Thursday 5 June 2008

Thankful Thursday

I had a check-up at the Vet Place today. When I arrived Nurse Ann came to see me, we are quite bonded and I stretched out of my PTU in the reception area and I allowed her to pick me up and give me a cuddle - a rare treat for Nurse Ann, or anyone else in fact cos I am not keen on heights or cuddles - I prefer strokes and ground level.

I saw Caroline Vet today. She was very lovely and handled me with care and affection. So why Thankful Thursday if I have been to the Vet Place? Well, I am thankful that I weigh the same as I did almost a week ago - this means that the amount I am eating is keeping me on an even keel. Most importantly I haven't lost weight - this means there is a chance that the cancer hasn't come back to get me, cos if it had I would have shown a weight loss for sure. Even cats that eats LOADS and who have cancer attacking them, still lose weight despite their food intake.

I am also thankful because, despite not being able to have chemo for the past two weeks Caroline Vet could not feel any tumours in my tummy. My temperature was a little low but this may be because I *clenched* quite hard when Caroline Vet put the stick in my bum, and she didn't want to force it in there, so my temperature only read 37.8, it should be 38.5

We are still not sure what has caused my poor state lately but it may possibly be a combination of a few things - not getting along with the appetite stimulant Mirtazapine; lack of food intake; damage to my tummy from the chemo and tumours; and the chemo possibly making me feel ill - although this is difficult to determine for sure as I was also taking the Mirtazapine just after I had the chemo. All we know is since we stopped the Mirtazapine I have perked up a little. I got on with the chemo drugs last year, no problem, but maybe a second time is just too proving too much for me to manage...

So what now? Well, we are in a kind if no-win situation. Caroline Vet said that if I don't have chemo very soon, the cancer will definitely come back, but then there is the question of whether the chemo will make me feel ill and put me off my food again? I really can't afford not to eat. But if I don't have chemo then...well...the situation only becomes a 'win' if I have the chemo and it doesn't make me feel bad, but we obviously have to try the chemo to discover this.

So, the plan is, I try to eat as much as I can for the next few days, increase my strength, stay alive...if I succeed in this, I head back to see Ben Vet next Wednesday for a check-up to see if I have gained enough weight/strength to resume chemo, should we decide to go down that route...

I am thankful for all your continued purrs and prayers...oh and I am also thankul for my Meowmies and my brother Castle, here he is squashing up to me on the sofa

Love Stormie
xxx

38 comments:

Jans Funny Farm said...

Aaaaah. What a cute picture of you two.

We are glad to hear you are holding your own. We are rooting for you to regain some strength in the next few days.

Purrs and tail wags.

Rosemary B❤️ said...

I adore this picture. Stormie, I am glad to read this news. It is sort of good really. You just need to eat and keep your weight up. We will keep purrring for you, Stormiekins.
I love you very much. We have been praying for you and your brother and your meowmies.
Always, Prinnie

Parker said...

Hopeful news Stormie!
I hope that appetite keeps up.
I love that photo of you and Stormie!

MaoMao said...

Oh Stormie, we Ballicai have efun more hope aftur readin your news. It is deffinitely a Thankful Thursday, that you are holdin your own! Keep eatin the way you have been, and try to eat efun more to gain some more strength. We will purr and purr for you as hard as we can, and please know you are always in our hearts and we love you so furry much!

What a purreshus pickshure of you and Castle!

Love and kittyhugs and healin purrs with alla our mights from MaoMao and alla the Ballicai.

Gemini and Ichiro said...

Oh Stormie, I am glad that you are holding your own with the weight! This is wonderful and I am very happy to hear that. I am going to be positive and look forward to hearing that you are beginning to gain weight next week!

ZOOLATRY said...

Love -- big hug love -- to you Stormie. We're proud of you... hang in and hang on you handsome devil.

LZ said...

Keep hanging in there Storm, you're doing such an incredible job and you have a wonderful group of people looking after your health who will help you make the right decisions. Enjoy life!!

Kaze

michico*Adan*Lego-小芥*阿丹*樂高 said...

This is a very very lovely sweet photo at Castle is holding you up~!!!
So so sweet~!!!
I read your article and I feel my blood is all warm, I have more courage to purr for you~!! You will be fine!!!

meemsnyc said...

Oh Storm, we are purring for you. Hope you get your strength back and feel better soon. Sending you good thoughts.

Karen Jo said...

That's a wonderful photo of you and Castle, Stormie. I am very glad that you are holding your own. Please keep eating and drinking and gain some weight and strength so that you can continue your chemo. I will keep praying for you.

Sabrina, Sam and Simon said...

Stormie, we are always purring and purraying for you, we think about you all of the time. In fact, Momma was thinking about you all the way home from work today, hoping that we would hear some encouraging news. That your weight has held is encouraging news, and we hope you will get your appetite back even more so you will get some more strength and can once again beat this demon. We love the picture of you and Castle, you two love each other so much!
We love you sweet girl ...
Purrs and headbutts,
Sabrina, Sam, Simon and Momma Jan

The Lee County Clowder said...

Maybe it is just us, but you don't look entirely pleased Castle decided to use you as a cushion.

