Hope for Carl
Carl is resting now. He’s sitting in the sunny window, enjoying Baroque. Vets of traditional medicine tell owners of cats with feline aids that there is little that can be done for them. They’ll tell you that you need to consider having the sick cat put down. I’m not one to always agree with traditional medicine. I believe that “food is life”, and as long as a creature or person has a desire to eat, they still have a desire to live. Carl was vomiting several times per day- he wanted to eat but simply couldn’t keep anything down. He’d lost so much weight, and three days ago, began looking a grey, ashy colour- apart from his very yellow skin and gums from an excessive amount of billirubin, resultling in jaundice. After doing some research, I discovered that vets will prescribe Phenergan to sick cats. Phenergan is also known as promethazine- which is an antihistimine that quells nausea. It also give you a serious case of the munchies: the kind of munchies that lead you to the fridge at 3: a.m., whipping up concoctions like peas, ketchup and Keebler crackers. (etc.) I was prescribed Phenergan months ago because the migraines I suffer cause heavy bouts of nausea. One prescription of Phenergan (30 pills) lasts me in the area of 8 months. It’s heavy stuff! For me anyway, and I can only take 1/2 at any given time. It’ll knock you on your butt. I decided to give Carl a small dose of Phenergan so he would get the munchies and be able to keep his food down. He had stopped drinking liquids altogether and looked as if he wouldn’t last much longer.
The first dose I gave him was very small- three days ago. I mixed it with some milk and a bit of the gravy from his canned soft food. Josh and I administered about 3/4 of a strawful in small increments. Afterwards, we waited. Within the hour, Carl had the munchies, as anticipated- he ate voraciously! Later that night, he wanted to eat again so I gave him some milk instead, which he drank, and then gave him another small portion of soft food. Several hours later, more food. I’m happy to report that Carl is able to keep everything down and hasn’t vomited once. Mission successful!
I’ll continue to give Carl a small dose of the Phenergan mixture every 3 days. He’s put on a bit of weight, albeit slight, but it’s there. A side effect of the Phenergan is drowsiness but he was already so weak from extreme dehydration and vomiting, he can use the rest to recuperate.
In the next few weeks, I’ll buy acidophilus powder, buffered vitamin C, bone meal and a handful of other crucial vitamins, and using a blender, mix up a protein shake for Carl that will restore him to some level of homeostasis and better health. He’ll always have the feline AIDS- but he doesn’t have to die from it. People and animals seldom die from the actual disease that afflicts them: they die from combined system failures- their diets, colon, and vital organs being at the center of it all.
On to other things- I’ve decided to not take “Study Skills” this semester. I’m not loving that my adviser suggested a “filler class” to simply jack up my credit hours to 12+. I mean, I’m happy that she tried to help, but if something doesn’t have meaning, there’s no point.
Study Skills is a class for new Vincennes University students who need to learn new ways and methods of studying but it also familiarizes the student with their new University. My adviser knows this. I’m getting ready to graduate! Why not just take a filler class about clown shoes and circus life? I mean, I’m never going to use that either…
No, it didn’t sit right with me so I’ve decided to substitute my 5th class with something I’ll actually use when I transfer- Spanish II. Yes, it’ll make my semester that much more challenging, but I love to be challenged. If I don’t set challenging goals for myself, then I feel dull and idle. I’ve already knocked out about 6 Spanish assignments last night. My adviser told me that I wouldn’t be able take that class because of its course number- they were all full. Sooooo….I sort of went over her head and emailed the Spanish instructor personally, asking him to squeeze me in- which he did. 🙂 He said that he remembered me (I got an A in his Spanish I class) and that he’d be happy to squeeze me in.
It sure beats the hell out of Study Skills.
Time for Carl’s bath.
Hasta luego…
m o n o c h r o m e j u n k i e † 
I wish Carl a speedy return to normality and renewed energy. It’s awful when animals get I’ll, it’s like when babies are ill and can’t tell you what is wrong, all you want to do is be able to make them feel better.
Good luck with your classes.
August 23, 2013 at 7:47 pm
Aww, thank you, Jenn. :0)
Yes, I know. Carl didn’t seem to be in pain, but given his circumstances, he couldn’t have felt very good either. (After his bath and another square meal, he actually had a bounce in his step this evening. It’s the first sign of any recovery at all thus far.) Thanks so much for your concerns and for sharing your thoughts and feelings. xo
August 24, 2013 at 1:00 am
pleased to hear he appears to be a little brighter. I never even there was a Cat variant of aids.
