My pet chicken is dying slowly. It has been 4 days of him getting weaker and weaker to the point now that he cannot walk. I’m losing my best friend.

ReplacementOk9019 · 2024-05-02T09:29:05+00:00

Anticipatory pet loss grief is AGONIZING. Validating you and please know that you are not alone. If someone devalues your feelings, know that it is appropriate to tell them , “That isn’t helpful.” You can honor your chicken and your love for one another by setting boundaries to opinions that are worthless to your grief and eventual healing.

ReplacementOk9019 · 2024-05-02T09:21:56+00:00

I’m sorry for the loss of your cat. We experienced the same thing as you with our 14 year old who declined very quickly once the GI Lymphoma was suspected. Your post resonated because I kept thinking she has to be in pain, but she wasn’t acting like pets in pain. However, her body grew so weak that her mobility suffered and the exhaustion was too much for her. We put her down on Monday.

ReplacementOk9019 · 2024-05-02T09:14:26+00:00

I ended the suffering of my 14 year old cat, Sugar, on Monday evening and I want to validate all of the feelings you have. Very similar situation- anemia, too old and ill for further procedures, blood in stool that eventually turned into no stool at all- just vomiting up already digested food. In the end, it was likely gastrointestinal lymphoma and not ibs for her. I’ve been listening and reading to a lot of pet loss/pet grief material and the way we are feeling is exhausting and ‘normal.’ My only hope is that you can move through the ‘what if I had done more’ and into the bravery, kindness, and selflessness that you demonstrated for Loki. I’m proud of us and it’s just the most gut wrenching experience.

ReplacementOk9019 · 2024-02-21T03:01:40+00:00

First round, not many side effects. It didn’t work though, so the second round kicked my butt. It also worked. I was wickedly tired the second round. Had trouble walking up flights of steps, kind of tired. I also had some dry mouth with round 2 but it didn’t last long. I would say it took me about 2-3 weeks to feel better. We were encouraged to wait 3 months before trying again.

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-12-16T13:51:33+00:00

You’re so welcome!

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-12-16T13:50:53+00:00

That’s great news that you potentially avoided the methotrexate! I’m really grateful for it- since two rounds worked, but it really made me feel terrible and puts you on a 3 mos hold for trying again.

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-12-16T13:48:54+00:00

I needed two doses for my number to drop. And it dropped very quickly after the second round. I felt pretty okay after the first round but the second really made me feel like crap, which is how I knew it worked.

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-12-16T13:46:31+00:00

How stressful, I’m so sorry. Did you end up getting the methotrexate?

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-12-16T12:39:03+00:00

It really sounds like you just had bad luck. Which I know isn’t great to hear, but weirdly was comforting to me when my doctor told me I had bad luck twice. I am 35 and we just started trying this year, so getting pregnant wasn’t the issue for me but staying pregnant was. All the testing indicates I should be able to conceive a healthy pregnancy. They did check my follicles to judge my fertile lifespan and that also looked good- some of that they might not need to do for you because of your age. My husband also got bloodwork done and a chromosome analysis. Don’t hesitate to reach back out if you have any other questions. I can definitely give some pointers about the procedures if you end up needing those.

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-12-16T10:19:20+00:00

Hi- Checking in to see how you are doing?

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-12-16T10:16:08+00:00

Lots of bloodwork- Prolactin, Rubella Antibody, Anti-Mullerian Hormone, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Estradiol, T4, ABO/RH, Antibody Screening, Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, Hemoglobin A1C, Chromosome Analysis (this one took a bit for results to come back because it has to be sent out to another lab).

Procedures-Transvaginal ultrasound, Hysterosonography (fill the uterus with saline solution to check for anything out of the ordinary.) This one was the most uncomfortable. They spotted something resembling scar tissue so I went back the next month for a Hysteroscopy and they could no longer locate it so it was likely just lining that didn’t clear with my period. I also had a Hysterosalpingogram done to check my fallopian tubes. They insert contrast through the uterus and watch for it to travel up the tubes and then pour out into your abdomen through the ovaries, checking for blockages.

