For Rufus, well wishes, prayers and lots of love thread

[Poco]

Glad the taxes are done and the DH seems to have settled down.  Hope that H. Pylori finding might be something to go on as far as giving Rufus some relief.  (Maybe that infection is why the lymph nodes are agitated.) Praying that bladder is going to heal soon!

[lesliek]

Peg- I am so sorry to hear that things are so bad right now ! Hang in there,& Rufus will slowly improve.Hopefully once the stress lets up, dickhead[oops] meant dear husband will too.My DH [interept that as you will] also says stupid things when anyone is sick. I think he just can't handle it & it comes out sounding selfish & uncaring. They know we won't give up so sometimes they feel free to say dumb things. Sending hugs to you and Rufus.

[kaffe]

That's good even if it's a teaspoon at a time!  Progress!  (Mind you, I feed Kaffe and Cato 1 -2 tablespoons at a time too... of course, that adds up to about 4 - 5 meals during the day!).  But if Rufus is eating, that means his appetite is returning becuase the enzymes are churning.  I don't understand all the med terms your vet churned out... but I won't quit praying that Rufus' prognosis will be good.

[Sandi K]

"I made a turkey for dinner tonight............guess who ate really well and did not have to be force fed"

Peg, Im assuming it was Rufus that ate well and didnt have to be force-fed rather than DH?    

Oh dear, it really sounds like all h--l has broke loose at the homestead.  Lots of pressures going on, it doesnt help when DH is acting like a 10 year old, OMG did I just say that?  Its only from experience that Im speaking, lol    

I remember going thru so many surgeries with kitties and its never easy when they come home right afterwards, but Im wondering if the urine issue might get a little better once he's had food in his tummy.  I dont know about you but if I drink too much water without having food to soak it up, I go more frequently.  I know he has the other issue not yet diagnosed with the urination but I was thinking empty tummy might have added to it a little plus still recovering from the anesthesia, I dont know....There, now all of Itchmo knows my urine issues too, its me and you Rufy-boy.  

Maybe it will help to get those taxes done as that can take alot of time and pressure off your shoulders too.  I was reading about h-pylori in kitties, its a very interesting thing.  Vets dont seem to know what to make of it all.  This was a pretty good link:  http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proceedings.plx?CID=WSAVA2006&PID=15822&O=Generic   But it really does sound like angel vet is on top of things in trying to get some help for Rufus.  Peg, I hope things calm down to a dull roar tonight and that you and Rufy can get some rest.  Im hoping for some good news from the vet tomorrow for you.

[alek0]

Poor Rufus, hope he will get better soon.

[catmom5]

Oh dear, Peg. CJ came home with feeding tubes so we didn't have the food issues. I can imagine that Rufus doesn't have much of an appetite after what he's been through. Glad that you were able to find a room for him so his peeing didn't cause anymore difficulties. Hoping that your wonderful vet can get some answers for you and that there's something that will bring Rufus back to his typical, happy, loving self.
Continued prayers for ALL of you. (I'm long divorced . . . sometimes, just sometimes, there are advantages to living alone . . . without other skin people.)
Blessings
catmom5

[catbird]

Oh, Peg, I feel for you and Rufus (and just a bit for DH too, since he seems to have trouble coping.)  You can always file for an extension on your taxes if you need to.  And if you have a refund coming, you can just mail them a little late and nothing bad will happen (I know someone who is chronically last-minute with her taxes and this is what she told me.)

You are the most caring, loving, amazing cat-mom ever!  I hope you were able to get some rest before leaving for work.

All good thoughts and energies to Rufus!  Keep eating, sweet boy!

[Carol]

Peg---I hope today is a better day--less stress with DH, more eating with Rufus, and less pee-pee in the house!  I remember the stress level here last winter and spring when both cats were sick as well as Harry----Mike and I were at each other's throats which was a new thing for us---I called this the domino effect....but it did pass and we got back on track....just remember that it is due to the stress of this all---you guys have had far too much of it lately---try to take what is said with a grain of salt---

You're in my thoughts----

Carolx0x0

[ranger]

Hope Rufus is feeling better today crossing fingers and toes.  Hope you got some sleep Peg.  If it makes you feel any better I'm still working on my taxes.

