I wrote this on the plane too: life, Nala

[flexagon]

In mid-air, writing because I don't feel like reading. I could be watching The Company Men, but the headphones at my seat don't work, so I've limited myself to other in-flight entertainment, especially enjoying the dexterity and timing game of Order Coffee During Turbulence. I also finished knitting a hat, and immediately put it on my head because it's chilly up here.

And of course, looking at silly magazines and catalogues. I do like some of these rings by Alex Sepkus. Wormy rings that look like a small alien invasion.





And I  also  kind of want to buy this shirt from Skymall customized with a 0. "mommy of 0". Wonder if I could get it before Mother's Day.

Here is my sad news: it turns out Nala is hyperthyroid. ("Of course," I said, "the rest of her is hyper, so why would her thyroid not be?") I researched treatments, and found to my relief that there is a very good one-shot cure available. It's around $1000, and involves leaving her in a special facility for 3-5 days while she's radioactive (seriously), butgets her away from the prospect of a pill twice a day for the rest of her life. So that's what we'll do, although we can't do it until she has been on the pills for a month or so (to make sure her high metabolism isn't masking any underlying liver problems) and then back off the pills again.

This is her first major health problem, and I'm glad she doesn't know she has a problem. She vocalizes and runs around a lot, but then, she's always done that. I am calling her my hypercat.

Comments

[miyyu.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that Nala has something very treatable. It seems spending money for cat vet stuff is contagious these days. :)

My sister has the same problem, and the treatment is the same for humans. She has managed it with meds so far because being isolated for days is really difficult. She couldn't even be near the cats because of the radioactivity.

[soong.livejournal.com]

Hi, we're here from the internet to put hyperlinks on your hypercat.

Sorry to hear that, but I guess she and Preggers can be thyroid buddies.

[bluechromis.livejournal.com]

Where did you find it for $1000? The cheapest I've found in MA is $1600 at thyrocat through Tufts. Any additional treatments needed would be another $1100 (~5-15% risk, depending on who you talk to).

Also, not to be a debbie downer, but the treatment carries a risk of overtreatment, which would mean she'd need thyroid supplementation for life.

The safest option is through Angell Memorial because they do a scintillation test beforehand to more accurately gauge the activity level of the thyroid and tailor the level of the radiation accordingly. Otherwise it's done with blood hormone levels which aren't as reliable. Anyway, obviously that test adds yet more cost.

Re: Sorry to hear that, but I guess she and Preggers can be thyroid buddies.

[flexagon]

Ah, thanks for the detailed info. Your research is ahead of mine. I didn't actually find it anywhere for $1000; sorry to dash that hope. That was an approximate number, no doubt based on nationwide averages or ten years old or both.

The risk of needing supplementation is not really a risk, in my mind, since we're already in the realm of needing pills if we DON'T treat it. Sigh.

Re: Sorry to hear that, but I guess she and Preggers can be thyroid buddies.

[bluechromis.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, it's pills or I-131, but I'll be annoyed if I lay out four figures and still have to give pills. Anyway, good luck.

[a-kosmos.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about Nala's thyroid. At least it's treatable.

I love the jewelry! Too bad they don't do white gold.