Friday, January 11, 2019

The Cat's Meow and Other Happenings

Dancer is not meowing!  He is usually fairly vocal, often answering me with a meow when I talk to him, but he's giving me the "silent treatment".  I think he's displeased with me because I won't give him his regular dry food.  He doesn't beg for it, but will sit by the laundry room door where I keep it, and look at me, silently, reproachfully, balefully.  He normally "talks" to the garden cats - sort of chirps at them - but he watches them silently, now, without a sound.  Yesterday, he refused to eat his canned cat food - even the pate.  He just sniffed at it and walked away!  I left it out for him but he wouldn't eat it, at all.  Finally, I opened a can of regular tuna and he ate some of that!  Today, too, all he ate was a little tuna.  And, he spends most of his time sleeping.  He used to sleep a lot, anyway, but very often, he'd wake up, walk around, meow at me, or sleep in the same room where I am.  Now, he's avoiding me, sleeping under the table or sofa in the other room.  I called the vet's clinic and the vet agrees that this is not normal behavior.  I have an appointment to take him in for a check up, tomorrow (Saturday) at noon.  Oh, he's going to love me!  I wonder if he'll meow during the car ride?

I woke up, yesterday morning, feeling exactly how I felt, just before I fainted in the bathroom, three years ago!  Clammy.  The phrase, "in a cold sweat" comes to mind.  I took the phone with me when I went to the bathroom and afterwards, I checked my blood pressure.  It was very low.  Afterwards, I began to feel better, but, I didn't take my morning blood pressure medication and I didn't visit my aunt as I had wanted to, as I didn't know if I should drive.  I called her and explained the situation to her and we agreed I should visit her when everything was OK.  I rested and checked my pressure a couple of times; each time, it was better, not quite as low as it had been in the morning, but I didn't take any of my medications, except for what I take for the cancer. I didn't bother to call the doctor's office because I already had an appointment scheduled for this afternoon.

I went to bed by 11:30 p.m., last night, and although I woke up once around 2:30 a.m. and went to the bathroom, I went back to bed and slept till 9:00 a.m.  I felt OK when I woke up, the pressure was a little low, but not what it was, yesterday.  I didn't take my pressure medication in the morning, but took it later, before I went to the doctor's because I began to feel one of the side effects of not taking it - my pulse rate increasing.  Everything was fine by the time I got to the doctor's - pressure normal, heart rate good, etc.  I had taken my blood pressure log with me as well as my pressure monitor and the doctor had me check my pressure with it while I was there.  We discussed what might be the causes of low blood pressure (possibly being dehydrated; I haven't been drinking a lot of water, recently), what to do if it happens again, and when I should call the paramedics.  I was told to monitor my pressure before I take my medications, and not to take it if it is low.  I am to continue keeping a log of my readings and bring it to my next appointment, scheduled for February.  It might be that we might need to make some additional adjustments to the dosage, etc. 

I brought up the fact that I had been feeling nauseated and threw up, once, but the doctor thought it might be a 24-hour virus or something I ate. 

Although my appointment was at 2:30 p.m., I didn't leave the clinic until 4:00 p.m.  Then, of course, I got caught to the rush hour traffic!  It was 5:30 p.m. when I got home.  I'm glad I don't have to drive in that traffic every day, anymore. 

Came home and had a cup of tea.  Friend M had come and planted a new peach tree for me - it is supposed to rain this weekend, so a good time to plant.  Hopefully, this little tree will get a good start and survive the summer heat!  We went with a 7 gallon plant, and it cost $45.00, plus another $9+ for a bag of soil amendment.

Dancer still isn't talking to me, but he came for a cuddle:

"I'm still not talking to you, though"

Today, I am grateful for:
- Being able to see the doctor
- Cousin P and friend R calling to check on me
- Dancer permitted a bit of a cuddle
- A new peach tree
- Chatting with my daughter

Saturday's to do list:
- Take Dancer to see the vet
- Dishes

How was your day?  What are your plans for the weekend?



14 comments:

  1. Oh Bless, I hope Dancer will be OK. It's so difficult when they can't let us know what is wrong. Could it be a hairball? It's good you are able to get him in quickly to see the vet.
    And good for you at remaining calm and sensible when you felt unwell. Hopefully it was just a one off but, still, it's reassuring to have been checked over by your doctor. Take it easy today (no more than what is on your list, and even then, the dishes can always wait) and make sure you have plenty to drink. X

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    1. Thank you, Jules. Everything seems just a little stressful, right now. I am hoping that the vet can figure out what is happening with Dancer (he's refusing even the tuna!). As for me, I'm trying to stay hydrated.

