Conference misery::feline_v1

    Poor baby - both of you!  I hope things go well!  Keep us posted.
    
    E.T.

    Marilyn, my thoughts are with both you and Sam.  It really sounds like
    a bout of FUS to me versus something more serious.
    
    Keep your spirits up!
    
    --Roberta
    

    Our thoughts are with you!  Keep your chin up!
    
    Lynne, Casey, B.K. Pepper & Rusty

    We are thinking good thoughts for  you both.....!!!!!
    give him hugs for us.. 
    Kate , HRH, Happy, Preschie

    Marilyn
       My thoughts will be with you too. I hope Sam will be alright.
    Please keep us posted. 
        Denise 

     
    Marilyn,
    
    We all hope Sam feels better real soon!!  (You too, it's so hard when
    the furbabies are sick :-(
    
    Feline fingers and toes crossed,
    
    Sue & Princess Panther & Spot
    

    Well, I just heard from Dr. Mulcahy and it doesn't sound too
    promising.
    
    She said that he has 'pilonephritis' - has anyone heard of that before?
    
    She said that they have to intensively flush fluids through him, as
    well as antibiotics...hoping that we caught the disease in time.  The 
    blood came from the kidneys through the bladder. 
    
    She said that she and her colleagues discussed the disease this morning
    and came to the conclusion that it's stress related - stress that has
    been experienced over a long period of time.  Other than that...she
    said no one really knows a lot about it.  (The disease)
    
    He (apparantly) was abused and when we got him 3 months ago...we got
    him fattened up some, his wound healed and got a round of shots.  He
    seemed to be doing so well.  I feel so bad for him - although she said 
    he is not in any pain at the moment...I was hoping a loving environment 
    would finally give him some peace.
    
    Looks like he will be in the hospital until the 14th of August...or 
    perhaps longer.
    
    Marilyn
    
    

    What exactly is pilonephritis?
    

    Its inflamation of a structure in the kidneys.  Probably from an
    infection.  Poor baby.  I hope he's ok too.  Its strange that 
    things like this often happen after the major stress is over, when
    things are going better.  Perhaps it just waited until Sam was
    strong enough to deal with it.  Lets hope.
     Nancy DC

         Here's sending healing vibes to Sam, and comforting vibes to you. 
    Hope everything turns out okay.
    
    					- Andrea

    Please send Sam our love and tell him he is in our thoughts!  The
    poor guy sounds like he has been through so much....hopefully the
    nice home you provided him with has made him strong enough to deal 
    with this!
    
    My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.   Please keep us posted.
    
    Sandy     (Tamba,Poco, and Barkley)

    I'm so sorry to hear Sam is sick.  Hope he pulls through it okay.
    
    Best wishes,
    
    Karen (and Georgie)

    The poor guy.....he's been through so much.  People are real funny when
    it comes to their animals (and I'm not refering to you in any means 
    Marilyn).....I had a long chat with my *new* vet last night about that
    (I think Jesse was abused before us)......and I couldn't believe some
    of the stuff she told me.....
    
    Well we hope Sam pulls out of this and lets you give him the love he
    so deserves... 
    
    Michele & Nippa

    Thanks everyone - for your support!
    
    I just called Dr. Mulcahy again and Sam is doing o.k. and I may possibly
    be able to pick him up Monday.  I asked if it was alright to go by and
    visit him tonight, after work, and they said fine.  My daughter is
    going to go by today to hold him for awhile....I just hope that seeing
    us - and then having to say goodbye and put him back in the cage -
    isn't going to stress him more.
    
    I am so angry over this whole thing - from what I have been told about
    his previous 'owner' Sam is lucky to have lived to be 11 at all.  He
    is such a loving cat, I cannot believe that anyone could abuse him!
    
    I am praying that he makes it through this ordeal and that he has a
    chance to live some happy years with us.
    
    Sorry for going on and on about this - but every time I think of what
    he went through it makes ME ill.  I know I have to let it go - but that
    is difficult to do when I see Sam suffering so!
    
    Marilyn
    

    So glad, Marilyn, that YOU were the one who took Sam in - and knew
    enough to get him help fast enough.
    
    Our prayers are with you and him!  I'm glad you went to visit him at
    the hospital - I did that with Benj, and I hoped at the time that it
    would reassure him that I hadn't abandoned him.  He loved sitting on my
    lap and purred so hard he looked like he was hyperventilating!

