I just committed a cardinal sin. I set my laptop down on Dougy’s ottoman!
Out of nowhere, Dougy came running. He hopped up on the ottoman and gave a rigorous scratching to the battle scared fabric.
I got your message, Buster: “The ottoman is off limits to everyone but Dougy!!!”
Hard to believe this sweet little Persian guy, usually so full of good will, this pussycat can be so aggressively, obsessively possessive of the ottoman, yet that’s the way it is on Lane 2. Dougy’s ottoman. No trespassing.
=(^+^)=
For those who don’t follow me elsewhere, I’ve had problems getting on the Internet on my PC this first day back from hospitalization and rehabilitation. Unfortunately, my laptop is of the stupid variety. It isn’t set up to handle graphics chores.
(“Aw…!He just told us there’d be no new Dougy and Andy photos till he works out the technical glitch in his PC!”)
I did want to resume my blog as soon as possible on getting back, however, because I’ve a lot to tell you. First and foremost, as a weggie (a person diagnosed with Wegener’s granulomatosis, not an underwear waistband puller..!), diagnosed in 2003, I know the disease is for a lifetime: There is no cure.
I also know, as a weggie,that it can go into remission as it did in my case in 2005. Some weggies never know a time when their case is in remission. I was lucky and had several years that were active Wegener’s free.
But! But, it always is there, lurking behind the symptoms of other diseases. That is what the doctors at University Hospital (Denver) feel happened to me.
A couple months leading up to the week I became breathless and weak, I had a nondescript malaise, let’s call it, nothing alarming, just “there”. I didn’t feel really bad, yet I wasn’t 100% OK either.
I wasn’t alarmed.
Perhaps I should have been. The doctors feel an undiagnosed Wegener’s flare wiped out what kidney function the December 2003-May 2005 didn’t manage to do. Now, I will need dialysis three times a week. It doesn’t hurt. It’s just time-consuming: Four hours at a shot! It can be more or less that, depending on catheter function or need.
I tell you this because it is true. I don’t mean to depress you. I mean, this happened to me yet I am basically a happy, positive person. Let me tell you a little story about how I handled the news I was going to have to go on dialysis.
While at the University Hospital (Denver), several teams of doctors visited me each day, including one who’d been among the doctors who visited me daily in 2004. I was known to be a weggie, so the first thing they had to determine was whether my condition was Wegener’s granulomatosis or not.
No evidence of active Wegener’s showed up, but the signs were my kidneys had failed. (Of course, it was no secret to me because I couldn’t urinate!)
One by one, the doctors and interns, in pairs, came to report their findings to me. Each told a bit more of the story, but I knew where it was leading.
Finally, the nephrologist came by. The young doctor with him was quiet. The older doctor seemed uncomfortable or hesitant to give me the bad news.
“I have good news and I have bad news,” he said finally. The good news was it wasn’t Wegener’s I had, and you already know – just as I did! – what the bad news was: I had end term kidney disease. I would require dialysis in practical terms, many life changes in food eaten, and so on.
I sat on my bed in my hospital gown listening to what the doctor said. When he was finished (and clearly relieved I seemed to be taking it well), I said, “Doctor, you don’t have to worry about scaring the pants off of me because [comedic pause] I’m not wearing any.”
I got them both to laugh!
I tell you that story because I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. I’ve had worse news from doctors after all, like when I learned I was a weggie.
My doctor came to my room and explained that my symptoms suggested one of three possibilities. He ticked off why two seemed less likely than the third, then said I most likely had Wegener’s granulomatosis and that I would be dead within two years.
On the third anniversary of the prediction of a two year life expectancy, I reminded my doctor of what he told me. “That sounds like the sort of thing I’d say,” he said. He actually was a very good doctor, one I still admire and respect immensely.
But when it comes to deadeye predictions, there are many factors that affect the outcome: Efficacy of treatment; patient’s attitude; the course of the disease and what stage it was caught at; faith; who knows?
The short of it (said he ironically), I will thrive and survive. I’m pigheaded that way.
So, so good to have you back. And glad those doctors and nurses (and you too) have been working hard to keep you as healthy as possible.
Thanks! I was pretty sick, but I had excellent care all along the way. I feel fine now, thanks to dialysis. The local dialysis unit is excellent, better even than that of those I was in in Denver and Scottsbluff. Of course, it is newly remodeled and updated. I especially appreciate the heated recliners. All the other dialysis units were ice boxes.
