Merry Greetings
I am off work for two days. When I was in the shower yesterday, I noticed the swelling and redness in my legs had spread to my ankles and all around my leg from the shin down.
The doctor was quite concerned and wished I had come to them sooner. He said they treat cat bites very aggressively and that they are worse than a bite from a dog and most snakes.
He started off by so-called freezing my right leg at the bite site. (Needed more freezing.) Then he dug out the four spots where his fangs and back teeth dug into my skin. The penetration of the top left fang did the most damage. He flushed it out and let it ooze for a while before a dressing was applied. I received a double dose of antibiotics and prescription for more to be taken over the next 7 days.
I have to go back up this morning at 9:00 a.m. to have an injection of Novacaine and something else before seeing the bone specialist to determine if the infection spread to my ankle; that's currently where I have the most pain.
The E.R. doctor also shared that he had to inform Public Health whenever a bite has taken place.
I didn't get speaking with the Health Unit worker, but left a message that I figured it was an isolated incident and that my cat doesn't go outside. He will likely try and get more information from me for his report.
I felt bad for O'Malley because I'm sure it's part of his grieving process. When I stop and think about it, I realize he was so used to having my husband around for company all the time and then on April 10th that all stopped. Gary went into the hospital and never came out. I was busy at the hospital so I didn't spend as much time with the cat and the last two days with exception of a quick check in and to fetch a camping cot ('cause there were no beds for me at the hospital); I wasn't around.
The two weeks following, I was out running a bunch of errands and didn't spend as much time, but I felt more time than usual since I wasn't at work.
I really think O'Malley was protesting me going away.
Luckily for O'Malley I have worked with children with Autism, schizophrenia and other disorders that lead to emotionally charged aggressive outbursts. Instead of being angry, I feel compassion toward O'Malley. He hasn't bitten me in three of four years and the last time was because I was doing dance aerobics in the living room and he thought I was challenging him.
I placed a pair of Gary's favourite jeans on the foot of O'Malley's mattress and he snuggled right in and rubbed his forehead all over them and then had a nap resting on the sleeping bag with his neck and head on the jeans.
I hope they don't make me put him down; that happened with a friend of mine when their old cat bit her father (who was the fire chief) and he wound up with cat scratch fever.
O'Malley is my link to Gary and if I have to live without both of them, it would be extremely heartbreaking.
If you are offering thoughts for me today that all goes well, can you toss something out for O'Malley too - he needs to heal from his loss too.
I haven't told my dad yet. I'm going up on my own today - I'll take a taxi, 'cause I doubt they'll want me to drive after the novacaine.
I know what my dad would do, but it wouldn't be an easy decision for him either as he is not really a cat person, but kept Pedro because he reminds him of my mom and whenever she was ill and needed a hospital bed set up in the living room, the cat would jump up on it and keep her company.
I will stay jolly through it; enjoy the last day of May - the last two months have flown by.
Merry Greetings
I am off work for two days. When I was in the shower yesterday, I noticed the swelling and redness in my legs had spread to my ankles and all around my leg from the shin down.
The doctor was quite concerned and wished I had come to them sooner. He said they treat cat bites very aggressively and that they are worse than a bite from a dog and most snakes.
He started off by so-called freezing my right leg at the bite site. (Needed more freezing.) Then he dug out the four spots where his fangs and back teeth dug into my skin. The penetration of the top left fang did the most damage. He flushed it out and let it ooze for a while before a dressing was applied. I received a double dose of antibiotics and prescription for more to be taken over the next 7 days.
I have to go back up this morning at 9:00 a.m. to have an injection of Novacaine and something else before seeing the bone specialist to determine if the infection spread to my ankle; that's currently where I have the most pain.
The E.R. doctor also shared that he had to inform Public Health whenever a bite has taken place.
I didn't get speaking with the Health Unit worker, but left a message that I figured it was an isolated incident and that my cat doesn't go outside. He will likely try and get more information from me for his report.