    It seems like Sam is strong enough to make it...and if you go visit
    him...hopefully he will know that he has a reason to fight to get
    strong and come home. He deserves the best...and I beleive he found 
    it with you.   Please spoil him rotten for all of us!!  Give him
    a big hug and kiss tonight.
    
    Our prayers are still with you and Sam.  
    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, and Barkley)  

    Marilyn,

    Glad to read that Sam is doing better.  Wishing him a speedy recovery so
    he can go home to you and your daughter for some more loving.  When you
    visit him this evening, just think positive thoughts and tell him you'll
    see him on Monday.  He probably won't feel stressed if he doesn't pick up
    any stress from you.  I know, that's easier said than done when you're
    so worried about him.  I visited my Butterscotch when she was at the vet's 
    recovering from surgery, and I think the visits helped both of us.

    Cindy

    Glad to hear Sam is on the mend!  Hang in there and give me a call on
    dtn 6-8326.  We can exchange home numbers and talk over the weekend.
    Paw pats,
    Karen, Ruby, Stinky, Wing
    

    I am so glad to hear that Sam is doing better.  If anyone knows
    more about this illness, can they post the info for us?  This is
    one that I am totally unfamiliar with.  If there is already a note
    in this string that tells about the disease, can someone point me
    there?  I haven't had a lot of time for notes lately, and have only
    been popping in when I can.
    
    Jo

    Thanks Jo, I have been so upset about all of this (and hearing about
    Laci) that I never thought to see if this disease is already discussed
    in this file.  Of course, I am spelling it (philnephritis) blindly...I 
    literally sounded the letters out as the vet was speaking to me over the 
    phone.
    
    Nancy (DC) I am curious...did you know of the disease or do you have a
    medical dictionary handy?
    
    One thing Dr. Mulcahy did tell me is - that they do know it is NOT
    contagious....I was worried that perhaps Otis and Tiffany might
    contract the disease.  She did say Sam would have to be on antibiotics
    for about 3 weeks (consecutively) perhaps even for the rest of his
    life.  
    
    Now that I think of it - would the three pills of Ovaban have hurt him
    - or have brought on the symptoms of this disease?
    
    Marilyn
    

    Well,  the only thing I know about it is that the pylons in the kidneys
    are structures shaped like cones that, I believe, are the filters that
    filter the urine.  My medical memory is cluttered with software these
    days (I can't imagine why !!).
    
    Nancy, how's your medical memory?
    
    E.

    re: medical background or dictionary - both actually.  I was a nursing
    student at Mass General hospital way back in 1973-1974 - it seem like
    a lifetime ago.  Anyway I know that Nephros refers to the kidneys and
    itis = inflamation.  Strangely I have tried every spelling of 
    pylonephritis I can think of and can't find it in my Stedman's
    Medical dictionary but I know I've heard the term.  Part  of
    what I wrote was from memory.
      N

    marilyn...
    
    sending more good thoughts to you and sam.  i, too, am hoping that this
    delayed until now when sam is strong enough to handle it.  poor guy
    deserves a break!
    
    diane, stella and stanley
    

    I found the spelling via our on line dictionary: pyelonephritis.
    But all it says is "inflammation of the kidney and its pelvis."
    

    I went to see Sam, right after work Friday, and I think that was a
    mistake.  I was SO excited to see him and they left me alone with him
    in one of the examining rooms and he didn't want ANYTHING to do with
    me.  I was so bummed.
    
    He was wet on the back of the neck (from the I.V. tubing) and they had
    shaved him under the neck (????)...his eyes were fully dialated and he
    did nothing but squirm.  I know that there were dogs barking in the
    back and the smell is 'never' pleasant in a medical facility - he just
    was NOT a happy camper.  He didn't want me to hold him (in fact he
    tried to get away from me) although he didn't seem to be in any pain.
    He didn't appear to recognize me and basically didn't want anything to
    do with me.  That's not characteristic of him - he is basically VERY
    laid back and purrs all the time and I know (at home) knows my voice.
    Nothing worked!
    
    I talked to the vet afterwards (I only managed to stay with him for
    about 5 minutes...and I was on the verge of tears) and she said he 
    probably just wants to get out of there but somehow that didn't make 
    me feel any better.
    
    I am to call the office today - to see if I can bring him home - I
    wonder if he'll remember who I am?
    
