I’ve only come across your video today & it resonated with me so much. In March 2017 my elderly cat bit my right hand. All it left was a puncture & some superficial scratches. I ended up going to A&E because by the evening my hand started swelling & something just felt odd - it’s a hard feeling to explain. I was fobbed off at the hospital. The doctor cleaned it with iodine, gave me a tetanus injection & sent me on my way. The following morning my hand had almost doubled in size & it was red & felt as though it was burning. I was advised to go back to A&E. I was admitted to a ward so I could receive IV antibiotics & earned myself a trip to theatre to have my hand washed out ‘debridement’ as they called it. I was given a nerve block to completely numb my hand & I was able to watch the consultant seeing to my hand. I’m not squeamish so I found it quite interesting! He quickly discovered that the puncture made by my cats tooth was a lot deeper than originally thought. I was bitten in the area between my thumb & index finger. His tooth had almost penetrated the whole way through; another few millimetres & it would have. The fact it didn’t quite go all the way through actually made my situation worse because the infection had nowhere to go. The top of the puncture would form a scab & heal over trapping the infection inside. It then spread to other ‘pockets’ in my hand. To top it off the area I was bitten doesn’t have a rich blood flow to it so healing would take longer. Skipping forward 18 months I had spent the entire time in & out of hospital. I’d be admitted, receive a concoction of IV antibiotics & have it surgically washed out only for it to come back each & every time. I contracted sepsis during the 18 month period & I’ve never felt so poorly in my life. Thankfully after two weeks in hospital the infection was (temporarily) under controlled. In total I had 16 operations under general anaesthesia. They resorted to using VAC therapy which basically creates negative pressure & aids the healing process. I was connected to a pump that I had to carry with me for months but it worked & I was FINALLY officially infection free! My problems however didn’t stop there. I lost function of my right (then dominant) hand despite months of physiotherapy. I also developed a chronic pain condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. My hand feels like it’s physically on fire 24/7 - it never goes away. The best way I can describe it is to imagine turning your oven hob on & pressing your hand down on top unable to lift your hand away. It’s the most painful medical condition known to man. It’s torture. I had never heard of CRPS before. It’s a condition you can develop with any trauma like stubbing your toe or breaking a bone; sometimes you can develop it without injury. Thankfully it’s relatively rare. My hand very quickly atrophied. Vibrations, temperature, wind, touch, clothing & basically anything touching my hand causes a spike in pain. My hand looks as though it’s been attacked with a lawn mower. The scaring is extensive & the shape of my hand is bumpy in areas & craters in others. I had to give up my full time job & I am unable to work because the condition leaves me debilitated. I’m on a lot of medication. I take Pregabalin, morphine & fentanyl for pain relief as well as antidepressants, anti anxiety. Instead of hosting myself a pity party I decided to focus on what I could do & as for the things I could no longer do I focused on adapting new ways. I taught myself how to write, draw & colour with my left hand. I’m still working on painting but I’ll get there. I was in denial for a long time & I wouldn’t accept the fact my life had completely been turned upside down. I’m fiercely independent so I struggled so much having to rely on those around me to help in every day situations. I use a range of mobility aids to ensure I can be as dependant as possible. I missed a couple of steps on the stairs last week & did some serious damage to my left foot. I’ve fractured my 2nd, 3rd & 4th metatarsals & sustained a lisfranc injury. I’m unable to use crutches due to my hand function & I need to be non weight baring for a minimum of 8 weeks. I hired a knee scooter which has been a huge help! Chances are I’ll have to have surgery on my foot to fuse the joints together which will lead to a further 8-12 weeks non weight baring. Sorry for rhe longggg message! I hope you’re doing better now. Sending lots of love, Vicky from the UK 🇬🇧❤️🩹
Oh my gosh how traumatizing. I can’t even imagine . Im so sorry you had to experience this. Praying for a quick recovery for both you and your daughter. And your daughter’s Dog. It’s horrible what happened it’s not Bella’s fault either. 🙏🙌.
Oh Jenn! I’m so, so sorry! I can’t even imagine! Stay strong. You will get thru this. Sorry for your loss and traumatic injury for you and your daughter. I will be praying lots for all! And sending lots of ❤️ love ❤️
What the heck?! How awful. I was thinking poisoning perhaps too. Then I was thinking maybe some toxin in the area which affected both the cat & Bella, but affected them in different ways. It could be something in the environment from past fire suppression chemicals from the fires last summer. There could be neighbors in the area experiencing similar issues with their pets. It would be interesting to find out somehow. If a toxin exists, I wonder if any humans around there are having odd health issues. But I do think Bella will have to be put down if she doesn’t get better (esp. w the Pit Bull thing). You all can’t have this kind of thing happen again. If you are attacked again before you heal, you could become permanently disabled. She could attack Amanda again or your husband (breadwinner), or a houseguest (major lawsuit). I WAS thinking this could affect your weight, just the grief, the stress, being so immobilized, not being able to goto work or do much around the house. You aren’t as active, so you don’t need as much food. But your body needs enuf nutrients and protein to heal. There will be lots of opportunities to self-soothe with food. There won’t be much else to do. But you don’t want to have much regain on TOP of everything else that happened and that you will still be dealing with for months or years. Still, weight has to take a back seat right now to fully healing your hands/arm. Doris could be right about Lyme, I just don’t know much about it except that it comes from tick bites, and there are lots of ticks out there. I will be praying for fast, full healing, guidance about big decisions about Bella, getting some help at home, keeping regain at a minimum, and life getting back to normal. I’m so sorry you are going thru this!!