Have been waiting for you to return. Glad you are back. And the cats of course.
Thanks! I was wondering myself if I’d ever get back home and back to my old routine.
The need to work around three sessions of dialysis a week is a bit of a trick, bit I’m getting into the swing of it.
I missed the world according to cats
So glad you are back
It sounds like you have everything under control
You don’t need my two cents
As always Sheldon
Everything’s slowly coming together. The best thing was finding two letters that verified I had a Medicare Supplement F, so won’t have to pay thousands of dollars for the 20% not covered by Medicare. Whew!
I am so glad to see you back. In fact, I was worried about you and was wondering if the worst had happened. Michel Facquet too was very concerned, and I wrote to Ruth (Ali’s mom) on Facebook and she too didn’t know, what happened to you. But frankly we were worried.
Sigh of relief. Glad that you are back. 🙂
And I missed not hearing about Dougy and Andy. =^-^= =^-^=
Let’s say I’m sort of back…! I still haven’t worked out the problem with the PC, and there are many more issues I need to resolve first. Anyway, thanks! I really missed my kitties those two months, and they clearly missed me. The first night I was home, the boys played on or near my bed all night, and wouldn’t let me sleep because they kept wanting more loving! It didn’t help that the bed is the route to a window sill they both like for nighttime window duties or that Andy now claims my walker.
Hugs and purrs for your return. I am glad a long commute is not adding to the burden of dialysis for you. You are one of several people I know with autoimmune disease whose positive attitude puts the moaning and groaning of much healthier folks to shame. Please stay safe and avoid the no fly zone over the ottoman.
I lost my first attmpt to reply. Laptops are soooooo touchy! Anyway, thanks for your comment. I’m glad to be back, the boys are glad I’m here, and I just verified in my bank account that an insurance premium is taken out monthly for supplemental insurance to Medicare. Of course, they told the hospital in Denver my account was cancelled in 2007, though I didn’t retire till two years later and wasn’t eleigble for Medicare till 2013. I HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES!
I also. Grew up near Hartford CT and know more about them than I care too, none of it good. I had a Mac tower and my Windows laptop crash within three weeks of each other. Even though I am considered a “geek” I feel about technology many days as I do about insurance companies. Sympathy and commiseration!!
I’m still on my laptop, cussing all the way! Yes, technology can be wonderful, but living without it because it fails is a bite. I can work more efficiently on the PC, do more (like photos and videos), so not having that resource when I came home was difficult.
Believe me, Angela, I can be a whiner on occasion! I try not to be. Yesterday, though I was pretty over-whelmed by all I have to get done and I had one of my bad attitude moments. I had a chance to talk with someone about it, though, and that helped me get back to the fact that I can count many blessings for any negative aspects in my life just now, and the bad will work its way through. A good attitude is so much easier to live with!
I am so glad to see you. I’ve been dealing with my own health problems which have been what I am doing. Take care.
You, too. It’s tedious dealing with health issues when day to day demands on one’s time continue to pile up. Hope you are better soon, SusN!
Thank you. It won’t be easy or quick. I’m battling cancer.
I’m sorry to read that, Susan. Prayers and best wishes. I know what it’s like to go through chemotherapy (if that’s your course of treatment), and how miserable that can be. Though my disease is an auto-immune one, chemotherapy medication often is used (Cytoxan, specifically) in more aggressive treatment like I had. Anyway, best wishes for recovery!
It is part chemotherapy and part some other stuff to kill it off. 6 rounds of chemo with three weeks in between. When that is done I have another year to make sure it doesn’t come back. Praying for you as well.
Prayers for you, too, Susan. That is pretty rough stuff to deal with.
Thank you.
Welcome back, Doug! I was wondering how you were doing, and was pleasantly surprised to see your post in my mailbox! Glad you are back with your boys, and back into the blogging community.
It’s very tentative, though, Lavinia, since I’m stuck on the laptop still. No idea what happened with the PC other than it is unusable as is now. Anyway, I am glad tyo be back with my kitties, and they show lots of enthusiasm for seeing me again, too!
So happy you are back even If i am following you here from Face book. I that stalking? Oh well. Ali says hi to the boys and you and you were, and still are in our prayers.