August 25, 2013 at 9:41 am
You know, I didn’t either until the vet told us. And yes, Carl is doing much better, thanks. :0)
August 25, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Your post about Carl really touched me. I absolutely adore animals and have 3 cats of my own. Good for you to have thought of something to help him and not give up, such an inspiring story. I hope he gets better soon!
Laura
September 5, 2013 at 4:34 pm
Thanks so much for stopping by, Laura. :0) Carl is still with us, sometimes weak, sometimes strong, but still with us. He still enjoys eating an awful lot! I appreciate your thoughts and for sharing your own bit about your cats too. Surely they can’t go backpacking around the world?! I’m intrigued by your trip and will be checking up on it. Have a blast. 😉
September 6, 2013 at 12:02 am
hahaha Study Skills. I had to take that. They called it something similar.. but it was the same thing. My college required it. And I mean if you want an EASY course…that would be it LOL but I agree that you are not going to take much away from it at this point.I remember wishing I had taken it at the VERY beginning as opposed to towards the end of my Associates when I had already had a lot of practice studying :p Spanish 2 is a good choice! most 4 year colleges want you to have 2 years of language under your belt. I took it in highschool but am going to have to take either language or culture class online to fill that foreign credit thing. So happy to hear about Carl! yay for meds! yay for eating like it’s going out of style! If nothing else, I am sure he is feeling quite comfortable:)))
August 24, 2013 at 5:10 pm
Yeah, I feel the same way- it’s a sleeper class! I don’t know what my adviser was thinking, really. (Could have been suggested 3 years ago, yeah?) I’m enjoying the Spanish though. I don’t speak it fluently, but I could could manage alone in Mexico alright. (I’ve been speaking it for over 20 years now.)
I wish you all the best in the upcoming semester, M&M! Keep me posted on the EMT thing or if you’re going to stay in Human Services, etc. Have a great night. 😉
August 24, 2013 at 8:30 pm
Very clever of you to try the Phenergan! It ‘s a good observation that as long as Carl wants to eat…the more likely he is to hang out and get better. Good luck with your new school schedule.
August 24, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Hey, thanks Al. Yeah, you know, my system is sensitive to Phenergan- it gives me the raging munchies, more than it should I think. With Carl’s compromised immune system, I didn’t see why it wouldn’t do the same for him. I feel really lucky that we’re able to save him. Thanks by the way (school). The worst is over..heheh..
August 24, 2013 at 8:26 pm
We have four cats and five birds in the house, so it so heartening to see the care that Carl is getting. I also volunteer at Wildlife rehab, where we work with mostly native birds. People find them hurt, and bring them in where we treat them and hopefully release them back into the wild. You get a view of someone’s heart by seeing how they treat animals. This tells me you have a good heart.
September 6, 2013 at 1:56 am
And here I wondered why you might be so attracted to birds…heheh. I think you’re right, by the way. I was telling a friend not long ago that if a person is unkind to an animal, then the person is unkind. Period. So glad to know that there are people of your calibur caring for so many animals. That’s awesome. :0)
September 6, 2013 at 5:05 pm
It’s great to hear that even though he’s been through a lot he’s still fighting 🙂 That photo definitely pulls the heart strings. I’m sure my cats would love to come travelling with me, such inquisitive creatures, but they are with my mum so I know they are being well looked after. Look forward to reading more of your blog x
September 6, 2013 at 7:01 am
Aww, well that’s good. 🙂 And you know, being that it’s 2013 and technology has advanced in such a way, you can stay in touch with your babies (And even see them on Skype!) so that makes it much easier for you, no doubt. Perhaps after I save up a bit of $, I can backpack and stay in a hostel in Marrakech. (My dream.) So awesome to see you living yours! Love that. xo
September 6, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Well I’m glad Carl is getting better 🙂 And I agree that it was a very inspiring story, it was touching and well told and I read it to the end 😀
September 19, 2013 at 1:58 am
Thanks, George. :0) Carl is gradually growing weaker, and is now suffering from an upper respiratory infection, but he’s just had a bath and is in good spirits. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and concern. It means a lot! xo
September 19, 2013 at 5:46 pm
Oh I’m really sorry 😦
It is really fine 🙂
George
September 20, 2013 at 2:19 am