Life, the Universe, and Everything
COMPUTER update: Still in the shop. I called on Weds. and found that they hadn't even assigned it to a tech yet. Work was scheduled to begin on Thurs. I understand that mine isn't the only computer they have to fix, and I also recognize that, since it is an older computer, it may be more difficult to find compatible parts, but nonetheless, this is ridiculous. I am not pleased.
CAT update: Callice has hemobartonellosis, also known as feline infectious anemia. She was showing some signs of jaundice and fit the typical symptoms (anorexia, lethargy). Fortunately, she tested negative for FeLV (feline leukemia--about half of all cats with hemobartonellosis also have a comorbidity with FeLV); I wasn't expecting her to test positive, as she's come up negative before and has always been kept current on her shots. However, she did need a blood transfusion and was hospitalized before they released her this morning (the vet felt she would eat better at home, though you couldn't prove it by me). We may need to force-feed her (the jury is still out on this) and she will need to be medicated for the next few weeks. Also, she can never be a blood donor (Callice hates cats, though, so she isn't interested in helping them by giving blood).
She is home now and the vet tech said she was doing better, but she is still tired and does not want to eat. At least she's too weak to put up too much of a fight when she's corraled for her meds.
The good news is that a.) hemobartonellosis is treatable, and b.) once she successfully completes the course of treatment, it's extremely unlikely that she will suffer a relapse. Odds are that she'll live a normal, healthy life, if we can just cram some food down her throat. She'll remain a carrier for the rest of her life and can potentially pass it to other cats--the disease is caused by a parasite--but this is, hopefully, a battle that we're not going to have to fight again and again. We have no idea how she picked it up; according to the literature, the mode of transmission is still not fully understood. The vet thinks that, in all probability, she had had it for some time in a dormant state and that some episode of stress (maybe not even one perceptible to us) set it off.
Other stuff: The laundromat we used to go to is closing, as of Monday, because the cost of taxes and utilities is driving them out of business. Greeeeeeeeat. Fortunately, there's another one in town.
Still no word from my insurance agent re: E&O. I'll ring him up the end of next week if I don't hear back from him.
That's it. l33 out.
CAT update: Callice has hemobartonellosis, also known as feline infectious anemia. She was showing some signs of jaundice and fit the typical symptoms (anorexia, lethargy). Fortunately, she tested negative for FeLV (feline leukemia--about half of all cats with hemobartonellosis also have a comorbidity with FeLV); I wasn't expecting her to test positive, as she's come up negative before and has always been kept current on her shots. However, she did need a blood transfusion and was hospitalized before they released her this morning (the vet felt she would eat better at home, though you couldn't prove it by me). We may need to force-feed her (the jury is still out on this) and she will need to be medicated for the next few weeks. Also, she can never be a blood donor (Callice hates cats, though, so she isn't interested in helping them by giving blood).
She is home now and the vet tech said she was doing better, but she is still tired and does not want to eat. At least she's too weak to put up too much of a fight when she's corraled for her meds.
The good news is that a.) hemobartonellosis is treatable, and b.) once she successfully completes the course of treatment, it's extremely unlikely that she will suffer a relapse. Odds are that she'll live a normal, healthy life, if we can just cram some food down her throat. She'll remain a carrier for the rest of her life and can potentially pass it to other cats--the disease is caused by a parasite--but this is, hopefully, a battle that we're not going to have to fight again and again. We have no idea how she picked it up; according to the literature, the mode of transmission is still not fully understood. The vet thinks that, in all probability, she had had it for some time in a dormant state and that some episode of stress (maybe not even one perceptible to us) set it off.
Other stuff: The laundromat we used to go to is closing, as of Monday, because the cost of taxes and utilities is driving them out of business. Greeeeeeeeat. Fortunately, there's another one in town.
Still no word from my insurance agent re: E&O. I'll ring him up the end of next week if I don't hear back from him.
That's it. l33 out.