Stumble It!
Thank God we are an alcoholic
So what's the story with my sister? Still hard to tell, but we're going in to Angell Memorial this evening to meet with the doc and say hello to Tiny, who is still in an oxygen chamber of some sort. Visiting hours and an opportunity to meet her specialist between 6 and 7.
Dr. Polina Vishkautsan called c. 4 p.m. with good news and bad news. Tiny's doing "very well," said the doc, before saying "she's not doing well outside the oxygen tent." Her heart murmer is "benign" -- an "outflow tract murmer" that is a common condition in "older" cats and does not indicate underlying heart disease. The "belly" ultrasound was normal.
"I'm very happy," said Doc Vishkautsan, adding that we should "concentrate on her lungs." We'll continue with a new antibiotic -- Baytril, taken as a pill once a day. Unlike the Clavamox she was taking by eyedropper for the last ten days, it doesn't suppress the appetite. Doc says we should start on steroids for the asthma ASAP once we get all the results of the various tests. Gak. Thank God we are an alcoholic. Beefeater Gin is our drug of choice.
Update: Her breathing was labored -- quick breaths with mouth slightly open -- despite her being in the oxygenated cage when we visited. Met with doctor, who said they had started giving her the steroids. We had had too much to drink before going over there, which wasn't helpful. Once back home, we called for update, and the attendant said her breathing was better.
Update II: Next morning we called at 5 a.m. If your animal's condition deteriorates, they call you at once, but otherwise, we must wait till 9 at the earliest to hear how she's doing. No news is good news?
Well, at least she's okay in the oxygen "tent" or whatever they use for cats. Get well vibes coming at you Tiny ~~~~
Posted by: Teresa | January 11, 2006 at 10:05 PM
That sounds like good news. We have to hope.
Posted by: Laura Lee Donoho | January 12, 2006 at 12:31 AM
With the collapsed lobe, infection and asthma, she would have less lung capacity and need the oxygen. Hope the new antibiotic works and they figure out what bug she has.
Older folk tend to do worse when hit with respiratory infections, especially when they get pneumonia. Guessing older cats might have a bit of a hard time too.
We'll be purraying for Tiny.
Posted by: mog | January 12, 2006 at 03:19 AM
My prayers are with you Sissy
Posted by: Scott | January 12, 2006 at 08:58 AM
Sending many hugs and thoughts (but no cold germs)!
Posted by: Patti | January 12, 2006 at 11:12 AM