Happy you are pig headed and going to hang around for bit longer-hopefully a long bit longer.
We do what the drs tells to do and surprise them all by living to 100.
Ruth
Facebook follows count, too! Andy and Dougy say to tell Ali “Meow!”. I am pretty good about following doctor’s orders, though I am going through some major adjustments in lifestyle just now. The local hospital; dialysis unit is very modern and comfortable compared with the others I have been in. The recliners even have built in heaters, something everyone on dialysis reading this will appreciate. I think hospitals and dialysis units keep their rooms chilled to 60 degrees because they are always too cold for me. In Denver, I had up to three blankets over me, and still was miserable. The local unit, though, is warm and cozy. Say hi to Ali and Tim for me!
Your next ambition must be to outlive your doctor. And stay determined and strong. You have livestock to look after.
Exactly! You get it! And the livestock are the main reason for doing it just now. I doubt anyone would want such spoiled kitties. Dougy is especially naughty.
I am so glad to see you back dear Weggie, yes I can understand how the days were for you. But at the end, you are here and you will be fine.Your cats, your little lovely friends should be so happy to see you dear. We all love you, Blessing and Happiness, Thank you, Love, nia
Thank you, Nia! I really missed your lovely photos while I was off the Internet. I still haven’t had a lot of time to catch up on things, but I am slowly working through everything.
You are welcome dear, don’t worry, whenever you wish you know we are here with many cats 🙂 Thank you, have a nice day and weekend, Love, nia
Hip-hip-hooray!! Weggie Boy is back! So good to see you big fella. I’ve been following your progress through 2 other sites and the welcome mat is finally out!!! Take care of yourself, let the boys enjoy your return home to them and just post when you feel up to it.
Very slowly, though GP. I still haven’t figured out what’s wrong with my PC, which means photos can’t be added to my blog. The laptop is not user-friendly (for me, yet), and there are many things I can’t do on it that I want to do. Believe me, the boys (especially Dougy!) have been pestering me mercilessly since I got home. They both are more “chatty” than they used to be, which is interesting. Andy used to meow very softly, but not now. He also comes over to get loving, something he was less likely to do before. Dougy claims me, of course, as his [personal human, so that may be Andy’s reason before. I missed following your excellent blog, too. I am so far behind on everything, though, I’ m barely getting through the welcomes back
Very slowly, though GP. I still haven’t figured out what’s wrong with my PC, which means photos can’t be added to my blog. The laptop is not user-friendly (for me, yet), and there are many things I can’t do on it that I want to do. Believe me, the boys (especially Dougy!) have been pestering me mercilessly since I got home. They both are more “chatty” than they used to be, which is interesting. Andy used to meow very softly, but not now. He also comes over to get loving, something he was less likely to do before. Dougy claims me, of course, as his [personal human, so that may be Andy’s reason before. I missed following your excellent blog, too. I am so far behind on everything, though, I’ m barely getting through the welcomes back .
Take your time, no one is expecting miracles out of you [not yet any way!!] 🙄 But I am thrilled to get news about the boys. Take care, one step at a time.
I’ll make an effort to write about them if nothing else. I hope I can get the PC up again soon though.
I understand your frustration. Good to hear Dougy remembers my extra head-scratches!!
They are like catnip!
It is Very Good to hear from you and know that you are well enough to return home. According to what I’ve heard, cats’ purrs are healing . I bet you’ve heard a lot of those since getting home. ‘
Congratulations on post # 1000!
Yes, and Dougy furthers the process by lying next to my head, purring, when I’m in bed. It’s very pleasant!
Purrhaps he was a healer in a previous life. For certain, I’m sure he is doing his furry best, now.
You know it!
Doug, how I missed reading your posts!
Have fun writing them, be sure that after hitting “Publish” they will be appreciated,
About the “stool” incident, I don’t need to tell you that is a lost battle!
So, please be careful and don’t start a war! 😀
josé
I will try to avoid the war, though Andy and Dougy might start one anyway since they both want lots of my attention now!
I can only imagine! 😀
They decided to take naps instead…!
so you finally could post again! [kidding]
Yep!
So glad to have you back Doug 😊
Thanks, Ritu! I also missed your entertaining blog while off the Internet. I;m still not finding lots of time to get back to reading all the ones I follow. I’m really buried in catching up, but I will get there eventually. (Soon, I hope!)