I felt bad for O'Malley because I'm sure it's part of his grieving process. When I stop and think about it, I realize he was so used to having my husband around for company all the time and then on April 10th that all stopped. Gary went into the hospital and never came out. I was busy at the hospital so I didn't spend as much time with the cat and the last two days with exception of a quick check in and to fetch a camping cot ('cause there were no beds for me at the hospital); I wasn't around.
The two weeks following, I was out running a bunch of errands and didn't spend as much time, but I felt more time than usual since I wasn't at work.
I really think O'Malley was protesting me going away.
Luckily for O'Malley I have worked with children with Autism, schizophrenia and other disorders that lead to emotionally charged aggressive outbursts. Instead of being angry, I feel compassion toward O'Malley. He hasn't bitten me in three of four years and the last time was because I was doing dance aerobics in the living room and he thought I was challenging him.
I placed a pair of Gary's favourite jeans on the foot of O'Malley's mattress and he snuggled right in and rubbed his forehead all over them and then had a nap resting on the sleeping bag with his neck and head on the jeans.
I hope they don't make me put him down; that happened with a friend of mine when their old cat bit her father (who was the fire chief) and he wound up with cat scratch fever.
O'Malley is my link to Gary and if I have to live without both of them, it would be extremely heartbreaking.
If you are offering thoughts for me today that all goes well, can you toss something out for O'Malley too - he needs to heal from his loss too.
I haven't told my dad yet. I'm going up on my own today - I'll take a taxi, 'cause I doubt they'll want me to drive after the novacaine.
I know what my dad would do, but it wouldn't be an easy decision for him either as he is not really a cat person, but kept Pedro because he reminds him of my mom and whenever she was ill and needed a hospital bed set up in the living room, the cat would jump up on it and keep her company.
I will stay jolly through it; enjoy the last day of May - the last two months have flown by.
Thanks, everyone! Your prayers and mine are working.
Good news and stressful news ...
The x-ray showed no infection inside the ankle bone.
I never ended up needing the novacaine that was to be used for the needle method of injecting antibiotics, but the nurse assistant removed my IV picc that was supposed to remain in and just be wrapped up. $40.00 on cabs to and from - not happy about that - but I guess it was a rookie mistake.
I had another round of antibiotics and the doctor did a reassessment. I mentioned that the heat seemed to have dispersed from the red area although it was still sore and the bite sites were really itchy, but only one was painful. He was pleased that my pain reduced from a 6 yesterday to a 4 today.
I have to go up again early in the morning for another round of antibiotics and they circled both sides of my ankle and foot where the swelling and redness are visible to see if they're improving. They left the IV stick my arm in this time.
I told the doctor I was comfortable with the way we attacked the problem and figured it would work out well. He smiled and nodded in a modest way almost as if he was giving himself a pat on the back for his good decision. The procedure yesterday was painful, I think he was happy he got an easy patient to deal with since I didn't wind up screaming over it.
He warned that if I didn't stay off it and keep it elevated that I could still incur a problem with the infection getting into the bones. A buddy of his had a nail in his foot once and stayed off it for a day, but then was on it the next day for a many hours and the infection got real bad.
I've been making good use of the rocker recliner; at full tilt it's definitely elevated.
The stressful news is that the two different staff from Public Health that contacted me never returned my calls. I got a hold of someone at intake and explained the situation and he went looking for one of them; the other had left for the weekend. (1:30 quitting time.) He said I had to connect with her on Monday and arrange for her to come and observe the cat and she might take a stool sample and return 10 days later.
Again, I stressed the fact that he is an indoor cat and does not go outside and no forest animals have been in here so he can't possibly have rabies. I told him about the stress theory and he said, "It doesn't matter what you think caused it, we have to rule out rabies, it's our protocol." STUPID. I am for rules and guidelines when they make perfect sense. It makes no sense. Anyway, I'm sure it will all work out because he isn't an angry cat - grumpy and stubborn - yes - but aggressive - no. The stress part is obviously from worrying that they will want to put him down given his age and what-not; that's not really their call in my opinion; I live alone now. If Gary was still here and they were concerned for his health and well-being it might be different - he could afford to be bitten. O'Malley has been purring off and on ever since so he's over that angry outburst.
