 (from my new water dish) and did both #1 and #2 in my own new cat pan! I also just had to take my Tapazol (not fun at all) and I'm on the same heart meds that Duncan was on...Diltiezem 2x a day. Taking pills kind of stinks, but I look and feel great. I hope I can stay this way for a while.

Thanks to everyone for their purrs, gifts, purrayers and positive thoughts. Keep 'em coming! You guys ROCK!

Not Good

My thyroid is returning to normal, but not my heart rate and blood pressure w/it.

I still have labored breathing when I'm out of the oxygen cage. Doc thinks I have more heart damage than originally thought. He wants me to stay here in the hospital another night w/heart meds in my system to see if my heart rate comes down and if I can breathe outside of the oxygen cage.

If it does, I can come home tomorrow...if it does not, then I'll be seeing Duncan again sooner than I thought.

Dad is numb at this point, too drained to express anything. Mom is guilt ridden because she was so overwhelmed w/my brother, she didn't get me to the doc sooner. She can't believe she might have to send a cat that was eating great, jumping on furniture, alert, talkative and affectionate to the bridge in less than 24 hours.

I REALLY hope the heart meds work for ALL of us.

Purrs please

My Turn

Well, Mom didn't like the way I was breathing today, so after everything that happen with my brother Duncan before his passing last week, she erred on the side of caution and got me to the doc.

I vaguely remember Duncan saying something about this mystical "oxygen cage" that helped him breathe better. Well, I'm getting first hand experience with it now and I'm not impressed. It appears that I have really bad Hyperthyroidism. This led to a chain of events where I now have Cardiomyopathy just like Duncan, and have apparently had a heart attack!? Oh! And I have some fluid in my lungs! Me???!!! Just this morning I was jumping from the vanity and eating like a horse! What the heck!

The doc says I'll be home tomorrow and should be O.K. as long as my thyroid levels come down. Also, my brother Tommy and I will have to be seperated. His constant harassing, on top of the Hyperthyroidism, is what more than likely triggered my heart attack. He is always bullying me! The running joke was that he would give me a heart attack one day...looks like he did, the little snot nosed brat and it's NOT funny!

purrs and a wheeze

Ez