Hopefully the last word on this...
All right, so I caved and went to the ER last night. I now have a new depression that stems from an epiphany, but for now, here's how it went:
First I tried to catch the cat again, since he was at my place, but just as I figured, he did NOT want to go back inside the carrier (not that I blame him, poor cat). I then tried cutting up an old plastic tub of mine to put him in, but that also met with failure. It's amazing how strong animals can be when they don't want to go somewhere. After about twenty minutes of this I conceded defeat and went then to the gas station, hoping to get what I wanted (a phone card and some more canned food to use as bait, just in case for the future), and I did. My poor checking account is as bruised as I am now.
I then went to the ER. Since it was so late by then (after midnight) the traffic was nonexistent. It's weird down here, how during the daytime it's so congested but then around 10, 11 at night, everybody suddenly vanishes and the streets are literally empty. I kind of like it like that, and it's easier to blow through the stoplights since they don't change as often.
Finding the hospital itself wasn't hard, I pass by it all the time if I'm going a certain direction on my way to the Mallwart. Finding the actual ER entrance itself, though, was a different story. That was due mainly to my own stupidity. I ended up walking a HUGE circle all around the grounds in order to get to it, only to find out after the visit that it was, ironically, not very far from where I'd parked. Yes, I am a moron. As you can imagine that in itself was freaking me out pretty badly.
Also due to the late hour, there was no waiting. I'd brought a book (Harry Potter, Deathly Hallows - oh, irony) just in case but never needed it. I signed in and they took all my vitals and information. My temperature was about normal (98.1) but I think my blood pressure was around 147/97. Normally it's around 120/80ish. I chalk this up to my long walk and general upset.
I was then led into a room by a nice guy whose name was Julian, I think. He was a cat lover too and showed me his big scar that wrapped around his forearm and wrist. His cat had been in heat, he wanted her to move off the bed so he tried picking her up, and boom, she lost it. Ouch. (His was considerably worse-looking than mine.)
Next came a nurse named Lisa. I repeated my story as I'd done with the others (I think I explained the whole thing about 5 or 6 times total, all these people) who'd seen me. She took a look and said that it didn't look bad at all (and really, it doesn't - I'll try to post pictures later when I'm at home) and she didn't think it was infected - or that there was much risk of rabies. (You have no idea how relieved I was to hear that.) She took down more information from me and then the doctor, whose badge read Physician Assistant, showed up. He also looked at it and corroborated the nurse's diagnosis. He said that if it had been a bat, skunk or raccoon, it would have been a different story and I'd probably have had to go the prophylaxis route (which is HELLA expensive, judging from what I've read/heard).
Both the doctor and Nurse Lisa agreed though that I should update my tetanus shot as a precaution, to which I readily agreed. Beats getting shot up for rabies, that's for damn sure. Evidently the recommendation for the tetanus vaccine is now once every 5 years, rather than the old standard of 5 - 10 years. Last time I got a shot for that was in October of 2005 when I got nipped by a dog at my then-job.
By now I'd calmed down (if the pros weren't worried, I figured that was a good sign, yes? I'd even shown them all the picture I'd taken of the cat earlier that day) and Nurse Lisa came back with the shot. Tetanus shots, for those who've not had them, really don't hurt. They're a very tiny needle. But it's only the next day that you really start feeling it - your whole arm hurts like a sumbitch and it's hard to lift it beyond waist-level. I remembered that from 2005 and figured it was the lesser of two evils, I could deal. It takes several days for that discomfort to wear off. Right now, my arm is okay - I can lift it, move it around - but the injection site is sore and I can feel it if I accidentally brush against something. Maybe they've improved on the things since 2005. (Wouldn't surprise me, seeing how fast technology moves anymore)
Next came a lady from the office who took down still more of my information, mostly contact and financial stuff. She mentioned that I'm probably eligible for a discount on the bill since I have no insurance and work retail, but since I just had to pay $45 for the antibiotic they prescribed me, I'm not holding my breath. I still expect the bill to be horrendous.
