Previous condo Good morning. I would much rather stay on here all day then work my first job, ugh I loath it lately. This morning Shmee did eat, so having a full gaba at 10pm worked out good, but he does not feel good. He didn't get up out of his spot he is back to laying in all the time, and when I pet him this morning he meowed at me really sad. This is all I think about. He is right next to me while I work both jobs so he is all I see. I am trying my best to deal with it. I had two nightmares last night that woke me up both times, both about him. I have been having nightmares on and off for a week or two. Tonight I just got hardly sleep. I am glad the gaba worked out well though yesterday for the most part. Hopefully it wasn't too much, I was scared of the safety of overlapping times because I hear different things about how long it lasts. My vet said 12 hours, never deviated from that. His neurosurgeon Dr. McCue said gaba can be given every 8-12. On here I think someone said 6. So since he was getting 1/2 pills yesterday, and I didn't want his appetite to go away, this was his schedule I tried: 630am wouldn't eat, gave gaba orally at 7 and was eating by 8. Gave 1/2 of gaba 7 hours later at 3. He ate about half, then the rest by 4. Desmopressin @630pm, not sure if I gave it to him during the day Forgot Cerenia @630pm, remembered @930pm. Full gaba @10. I am having a hard time keeping track of meds and times. I write everything down as it happens throughout the day, but I need to make a time sheet or something once I figure out set times. Sometimes he doesn't eat so then times change. I also haven't given him the of the saccyl. probiotic (? don't have it in front of me. I was giving him 1/2 pill per day) in a few days since his poops were better and just in case that had something to do with his stomach hurting, plus he hasn't pooped in maybe two days so I hope it isn't making him constipated. I read this probiotic was strong. I hope so, he used to meow all the time. My vet thinks he is part Siamese because of how much he talked. Now nothing. It is a big change, in tears just writing about it. I don't think I ever gave the mg, I didn't think of that - just read the bottle and its 16mg a pill and he is getting 1/4 pill a day. He has only had two pills yet so far, Mondays at 630 and yesterday I forgot and didn't get it to him until 930 I am having a hard time keeping track of meds and times. I write everything down as it happens throughout the day, I need to make a time sheet or something once I figure out set times. At this point though sometimes he doesn't eat so then times change. Excellent, I will read this later. This is interesting, something I am writing down to research then I get time. For now - what do you mean by the Lloyd manufacturers pills have a solution that is obvious? I would love to learn what happened here.
I also often forget to check his sugar. I assume this is fine since he is probably considered OTJ at this point... how often should I be checking him?
Sending thoughts and prayers your way...for you and Shmee! Hang in there...I can't help you much with all those meds - except get yourself a spreadsheet for the meds; a checklist (that's what they have to do for my mom - as she's on so many meds - so they can check them all off, every day, a.m. and p.m.)...otherwise it's so confusing! Set timers to remind you when the next dose(s) are supposed to happen. Hope these suggestions are helpful in some small way. You've got a lot on your plate...I know about working from home...AND taking care of FD cat Luci...I feel like I'm on 'high speed' all day ...and your day sounds like triple what my usual day is...you're doing great for him though...a wonderful mama bean! If you can check his BG in the a.m. might be a good time...those last numbers look like a good indicator of how he's doing. Take care now...
I hope things get easier for you soon and you can get on a schedule. You're doing a great job taking care of him and he knows you're trying to help. Sending prayers.
Yes this is very helpful, thank you. I like the physical checklist idea. That is what we did for his insulin. I am normally SO organized. I am overwhelmed with my two jobs, I need to get on this. Thank you Carla! 830am update - ran up to the window perch to the birds, ran back to his spot when he saw he birds over there. Seems like he is doing better than early this morning.
When my civvie, Frankie, was on multiple meds earlier this year, I printed out a blank calendar and wrote everything on there - the meds, the times, etc. And then I crossed things off as I gave them (or, on days when she only got one med, I just crossed the whole day off). For me, the calendar worked better than a SS, because it was a visual reminder of each day. If you google "printable calendar", you'll find lots of free options. (Even though we haven't posted in your condo before, we have been watching and praying for you and Shmee!)
Glad to here Shmee seemed a little better this morning. Hope the better times get closer together. DH just had surgery and is on quite a bit of meds all at different times. I had to make a spread sheet to keep up with all his. Keeping all his on time plus Scooter has been a job. Hopefully you will get doses and times figured out for Shmee and be able to get into a routine.
Prayers and vines that Shmee gets himself back to normal soon. I use a pill box for Jones. Everything is made up for two weeks. Then I know what I have given and when. For the probiotic - I just move the capsule to the next time I need to put it in his food.
Hi Amanda! Haven’t been on much at all lately so please excuse me if I respond here and missed something. I see Shmee got his surgery and that is great news!! I gather he’s not feeling himself though. From experience my DH had brain surgery back in 2012 and I always remember his neurosurgeon telling me how long it takes for the brain to heal. And it does. It will get better but any trauma to the brain including surgery takes time. The very good news is DH had zero pain after the surgery. Shmee has some hormonal stuff to work out now too so just keep doing what you’re doing and loving him up. It will get better
I created ss for Smokey's meds. There were meds to give with food, your before food, 2 hrs after food. It was mind boggling. Olive only gets 2 meds now, since I print out blank page of ss I write it on there and her meals on next line. If shmee are pills you can get a pill organizer in most stores. It sounds like he feels a little better since he's going to his window more. He doing better than humans would if they had this surgery. Hang in there.
Hi Amanda - when Leo was getting more meds, I made another tab in his online spreadsheet. Then I made some custom columns for them. You could then use the laptop, or print it out. We are tired sometimes. So I print out his blank spreadsheet and it is in the kitchen. We note the meds applied, then I post them to the online spreadsheet within a couple of days. Also to avoid mistakes, we: - make a blank checkbox next to the med that is being given in the next 5 minutes - we put a checkmark in the box, the moment after the med is given That way even when we are dead tired, we can be assured that we gave that med.
I’m so sorry. Can you ask Dr. McCue? I’ve also used a checklist when giving multiple meds and I kept it on the counter, set my phone alarm when it was time to give something, and then checked the checklist off when I had given it.
I know you must be exhausted. Don't forget to take care of you too. You must to take care of Shmee. Even if it's just 10 mins of relaxing and breathing. Say to yourself, "I've got this" your a strong momma bean and you're doing a great job. It's still soon after all his ordeal. Giving you some patience pants. and those too
What I was trying to say was that if the medication is in a solution rather than in a pill, the dose can be easily adjusted, even on a daily basis if that was needed. Which might be useful up to the time that the right dose is established. We forgot some eye drops last night .....
Amanda, I just wanted to say that Baby quit meowing after both her eye surgeries. The vet said she meowed a lot in her cage. I managed to take her home the following day (early) so then she was happy & no meowing. I don’t know if she was too tired & needed the energy to recover or maybe just got hoarse & sick of crying while being away from home. Maybe traumatized... I would be. It actually took a couple of months for her to get back to her mouthy self! Lol Please take care of you! Escape for awhile... it wears us down when we worry about everything they do. I’m so glad Shmee wanted to see the birds... that is a great sign. Continued prayers for you both!! Big & Baby sends head bumps!
