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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on January 10, 2008, at 12:23:47
I'm feeling really uneasy about my neurologically impaired dog. I'm not sure it's anything I can put my finger on, but I'm getting this strong urge to bring her in to the vets. I used to rely heavily on this sense - and it was reasonably accurate but not without false positives, but vet bills have gotten sooo high, and her treatment costs sooo much already that I'm reluctant to bring her in on so little evidence.
And I'm not sure how much of it is tied to my stress around my family. My father left me in a difficult position, and while I try not to think about it, everyone in my family really needs more from me that I can give. Or at least it seems that way. And my therapist considers the situation hopeless. Or at least he says he feels hopeless and doesn't see that there's any workable solutions. And while nothing new is coming up, that I know about, I am in more contact with them today than usual.
My OCD tends to divert me away from real concerns to more fantastical scenarios. So I'm not sure if this is OCD.
I started out today feeling sort of tearful about nothing in particular, but now I'm getting increasingly anxious about the dog. And there's no real need for urgent anxiousness I think. Even if she is doing worse, it's not an emergency sort of situation. So it makes no sense.
Is that a tipoff that it's OCD?
I see my therapist tomorrow, but he's more likely to turn the question back on me. Sigh.
Posted by Dinah on January 10, 2008, at 12:37:43
In reply to Momdar or OCD?, posted by Dinah on January 10, 2008, at 12:23:47
I think maybe I'm mad at Daddy.
I guess it's easier to focus on something else than that.
Posted by DAisym on January 10, 2008, at 13:06:11
In reply to Re: Momdar or OCD?, posted by Dinah on January 10, 2008, at 12:37:43
Is this an anniversary reaction of some kind?
I have a really weird, out there thought -- which, coming from me, is very out of character...
I think that sometimes our loved ones that have died are around and we can "feel" them - especially through animals. And when we are thinking about them a lot, for whatever reason, we are more apt to sense their presence. (Yes, I suppose it could be argued the other way around.) Perhaps the dog and your dad are tied together somehow today? I don't know.
A few months ago my son was home alone late at night. He started to get nervous and sat himself down in the chair in his room and put our cat on his lap. He said as he sat there, he smelled his grandpa, who died last year, and he felt safe and comforted. The chair he was sitting in was his grandpa's, so it is explainable. And yet --
Anyway - that is the "vibe" I get from what you wrote. Don't tell your therapist, he'll ban you from Babble.
I hope today gets better. Being responsible for family is just darn hard.
Daisy
Posted by muffled on January 10, 2008, at 15:22:14
In reply to Momdar or OCD?, posted by Dinah on January 10, 2008, at 12:23:47
Posted by annierose on January 10, 2008, at 16:21:48
In reply to Re: Momdar or OCD?, posted by DAisym on January 10, 2008, at 13:06:11
That's not that "out there" Daisy. My therapist asks me these type of questions all the time ... wondering if I'm feeling something about someone because it's the anniversary of something about them. For instance, last year I came to a session worried about my son. I just felt anxious and there was nothing pressing about his life to warrant these feelings. Then my t asked, "Isn't this around the time of year he had his car accident? ... The body, our brains remember."
Dinah - I hope your dogs feel better. Trust your instincts. They are trying to tell you something.
Posted by Dinah on January 10, 2008, at 19:20:23
In reply to Re: Momdar or OCD? » DAisym, posted by annierose on January 10, 2008, at 16:21:48
I've thought about it, and can't recall any anniversary. Daddy died mid December, and she first got sick in autumn.
After I acknowledged that I was angry, I stopped feeling so anxious and felt sleepy, so maybe that was it.
I do think I probably should listen to my instincts though. They're usually pretty good. I'll have to watch her and see if I can come up with something more specific to ask the vet about. Chances are she's doing something different and I'm picking up on it.
Or maybe I'm just worried that as soon as I'm finished what I'm working on right now, I'll be going into the office more and won't be around to watch her.
I don't like being a grownup in the real world.
Posted by Phillipa on January 11, 2008, at 22:56:37
In reply to Re: Momdar or OCD?, posted by Dinah on January 10, 2008, at 19:20:23
Is this the little one? Could you bring her with you to work? Love Phillipa oh I know those instincts but it seems my pups sense when all is not well with me. They kind of make me anxious and I also have Ocd. Love Phillipa
Posted by Dinah on January 11, 2008, at 23:08:58
In reply to Re: Momdar or OCD? » Dinah, posted by Phillipa on January 11, 2008, at 22:56:37
I'm actually thinking it really is something. I'm paying attention and she's definitely staying in her cave more. And snapping at the others when they try to join her there. Which is extremely unusual for her. I never ever remember her snapping at anyone, canine or human before. Usually they all three cram themselves into a space barely big enough for one of them. Legs and noses everywhere.
I'm trying to take notes on exactly what is different. So that I can be a bit more specific to the vet.
Posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2008, at 19:00:28
In reply to Re: Momdar or OCD? » Phillipa, posted by Dinah on January 11, 2008, at 23:08:58
Dinah read you post to me and see she is acting different and the difference is that she let the others in her cage and now is snapping at the others and won't let them near her. Is she in pain? Love Phillipa ps can you push on her leg, various body parts and see how she reacts?
Posted by Dinah on January 14, 2008, at 13:04:02
In reply to Re: Momdar or OCD? » Dinah, posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2008, at 19:00:28
I don't see any signs of pains in any particular area. But it's clear she's not feeling well. I bring her to the vet later this week, I think. I'll make a point of making an actual appointment so I can discuss it with him.
Just having her be handicapped is no real problem, but I don't want her to hurt.
So I guess that means I'm coming down on the side of mom-dar.
Posted by Phillipa on January 14, 2008, at 20:40:42
In reply to Re: Momdar or OCD? » Phillipa, posted by Dinah on January 14, 2008, at 13:04:02
Dinah well she's your baby right? I'd do the same thing hopefully set your mind at ease. Glad she didn't seem to hurt. Love Phillipa
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