2 blogs within 4 days? Shocker.

We left off somewhere. Cairo was scheduled for his recheck on Monday with the local vet and the results would determine if he needed a trip to New Bolton Center to see the ophthalmologist. Due to MY medical appointment/procedure, my vet scheduled the recheck at 8:30 and actually pulled in the driveway at…8:30. I was shocked.

Friday and Saturday I thought his eyes looked better, Sunday I thought they looked worse. I told the vet this and his reply? “I see what you mean. It’s more concentrated.” Ultimately he felt it was better but not improving enough. Cairo was significantly better behaved (he could do the stain, take photos, actually look at his eyes, etc.) compared to Tuesday and more comfortable, but something was still going on. He sent the photos over to New Bolton’s ophthalmologist and told me they or he would be in touch. We also went over MY schedule in detail. This part is very important. We decided Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday would work. I could rearrange or cancel everything on my calendar those days.

Around 9ish, he calls and says they can see me tomorrow. 9:30 drop off would be ideal. They are swamped so anything the next two weeks would be considered an emergency, same day visit and for the initial exam and emergency fee, we’re starting at $600 in the door (honestly, it was less than I anticipated). He gives me Dr. Nikki’s admin’s number to call to confirm arrival tomorrow and other specifics and all is set. Perfect.

Hahaha.

Remember my medical appointment? I was heading into Philly for infusions for my migraines and had to be there around 12-something. It’s just over an hour drive not including the parking part (parking is a separate point). I’ve been trying to get into the headache clinic since June, finally got my first appointment at the beginning of October, and now treatments are starting fast. But, I can’t just cancel last minute. Especially as I’m on day 70+ of consecutive intractable, medication-resistant migraine. I’m starting to lose my mind.

So at 10:15, my phone rings. It’s New Bolton. “Actually, we need you to come in TODAY.” WTF. Logistically, I tell them I don’t think I can make it work. I have exactly 2 hours before I need to be in an office in Philly. I am not ready. I have eaten a grand total of nothing. (My dog enjoyed the eggs that I was cooking at that moment). I had stuff to get ready. My blood pressure skyrocketed.

How fast can you hitch up the trailer? Can you drive your truck to Philly? Can you do this? How about that? All of these questions.

Since not going today was NOT an option and cancelling my procedure was ALSO NOT an option, I basically ran out the house with a syringe of ace, hoped that Nay Nay would stay calm until it kicked in (did I mention the Nay Nay of the situation? Usually he marinates with a little ace for 45 min before I leave him alone in the round pen… that didn’t happen), and stuck him. Then hitched up the trailer (answer, less than 2 minutes, loaded Cairo, and headed out. My husband followed so we could leave the truck/trailer in New Bolton trailer parking.

I pretty much had a panic attack on the drive to New Bolton (I’m about 15-20 minutes away depending on traffic). When I got there, Cairo was having a fit. When you arrive, you call the main number. Someone comes out to meet you. The issue, the number goes into a recording and you press 0 to get the main office. Except I called and it just kept ringing and ringing and ringing. For 10 minutes. No recording, just ringing. Finally, in a fit of frustration, I was able to get in touch with the admin who got the main office notified. But being on a time crunch, I did not need that.

Eventually we were met by a tech who collected Cairo, checked what he ate (my thoughts, he better not be here for meals!), and off they went.

I ended up making it to my infusions on time, but we turned in to park where they said to park and realized there were no spaces. You needed a token to get out so we were stuck in there, stressing, until someone left and we grabbed their spot. I was going to walk up and get a token when the car left but… they told us we could have parked in the handicap spot but um…no.

I got a call back from New Bolton towards the end of my infusions. Basically confirming immune-mediated keratitis. He’s more uncomfortable than they normally see which is odd so they said he could stay a few days to see if that changed or he go home. Honestly, I opted home. If he stayed, I’d have to do something with Nay Nay and that was just 1 step to much.

They switched him to diclofenac ointment 2x/day. And he has a follow up in 4-6 weeks. His comfort level should improve soon but the cloudiness may take weeks to resolve.

Anyway, that’s where we’re at. Somehow I managed 1 regular vet, a visit to New Bolton, and infusions in Philly all in the course of a day.

Did I mention I completely forgot to leave Nay Nay with water? Thankfully a friend stopped by and filled his water and check on him for me. He was sad but OK.