Monday February 16, 1998 Part 1 15 Messages ====================================== From: AskforArt@aol.com Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 00:21:45 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Russian Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Hi again-- Give her a few more days. Ask if the vet will change her antibiotics, maybe to Baytrill, even though it's off-label use, my vet and I have had great success with it. Try the KMR. Give her some ground turkey, just slightly warmed, not cooked (she can smell it better, and in the wild she would be eating her prey at body temperature). Some of my cats like to suck and knead on a knitted wool blanket when they're not feeling well, or if they're stressed--maybe that would help her feel more secure. Try some Rescue Remedy to calm her down before feeding. And, sometimes, going without food for a day or two is OK as long as they stay hydrated--she may be fasting instinctively to rid some toxins from her body. Linda P -------------------------------------- From: AskforArt@aol.com Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 00:29:14 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: need advice Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Kelly--One of the things I was told about the Acemannan/Abrotose products is that if the patient has toxins accumulated in the body these products will force them out of the most convienient part of the body. I have no idea if this is what's happening, but it's a possibility. Has the bloating subsided in the abdominal area? Do you know how to check for dehydration? Is she demostrating any changes in personality or behavior? Linda P in Sacramento -------------------------------------- From: WORKPARK@aol.com Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 00:31:22 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Epogen Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb, I asked my vet about this, and she said it only works if the kidneys are failing or aren't producing something right or something like that, I can't exactly remember since she said Rissa-tai wasn't lacking whatever epogen takes care of. Also, nobody at the vet clinic had even heard of DMG (after looking at Dr. Myers' response about William). does anyone know where/how else we can get it? Pam -------------------------------------- From: AskforArt@aol.com Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 00:35:29 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Epogen Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net You can buy DMG at a good health food store, or check some of the on-line health food stores. Also, a typo on a previous e-mail---I meant to say that the Ambrotose is a NON-prescription priduct. Linda P in Saramento -------------------------------------- From: "Claude Horstmann" To: Subject: DMG Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 01:21:32 -0500 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net N,N-Dimethylglycine (DMG) can be found at Health Food stores- put out by FOODSCIENCE, it's called AANGAMIK, The Vets can order it as Vetri-Cine DMG but according to Dr Myers the composition is the same. .mg. -------------------------------------- From: PUFFERINO@aol.com Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 07:03:25 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Benny is in heaven Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Dear Michele, My sympathies to you. It hurt so much to do what you did, but it is the only humane thing to do. Please mourn as much as you need to, and know that both you and Benny were lucky to have each other in life. Regards, Joan. -------------------------------------- Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 07:36:10 -0500 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: "Michele R. Smeal" Subject: Guilt--Pain--Please help.... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Well, Benny has been gone 9 days today and I can't seem to go on without him. I have been so depressed and am STILL blaming myself, I will forever. You have all helped so much and now I feel like I've slipped into this deep hole of depression and can't come out. I saw a lady at a Pet Supply store yesterday that made me feel better --saying how what happened was not my fault & I did everything I could, but I feel I am to blame and could have prevented this in a couple different ways. I came into work early to e mail you all..........my husband hasn't called yet since he moved out last week, good riddance I guess. I miss little Benny SO SO much. If I send someone on the list Benny's photo, could you please put it up on a site where everyone can see it? I don't have the capabilities to do it here at work. Thanks in advance... Michele Michele R. Smeal mrb2@psu.edu 107 Ritenour Bldg. University Health Services Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA 16802 (814) 865-6557 In loving memory of my precious Benny... Until we're together again...... Love an animal today....they depend on you.... unconditional love guaranteed.............. -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 09:43:30 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Guilt--Pain--Please help.... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Michele, You can't let this get out of hand. I'm sure it's a combination of events.. Benny, your husband leaving..I think you should seek out some professional help, even it's just a visit to the family Dr. to discuss your depression. There are some good medications that can help you thru this if need be, but hopefully, just talking about it will start to help. You have to take care of yourself, for yourself, your future, your family and your other pets, all who need you very much. We have all been thru what you are going thru. We understand. You did nothing wrong, things just happen and we don't know why, we just have to continue the fight. barb ps, thanks for the email flowers, they were great! -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 10:00:43 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Epogen Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Pam, Not sure what your vet means. Reading on epogen...."mimics the effects of erythropoietin, a naturally occurring hormone produced by the kidneys. Epoetin alfa is one of the factors controlling the rate of RBC production. It acts on the erythroid tissues in the bone marrow, stimulating mitotic activity of erythroid progenitor cells and early precursor