We moved to Boston. Well, technically I moved to Boston and Neil is still out in IN. This makes life more difficult certainly, but I can't seem to catch a break.
Arthur was diagnosed with lymphoma of the stomach and large intestine two weeks before we moved. We also discovered that he had a broken jaw. So we spent thousands of dollars fixing the jaw and doing tests to diagnose the cancer...and then we up and moved (spending thousands of dollars more). Our apartment was a filthy mess when we arrived and we spent a week cleaning...never even got to the bathroom or bedroom (over a month later and I still haven't cleaned them). Nothing is simple here. Everything involves figuring out where to go, how to get there, making all sorts of decisions and figuring out logistics. It's exhausting.
One of the hardest things has been taking care of Arthur. He was supposed to start a chemotherapy drug the day we moved in, but that was imposible. I needed to find a new vet in town, but also stay in contact with the Indy vet. It has been very complicated. Long story short, I found a vet who I like quite a bit.
A's been doing pretty well on a relatively high dose of prednisolone, but not so good on the chemo meds (GI side effects). Last night, 24 hours after taking the chemo, he had a bout of diarhea and then yowled and went to bed. He was breathing through his mouth and drooling, clearly uncomfortable -- he wouldn't let me touch him, especially his mouth/chin/throat. Took him to the vet today (seemed better this morning), where the doctor deemed the chemo pill to be bad for him and told me to stop giving it to him. They gave Arthur some fluids and something to settle his stomach and he came home and ate right away. Then, tonight, I noticed something stuck to his chin. It turned out to be sticky, bloody ooze. I felt around for the wire holding his broken jaw together and couldn't find it! Well, it's there (I think), but something has happened and the wire seems farther in or something. I can't see it anymore and I can't even tell what is going on. SO, maybe it wasn't entirely the chemo drug causing him distress last night...maybe it was his jaw! I had actually completely forgotten about the wire, in all honesty, being so focused on his cancer and all. The wire was supposed to come out last week (it would have been 8 weeks last Thursday). So now I have to call the vet again in the morning and try to get another appointment tomorrow. Ugggggghhhh! and Aaaaaaarrrrgggghhh!! And what then?? Does the wire come out? Is there something else wrong? What next?!
I was able to get the pred. in him tonight but he growled and complained afterwards. Maybe the new fish flavoring is not ok? Or maybe his mouth just hurts.
My fear is that the bones didn't mesh and his jaw is broken again. That is something I can't determine, so I have to wait. And it's torture. And I'm kicking myself for not noticing this sooner, but he wouldn't let me touch him! That should have been my first clue, but nooooooo. Oh, I'm so mad at myself! And I'm mad that the vet and medicines cost so darn much. And I'm mad that I have to take time off work for this stuff. And that my apartment is a mess. And that I don't have time to spend with Awdrey (who I haven't even written about here yet...awwww, new kitty...so crazed!) And that Neil isn't here to help. And that my arms hurt and I don't have a new therapist/doctor and don't know who to go to.
In any case, I had a nice Thanksgiving in V'Ville with my folks for the first time in years. I didn't want to leave and go back to all the insanity.
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