    Marilyn
    

    Marilyn,
    
    I'm sure Sam will remember you once you have him at home.  My guess
    is that he was just not thrilled about being at the animal hospital
    (dogs parking and that smell...yuk!) and that is why he totally
    ignored you.   
                            
    My heart goes out to both you and Sam...this must be so hard on
    you as well as Sam.  Hopefully you will have him home tonight and
    things will start to get back to normal.
    
    Our prayers are still with you...
    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, and Barkley

    c'mon sam...stop remembering the bad treatment of the past.  mom has
    not abandoned you.  hang in there ol' boy, soon you can go home!  then
    you will remember how good mom has been to you...
    
    stanley & stella (kitty owners of diane)
     

    Marilyn,
    
    Can we have an update on Sam....my thoughts are still with both
    of you..Is he home now???
    
    

    Hi.  Well, I called the vet yesterday and Dr. Mulcahy had taken a day
    off and I was told Sam was better.  I just called today and they said
    he is ready to go home.  I'll be picking him up around 5:30 this
    evening.
    
    This is going to be like introducing a new cat again - so tonight
    should be really interesting.  Sounds like more stress for Sam.
    :^(
    
    I was told last week that Sam would be on medication for the next 3
    weeks...what kind yet, I don't know.  I'll find out tonight.
    
    Hopefully all will be well and he'll be able to adjust, again, the poor
    baby - he has had such a difficult and hard life.  I'll give it my best
    shot!
    
    Marilyn, Otis, Tiffany and Sam
    
    P.S.  My daughter says Sam looks like a 'Toonsys' (whatever that is)
          maybe we should change his name.  Doesn't look like Sam is a
          very lucky name for him.  Perhaps he needs a 'change'.
    
          Will let you all know tomorrow how he is doing! 
    

re: Toonces (I think that's the right spelling.)

Toonces is a character in a couple of sketches on Saturday Night Live (an 
ensemble comedy television show).  He drives a car (not well, his drivers
license is suspended), drinks Tequila shooters (knows the ritual), and a
couple other things. 

He looks to me like an american shorthair tabby.

Ray_who's_glad_Sam's_going_home

    Regarding naming Sam 'Toonces' - I'll have to watch Saturday Night
    Live.  My daughter said that Sam is the 'spitting' image of him...so we
    just might name him that.
    
    I got Sam at 5:30 last night (BIG BUCKS ##$$$###) but worth it all.  I
    got him in the house and Tiffany was fine - Otis ignored him and Sam
    went right to the kitchen to eat.  Unfortunately he can't have 'junk'
    food (over the counter stuff)...he's on a strict diet of Science Diet
    for 2 weeks AND no dry food.  A bit of an inconvenience because Tiffany
    only eats dry food and there is always a bowl down for her.  So, we had
    to become creative as to where to put it so that Sam couldn't find it.
    We failed...we heard a crash during the middle of the night - Sam had
    attempted to jump up on the bureau to get at it - his nose still works.
    
                               :*)
    
    Otis had a hissy around 8:00 - running in my bedroom - into the hall
    and in the bathroom - jumped into the tub - ran downstairs into the
    living room - into the dining room - down the cellar stairs - back UP
    the stairs in the living room and onto one of the chairs - upstairs in
    the bathroom - in the tub - and up on my bureau - back in the bathroom
    again and tore downstairs in the living room - and BACK down cellar
    where I could literally hear him panting.  With Sam gone for a week he
    has had me all to himself and last night he was really ticked off at
    ME.  
    
    Sam was fidgety - grooming himself, acclamating himself to his familiar
    spots, trying to find GOOD TASTING FOOD, drinking water and trying to
    get attention from anyone who would give it to him.  Around 10 - he 
    finally settled in and laid down on the bed and began to purr.  He was
    asleep in the chair by my bed this morning and Otis was practically
    around my neck...so Otis did manage to get near me during the night.
    
    He will be on Amoxicillan for the next 10 days, the Science Diet
    Formula for 2 weeks and then has to go back for follow-up blood work. 
    But for now, everything seems to be o.k.!
    
