I was “scritching” Andy’s neck, which he love, love, loves!
Uh oh! I feel one.
See that lumpish thing at the 5 o’clock position below my thumb? That’s a new mat, and I …
Mats are fine undercoat hairs in a tangle. When these hairs are shed, if not combed out – Andy hates being combed – they end up in mats. When you pull them apart, the hairs can be removed in a fluffy handful from the P.O.’d kitty!
=(^+^)=
No major news about me today, just that the heat is murderous for dialysis patients with kidney failure because of the difficulty we have hydrating adequately without getting too much fluid build-up between sessions.
My strategy is simple: Stay inside in the air conditioning!
Unfortunately, it means an event I especially look forward to, the Class of 1966 monthly luncheon, is one I will need to skip this month.
Too much fluid intake, the usual hot weather strategy, results in excessive weight since the kidneys and sweating are inadequate for using and losing fluids trying to control body temperature, making the goal dry weight after dialysis harder or impossible to achieve and that excruciating muscle cramps are guaranteed!
I note too that heat prostration and heat stroke develop more quickly in people with my medical issues because we can’t keep cool outside in hot weather as easily as healthy people.
Living with dialysis is like being a living science experiment sometimes. Top it with WG/GPA, my other complications, and…ugh!
I gave a blood sample Tuesday to be used to determine my current cANCA level, an indicator of how active the WG/GPA is or isn’t in my body. It took two pokes to find a source of blood. WG/GPA is a vascular disease. That means a good vein or artery is difficult to find!
My cANCA antibodies level has been within the “normal but rising slightly since last checked” level last time checked three months ago.
Since increased cANCA antibodies are how my rheumatologist, pulmonologist, or nephrologist tell if I’m “in remission from WG/GPA or not” or “and trending toward it”, they know either to increase my Cincalcet (Sensipar) medication, decrease it, or leave it at the current level.
That medication has been the only one I need now to stay in control of that disease.
When I first came down with it, my doctors had me on 13 different oral medications, injected insulin, and dialysis and plasmapheresis sessions!! I definitely felt like a science experiment then.
Because the medical treatments wiped out my immune system at that time, I was placed in the University Hospital/ Denver transplant ward, which meant moonsuits, practically, for anyone entering my room or when I left the room (rarely) to get a bit of exercise.
One nice part about being in the transplant ward is you could ask for Hagen Daaz ice cream, and they’d bring it! LOL! I guess it was compensation for being a mess medically and being isolated from the germy folks.
The transplant ward experience was good practice for that future COVID-19 pandemic 17 years later, though I had to get my own dang ice cream!
Wow. That heat issue must really cause problems if you need to be outside for something this time of year. Andy probably appreciates the company. 🙂
It can be bad news! I work at avoiding the danger.
Doug
It’s always amazed me how well you deal with your medical issues. Now I realize just how log you’ve bee at it. I’m sorry you have to juggle things so carefully in the heat ad give up your lunch but better safe tha sorry.
One gets used to dealing with these complications. Knowing the risks and consequences is part of the game.
Doug
Sorry you have been through so much with your health, but glad you don’t have to take 13 meds anymore. Keep cool.
I’ve been blessed with great medical care! I make sure doctors, nurses, even maintenance and housekeeping personnel where I need their help are aware I appreciate each and everyone of them.
Doug
We send you purrs and prayers for your stamina and patience dealing with your medical issues and Andy’s mats,
I’m trained in dealing with my medical issues. I try to keep well informed of dangers and consequences, try to be good (mostly!).
Doug
After all the you had to get your own ice-cream Tsk!
I know about the tuft removing, with Mr Fooey, sister Janes cat that I loved. Same breed as Andy, but white. The gentlest furry I’ve ever known. But he did not have the talking eyes of Andy.
Each cat is its own personality. I didn’t realize how true that is till I retired and got my first ones! LOL!
Doug
To right, Doug!
You are a real trooper, Doug, and an inspiration to the rest of us with various issues. I hope the summer heat lifts quickly. Do you and Andy have a cooling center you can go to in case of a power outage or AC failure?
I am lucky our long haired cat Wynken does not form mats readily. 🙂
Worse case, I can go to the hospital, but Andy and I can take an air conditioned car drive till power returns. By and large, power interruptions here are short. One year, we did have one that lasted several days until an emergency transformer was located rwas located.
Doug
I’m sorry that you must deal with all of this, Doug, but amidst it, you are a great cat dad! ❤️😻
One gets used to “new normal” situations. Knowing just how consequential new medical issues are is helpful and I appreciate doctors who tell me what I am facing.
Doug
Agreed. 👍
So you were on the Transplant Ward but no Transplant? I don’t remember what I ate after mine. I remember getting sick from the drugs or pain medication. My Ex was my Donor. He might have gotten Ice-cream.
I’m sorry you’re missing your luncheon. I know how much you enjoy it. Heat takes it’s toll on people with medical issues. We are having weather that dips into comfortable, then climbs into the insane but we did have a good, much needed rain last night. I never had a cat that was prone to severe matting but to some degree every long haired cat can get them. Sasha loves to be brushed and sometimes I remove what seems to be at least 2 cats from her fur. If I don’t brush her there are tumbleweeds blowing around the house!
It’s nice that you are so fond of Andy that you put effort into keeping his fur as clean of mats as possible. That’s a rough process to get ice cream. I hope your health improves.
Good to get those mats out before they get any bigger! I’ve had to remove a few myself over the years. I’m sorry that you’ll have to miss your reunion, and also that you have so much to contend with! My general impression is that this year’s heat is worse in areas that usually have more moderate summers. Wishing you all the best!
Thanks! It is a pain doing what’s best. The alternative is worse, however.
we sadly have no AC… so we have to pull through… so sorry that you have to skip your meeting, but we hope the heat will take a break soon. hugs to you and the boy… it seems mats are like math, no one wants it but its there LOL
I’m glad I have AC to help me through the worst heat. Summers aren’t a good time for me. I certainly to the point of a heat stroke once when zo was a teen and it messed up my ability to handle heat well even before my medical issues noted above.
Doug
Good grief, Doug! I am sorry you’ll miss your reunion lunch but staying indoors in the air conditioning seems like the best course, for now. I’m leaving town myself before the heat returns to 100+ degrees next week. Not sure if trading desert heat for East Coast mugginess is that great an idea, but at least my daughter’s house has central air. Take care!
I couldn’t deal with desert heat. AC is OK but I don’t set it too cold.
Doug