Day 2, Tube #2

This morning I felt much better when Jenny & James gave me my antibiotics through my plug before Jenny left for work. I cried a little bit at first, but I didn't snarl or twist around.

When Jenny came home, she wanted to take some pictures of my plug so she could help me post them on this blog. I made a fuss when James lifted up my tank top and even tried to bite him! I think my stoma might be more sore now than it was this morning.

Before long James thought they might as well give me my antibiotics and get it over with. I growled and tried to slash at Jenny with my claws (unfortunately it looks like someone at MedVet trimmed them when I was under the anesthesia yesterday) but it hurt less than it did yesterday and I think Jenny was trying to be quick.

Just to make Jenny & James feel like they spent a bundle of money on a new feeding tube for nothing, I've been eating lots of kibble today and even drinking more water than usual. Pppthththbbbttt!

Day 1, Tube #2

June 4

Today Jenny dropped me off at MedVet on her way to work. They put me under, then a Dr. Hostutler endoscopically removed the inside-the-stomach bit of my old tube, made a small incision to widen my stoma, and inserted a new, low-profile PEG tube! It looks like the plug where you blow up a beach ball, so it only sticks out maybe a centimeter or so. Unfortunately, the incision made my stomach pull away from my abdominal wall a little, so they had to put in a couple of stitches, but I no longer have a 10-inch long tube coming out of my side that needs to be wrapped around, held in place by a tank top, and clipped to the tank top with a binder clip.

James picked me up in the afternoon. Luckily I did not have to wear an e-collar. They showed him how to put an extension tube into my plug, and I didn't like that. I'm still quite sore! I was also still a little woozy from the anesthesia.

When Jenny came home I was pigging out on kibble, even though they told James not to let me eat a lot. What could I do? I was hungry! Earlier in the day James took away my kibble and I actually ate some of Bucky's kibble. I never noticed how delicious it is before. I even ate a little of it after James brought my own kibble back out. Then James took up Bucky's kibble and neither of us could eat it. Sigh.

Tonight James & Jenny had to give me some antibiotics through my plug. The area around it is still swollen, oozy, and tender. I did NOT want them messing around with my plug! I tried to tell them this by growling, then snarling, and eventually biting, flailing about, and twisting around, but they still pressed that syringe into my tube. It hurt a lot. Jenny never saw me so upset! I guess it probably also hurt a lot when I got my first tube (it's hard to remember), but I was so sick I didn't have much fight in me at the time. But I do now!

I think Jenny & James felt pretty bad afterward (and rightly so). They may call about getting me some pain medication tomorrow. I got some after my first tube was inserted, but MedVet didn't send me home with any today (sadists!).

Day 400

June 3

Today my feeding tube came out. I'd like to take the credit, but I think it got caught on something when I was jumping down from a box. When James opened the bedroom door to let me out, I was tank-topless. Upon further investigation, he discovered that I was also feeding-tubeless. He retrieved my tube, packed me into my carrier, and swept me off to MedVet. He called Jenny on her cell phone (she was driving home from work) and she turned around and met us there.

The emergency vet we saw was named Dr. Lasher. She didn't think I was actually having an emergency, but she put in a phone call to another vet to consult. It wasn't Dr. Forman, because he was away at some internal medicine conference. Anyway, Dr. Lasher thought it would be a lot cheaper and maybe better medically to wait until tomorrow to replace my tube (when a vet more experienced with the procedure could do it). They clipped and cleaned my stoma, and sent me home without a feeding tube! I am still wearing a tank top, though, to keep my stoma clean. I feel so free!

Day 366

April 30, 2009

Wow. I got my feeding tube one year ago today.

I still have it. In fact, I'm not sure I remember ever not having it. But that's OK.

I'm used to wearing a stupid tank top all the time. I'm used to Jenny & James feeding me, giving me medicine, and giving me water through my tube, although I hardly get any food through it any more. I like to eat my kibble on my own, whenever I feel like it. And while I don't drink as much as I should, Jenny & James can give me enough water through my tube so that I don't have to get fluids through a needle any more.

I visit Dr. Forman for a check-up about every other month. My weight and kidney values are stable, so I mostly just get blood drawn and a little cleaning up around my stoma when I'm there.

I feel pretty much back to normal. I like to be petted every time James sits on the loveseat. I scratch my scratching post, watch the birds through the doorwall, sit in the window and look at the neighborhood, and make a fuss whenever Mr. Cat is allowed anywhere near me. I can jump up and down from perches without any trouble, and occasionally I even like to jump up on top of the entertainment center and knock things off (I think it's funny when Jenny hollers).

So it's been a long year, and I wasn't always sure I'd make it. But here I am, and life is good, and Jenny & James plan on keeping me around for as long as possible.

Day 154

Wednesday, October 1

Boy, I haven't written anything for a while now! I've been feeling pretty good, although when James took me to MedVet a few weeks ago my numbers were a little higher than they have been. The lady told James to try to get me to drink more water...well, I don't know if I'm drinking ANY water! I have been eating my kibble, though. I'm down to one feeding of 35 mL's every evening, although most days I get water through my tube in the morning, as well.

I get my sub-q fluids about every other day, although as time goes on I am getting less and less tolerant of them. I think my skin is also developing scar tissue, because James seems to be having a harder time finding a good place to stick the needle. OUCH!

Tomorrow Jenny & James are going to Michigan for Jenny's sister Beth's wedding, so I'll be staying with Dr. Burns at Red Maples. I bet they do a better job of giving me my fluids than James!

Day 123

Sunday, August 31

Well, I'm down to two feedings a day, and I'm eating a little kibble, although not enough to maintain my weight on my own. I'm still hovering at 6 lbs., though, so I haven't lost much weight. I don't seem to be the slightest bit interested in drinking anything, though, and Jenny & James are still giving me IV fluids most days. The sub-q fluids are less of a pain than the tube feeding, though, so even if they have to continue the fluids Jenny says that's OK with them.

James is taking me back to Med Vet to see Dr. Forman on Thursday. He'll take blood and run a bunch of tests and look at my numbers to see how I'm doing - wish me luck!

Day 106

Thursday, August 14

On Friday, the 100th day since I got my feeding tube, I saw Dr. Forman for a check-up. My weight at MedVet was 6 lbs., 2 oz.! He's really pleased with how I'm doing. The next step is to see if I'll start to eat on my own if Jenny & James feed me less through my tube. Dr. Forman says that my weight is so good that I can afford to lose a little bit, if that's what it takes to get me eating again.

This week I'm down from 90 mL's three times a day to 70 mL's three times a day. I don't seem to be hungry yet. Tomorrow I'll drop to 50 mL's three times a day. Jenny & James can't wait to get me down to two feedings a day!

Even if I don't start eating on my own again, two feedings would be much more manageable (for me and them). There's also the option of having a different kind of PEG tube inserted, designed for long-term use (the length of tubing would detach when I wasn't being fed, so that I'd just have the plug in my side - no long tube to flop around, and no shirt to keep a long tube out of the way!).

But of course, the ideal scenario would be for me to get hungry and eat my k/d kibble again. I used to eat a little bit now & then right after my tube was inserted, so hopefully I enjoy the taste and sensation and I'll go back to it once I get hungry enough. Jenny bought a new bag so the food is nice & fresh.

The next few weeks are make-it-or-break-it-time, so wish me luck!