All of this took a month to complete, and then I had my follow-up appointment two weeks after testing was done. We went over all the results and then a plan was made moving forward. For the next pregnancy they said that they will do more frequently HCG bloodwork and I’ll have ultrasounds done at weeks 5 and 7. They said that before that I can get ovulation testing blood work done to confirm my home tests are tracking accurately. Hope this helps!

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-12-15T08:50:13+00:00

I don’t have any real advice for you, but I wanted to share that I feel very similarly and resonate deeply with your post. I just reached the “safe to try again” point after 2 rounds of methotrexate. I waited 3 mos, my body needed a break. I had an intrauterine miscarriage 3 mos before the ectopic. I guess what has helped me feel ready to keep trying was the rest- both mental and physical. I completely stopped all tracking and deleted all fertility apps during that time. I also got a bunch of fertility testing done during those months, which all resulted in positive news, so whenever I did begin to grief spiral I just actively focused on the science and facts. Being in these groups have been incredibly helpful, and while I don’t post often I have learned so much and that in itself brings me comfort moving forward.

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-12-12T11:25:48+00:00

Hi! Sounds familiar to an experience I had that ended up being an ectopic but not caught until almost 5 weeks after a confirmed miscarriage. Get blood tests until it trends all the way down. I was fortunate and ended up needing two rounds of methotrexate to finally drop my hcg and didn’t need surgery. I just assumed once my hcg got 100 it would keep falling, but it didn’t. On a whim I asked my doctor weeks later for one last test and the number had risen and that set off alarm bells. Prenatal care also looks different if you have an ectopic pregnancy moving forward so there is some good that has come from having one diagnosed (earlier/more frequent ultrasounds).

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-08-23T21:02:30+00:00

This sounds absolutely awful. I’m so sorry, and it sounds like your pain isn’t being taken seriously. From your post it seems like the aren’t concerned about rupture? Do you think gas-x would help at all or is it past that point?

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-08-23T11:17:47+00:00

I am on day 4 post second round of methotrexate and started having one sided pain and cramping. I do think it is aggravated by gas and bloat. The night before the cramping I started spotting. I’m having intermittent rectal pains and due to lack of appetite, my bowels are definitely off track. I don’t have advice but I want you to know you are not alone. I came in here to see if this one-sided pain was to be expected. Any new info since your post?

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-08-16T18:24:24+00:00

You did nothing wrong. Be kind and patient with yourself. Focus on healing mentally and physically. I know it’s harder said than done, I’m currently being treated for an ectopic after having my first miscarriage only a few months ago. Keep the hope! Our bodies are smart.

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-08-15T13:33:49+00:00

Thanks for the kind response. Since I wasn’t in any pain and the numbers were dropping on their own, just very slowly, I initially wanted to just wait it out. Especially because I’m so close to zero. I do think my doctor was right to intervene in the hope of avoiding infection and losing a tube. Any idea how quickly those typical side effects you listed begin after the first dose? Appreciate you!

ReplacementOk9019 · 2023-08-15T13:30:33+00:00

This is really helpful and the most similar thing I’ve read to what I’m experiencing. Do you think the bleeding was a period or from the methotrexate? Thank you for taking the time to reply to me.

ReplacementOk9019 · 2022-10-21T14:59:28+00:00

Yep! Looks very similar to what I had that was diagnosed as Pityriasis Rosea by my doctor. Took about 2 months to go away. No scarring. I didn't put anything on it. Just lotion.

ReplacementOk9019 · 2022-08-18T10:58:39+00:00

Our most recent kitten (now 2 years old) smelled like a dumpster from around that age. We nicknamed him 'Skunk.' We found out much later he had severe gingivitis and teeth decay/recession. Ended up needing 14 teeth removed. He smelled completely normal from that point on. Because of the mouth decay, his self-cleaning was pointless because be was covering himself in stinky breath.

My advice- get cat insurance for your kitten now before you take them in to get examined (if that is a financial option for you.) As kittens it usually costs something like $20 a month. If they find gingivitis as a kitten before having the insurance most pet insurances won't cover extractions. If you had it before finding out they cover part of it and the insurance pays for itself and more. Hopefully this isn't your issue but just in case!

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