Shhh. I didn't tell them about the trip to the Pines and meet up with Carl - poor Mallers.
I don't want Public Health in here; they will see how cluttered that spare room is and I can't wash the kitchen floor because I have to stay off my feet; I've been sick for 5 weeks - only healthy for 1 and now this week's nightmare.
I can't wait to go back to work; hope the doctor clears me for Monday; I am so bored.
Let's all keep a merry thought!
Thanks, everyone! Your prayers and mine are working.
Good news and stressful news ...
The x-ray showed no infection inside the ankle bone.
I never ended up needing the novacaine that was to be used for the needle method of injecting antibiotics, but the nurse assistant removed my IV picc that was supposed to remain in and just be wrapped up. $40.00 on cabs to and from - not happy about that - but I guess it was a rookie mistake.
I had another round of antibiotics and the doctor did a reassessment. I mentioned that the heat seemed to have dispersed from the red area although it was still sore and the bite sites were really itchy, but only one was painful. He was pleased that my pain reduced from a 6 yesterday to a 4 today.
I have to go up again early in the morning for another round of antibiotics and they circled both sides of my ankle and foot where the swelling and redness are visible to see if they're improving. They left the IV stick my arm in this time.
I told the doctor I was comfortable with the way we attacked the problem and figured it would work out well. He smiled and nodded in a modest way almost as if he was giving himself a pat on the back for his good decision. The procedure yesterday was painful, I think he was happy he got an easy patient to deal with since I didn't wind up screaming over it.
He warned that if I didn't stay off it and keep it elevated that I could still incur a problem with the infection getting into the bones. A buddy of his had a nail in his foot once and stayed off it for a day, but then was on it the next day for a many hours and the infection got real bad.
I've been making good use of the rocker recliner; at full tilt it's definitely elevated.
The stressful news is that the two different staff from Public Health that contacted me never returned my calls. I got a hold of someone at intake and explained the situation and he went looking for one of them; the other had left for the weekend. (1:30 quitting time.) He said I had to connect with her on Monday and arrange for her to come and observe the cat and she might take a stool sample and return 10 days later.
Again, I stressed the fact that he is an indoor cat and does not go outside and no forest animals have been in here so he can't possibly have rabies. I told him about the stress theory and he said, "It doesn't matter what you think caused it, we have to rule out rabies, it's our protocol." STUPID. I am for rules and guidelines when they make perfect sense. It makes no sense. Anyway, I'm sure it will all work out because he isn't an angry cat - grumpy and stubborn - yes - but aggressive - no. The stress part is obviously from worrying that they will want to put him down given his age and what-not; that's not really their call in my opinion; I live alone now. If Gary was still here and they were concerned for his health and well-being it might be different - he could afford to be bitten. O'Malley has been purring off and on ever since so he's over that angry outburst.
Shhh. I didn't tell them about the trip to the Pines and meet up with Carl - poor Mallers.
I don't want Public Health in here; they will see how cluttered that spare room is and I can't wash the kitchen floor because I have to stay off my feet; I've been sick for 5 weeks - only healthy for 1 and now this week's nightmare.
I can't wait to go back to work; hope the doctor clears me for Monday; I am so bored.
Let's all keep a merry thought!
Good morning all!
June 1st... that means Christmas in July in right around the corner.
Today is the Strawberry Festival in the town I live in. Lots of crafts, food, and festival stuff. Strawberry flavored everything! Most specifically the Troy HS band makes Strawberry donuts as a fundraiser. They are really good and makes the band a lot of money. But, do you wanna know a secret? The donuts are not actually strawberry flavored... they use cherry flavoring!
If I suddenly disappear, it is because they found out I told you all the secret.
Anyway, my wife is working at the festival this morning and then we are going to enjoy the festivities. The weather looks ok for today, humid and a chance of storms this afternoon. It is suppose to be scattered so hopefully it will miss us.
Everyone have a great Saturday!
