Tired from all the stress - A bit OT

Hi Everyone,

This is going to be a bit of TMI, but I have to get it out.

I the past 6 weeks my household has been under a lot of stress. Lets start with Oct 7th, 2011. My 16 yr old son was arrested with his 3rd MIP. When the police called, my husband went to pick him up. I couldn't bear to see him yet again in handcuffs. The entire ordeal is traumatic. The other 2 times the police brought him home in handcuffs. I don't know which is worse. Besides the MIP's he has also been in trouble when he is with other kids who were getting in trouble. So we've had to pick him up from the police other times, even when he was not cited. And, he's been picked up for being out after curfew.

Shortly after he was arrested he came down with a terrible cough. I took him to his Dr. The next week he announced he needed to see his Dr. again as he was broke out in tiny very itchy bumps all over his body. He was given an inhaler for the cough and a week later I was at the pharmacy again after the Dr. diagnosed him with scabies. We treated him according to the Dr.'s orders. Washing all his bedding and clothing. We washed his bedding nightly for 2 weeks. This became exhausting.

We grounded our son for 1 month. He was good about it and didn't try to sneak out. However, about week 3 of the ground, I woke one morning to find him in bed naked with a girl in his room. Great, just what I needed to see.

We then started to get bumps, our kitty also was itching. Due to the fact that scabies is very contagious, my husband and I assumed we also had scabies along with our kitty. My Vet confirmed scabies can be transmitted from person to animal. All the while we are thinking we've done everything we can to prevent this and my son was treated twice for scabies. So now here we are thinking we've reinfected him. And, this meant we would have to start all over. Everything one comes in contact with has to be washed or put in a plastic bag for up to 10 days. 3 peoples stuff? We had an entire weekend of worry over this before we could take our kitty to the Vet and we could see our Dr.

Taking my cat to the Vet is like the hardest thing ever. She is a very well behaved animal until one starts to mess with her. She is very smart and as soon as one changes her routine, or the normal way we handle her on a daily basis she gets scared right away and freaks. Pet carriers you say? No, they do not work with her. The last time we tried to use one, my husband ended up bleeding in several places. We've improvised with a laundry basket and a large square piece of wood. It takes 2 and we have to get her in the basket the 1st time. If she gets out, she runs away, hides and you can forget it. In the past we had 3 appointments trying to get her to her Vet for shots.

We were successful in getting her to the Vet last week and she was diagnosed with fleas. She is an indoor kitty, 9 years old and never had fleas in her life. Recently my older son 24, who lives with his girlfriend got a dog. He has been allowed to bring the dog here several times. Against my better judgment as I wondered how stressful this might have been for my cat. He assured me he was treating his dog for fleas. I trusted him.

Prior to finding out our cat had fleas in my thinking we had scabies, I warned my older son as he'd been here several times and was with my younger son a lot. I was concerned he may have got scabies too and then could pass along to his girlfriend and dog. It was at this time he admitted he'd knowingly brought his dog to our home with fleas.

Our Dr. confirmed we did not have scabies but flea bites. We were relieved we did not have scabies. All the while my poor younger son thinks his scabies are getting worse because he is also getting flea bites. We are thinking we have to take him to a dermatologist as his Dr. said if he isn't getting better he would need to see a specialist.

We have treated our cat for fleas and she is getting better. She now also has a tape worm because fleas carry the eggs of tape worms. So if you have fleas you have this too. I so wish the Vet would have treated my cat for this last week. Now we are tying to get her to take a pill, and this is impossible. Again, as soon as we act weird, so is in full flight or fight mode and we have no chance of giving her 1 pill, let alone the 2 pills she is supposed to take. I can not take her to the Vet alone with the makeshift carrier so I need help. So we are looking at taking her to the Vet again tomorrow so they can pill her.

During all this going on bugs and worms, we have had to take my 16 yr old so to several appointments with the Juvi Dept. He had court date on November 7th and we attended the hearing. He has to have a weekly UA and counseling. We now are taking him to counseling and responsible for making sure he does his UA's. If they are clean and his counselor thinks he is doing well on the next court date on Feb 16th, his case will be dismissed. Anyone out there ever had to take your son to see a judge? Talk about stress.