So glad you are hanging in there, Stormie. Eat well, and often. We're purrring for you.

Lux said...

That is the most beautiful picture - so loving, so sweet. Storm, you're the best! I believe it will all work out the way it's meant to.

Love,
Yr friend Lux

Mickey's Musings said...

That is good news Storm!! I'll purray that you feel like eating and get stronger :) You are a beauty :)
Purrs Mickey

Anonymous said...

What a sweet picture of Castle and you. Castle obviously heard about your temperature at the vets and is keen to cuddle up to keep you warm.

....and what great news about your weight Stormie! Really that is such a good sign, I am so pleased for you. I hope the next few days pass well and you continue to gain some strength so that the right decision can be made about the chemo. You take it easy and maybe we will see "chicken face" again in the next few days?

Sending love to you all xx

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

Storm, we are glad that you haven't lost any more weight. We are purring and praying hard for you to be strong so you can go through more chemo.

Poppy Q said...

Yaaaaaaaaaaah Stormie, I was glad to hear you got some good news sweetie. You snuggle up with Castle and feel our purrs and paws wrapped around you.



PoPpy Q

Felix, Garfield & Jawsy said...

Eat well, Stormie!
Our purrs r always there, do have a wonderful weekend!
Kissies to you and Castle,

Isis said...

That's a wonderful photo of your Stormie! :) I shall keep purring for you! :)

Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...

You keep working at that eating and drinking Storm! We are right here purraying and purraying for you!

Give your Moms and Castle a gentle headbutt for us!

Charlemagne and Tamar said...

Yay Stormie,

We're so glad to hear that you're holding your own. We've been purraying and purraying for you and will keep purraying. Head butts to you and Castle and the Meowmies.

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

That is good news that you haven't lost any more weight. We are purring and purraying for you.
Thanks furr coming over with purrs furr Eric, and thanks furr the words of encouragement furr our mum.She got scared when the V E T said he could feel a mass in his stomach cuz he said he couldn't be sure what it was but he thought it could be a hairball. Usually Eric doesn't have any problems yakking them up, so maybe it is an extra big hairball in there.
Purrs furrom Flynn

Tiki, Kirby, and StanLee said...

We are purring hard for you to keep eating. You are so cute snuggled with Castle.

Daisy said...

Stormie! I am so glad that you have not lost any more weight. You are the fightingest furry fighter I know. Please try your very best to keep eating and eating and eating!

ps: that is a very sweet photo of you and Castle.

Christine and FAZ said...

That's a really special picture. Try and eat loads this week and build up your strength if you can. FAZ

HRH Yao-Lin said...

Wow storm the power of pawsitive purayers hey! I am over the moon that you haven't lost weight but then, how could you - you ate your weight in cornettos and tagliatelli if I remember rightly on our trip to italy! I am so pleased for you stormie and I am praying really hard still x

Mr. Echo said...

Dats rite! Fight baby fight! My sisfur gotsta haff an operayshun next week and she sez she is gonna be brave cuz she sees how brave yoo are. She sez her herrneeah is nuttin compared to what yoo are bravly fightin.

Sunny's Mommy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sunny's Mommy said...

That is great news that you didn't lose any weight, despite not eating as much as you should. I hope you get well enough to resume chemo, if that is your Meowmie decides upon (it's hard to tell from what's written).

That is a beautiful picture of you and Castle :-)

Nomi said...

So nice to know that you are hanging in there Stormie. Keep snuggling up to your miewmies and Castle and eat as much as you can.

Anonymous said...

that is such a sweet picture--you are so lucky to haf a sibling who cuddles you!! we smack each ofur!

we is still purrin' an' purrrayin' for you, storm. you is a real class act, an' we is furry happy that you is holdin' onto your weight. in fact, our mom sez if you need a little more, she haz plenty you are welcome to haf!!

purrs an' hugs to you, sweety--
nels, ed, nitro, an' xing.

Anonymous said...

Hi Sweet Storm,

I've been thinking of you and told mom I must go to your blog.My dear friend please keep eating and resting
I'm so worried about you.Me and mom pray for you everyday.Your the bravest kitty I know and a true fighter.I feel very blessed to know you and am very honored to be your friend...Love and gentle hugs Ariel

Cats~Goats~Quotes said...

A beautiful photo of you and your brother.
Sending you lots of strokes on your pretty fur at ground level!!
~ Miss Emily

Boy said...

Storm! Fight on! I'm cheewing and cheewing for you!
You can do it!

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Hang in there, Stormie! We're back home and will be checking back to see how you're doing. Eat to get strong so you can fight this thing!

Anita said...

We are glad to hear you are holding your own.

We will keep purrring for you.

I also visited the vet to control my disease on Friday.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrayers for you.

Black Cat said...

Oh Stormie darling, that's good that you haven't lost any more weight. Keep on fighting dear girl and eat and drink as much as you can. I'm purraying for you.

I've finally done the memes you tagged me for; such fun to do them:) xxx

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

Stormie, we will be purring very hard for you and keeping our paws crossed that you are able to gain lots of weight and keep your strength up. ~Socks, Scylla & Charybdis