Daily Photo: How We’re Doing Now

Hamlet is having a sunbath AND a knead in his favorite basket with the big pillow, this morning. You can imagine his soft little purr. The tongue blep says it all. He’s feeling well and relaxed though still moving a little slowly. He still has a little occasional sniffle or sneeze so I’m still sneaking the transdermal appetite stimulant onto his ear each day because he can’t smell the food as easily. Oh, and that food, gravy centers are doing it for him, I dissolve his clindamycin and anti-emetic in a few drops of water then mix in a small amount of the food and he laps it right up, then I give him a little more to help wash it down. Aside from the continued sniffles I don’t see any backsliding, so I’ll say he’s on the mend.

One change that began a few weeks ago continues now, joining Bella on the cabinet. He’s just been wanting someone to cuddle with since he lost Basil and he finally convinced Bella. They both seem pretty comfortable with the arrangement.

His care cost $3,084

Nonetheless, this visit still cost $3,084, and if anyone has a mind to shop the links are below! I have almost all the new keepsakes uploaded, and everything else is still there, fully stocked with dishtowels and the messenger and oversized tote bags and everything else.

And aside from that, about me…

I don’t usually give a newsy update on myself, but it’s been a pretty busy time for my own health care too, a lot of that “you turned 65 so we should do these tests” and also a few follow-ups. Last week I had a needle biopsy of some calcifications that showed up on my mammogram. They were benign, thank goodness, but that’s the first time anything has shown up so I’m on heightened awareness, and that was one of the things I was taking care of last week when Hamlet was showing symptoms of this virus and I felt bad about not being around as much as usual.

Last month several styles of imaging of my lungs showed they were clear—thank goodness, always on the lookout for lung cancer since both my parents had it—but my thyroid was inflamed, possibly the cause of my shortness of breath. An ultrasound a bit later showed several nodes, one denser than the others, and I had a needle biopsy on that one this past Monday morning, the day that Hamlet was flat-out lethargic and I knew I’d have to take him somewhere. That’s also the night that I stayed up until Tuesday morning with him at the emergency vet. We got the results on Tuesday, “inconclusive,” so I have to have another one. I don’t mind, I’m grateful for this medical care and I want all the details, especially if this may not be benign as they usually are.

In 2001 I had my first round of hypothyroid disease that was not hypothyroid disease, meaning it looked and acted just like it but all the blood and organ tests came back negative. My doctor chose supplements then regular medication. It lasted about three years then faded but it’s recurred two other times since then, all high-stress times in my life. With losing cats and life-changes this has been a pretty stressful time as well so this thyroid issue now fits into the category “Hashimoto’s Disease” which has been broadened to include more detail, and I fit into the symptoms right now. Glad to know it might be a “something” and possibly have other options for working with it. Just hope this thyroid node is nothing serious but caused by something else.

Blood pressure is under control, though, no recent spikes, even after I stayed up all night Monday. And all the other scans and tests came up just fine. But I’ve taken it easy with posting as well as social media as I work through this, partly because what seems like hypothyroid/Hashimoto’s has slowed me down, which feels really weird but familiar from past instances, and I’m also working on managing my time so I’m not wearing myself out, which believe it or not I kind of like to do. But when I’m posting and not posting some weeks, not commenting on everyone else’s posts or posting on all my social media profiles for the past couple of months, it’s frustrating for me because I have so much I want to share, but if I’m falling asleep in my desk chair I should go to bed!

Thanks for listening. Me and Hamlet, we’re just going to hang out and feel better.

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