I'm so very sorry, these are very painful events to deal with and then to have them all piled on top of each other I just can't imagine the stress and heartbreak you are dealing with. I am sending hugs, love and prayers your way.
Jenn, I am so sorry!! I am praying for you and your sweet family. It is so hard to lose a pet. I am a stress eater and my son and his family just moved from Nc to Fla and I miss them so much. I am trying to walk instead of eating my feelings. Take one day at a time so as not to get overwhelmed. Much love to you!!
Aw, thank you Michelle. You are such a sweetheart. I so get what you’re saying about stress due to your son and his family moving to Florida, that’s straight heartache. My daughters are looking to move out this summer and though I know it’s a good move for them, breaks my mama heart a little more every time they talk about it. That’s a great idea about walking, we actually have a walking treadmill that was recently gifted to us that I could bring upstairs to use. I really like that idea, thank you. Much love to you too!🌷🌷💕
This is so sad. If this poor dog doesn’t get better, I wouldn’t let her suffer. Lyme disease???? That comes to mind. Praying for you honey. And for Bella
Awww, thank you Dori. It’s so crazy how many different doctors have seen Bella now and still no one has any idea what caused the paralysis. Honestly though, this has been a rough two weeks since the paralysis and the bite. If I had my two hands and arms, it would’ve been hard, but taking care of her with the injury… it’s really been a trying time. I’d say the only real positive thing is the fact that because I was bitten and broke my arm, I am home to help take care of her and support my daughter who was also bitten instead of being at work all day. The Lord really does work in mysterious ways.🌷🌷💕
I’ve only come across your video today & it resonated with me so much. In March 2017 my elderly cat bit my right hand. All it left was a puncture & some superficial scratches. I ended up going to A&E because by the evening my hand started swelling & something just felt odd - it’s a hard feeling to explain. I was fobbed off at the hospital. The doctor cleaned it with iodine, gave me a tetanus injection & sent me on my way. The following morning my hand had almost doubled in size & it was red & felt as though it was burning. I was advised to go back to A&E. I was admitted to a ward so I could receive IV antibiotics & earned myself a trip to theatre to have my hand washed out ‘debridement’ as they called it. I was given a nerve block to completely numb my hand & I was able to watch the consultant seeing to my hand. I’m not squeamish so I found it quite interesting! He quickly discovered that the puncture made by my cats tooth was a lot deeper than originally thought. I was bitten in the area between my thumb & index finger. His tooth had almost penetrated the whole way through; another few millimetres & it would have. The fact it didn’t quite go all the way through actually made my situation worse because the infection had nowhere to go. The top of the puncture would form a scab & heal over trapping the infection inside. It then spread to other ‘pockets’ in my hand. To top it off the area I was bitten doesn’t have a rich blood flow to it so healing would take longer.
Skipping forward 18 months I had spent the entire time in & out of hospital. I’d be admitted, receive a concoction of IV antibiotics & have it surgically washed out only for it to come back each & every time. I contracted sepsis during the 18 month period & I’ve never felt so poorly in my life. Thankfully after two weeks in hospital the infection was (temporarily) under controlled. In total I had 16 operations under general anaesthesia. They resorted to using VAC therapy which basically creates negative pressure & aids the healing process. I was connected to a pump that I had to carry with me for months but it worked & I was FINALLY officially infection free!
My problems however didn’t stop there. I lost function of my right (then dominant) hand despite months of physiotherapy. I also developed a chronic pain condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. My hand feels like it’s physically on fire 24/7 - it never goes away. The best way I can describe it is to imagine turning your oven hob on & pressing your hand down on top unable to lift your hand away. It’s the most painful medical condition known to man. It’s torture. I had never heard of CRPS before. It’s a condition you can develop with any trauma like stubbing your toe or breaking a bone; sometimes you can develop it without injury. Thankfully it’s relatively rare. My hand very quickly atrophied. Vibrations, temperature, wind, touch, clothing & basically anything touching my hand causes a spike in pain. My hand looks as though it’s been attacked with a lawn mower. The scaring is extensive & the shape of my hand is bumpy in areas & craters in others. I had to give up my full time job & I am unable to work because the condition leaves me debilitated. I’m on a lot of medication. I take Pregabalin, morphine & fentanyl for pain relief as well as antidepressants, anti anxiety.
Instead of hosting myself a pity party I decided to focus on what I could do & as for the things I could no longer do I focused on adapting new ways. I taught myself how to write, draw & colour with my left hand. I’m still working on painting but I’ll get there. I was in denial for a long time & I wouldn’t accept the fact my life had completely been turned upside down. I’m fiercely independent so I struggled so much having to rely on those around me to help in every day situations. I use a range of mobility aids to ensure I can be as dependant as possible.
