Maddie has hyperthyroidism.

Our poor cat Maddie has had a rough week. The last several months she's been loosing weight and sleeping more even with still eating and drinking and using the litter-box fine.

Friday she vomited white liquid and I knew something really wasn't right. Kevin bought a box of canned food from Costco and we've been feeding her that, which seems to agree with her stomach better. She did OK during the weekend but on Monday couldn't keep anything down, and her breath and puke smelled really bad.

Monday was very stressful for both Maddie and I because while she was sick the power and internet were out, and the first time she puked she got it all over herself so I had to give her a bath in the sink, in a dark bathroom. The picture is of her all toweled up after her bath. You can tell she's unhappy, but trusting I'm doing right by her. The second time she puked, she was using her whole body so hard to do it that she choked on it and stopped breathing for a few seconds. I had to grab her and massage her to breathe, it was like the force knocked the wind out of her. I think that's what freaked me out the most and told me this wasn't normal cat regurgitation of hair-balls, but that she was sick and needed the vet.

Monday started out bad for me, with the internet going down, followed an hour or so later with the power going out too. I still don't know why these things happened, but the internet was down most of the day, and the power was out for several hours. We have VOIP for our home phone, so with both being down (heck even when it's just one or the other) I wasn't able to use the home phone. I tried several times to text and call Kevin, but his phone was off so I was growing more frustrated not knowing why I hadn't heard back from him. I finally got so upset after her second round of major puking that I called his number at work to speak to him. He was surprised as he didn't know his phone was off, and agreed that Maddie needed to see the vet. So I immediately called and took her in an hour later.

I took her to the vet and we had several tests of lab work done to find out what's going on. So far the diagnosis is that she has hyperthyroidism. She had a fever while we were there, and was badly dehydrated, so she's on antibiotics now, and was given a large injection of fluids. It seemed they doubled her weight when we were done there! She's perked up some with the fluids and antibiotics, but still needs to be put on medications for her hyperthyroidism. We're trying to figure out how we can pay for her now extra expenses as she'll need these meds for the rest of her life.

She knows I'm taking care of her too. Normally she's pretty aloof, but lately has been following my every move. Mostly hoping I'll keep giving her more food, which she hasn't run out of, but feeling how she does she's concerned that she always have enough. She's currently eating a whole can all by herself everyday! As well as having all the kibble and water she wants available to her.

She's a good cat, and we don't want to give up on her. We want to give her the best life possible, as much as we can. She may be a grouchy girl, but she's ours, we love her, and she's very intelligent, and we respect that about her. We're hoping with these medications that she'll continue to improve and will have more time with us, she deserves that. She's our little girl, and we've had her all of our 9 years of marriage.

Siggy is being trying as he's not getting as much attention as he's used to. So he's doing many naughty things. We have our printer on the very top of the entertainment center so that it's out of the way, and while I was printing an invoice the other day I heard this loud clashing sound. I ran out of the office to the living-room to see what the heck happened and found Siggy on the top of the entertainment center about 6 feet above the ground, trying to steal the printer paper! After getting my picture I had to climb up and pull him down as he wasn't listening about getting down. I was very frustrated. Today he's been a bit better behaved. But I think that's just because we've been letting him in the bedroom while we sleep again, so he doesn't feel so neglected. But we can't do that all the time either. I hope that as she perks back up they will get back to playing together more again and that his behavior will improve.

Right now she's in her bed grooming herself and purring. She seems really content, and that makes me so happy. Since going to the vet she hasn't puked at all, which I know both her and I are very thankful for. Now that she's doing a bit better I need to get the steam cleaner out and clean all the spots in the carpet from Friday and Monday. I'm so thankful I have my own steam cleaner. The only problem for me is actually getting it done. My hips and back are causing me immense pain. And my legs are weak. Stress always adds to my daily arthritis pain & stiffness. Additionally the weather has been changing a lot again, and the barometric shifts really are murder on my joints. Even still I was able to ride my stationary bike for almost 4 miles this week. I think I need to take a break though so this doesn't turn into a major flare. I'm already dealing with a lot of pain while at rest. I have an appointment to see my nurse rheumatologist on the 6th and am trying to tough it out with just Tylenol alone as I've run out of meds before then. I'm using my cane a lot to get around, and really wishing I had already bought a walker as it would be a lot more useful right now. Tomorrow I'm just going to rest. It seems like that's working for Maddie, so maybe I'll have a chance now too.