1/6 Jack amps 335

[saltycat]

last condo

Jack did good while I was away. He was supposed to have his first bloodtest for the trial today. He was not happy about fasting, and then got a call from the vet that they were unsure on a few things about the bloodwork and I needed to reschedule.

It turns out that shipping blood samples to the UK is a bit of a landmine. This is just now being mentioned after many emails, ordering the medication and NOW it is coming out that just shipping the samples to the UK is going to cost over $300 per sample, this doesn't include vet fees and no guarantees of it clearing customs or getting there fast enough to still be viable. With 3 samples needed in the first month alone, it will add up quick. I'm a little miffed today about all of this and the RVC and my vet failing to realize or mention that "hey shipping from the US might be a little tough" Hopefully I can find a way to make this work but it is going to take some time and some nice tight patience pants.

Sorry for venting a bit, taking a little time to think rationally, and then seeing if it might be possible to do out of pocket testing and getting the blood sent to MSU instead of the RVC.

Hope all the kitties are doing good in L&L, still sending Gussie good appy vines and asking Doodles breathe a little better.

 

[Doodles & Karen]

It would be less expensive for you both to get round trip tickets and stay there for a month. Good thinking about it possibly going to MSU...don't see why that wouldn't be a good compromise. Thanks for the extra Doodle vines. Capt. Jack, I'd sucker daddy out of a few extra treats today for the false fasting this morning.

 

[carfurby (GA)]

That's crazy on the shipping. I hope it works out to send the samples to MSU.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Down Jack - pink doesn't suit you.

I am not surprised on the pricing of shipping the blood to RVC. Getting the IGF-1/IAA tests done from the west coast of Canada had a healthy shipping cost. However, of interest to you might be Chris's answer when I asked him about costs of testing IGF-1 from North America.

We will be able to pay for the postage and processing of samples for measurement of IGF-1. This will inevitably result in a delay between starting medication / changing dose of medication and getting the IGF-1 result for those cats not in the UK. This is acceptable as long at cats remain clinically well.

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

Well, bummer. Why do there always have to be complications? I hope you get the blood shipping sorted out.

Meanwhile, Jack, come down out of the rafters, please. We're all getting stiff necks looking up at you.

Don't know if I've mentioned this, but I LOVE your avatar picture. Such a handsome cat!

 

[saltycat]

Down Jack - pink doesn't suit you.

We started off the year looking nice and blue, he sure bucked that trend quickly, will probably need to use some more R or increase the lev. I was trying to keep things consistent thinking the trial was starting, but it has been one delay after another which has let the numbers creep up and time slip by. I was out of town for 2 days this week and did not really feel comfortable having the sitter dose R, but I'm back now and Jack will be getting some for sure with these icky pinks.

That is a VERY interesting quote you have there. It was not mentioned to me or the vet apparently. I will have to work on some clever wording in an email to him this weekend to see if I can nicely hint at getting them to handle the shipping. If that fails, I will see if getting IGF-1 from MSU is an option, that was much more affordable compared to UK shipping even with free blood work.

I LOVE your avatar picture. Such a handsome cat!

Thanks Tricia, quite an old pic of him, but pulled one out of the old favorites folder. I think he was under a year old in that pic. He loved to sleep there when I sat in front of the PC. This was about when I learned the secret on how to take decent pics of a black cat. Getting him to come down a bit is priority one now that I'm back in town for a while, both for his sake and the litterbox that is his new home. I go through litter like crazy and I know it can't be good on his body spilling that much glucose.

Hoping this all works itself out and I'm stressing myself out over nothing. Just need a little extra energy to get over this latest hurdle.

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

Hang in there. I know this will work out.

 

[Gussie's mom (GA)]

Sending vines aimed at having it all work out your way..
Jack, beach attire is far nicer than that tutu!