Catching up

The last time I wrote, I mentioned that I had a heart problem. My heart still hurts from missing Tiggie, but my inside heart is better. My health problems were more than just that.

Treater noticed that I was tired a lot more than usual, and she also thought I looked as if I had lost a little weight. I'm not a very big kitty anyway. At my, er, um, plumpest, I weighed 7.5 pounds. I'm just a little gal. Well, she called the V.E.T. and dragged me in there. They weighed me and poked me and stuck me and did some pretty disagreeable things to me! I was not a happy camper!

This was about three or four months ago. The blood tests showed some scary-high numbers, so Dr. Steve sent me to the Big City Hospital. Treater was amazed - she said she never realized there were V.E.T. Specialists at those hospitals. I saw a cardiologist and an internist when I was there. It turned out that my primary condition was hyperthyroidism. Yeah, I dunno what that is, either, but it's what made me tired and skinny. They also found my enlarged heart, but the cardiologist suspected it was a side-effect from the thyroid disorder.

(Yeah, there are some big words here. Treater is peeking over my shoulder helping me with the spelling.)

Anyway, the treatment sounded scary, but it wasn't so bad...except that I had to stay in the hospital for a few days. They gave me something called an I-131 treatment and turned me into a radioactive cat! Napper teased me...he said he knew the things I left in my litter box were radioactive...for a while, they really were! Life seemed no different to me once I got home, but Treater and Napper had to avoid me for a couple of weeks and every time they did anything for me, they pulled on gloves. I tell you what...my litter box leavings must be valuable. They wouldn't throw them away; instead, they saved them in a special box. Now, even I wouldn't want that box after a few days.

Anyway, like I said the last time I wrote, they made me start taking pills three times a day for my heart. After a month, I only had to take two a day. That's no fun. I also had to go back for more poking and other disagreeable stuff. Dr. Steve and Dr. M (my internist) weren't happy with the results, so they told me I had to go back again in one more month. Well, that was yesterday.

More poking and pushing and sticking and all those disagreeable things. This is getting old. On the good side, I gained four more ounces, so I've gained about half a pound since my treatment. Treater is supposed to talk to Dr. Steve today about "my labs." (I didn't know I had a lab!)

Dr. M said that 5% of the felines who have the I-131 treatment have to have a second treatment. I hope I'm not one, but it's not looking great. We'll know later today. Treater said my medical treatments this year already cost more than hers and Napper's combined. Hey, I'm worth it, right?

So, that's why I haven't blogged much lately. I've just been too tired. I still sleep a lot, but I'm feeling a bit better.

Oh, yeah. I got new food yesterday, too. Dr. Steve said I need special food for my kidneys. Gee. This is making me sound like an old cat. I'm not...I'm still a youthful-looking lady. Hmmm, but I do have a birthday in a couple of months.

Twelve's not old! Is it?

Treater said we'll post an update later when we know something. She said she'll do it for me if I'm sleeping. Right now, I need a nap.