Nurse Lisa came back in again with a big pill called Augmentin, the antibiotic, another precaution. I downed it in one swig of water and drank the rest while the office lady finished grilling me and then I waited about ten minutes while they processed all the paperwork. Then Nurse Lisa came in and said I could go home.
Evidently they'll be sending me the bill, so I didn't immediately have to plop down any money that night, but it's only bad news delayed. Anybody want to guess what this is going to run me? I think I'll bet around $1200. My pet store one was about $800 or 900, so the price has probably shot up since then. Yay eternal debt!
That was when I left the building and discovered my parking error that caused me to walk all the way around the building when I could have just gone to my left and gone right into the ER. Me dumb. Anyhoo when I got home after 2 am kitty cat was there waiting for me as usual. I petted him and he seemed all right, so I went inside. But shortly after I came home, I was feeling nausea and I figured it had to be that damn antibiotic pill. I should mention that I'd had almost no food to eat that day as a result of being so stressed out, so maybe I need to take these pills with food to avoid barfing. I had one a while ago with a Subway sandwich and don't feel anything yet, so hopefully that works. But yeah, sure enough I puked up a light yellowish-green stream, but no pill, so I wonder if it managed to dissolve and get into my system in time. I have to take these pills twice a day.
After barfing I felt a lot better, so I brushed my teeth and went to sleep. Now begins the watch to see how the wound progresses. I slapped some Polysporin and a band-aid on it this morning, figuring that'll keep it protected while I'm at work later on. The doctor said it looked more like the teeth had just gouged a small furrow instead of actually puncturing, and today when I examined it, that sounds about right. So, a shallow wound instead of a deeper one.
*sigh* The irony is that I came down here to make money. But all I've done since I got here was lose it. *headshake*
But that's where I am now. Likely no rabies, just have to watch for infection, and for sure I'll be keeping an eye on the cat just in case. I plan to dig up this number for a woman who does low-cost spay/neuter and see if I can get him neutered, assuming he turns out okay.
I still feel exhausted from all this insanity.
All right, so I caved and went to the ER last night. I now have a new depression that stems from an epiphany, but for now, here's how it went:
First I tried to catch the cat again, since he was at my place, but just as I figured, he did NOT want to go back inside the carrier (not that I blame him, poor cat). I then tried cutting up an old plastic tub of mine to put him in, but that also met with failure. It's amazing how strong animals can be when they don't want to go somewhere. After about twenty minutes of this I conceded defeat and went then to the gas station, hoping to get what I wanted (a phone card and some more canned food to use as bait, just in case for the future), and I did. My poor checking account is as bruised as I am now.
I then went to the ER. Since it was so late by then (after midnight) the traffic was nonexistent. It's weird down here, how during the daytime it's so congested but then around 10, 11 at night, everybody suddenly vanishes and the streets are literally empty. I kind of like it like that, and it's easier to blow through the stoplights since they don't change as often.
Finding the hospital itself wasn't hard, I pass by it all the time if I'm going a certain direction on my way to the Mallwart. Finding the actual ER entrance itself, though, was a different story. That was due mainly to my own stupidity. I ended up walking a HUGE circle all around the grounds in order to get to it, only to find out after the visit that it was, ironically, not very far from where I'd parked. Yes, I am a moron. As you can imagine that in itself was freaking me out pretty badly.
Also due to the late hour, there was no waiting. I'd brought a book (Harry Potter, Deathly Hallows - oh, irony) just in case but never needed it. I signed in and they took all my vitals and information. My temperature was about normal (98.1) but I think my blood pressure was around 147/97. Normally it's around 120/80ish. I chalk this up to my long walk and general upset.
I was then led into a room by a nice guy whose name was Julian, I think. He was a cat lover too and showed me his big scar that wrapped around his forearm and wrist. His cat had been in heat, he wanted her to move off the bed so he tried picking her up, and boom, she lost it. Ouch. (His was considerably worse-looking than mine.)
