Back to the vet

Biggie clearly has another obstruction. All the signs are there. The vet doesn't open until 8. It's 6:30 now. My plan is to be first in line when the doors open.

Fingers crossed. It's Friday and the emergency hospital that does weekend surgeries is permanently closed so if our vet can't help today, I think we're screwed.

Poor guy. He's not happy today and, honestly, neither am I.

Reports to come.

So far

X-rays are done and we're now waiting for the vet to come discuss.

The clinic opens at 8. After a major struggle, I got Biggie into the wheeled carrier (the baggie was not going to cut it today). And we got here at 7:15 and were 2nd in line. By the time the doors opened, there were maybe 20 people and 25 animals behind us.

I had struggled with which of the 3 clinic offices to go to but, in retrospect, I think I picked the right one.

But, can you imagine leaving home in plenty of time - oh dark 30 - and getting here to discover that you are 20th in line??!! and they aren't even open yet? The woman ahead of me and I agreed and felt so sorry for all the people behind us.*

We got right in and then waited for 30 mins before we saw the vet. She's not one I've seen before but I liked her manner a lot.

Ok the vet just came back with Biggie and said that they were able to see the object and it's in his stomach. This is a way better spot than his intestines. She has already talked to the emergency hospital in Renton (30 minutes south of here) and they have agreed to take him today and to endoscopy (get it out via his mouth) UGH.

But, first she's going to try and induce vomiting. She says this works 50% of the time and that's what they are doing right now.

If it does not work, then we go to Renton. At least we for sure can get in today. She said it would be end of day so I'm not sure if that means we drive down there and wait or go home and go down later. I'm not wild about either option but I am very grateful they are there and will take us.

All of this is way better than the horrible Wait, See, Hope option.

And the world's most expensive cat gets even more expensive!!!

*The couple just behind me had two cats each in their own carrier. They were here because they missed their flight and so their health permit for the cats had expired. When they got to the front desk, they learned that this office was totally out of the permits and they would have to go to another office and start the line standing all over again. So I'm not the only one having a bad pet day.

update

So vomiting failed to produce. And now I'm in the parking lot of bluepearl specialty + emergency medicine for pets.

The tech came out and asked the same questions as the vet's office did but she was sweet and did say that they were expecting him and had all his records from Seattle.

Now I'm waiting. It sounds like the vet will call me and review the situation (and the $$, I suspect). And then I leave. :(

I'm about 30 minutes from home but it's a hard 30 minutes. I'm ok in daylight but it is doubtful that he will be done by 4:30 so I'll have to come back here in the dark and get home again in the dark. Ugh.

The worst part is that they will likely not tell me a time. They will tell me 'we'll call you'. They are a 24/7 operation so it could be 2 am.

I just keep telling myself all of the things that could make this so much worse and how lucky Biggie and I are. Over and over again.

Home Alone... again

So... where were we? I was in the parking lot... The vet called. He's a he! So weird. I'm not sure Biggie's ever been to a male veterinarian before. Anyway, he said that if the thing had gotten too far down in the stomach, he wouldn't be able to reach it with a scope. So he wanted to do a scan to verify where it was. $500. Was that ok? Yes.

He was very nice and gentle and careful in his explanation. One option would be to scope and hope but if he knew for sure the scope wouldn't work, it would save time, money and Biggie. They would then go right to surgery. I figured it was way better to know and at this point $500 is a mere fraction of what the whole thing is going to cost me.

He said he'd do that and call me with a plan in a couple of hours. We're zeroing in on the end of that window now.

He also said that regardless, they won't be doing any procedure until after 5. I'm guessing that Biggie won't get home tonight. But I do feel like he's in good hands. I just wish those hands would call me with good news.

And, just as I typed that, he called. But not good news.

The plastic had moved into the intestines already and a scope will not work so surgery... again. I'm waiting now for them to send me a link so I can pay online and they can get started.

Then I wait for them to call me after.

Oh and I remembered that I had nearly all of this pain medicine left over from his fall that he never used. I told the doctor and it's exactly what they would have given me more of. "That's excellent that you have that. It's very expensive and now you won't have to buy it again!"

Long Damn Day

I've heard nothing. It's just after 5 pm. Their complicated telephone tree has an option for update on patients but it goes to a recording that says to go back to the bottom (or top) of the tree cause we aren't available to answer. It does say that I can text. So I did. And I got a canned response that if this was an emergency, to call them. Talk about a loop.

In my text I asked to know when they were doing the surgery and when they think it might be completed. I just want to know if it's going to be 6 pm or 8 pm or 4 am.

I probably will not hear anything until they call after which will be... whothefuckknows.

Meanwhile I'm here imagining the worst. And grateful for the time Biggie and I had in the vet's office this morning. He was very cuddly. I could stand a little of that right now!

update

I heard nothing from the text and finally called at 7. A very nice guy answered and checked on him and he hasn't even had surgery yet. The guy said he was "resting comfortably". As soon as the current surgery is finished, it will be his turn. Poor guy. Having to be in there for so long.

Clearly, my stress of having to go there tonight is for naught. Hopefully, I can go pick him up tomorrow morning.

Now I wait for the doctor to call after he's all fixed.