    The vet said that on each cage is the animals name and any specific
    instructions...and apparantly during the night (Monday) Sam was bored
    as hell and decided to try and tear his name off the outside of the
    cage and eat it.  So the girl who feeds the animals in the morning gave
    him regular food.  Well, when Dr. Mulcahy went down to check him, she
    saw that he had eaten the wrong food and he had a look on his face like
    he had died and gone to heaven  (as she put it).  Anyway - she attempted to
    get what was left of his 'name' out of the cage and he put his paw over
    it - just as she was grabbing it - he DID NOT eat that other stuff.
    They were all laughing about it when I got there.  That's when they
    knew he was ready to go home.
    
    So, he looks good for now and hope that the food and the pills are
    enough to clear this whole thing up.
    
    Thanks for all the support and well-wishes....
    
    Marilyn, Otis, Tiffany & Toonces (Sam)
    

    I should know by now, not to count my chickens before they hatch.
    
    Dr. Mulcahy just called and the blood work they did on Sam before he
    left came back and the kidney function one came back high. Not good!  
    
    So, her suggestion was that I bring him to her twice a week and they
    give him a sub-cutaneous IV (for about 15 minutes) to overload the
    kidneys and flush the deposits out.
    
    I asked her if he was in pain - she said when he first came in last
    week that he was in a lot of discomfort but doesn't feel that he is
    now.  She said she would let me know if it got to that point.
    
    She agreed with me that he is an 'old' 11 year-old and it appears that
    he had to have been severely abused - mentally AND physically.
    
    I am trying to maintain some sense of reality here and I don't want to
    think negatively - but I get the feeling that poor Sam is going to be
    on some sort of make-shift dialysis - and I don't know if he will be
    able to tolerate this for any great length of time.
    
    Now I have a whole set of questions to ask myself.  Not to think
    selfishly and what I want and need from Sam - but to do the best thing 
    for him.  Euthenasia was not mentioned in the conversation - but I wonder 
    how long it will be before it IS suggested and then will I be able to 
    handle it!  Then again, am I blowing this whole thing out of
    proportion?
    
    I am not having a very good day.  For now - he has to go in on Thursday's 
    and Monday's and will give it two weeks to see what the NEXT blood test 
    says.
    
    :*(
    
    Marilyn
    

    Marilyn,
    
    Sam is probably doing better at home.  It is a good idea to do the
    blood work on a regular basis so that you can keep an eye on his
    kidney function.  You might ask the vet to teach you to give the
    sub-q fluids yourself.  It is not difficult, and would save Sam
    the stress of having to go back there twice a week.  It only takes
    a few minutes to give fluids, depending on how much you need to
    give.  We give Laci 200cc's and it takes about 3 minutes.  Giving
    fluids is not painful for the cat.  They only feel the slight prick
    of the needle initially, and then the rest is easy.
    
    Keep your chin up.  Things are doing to get better.  That is what
    I keep telling myself, and now I will tell you too! :^)
    
    Jo

    Marilyn -
      Try not to fret too much just yet.  Wait and see what the next
    few weeks bring.
      we're all routing for Sam/Toonces.
      Nancy

    marilyn...
    
    i love toonces!  just don't let sam get behind the wheel of a car.  ;-)
    
    continuing best luck to all...
    
    d, s & s
    

    Marilyn,
    
    How did Sam (toonces) do over the weekend?  Please give us an update
    and don't give up hope!  
    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, and Barkley)

    Hi, thanks for asking.
    
    He is eating (reluctantly) the C/D food - drinks A LOT of water - purrs
    incessantly and wants to be held all of the time.  I remember the vet
    telling me that the food is fattening - but he doesn't appear to be
    putting on any weight.
    
    He was playful, however, but would rather lay around and held all of
    the time ... if he had a choice.  
    
    He went for his IV Thursday and will go again tomorrow - he needs
    another prescription of Amoxicillan....and I'll take it from there.
    He does appear to go to the bathroom alot - don't know if that's
    because of all that he is drinking or what...hard to tell when you ask
    them how they feel and they look at you with those 'eyes' and you don't
    get any answers.
    
    Hopefully it's just something that 'happened' and that he'll be o.k.
    for a long long time.
    
    Marilyn
    

    He is going to the bathroom alot from the drinking and the fluids.
    IV fluids leave the body via the urine.  You will probably see that
    part slow down a bit once he is off the fluids.
    
    Jo

    
    i can't help but think that all this water drinking and pottying has
    got to be good for him--to flush out the plumbing, as it were.
    
    come on toonces/sam!
    
    d, s & s