Next came a nurse named Lisa. I repeated my story as I'd done with the others (I think I explained the whole thing about 5 or 6 times total, all these people) who'd seen me. She took a look and said that it didn't look bad at all (and really, it doesn't - I'll try to post pictures later when I'm at home) and she didn't think it was infected - or that there was much risk of rabies. (You have no idea how relieved I was to hear that.) She took down more information from me and then the doctor, whose badge read Physician Assistant, showed up. He also looked at it and corroborated the nurse's diagnosis. He said that if it had been a bat, skunk or raccoon, it would have been a different story and I'd probably have had to go the prophylaxis route (which is HELLA expensive, judging from what I've read/heard).
Both the doctor and Nurse Lisa agreed though that I should update my tetanus shot as a precaution, to which I readily agreed. Beats getting shot up for rabies, that's for damn sure. Evidently the recommendation for the tetanus vaccine is now once every 5 years, rather than the old standard of 5 - 10 years. Last time I got a shot for that was in October of 2005 when I got nipped by a dog at my then-job.
By now I'd calmed down (if the pros weren't worried, I figured that was a good sign, yes? I'd even shown them all the picture I'd taken of the cat earlier that day) and Nurse Lisa came back with the shot. Tetanus shots, for those who've not had them, really don't hurt. They're a very tiny needle. But it's only the next day that you really start feeling it - your whole arm hurts like a sumbitch and it's hard to lift it beyond waist-level. I remembered that from 2005 and figured it was the lesser of two evils, I could deal. It takes several days for that discomfort to wear off. Right now, my arm is okay - I can lift it, move it around - but the injection site is sore and I can feel it if I accidentally brush against something. Maybe they've improved on the things since 2005. (Wouldn't surprise me, seeing how fast technology moves anymore)
Next came a lady from the office who took down still more of my information, mostly contact and financial stuff. She mentioned that I'm probably eligible for a discount on the bill since I have no insurance and work retail, but since I just had to pay $45 for the antibiotic they prescribed me, I'm not holding my breath. I still expect the bill to be horrendous.
Nurse Lisa came back in again with a big pill called Augmentin, the antibiotic, another precaution. I downed it in one swig of water and drank the rest while the office lady finished grilling me and then I waited about ten minutes while they processed all the paperwork. Then Nurse Lisa came in and said I could go home.
Evidently they'll be sending me the bill, so I didn't immediately have to plop down any money that night, but it's only bad news delayed. Anybody want to guess what this is going to run me? I think I'll bet around $1200. My pet store one was about $800 or 900, so the price has probably shot up since then. Yay eternal debt!
That was when I left the building and discovered my parking error that caused me to walk all the way around the building when I could have just gone to my left and gone right into the ER. Me dumb. Anyhoo when I got home after 2 am kitty cat was there waiting for me as usual. I petted him and he seemed all right, so I went inside. But shortly after I came home, I was feeling nausea and I figured it had to be that damn antibiotic pill. I should mention that I'd had almost no food to eat that day as a result of being so stressed out, so maybe I need to take these pills with food to avoid barfing. I had one a while ago with a Subway sandwich and don't feel anything yet, so hopefully that works. But yeah, sure enough I puked up a light yellowish-green stream, but no pill, so I wonder if it managed to dissolve and get into my system in time. I have to take these pills twice a day.
After barfing I felt a lot better, so I brushed my teeth and went to sleep. Now begins the watch to see how the wound progresses. I slapped some Polysporin and a band-aid on it this morning, figuring that'll keep it protected while I'm at work later on. The doctor said it looked more like the teeth had just gouged a small furrow instead of actually puncturing, and today when I examined it, that sounds about right. So, a shallow wound instead of a deeper one.
*sigh* The irony is that I came down here to make money. But all I've done since I got here was lose it. *headshake*
But that's where I am now. Likely no rabies, just have to watch for infection, and for sure I'll be keeping an eye on the cat just in case. I plan to dig up this number for a woman who does low-cost spay/neuter and see if I can get him neutered, assuming he turns out okay.
I still feel exhausted from all this insanity.
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