What the Cats Do While I'm at Work

Physical Therapy Phase 2

Today the physical therapist, Carrie, started myofascial release in addition to the my other treatment. This is a special kind of massage that helps improve flexibility and reduce pain by directly massaging the tendon. I though it would hurt more than it actually does. She starts by massaging tendon with ice, which numbs it, then massages the tendon. It hurts a little but it really helps! After the ice and massage I get the medicine via the ionizer (which I think is called a Tens Unit). She said she's is doing the latter for longer than the doc prescribed because the inflammation was so bad at first that I couldn't stand to be touched. It sure has made a difference!

My arm still hurts, some days more than others, but it has improved significantly since I started PT and the pain no longer wakes me up at night. I'm very pleased with both the therapists (Patty and Carrie) and with my progress! I'm still hoping to avoid surgery if I can. I'll probably learn more when I see Dr. Ross (the sports doc) again on the 24th.

Saffron's Good News

Saffron had a rough day Monday (more vomiting and diarrhea but not as bad as Feb. 20). Instead of just getting her weekly B12 shot, we saw Dr. Joe for a check-up. He gave her something for her tummy, fluids under the skin (to prevent dehydration), and her B12 shot. We also decided to do a detailed blood test to compare to the tests from January. The results, which we got today, were very good. Her liver enzymes are almost identical to January (abnormal but not too bad) and everything else is good. She's perky, bright-eyed, and hungry all the time (even when she was having digestive problems Monday).

Dr. Joe was surprised and pleased that Saffron is doing so well overall. Two months ago the specialists who did the ultrasound told she was probably dying from cancer, but since then she has improved steadily (except for two days of apparently unrelated digestive problems on Feb. 20 and Apr. 2). I'm still hoping it is liver disease instead of cancer and she will be one of the lucky kitties who recover. For now she is happy, comfortable, and hungy and those are all good signs.

My Sweet Lord

Mar. 30 on CNN: Controversial chocolate Jesus exhibit canceled. No wonder! Talk about abysmally poor taste. It does support my Da Vinci theory: want to cause an uproar? Include a controversial Jesus theory. Only in this case it's a chocolate, naked Jesus.