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My cat has allergies too.  That's the reason she is itching so badly.  She gets huge hot spots from the bites. This last vet visit cost over 200 bucks for the steroid shot and the antibiotic and the powder and the flea pill then more frontline and the trimming of the hair around the hot spots.  Geeze.  But, she is worth every cent.  I've checked her from tail to nose and have found not one single flea and she is still scratching like crazy.  Guess I'll call the vet and see what's up with her.  Maybe a reaction from the flea that did all of the damage.  When we were in Kansas, a friend house sat and watched the kitty. When we came home, Kitty was scratching and had a couple of scabed areas.  By the time I got her to the vet, those scabbed areas had opened up into raw hamburgery looking spots.  When I mentioned it to my friend, she said, yeah, I saw her scratching and just figured she had a flea on her.  Then my friend said, I brought my cat over for a play date and my cat is covered with fleas.  So, her cat gave me cat fleas.  We treat Kitty every month with frontline, we don't have carpet, and our yard, although she is a total inside cat, gets treated too.  So, when we came back from Kansas, I spent a day sweeping and cleaning and looking for infestations of fleas around her bed and play yard.  Found nothing.  The vet suggested a bomb if we see any; so far we haven't seen any.  This morning, I checked her again and so far have found nothing.  Bless her heart.  She is such a prize pet.  I just love her.

Those staff infections are horrible.  Kitty had one when we adopted her and it took forever to clear it up.  Poor babies.

Be careful with those steroid shots ... I had a cat get one of those and two months later, it led to diabetes. There are studies that show that steroid shots can lead to diabetes in cats. So watch your cat ... if she starts peeing/drinking too much, have her checked. I let Kittle go far too long and his blood sugar was up over 700 before I got it under control.

Since March, she has two steroid shots.  The alternative to the shots is that she has no skin left.  I'll call the vet and ask him if she needs blood work.

Great idea Jeanne! I went to several seminars and with my GP decided to go for the surgery. My daughter, Laura, also wanted to do it. so we started the tests together... Laura got approved in record time, but I had complications- breast cancer found during pre-op tests and heart irregularities that also had to be looked into. My therapist did not want Laura to have surgery until I was out of the cancer process- too stressful for her. She had her surgery in August of 2007 and I had mine in December of 2007. The surgery was not too bad, recovery not too bad... the loss of weight was very exciting! I have lost about 110 pounds and did not quite reach my goal (yet) but I'm thrilled with the whole thing! Laura also lost over 100 pounds (I can't remember the details for her). We both feel so much better in every way!
Julia

Julia,

I either forgot or didn't read that you are a cancer survivor.  My bff just had her first round of chemo.  They found the cancer in left breast but she had them take off both and is doing chemo and radiation and the entire protocal. She said she will do the reconstruction later. 

And wls to boot.  You are one fast moving gal.  110 pounds is not too shabby.  That's an entire small person. LOL. 

So sorry about your friend's diagnosis... it sounds like she's been through the wringer. Did she tell you what Stage of cancer? I was only a Stage 1- non aggressive, but it had invaded healthy tissue. I had two surgeries and radiation, so I have one deformed boob and one normal boob... one is a DD cup and the other a DDD. When I look in the mirror the non-cancerous boob hangs about two inches lower than the affected boob... :) It's all good though. I'm healthy and very lucky that the cancer was arrested early. And I can have reconstructive surgery to make my breasts match if I decide to do it.

Hi Jeannie, when i became 65 and became eleigable for medicare i started checking into wls...i had been over weight for quite  a few years. I had my papers all filled out and the doctor in Springfield had all of them and they approved me for surgery....was starting to get stuff rolling and medicare put out their new rules that they will continue to pay for wls but the facility had to be  of
a medicare approved facility which Springfield wasnt ....and they wasnt a hosp any where in the state Mo.  the closest one being in Texas...then a friend of mine told me that i might want to check with Drld. Hornbostal in Sedalia, Mo...which i did and his office told me that they had filed the paper work before this became a law and they were all set except for their walk thru.....went to this surgeons seminar and he told us that as of that day they had been approved. so my papers got turn
in that night........and was given an appointment  for a month later. , My sister went with me and she put in her papers that night too but her insurance made her wait 6 months and do an exercise and diet process.....3 months after the seminar i had surgery....best decision i ever made ....I have gone from size 24s to a size 10s. would like to lose more but havent lost anything this past year buthavent gained anything either....wow what can i do now that is different than before  the list would be way too long....my knees and hips and back still ache from years of being fat...too much damage before losing....have had one knee done and need the other one done....Hope to have a tummy tuck done early winter would love to have a face lift so what others saw looked as good as i feel....but even with the wrinkles i wouldnt go back to being fat to fill them out lol ....

I agree with the wouldn't go back. I know your sister had a lot of trouble but am happy you sailed right on through.  I cannot wait until I stablize so I can have plastics.  I have thought about flying to Mexico to one of those clinics and just get it done, but I'm a coward.  I really want to get rid of the hanging arms and belly.  The rest I don't care so much about.  My arms actually almost hang enough to touch the hot pots on the stoves. I kid not. LOL.

My Life Story:
Got divorced first because hubby wouldn't support me having another WLS. Had stomach stapling in 1980.

Decided to do it right this time: Exercise and make it my passion, my "transfer addiction". So I had an exercise program in place and lost close to 50 pounds before surgery.

Day of surgery: Very calm. Knew it was the right decision for me. The door was open wide and my world was changing fast! Was off work 6 weeks to recoup. I was an open RnY. Didn't have any complications and I walked everyday. Each day I got stronger but I took care of myself, allowed myself naps.

Romance: Started dating my new hubby one month before surgery. He was supportive and is my soul-mate!

2 Plus years post of life: Life is grand. I exercise everyday. I'm a size 6/8. I love my job. I love this site, such great support. My fist hubby didn't want kids, now I have 3 beautiful grown daughters (they are mine darn it!!) and 2 grandchildren, this is the life I always wanted. I now have a beautiful family. Lots of brother and sister in laws, nieces/nephews. I enjoy going to our 2 local support groups. I stay involved. I never drink with meals and reach for protein first. I always take my vitamins, it's just part of my life.

Great story.  I have always been so lucky in that my hubby has given me total support.  He has never tried to get me to stray nor has he fussed at me. He is just a good man.  I'm glad you have a great family.  Yes, I have two biological kids and four biological grands, but I have four kids and twelve grands total.  Familes are not where you happen to get born into but families are those people who make a difference in your life; and that difference doesn't always have to be good. LOL