Day 4 – 4am Rollercoaster

Yes it’s 4am here but I am so excited and had to tell you all. JJ got out of bed, first to use his litter tray, then he promptly just lay down in it. This is where I have been helping him out, he cried for me so I just opened his crate and lay beside him for moral support. I have set off a couple of his weird ‘episodes’ where he falls onto his back and cries in what looks like excruciating pain so I’ve decided to step back and let him figure stuff out whilst being there for support.

JJ given up after using his litter. Decided it was easier to sleep here than move one step to his bed. Heartbreaking to see.

What happened next made having no sleep totally worth it. JJ stood up in his tray and then just hopped out, past his bed (which I’d moved close by to try to get him out of the litter he was laying in)….and out of the crate and went to the door and cried for me to let his little pal Pixel in. He hopped about a bit more (really moved so well) and then decided he wanted to lay out on his big bed. I can’t explain how good it felt to see him do this. I am bursting with pride and also super relieved. Well done JJ!! You are my brave boy! You can do it!!

JJ having a well deserved rest after his little adventure.

So after the little victory I wrote this post as JJ rested on the bed. Shortly after finishing writing JJ decided it was time to go back to the safety of his crate. This is where the high becomes a low. As he stood up, he toppled over and this set off one of these attacks. Β Following this JJ does not want to move an inch. I moved his bed to try to encourage him to get back in so I can get him to his crate where he feels safe without having to touch him. He got in but then wanted to jump over the side of it, it happened again. All joy of the previous 30 minutes lost in a sea of pain seeing him like that. I eventually got him back into his bed and carried it to his crate where he is now. Poor little guy.

It’s still another 3 hours until his pain killers are due so I don’t think pain is the reason, even though it does look like it’s pain mixed with frustration. I’m going to call the vet tomorrow (not my vet whom we saw yesterday but the hospital where he had his op) and see if it’s worth trying gabepentin or if they can suggest something else which might help. My vet seemed convinced it wasn’t pain related and that it was a bit of craziness related to the drugs. My gut says different. My gut says it looks like some kind of nerve pain. I’m not a vet but this seems like a sudden sharp pain which is gone as quickly as it started. That’s the kind of pain my partner gets from his nerve pain.

 

10 thoughts on “Day 4 – 4am Rollercoaster”

  1. Overall, a really great update!!! πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ A REALLY GOOD UPDATE!!! πŸ™‚

    What you’ve described does sound like phantom pain. Checking out the Gabapentin sounds like a good idea. Going with your gut sometimes is the best “doctor” to listen to!

    Now, let’s get back to celebrating!! JJ has shown you he IS, indeed, on the road to recovery!!! I love that he wanted to go see Pixel! That really is a good sign πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

    Try not to be discouraged about the “episodes”. It could even be something as simple (but painful) as a staple moving in a way that it presses in a nerve, or something like that.

    Your JJ reallynis a brave boy and you have every reason to be proud of him!! πŸ™‚ And give yourself a pat kn the back too! You’re holding it all together really well!

    Thanks for the update and we’ll @pok forward to more.

    Hugs

    Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

  2. I was giving my cat her pain meds every 8 hours and I think it should have been every 6 hours to get ahead of the pain. The directions were 3-4 times a day. Are you giving it orally? If so, the problem can be that it has to be given between the cheek and teeth. It can be compounded and administered in the ear which is much easier. With what you are going through it is well worth checking out other options with the vet.

    It’s also important to remember to stay very positive with JJ. He will have little tumbles – just encourage him. He’ll have to learn to walk differently but he will figure it out. Maybe when JJ falls and screams he is actually swearing $%*@@

    Kerren and Tripawd Kitty Mona

  3. I think I said it before, I don’t know all that much about cats, but my dog had pretty severe phantom pain for quite a while and he would scream out loudly all of a sudden and would be scared to death. then it was over in a matter of seconds but it was heartbreaking to see and hear. Another possibility I would think could be is that he maybe dislocated something or pulled a muscle? Again, no expert on cats, maybe Holly and Purrkins know more?
    all the best to that unbelievably gorgeous cat (and you of course πŸ™‚ )
    tina & Manni

  4. Celebrating the good news with you first YEAH JJ! Getting out of the litter and moving in and out of his crate and to his bed! Letting Pixel visit hime YEAH
    There was a glimpse of what you are going to see ok! I keep promising you this because you will get there!
    Today definitely get the Gaba! These vets need to send kitties home with the same pain management as dogs! We are taking off a limb and cutting off a ton of nerves!Gaba will help with that! We do see cats with phantom limb pain here!!
    I do believe that is exactly what is going on. Insist on it! We have to advocate for our animals. They were not going to send Purrkins home with Gaba and and I insisted on it ! I also had to end up getting more pain later Purrkins started to growl and hiss and cry in pain he would not let me near him. For whatever reason kitties are not sent home with proper pain management and it is our job to see that we get what they need. It is upsetting to see our animals suffer and I am so sorry JJ is going thru this!
    Hang in there , your are following our gut instinct YEAH for you! Your are doing the right thing!
    I will watch and see how you guys do at the Vet!
    HUGS! Chin & ear scratches to JJ & Pixel!
    Holly & Purrkins

  5. He is absolutely beautiful! And yes, follow your gut. Most of us had to work with our vets to adjust pain meds in that first week or so.

  6. Yay JJ, beautiful boy and he’s showing definite signs of moving in the right direction. I know it may be a little different but reading this is helping me mentally prepare for what I might see with Ginger after she comes home today. I do hope it’s not like JJ”s experience to be honest, but I am at least prepped so I probably won’t have a total meltdown if it does. Thanks so much for sharing what the process is like for both of you. Hope the Gaba helps

    1. Good luck for today. I hope it goes more smoothly than JJ has. My main advice from what I’ve learnt is, make sure you are prepared and if you are worried call your vets and come on here. Everyone is so helpful. Also have everything you think you could possibly need to hand. There’s not much you need but it’s so much easier having it there and not needing to leave the room.

      1. Thanks so much for the advice, I think I’m pretty well stocked, dropped $200 yesterday between petsmart and walmart, so fully anticipating walking her into her recovery area with orthopedic bed, elevated food bowls, compresses, towels, quiet interactive toy for entertainment, etc and watch her jump at the door demanding to play fetch – if only I’m that lucky, but prepared for worst case, hoping for best. Will keep following JJ’s journey and really hoping he keeps up the progress. I know I keep saying it, but having 4 cats of my own, it just keeps striking what a beautiful cat he is, I’ve never seen one with those markings before.

        1. Wow you are prepared! Like you say hopefully none of it will be needed and it will be a very smooth journey. Don’t get upset though if it isn’t. Just give it time and try not to worry about every tiny little thing. This is impossible I know! I’m still a nervous wreck but just keep thinking it is normal and it will get better. I’ve not seen it yet, but I’m assured it gets better. If I think about it, today has been much better than day 1. JJ has been out of his crate most of the day, pottered around the room (only a few steps but it’s progress) and so far has only had one episode. On his first day he pottered about but had multiple episodes, then next two days he didn’t move and still had them. So it is getting better slowly.

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