cells. It functions as a growth factor and as a differentiating factor, enhancing rate of RBC production.." It minics, not causes the production of erythropoietin from the kidneys, by doing that, it bypasses the kidneys, fooling the erythroid tissues in the marrow into producing more RBC's. In fact, it is used in end stage renal disease in humans, who's kidneys no long produce the hormone at all. You may ask your vet to re-read the literature on this drug. It, and it's counterpart for WBC, Neupogen, are very effective. barb -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 10:05:42 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Epogen Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Pam, Reread your letter and needs some more explaination. What ever the cause of the anemia, the bottom line is, not enough RBC are being produced OR they are being killed off at a faster than normal rate. In either case, it still causes the production of RBC's. The hormone from the kidney's is only one way the body produces RBCs. The simple act of walking, using the long bones in the legs, also causes production, which is why people in wheelchairs often fight anemia. This drug will not cure the problem, but may do enough to keep an animal alive long enough to get "over the hump". It is just one tool in the war, sometimes it will help, sometimes not. But worth the effort if an all out attack is the plan. barb -------------------------------------- Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 08:16:13 -0500 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: olivia gostanian Subject: Message for Michele Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Dear Michele, I am so sorry that you are still in so much fresh pain over losing Benny. I know it may seem incredible to think that some day this pain will ease, as well as the guilt and suffering you're expressing right now, but it will and you will be able to look back and know that you did the very best you could by Benny. I really want to encourage you to fight against slipping down into that "hole of depression" -- please consider getting yourself some local support in the form of grief therapy, a pet loss support group, etc... and let your family/friends know who can put their arms around you and maybe even come stay with you for a few days that you need that. It's OK to need some active help through the hard times, so please please don't go through this alone any more than you have to. Don't forget you've got other loving animals depending on you to make it through. And of course, we on the list care tremendously about your wellbeing. Thinking of you with love and empathy, Olivia -------------------------------------- Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 08:35:30 -0600 (CST) From: "Nancy A. Schmall" To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Guilt--Pain--Please help.... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Michele, It's natural for you to miss Benny so much at this time--he's only been gone a very short time. You will always think of him for the rest of your life, but it will get easier. Please allow yourself time to grieve. Take one day at a time. Try to realize that everyone on this list and more than likely everyone you know and are friends KNOW that you did more than 98% of the population would do for Benny. There was NOTHING else you could have done. He was very lucky to have you, Michele. You were a BEST friend to him. Thinking of you . . . Nancy -------------------------------------- Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 11:34:49 -0500 To: felvtalk@MailingList.net From: "Michele R. Smeal" Subject: Re: Guilt--Pain--Please help.... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Barb: I really do miss Benny and feel so bad, but my family & friends really are helping. Sometimes ALL I can think of is Benny and other times I'm ok for a bit. Boots has been staying at my parents and my place , but right now is at my home. I am moving Timmy & Boots over to their place tonight, I have to. I am not sure what I should be doing as far as Timmy since he tested + though. Boots sleeps w/me and Timmy doesn't know that place, seemed scared the other night & hid under the spare bed in my "new room"...mom & dad are great & are letting me move in. Thanks for the good words and I can't wait to see Benny at the rainbow bridge!!!! Michele -------------------------------------- From: "Steve Lackow" To: Subject: Re: Guilt--Pain--Please help.... Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 10:14:32 -0800 Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Michele, Benny's illness and death seems to have touched off the same kind of "reliving experiences of loss" for you that happened to me when Chloe got sick. And, for you, it dovetails with other current feelings of loss. But we don't want you going to the Bridge just yet! There are many, many others who need you. People, and animals. -- Steve L. -------------------------------------- From: Newtanator@aol.com Date sent: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 18:19:11 EST To: felvtalk@MailingList.net Subject: Re: Guilt--Pain--Please help.... Send reply to: felvtalk@MailingList.net Michele, You need family right now. Timmy will get used to new home in no time, as long as you are there, that is all that will matter to him. Hard as it may seem to believe now, it will get better. I still think of Newt often, but with different feelings. Remembering the cute things he did. And I have Merlin to take care of. He seemed to be getting worse, losing wt but that was right when you lost Benny and Russian was so ill, and she still needs all our good thoughts, so I kept it between Jim and I and now he seems to be doing better again, eating better, moving more. Seems I was smothering him just a bit with my mothering. Both Jim and my brother felt maybe I should back off a bit and they were right. After all, he wasn't going to get his strength back with me carrying him everywhere! And he didn't want to eat with me cramming vitamins and such down his throat all the time. So he is doing better now. I still fuss, but from a distance..This is a hard time of the year anyway, dark, chilly, rain, snow. thank goodness spring is around the corner. But just keep busy and do what you have to do, move, take care of your other cats and time will heal. barb -------------------------------------- END OF PART 1: SEE PART 2 AT: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Spa/8025/9802162.txt