      I hope all is well with you.

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  2. You have had a very emotionally draining couple of days....with your own health concerns and with those of Dancer. I am hoping he is just upset with you and being a jerk; but it sounds like more than that. I hope he is okay.

    Your lower blood pressure is very concerning. It is so good that you keep a daily log of readings. That allows the doctors to look for a pattern. Hopefully it is just a matter of tweaking the dosage of your medication. You will also have to find a way to make drinking water an enjoyable habit. My sister prefers a tall glass filled with ice cubes, but I always have a cup of tea going on. Sometimes it gets cold but I just nuke it and warm it back up. In the summer, it is iced tea that I make every morning.

    Good that you have not over-scheduled your weekend. You will have to take it easy for awhile. How exciting that you have a new peach tree to look after. That is going to require a lot of watering at the start. Keeping my fingers crossed it survives.

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    1. Thank you, Susan. It has been a worrying few days, even though I know that worrying doesn't help! But Dancer was fine until he had his surgery so I am wondering if something else might have happened. He's 10 1/2 years old, so maybe it was too much of a shock to his system? I am hoping the vet might say his gums have healed sufficiently for him to eat his dry food again...

      Yes, my blood pressure is a concern, too. On my last visit to the doctor's, my sugar was low and my pressure was high, and that's why they asked me to keep a log of my pressure readings and took me off the sugar meds. This time, my pressure was low and the sugar was high! Oops! I am keeping track of both; hopefully, it will all straighten out over the next few days.

      We had a good shower of rain, last night, so the peach tree and the entire garden got a good soaking! More rain is in the forecast, so I am hoping it helps the little tree establish itself before the summer heat. I am looking forward to picking a few peaches in another couple of years. :)

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  3. I'm glad you got some guidance for your low blood pressure so you know what to do if it happens again. Also, I sending positive thoughts for Dancer that they can figure out what is bothering him and get it fixed.

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    1. Thank you, Live and Learn. I am hopeful that the vet can figure out what is happening with Dancer, and my doctor and I can figure out what is going on with me! Just have to take it one day at a time.

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  4. I am so sorry for your concerns with almost fainting, but how smart of you to cancel your visit and not have to drive.
    Shelby the dog is punishing us right now. She has been ill so we changed her diet to adjust for her nausea and vomiting. To keep her hydrated we mixed her water with chicken broth since she turned her nose up at just water. After she recovered we discontinued the broth water mix. She feels betrayed and is not happy with us. How dare we!

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    1. Thank you, Anne. I didn't want to take any chances and put myself or others in danger! I'm glad I recognized the symptoms, this time!

      Aw, poor Shelby! I'm glad she is feeling better, now, even if she is missing her broth & water mix!

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  5. I hope both you and Dancer feel better soon, Bless.
    Don't work too hard and try to rest a lot until your BP is normal again.

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    1. Thank you, Nil. Dancer received antibiotics, today (he, apparently, had an infection after his extractions!) and the vet said he should be fine by Monday. I am also allowed to give him his dry food, so he's happy about that!

      I'm doing OK; taking it easy and checking my pressure every couple of hours! It's high enough not to worry, but low enough not to take any meds!

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  6. I hope everything improves very soon with your health and Dancer's. It was as well that you had just woken up when you felt clammy and were not out and about. I'm glad you got a better night's sleep the next night, for a change. Poor Dancer is certainly not himself, so I am praying for you both. (((Hugs)))

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    1. Thank you, Bushlady. Yes, I'm glad I was home and knew enough to check my pressure. Dancer has an infection from the extraction! The vet gave him a shot of antibiotics and said he should be better by Monday. Poor kitty lost half a pound, during the week!

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  7. I hope you feel better soon! I'm glad you were at home when it happened.

    Poor Dancer! He is probably not very happy with you at all. Cats are very funny creatures, quite particular sometimes. I'm sure he'll be back to normal soon.

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    1. Thank you, Sharon. I am feeling better, today. Dancer has an infection, due to the extraction! I took him to the vet's, today, and he was given a shot of antibiotics. The vet also told me that it was OK to give him his dry food, now, so he is happy!

      Hope all is well with you.

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