He also started a new school, (this is a good thing). He was getting into lots of trouble at the big HS he was attending. He'd been labeled a bad kid. Teachers, staff, the security officer and a particular Vice Principal treated him like crap. He could not breath and he was in detention. My son broke down in tears one day after school in that he though everyone hated him. He is doing well at his new school and we are thankful. He seems to have learned his lessons finally (we hope) and is participating well in the counseling sessions and trying hard to follow the strict rules we've set. What Jr. in high school wants to tell his friends he has to be home by 7?, and 9 on Friday night?

It is difficult to not be angry with my older son. All of this flea and worm business could have been prevented. It has cost us at least $350 in medicines, Vet and Dr. bills. We've gone though several bottles of laundry soap washing everything. With the scabies and also trying to D-flea our house.

We had plans for friends to come to our home for Thanksgiving and they have canceled due to bugs and worms. Can you blame them? Who wants to come here? Sounds yummy doesn't it? My son and his girlfriend are the only ones now coming and I am sorta not ready to be thankful for all the money, stress and trauma we have had to go through thanks to them.

My husband and I are about to bite each others heads off. There is just too much going on. We know it, we are trying to be conscious of it, but it doesn't take much and we are arguing. And, we are not usually like that. In fact an argument between is rare. I mean we have disagreements about things, but we get along well. Married 20 years we still rarely fight.

I know this does not have a lot to do with Fibro. I just know it is not helping me at all, and I am about to explode. I meditate, pray, get out and walk and try my best to keep myself together. I am so tired though, I can't remember a time when my life with so full of chaos. And being ill makes it just that much more difficult to deal with. Being ill in itself is hard enough. I know it's life, but its hard.

Thanks to anyone who reads this.

It sounds like you're doing everything right, it's just that you have so much to deal with right now! Wow.

Scabies!! Oh, boy....been there, done that....in my distant past, but I haven't forgotten the special feeling they bring. And the special laundry, to boot. Ugh.

I hope things calm down a little so you can enjoy the holiday. Sometimes I think depression during the holidays (which is so common) is in direct proportion to our expectations that everyone be HAPPY! and GET ALONG! You know what I mean?

Debbie

Yep, son should be doing laundry. Sounds like he has too much free fun time while you & your husband have all the stress. For the cat, try putting catnip in the laundry basket when you need to get cat to vet. It really works!

Thanks to all who read my l o n g post. I realize there isn't a lot any of you all can do about my current situation, but it sure was nice to have people respond and know there are others out there who have had similar experiences. Just knowing you care. Thank you. I am sorry I've not responded sooner, more things have gone down since and chaos isn't over. My husband's father had a slight stroke, mini stoke the Dr.'s called it and it has had my husband very concerned and worried. Our roof started leaking day before Thanksgiving and my son had more problems with alcohol this weekend. We are seeing our counselor tomorrow. I've got so much on my plate for her, I doubt 1 hour will be enough to cover it. I am also in a lot of pain. For some reason my left ear hurts and I've had some very bad headaches the past couple of weeks. I thought I was feeling better Tuesday and Wed so didn't call my Dr. Thurs it was back and too late over the long weekend. Planning to call tomorrow. It feels like ear infection or sinus infection as my eyes hurt, temples and especially above my left eye is hurting, but I've not had a cold. Not even a sniffle. This type of infection usually follows a cold or flu. ??? IDK? Also I noticed today my left eye is drooping. I've not had this before either. It's about half open compared to the right.

Bless you

Slip cat through coat sleeve, with head out at sleeve. one holds cat, who cannot get out or squirm, the other pops the pill. If you put pressure on the jaw muscle, put the pill in, and then hold mouth closed and stroke throat, kitty will swallow.

I'm not a vet.... Just got these tips from one. And years of dealing with diabetic cat.