Judy

[shibadiva]

Peg, this too shall pass. Poor Rufus, with all that soreness and not feeling like eating. Too bad you're not getting better support from you-know-who. But you know we're all thinking of you and Rufe.

[NedF]

I've just been reading through the thread and I feel so bad for all the trouble you and Rufus have gone through. I hope he starts feeling better soon. Thunder had bladder surgery in 2004 and had similar pee problems. I found that putting her in a quiet room with no distractions really helped. It took about 2 weeks before she was peeing normally again.

If your husband lived at my house he'd be wearing his testicles as a bobble hat.

[Trudy]

Oh Peg, I'm so sorry and hope you do get some rest. And poor Rufus. Please get better, little guy. Peg needs you, and You need to get strong.
And Peg, and all, I thought i was the only one who had to put up with a DH who acted like that when I'm in a crises about the cats. I keep saying- I'm leaving and taking My cats with Me. Men sometimes.
The thing that jumped out at Me was the H Pylori. I had just got done talking to a friend who's been sick so long she thought she was going to die. They finally found out She has H Pylori. And now she said She's getting better. I was going to look it up later. She said it did affect Her whole body though.
So maybe now that your vet has some answers, things will move in the right direction.
Hang in there Peg, Your a great cat Mom and we're here for you.
{HUGS] to You and Rufus.

[pygmypets]

Peg you and Rufus continue to be in my prayers and thoughts.I really hope he is back to his old self very soon.
Caring for a beloved pet during illness is exhausting and very stressful. My husband  and I always seem to be at odds with each other during these times.
But Rufus is in good hands. He is so lucky to have you. You are doing a great job caring for him.Now try to care for yourself and get some rest .

[Sandi K]

I was wondering if there have been any updates on our Rufus?  I wonder if his frequent pee-pee's have gotten any better?  I sure hope so.  Has there been any decisions made on treatments and what kind yet?  Hoping for the best!   

[mainecoonpeg]

Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes for Rufus.
They are working for my Ruff and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
My big red fluffy guy who has been through H**L is starting to feel a bit better

We are still waiting for the test results and Dr. Angel is consulting with specialists and researchers........I love this doctor!!!!  When she finishes with her research and discussions, then a plan will be formulated.

One of the biopsies showed that Rufus definitely has cyctitis.  No one is sure, right now, if it's from the surgery or interstitial.  Dr. Angel attended a lecture in the fall where a researcher said that cats, male and female, can have interstitial cystitis (more common in females then males  ) and research has shown that the first 5 causes are as follows:
1.  Stress
2.  Stress
3.  Stress
4.  Stress
5.  Stress
Veterinary research has also shown that cats have 2 natural preditors........dogs and Man, although Dr. Angel thinks that dogs are less predatory towards cats than man.  I agree.

Anyway, on Sunday Rufus was started on a homeopathic calming remedy and I am seeing a little bit of a difference in him just from using this.  1/4 teaspoon 2 times daily and he likes the taste too.....ingredients are okay and Dr. Angel TRUSTS this company Vetri-Science.  Rufus had a very horrible time before I got him and I think a tough time even before he was abandoned.  Silly me, I thought being in my house would wash away all that was so horrid for him.

Interesting too goes back to my theory that he had some sort of crystals in his kidneys.  Last night, or early this morning 2:20 am there was some blood on the floor with urine.  2 minutes later he let go with a drop of urine and a ton of bright red blood on my newspaper crossword puzzle......I forgive him though( I am a crossword addict).  On the paper was an incredible green, rectangular crystal that if it were bigger, I would have set it in a ring!!!  It was a pretty good size though, about twice the size of a flax seed.  The green color indicates oxilate, if I'm not mistaken, which is from an alkaline urine.  A month ago, Rufus's urine was 7.5, definitely alkaline.  Since that piece of something came out, his urine output has dropped dramatically.  And you can all tell me to shut up, but I still say, that if the other idiots has given him some fluids, maybe the poor guy did not have to go through all this.

It is a beautiful day here in NY.  There is a giant sunbeam.  In that giant sunbeam is a snuggly basket containing a very purry Rufus.  He's been asleep for over an hour and there is nothing wet on him, or the basket and he hasn't gone to the box for awhile.