I missed a couple of steps on the stairs last week & did some serious damage to my left foot. I’ve fractured my 2nd, 3rd & 4th metatarsals & sustained a lisfranc injury. I’m unable to use crutches due to my hand function & I need to be non weight baring for a minimum of 8 weeks. I hired a knee scooter which has been a huge help! Chances are I’ll have to have surgery on my foot to fuse the joints together which will lead to a further 8-12 weeks non weight baring.
Sorry for rhe longggg message! I hope you’re doing better now. Sending lots of love, Vicky from the UK 🇬🇧❤️🩹
Jenn,
Sending lots of love, prayers and positive energy and healing thoughts. Don’t forget to give yourself grace during this difficult time.
🙏🏼🌟❤️🌟🙏🏼
Oh no I'm so sorry. I hope you and ur daughter recovery quickly.
Oh my gosh how traumatizing. I can’t even imagine . Im so sorry you had to experience this. Praying for a quick recovery for both you and your daughter. And your daughter’s Dog. It’s horrible what happened it’s not Bella’s fault either. 🙏🙌.
Thank you so much!! I so appreciate the prayers and the kind words, I am so grateful for the outpouring of support!!🌷🌷💕
Oh Jenn! I’m so, so sorry! I can’t even imagine! Stay strong. You will get thru this. Sorry for your loss and traumatic injury for you and your daughter. I will be praying lots for all! And sending lots of ❤️ love ❤️
What the heck?! How awful. I was thinking poisoning perhaps too.
Then I was thinking maybe some toxin in the area which affected both the cat & Bella, but affected them in different ways. It could be something in the environment from past fire suppression chemicals from the fires last summer. There could be neighbors in the area experiencing similar issues with their pets. It would be interesting to find out somehow. If a toxin exists, I wonder if any humans around there are having odd health issues.
But I do think Bella will have to be put down if she doesn’t get better (esp. w the Pit Bull thing). You all can’t have this kind of thing happen again. If you are attacked again before you heal, you could become permanently disabled. She could attack Amanda again or your husband (breadwinner), or a houseguest (major lawsuit).
I WAS thinking this could affect your weight, just the grief, the stress, being so immobilized, not being able to goto work or do much around the house. You aren’t as active, so you don’t need as much food. But your body needs enuf nutrients and protein to heal. There will be lots of opportunities to self-soothe with food. There won’t be much else to do. But you don’t want to have much regain on TOP of everything else that happened and that you will still be dealing with for months or years. Still, weight has to take a back seat right now to fully healing your hands/arm.
Doris could be right about Lyme, I just don’t know much about it except that it comes from tick bites, and there are lots of ticks out there.
I will be praying for fast, full healing, guidance about big decisions about Bella, getting some help at home, keeping regain at a minimum, and life getting back to normal.
I’m so sorry you are going thru this!!
I'm so very sorry, these are very painful events to deal with and then to have them all piled on top of each other I just can't imagine the stress and heartbreak you are dealing with. I am sending hugs, love and prayers your way.
Thank you so much Cheryl. I still can’t really believe all this happened.🥺🌷
Jenn, I am so sorry!! I am praying for you and your sweet family. It is so hard to lose a pet. I am a stress eater and my son and his family just moved from Nc to Fla and I miss them so much. I am trying to walk instead of eating my feelings. Take one day at a time so as not to get overwhelmed. Much love to you!!
Aw, thank you Michelle. You are such a sweetheart. I so get what you’re saying about stress due to your son and his family moving to Florida, that’s straight heartache. My daughters are looking to move out this summer and though I know it’s a good move for them, breaks my mama heart a little more every time they talk about it. That’s a great idea about walking, we actually have a walking treadmill that was recently gifted to us that I could bring upstairs to use. I really like that idea, thank you. Much love to you too!🌷🌷💕
@@ShrinkingJenn much love and prayers for you!!!
I don't even know what to say. So so sorry for it all! Praying for all of you!
Thank you so much Jenn! I so appreciate your kind words & all the prayers we can get! 🌷🌷💕
Oh Jenn! I’m so sorry. I hope you are both doing ok. That had to be so scary. I can’t even imagine. Hugs!!! What’s your other channel?
This is so sad. If this poor dog doesn’t get better, I wouldn’t let her suffer. Lyme disease???? That comes to mind.
Praying for you honey. And for Bella
Awww, thank you Dori. It’s so crazy how many different doctors have seen Bella now and still no one has any idea what caused the paralysis. Honestly though, this has been a rough two weeks since the paralysis and the bite.
If I had my two hands and arms, it would’ve been hard, but taking care of her with the injury… it’s really been a trying time. I’d say the only real positive thing is the fact that because I was bitten and broke my arm, I am home to help take care of her and support my daughter who was also bitten instead of being at work all day. The Lord really does work in mysterious ways.🌷🌷💕
wishing you recovery
Thank you!! 🌷🌷
I have no words