You will get there Doug! Slowly but surely! 😊
Very slowly, I fear….!
As long as you’re here 😊😊😊
I hope to be for a long time, one way or other….!
Yay!
I am so glad you re -start your blog, Doug . and we can hear again your adventures with your two feline friends ;
Thanks to keep me informed.
Of course the news could be better but I am reassured by your posture to fight the disease .
BTW you still have two comments from me in your previous post that are awaiting moderation . I had posted three comments !:)
Keep firm, Doug
In friendship
Michel
I’m working my way through, though it’s been very slowly….!
I have to admit: I checked your hometown’s paper’s obituaries to find out if you had kicked the bucket … I am sooo glad you are back!
I would have done as much myself! My disease if fatal, but it can be slowed down and controlled. I just need to be more in tune with what’s happening with my body. People can live decades with WG, if they do.
I am just so happy to read from you again!
I appreciate that! I enjoy your blog a lot, too!
Thanks *blushes*
It is very well done, I think!
Oh, stop that, Doug, red is not my colour!
Ha! Ha! Perhaps I should back off a bit and just color you pink….!
Urgh, no, not pink … I hate pink … I am not a Barbie girl.
OK, no pink either!
Great to hear from you Doug; welcome back home!
Thanks! Give Ms. Zoe and Benji a good head scritching from Andy, Dougy, and me, too! Of course, I really missed your blog while i was off the Internet because I enjoy both the poetry and the dog updates.
Well, you didn’t miss much as I haven’t posted anything since the New Year. I better get an update posted for you 🙂
That’s encouraging, oddly, because I know I will miss lots of posts that I otherwise would enjoy.
Yay so glad to have you back! Maybe since your internets down you could draw me a picture of your cats or something!! It was the highlight of my day seeing them on heres and hearing there wacky antics from there pops!
I need to work up a way to get photos over here. I have to transfer them to the right medium to do it, and I don’t currently have the means.
So glad you’re back! I have medical conditions also; I know that being home is always so much better! I’ve really missed you and your kitties, and look forward to your news and your posts, at your leisure, of course.
I hope to get that miserable PC operable soon. Still haven’t figured out what its problem is, and the laptop, while one way to catch up, is very limited for graphics and other tasks I regularly use..
We’re so glad to have you back! Now, keep your paws off that ottoman! Woof!
And feet, too! Dougy tolerates no breaches of security on that stool! (Good to be back, but I’m so far behind on everything.)
Liz, I know better, but I like to test the waters occasionally just in case Dougy isn’t paying attention…!
Lol!
Great to have you and the boys back. 4 hours of dialysis! Just think of the number of blog posts you can crank out! I’m going to have to get new reading glasses. Welcome home. 🙂
You can set off alarms if you wiggle around too much. I’ll say that I can think about things to post, though, so maybe those glasses will be needed after all!
It’s so good to have you back, and positively (and pigheadedly) fighting fit, as it were! I was so glad to see you back on Facebook, also.
How far from home is the place you need to go for dialysis? What do you do to fill in the time while the dialysis is going on? Are there some cute nurses taking care of you? 🙂
Dougy just won’t cut you any slack where his ottoman is concerned. I hope you’ve learned that lesson.
Cheers for now.
Dialysis is about 20 blocks away. Had I had to go Scottsbluff, it would be about 58 miles one way.
Yes, there have been some really cute nurses! But all have been very good at their jobs.
As for Dougy, he gets the ottoman because he had razor-sharp claws. Ha!
Hey Doug, I’m so glad you’re back with your black guys and home. Hope you got my card….I was kinda slow finding out where you were but I did find out and sent a card to you.
Me feel sorry for you?? Not likely. You had a flare up which was horrendous in disposing of your kidney function. Dialysis is not fun but neither is sitting and getting pumped with Rheumatoid meds in my arm but that’s better than getting the meds in my hand…that hurts like hell-o. This is not to mention the heart failure that I constantly go in and out of…..makes one feel real shi–y. Still I carry on and I know you will too my friend. This is an upset in our world and then back to semi-normal.
Your friend,
Jean
Yes, I did get the card, and thank you! I have low blood pressure normally. I’ve been pulled off dialysis a couple times when it alarmed the people running the machines. To prevent that, though, discovered watching cable news on the little television attached to the dialyusis machine works to keep my blood pressure up in the “normal” range!