How do you call cope?

[Guinea Slave]

I have been through hell recently with the guineas…they have had in the past few week UTI’s, heart problems, ovarian cysts, respiratory infections the lot. I sound like a terrible guinea mum but they are kept no expense spared, in 5 star accommodation with all the love and attention you can imagine.

I have been to the vets, once, sometimes twice a week for the past 6 weeks. They know me personally now and all the guineas names its that bad. On top of that the vets is a good 40 minute trip so that when working full time is hard to manage in a typical day....

Most of us on this forum are probably like me, a little obsessive about their guineas and cannot bear for a moment to see them suffer.

I just wonder how you call cope and do you have any tips? I am a forty something woman, in a professional career and I would say I am a pretty strong individual but I find the emotions and anxiety I go through combined with juggling a job and home just too much sometimes.

I end up a wreck, having nightmares about them dying, constantly checking them, near to tears seeing them in distress. Desperaste to get home from work to check them. It just brings out the very worse in me and joking aside recently I have felt near to depression with it all. When I see or hear something (hooting for instance) I get all hot and start to panic.

Do you all go through this or is it just me? I don't know how rescues cope with it all and the emotions, I just dont.

I sound awfully weak and emotional..I really am not usually but just finding it so hard...

If anyone has any life changing advice I would love to hear it!

 

[flintstones]

I know how you feel, my little Patrick lives in the vet, there 4 practices if I phone the practice I've never been to they all know who Patrick is, I find it dreadful and really difficult at times. I don't know how many times I have said I'm getting no more, I have the same problem with working full time and I have been known to call in sick just to get them to the vets.

I have no advice, all I can do is empathise. Xx

 

[sport_billy]

Awwww, Guinea Slave. You have had really rough time by the sound of it. It's very when hard they are poorly, especially when more than one decides to be ill at the same time.
I understand how you feel, last year one of our piggies required a month of round the clock syringe feeding, it was one of the most stressful times ever, there never felt to be enough time in a day between looking after her, vet visits and going to work. Sometimes, there never seems to be an end in sight and you start to feel you are living at the vets. It is emotionally draining and a time of constant worry.

Don't really have any advice, just want you to know it's only natural to feel the way you do. Hope your piggies all recover soon x

 

[Amanda1801]

When Cameo was unwell, I was getting up every 2 hours in the night to feed her, and after day 3, decided the best thing to do would be to leave her at the vets overnight. I got some decent sleep, knowing she was in safe hands, which really helped. Obviously depending on what's wrong with your piggies, that might not be an option, but I think that you just have to know that you're doing everything in your power to make them better and be satisfied with that. After all, you can't do much more than that.

 

[doglovinpiggylover]

aww you poor thing, i am so sorry you have had such a crappy time.

I am the same, i am a strong person, but as soon as there is a hint of something wrong either pet related or house related i totally go to pieces and fear the worst.

I dont know what to say really, except hang in there, talk to us about it, and take as much reward from your babies as you can.

Sending you a hug from me and mine x>> ((( )))

 

[Guinea Slave]

Thank you so much for all your replies. It is good to know that I am not the only one! You do sometimes think am I just weak and pathetic and everyone else just seems to manage!

Good idea about leaving them occasionally at the vets... I think sometimes when you are stressed they know as well. Every 2 hours feeding..you've just put the fear of god in me! Now I think I am fortunate!

Re pulling a sicky....I have done exactly the same! Terrible is'nt it and then you add guilt to all the other emotions too. Its trying to keep everyone happy (work, husband, family) and making sure the guineas are being treated as they should that I find the real killer.

I too have said many times...no more. I have six now and never in my wildest dreams (well nightmares) did I imagine they were such complex creatures. I am saying again NO MORE! rolleyes

Oh yes and to add to it....off to the vets AGAIN today AND the washing machine is now on the blink because I hav'nt had time to brush the fleeces properly, its now blocked and will cost £100 to fix (engineer here now) :0

I think I am just going to giggle uncontrollably...only good thing is husband is not here to find out about the washing machine or I really would be in trouble!:{

THANK YOU ALL OF YOU

 

[sport_billy]

If you ever never need to chat and get it all off you chest you know you can on here, Hope you get the washer sorted and the vets goes well today x

P.S How is your girlie with the bladder probs?

 

[Guinea Slave]

Thank you Sport Billy....it makes such a difference sharing with like minded people...such a difference.

With regards to girly with the bladder problems...which one! :-)
So one is doing OK, she is still on Baytril and sadly is very wet as she is also on a lot of Frusol for her respiratory/heart problems. She is rather stinky! Poor girl and does not enjoy her daily bottom washes rolleyes

The other is off to the vets this evening as she has not improved with antibiotics and we believe its an ovarian cyst. She is still wimpering when she pees and passing blood I don't think and am hoping its not stones. She can be a little rascal with her teeth (when I first gave her antibiotics she practically savaged me! LOL) and vocally so it will be interesting how she finds her first trip to the vet!

Thanks for asking....bet you wished you had'nt now!

 

[sport_billy]

Thank you Sport Billy....it makes such a difference sharing with like minded people...such a difference.

With regards to girly with the bladder problems...which one! :-)
So one is doing OK, she is still on Baytril and sadly is very wet as she is also on a lot of Frusol for her respiratory/heart problems. She is rather stinky! Poor girl and does not enjoy her daily bottom washes rolleyes

The other is off to the vets this evening as she has not improved with antibiotics and we believe its an ovarian cyst. She is still wimpering when she pees and passing blood I don't think and am hoping its not stones. She can be a little rascal with her teeth (when I first gave her antibiotics she practically savaged me! LOL) and vocally so it will be interesting how she finds her first trip to the vet!

Poor thing Hope it goes ok, one of our girls has a cyst and bladder issues. it can be so frustrating to get to the bottom of. I hope her first trip to the vets is quick and not too stressful for her (and you), please let us know how you get on...

 

[Guinea Slave]

Ah thank you, will do. Not due there until 6.15. These issues are so frustrating, my other girl (the one with heart probs) just cannot get rid of her cysts and repeatedly has Chorulon injections but the cysts lead to URI's and its just ongoing is'nt it? Due to her age there's not much more we can do but I wish like you say, there was a way to get to the bottom of it.

I think what upset me most with the younger one is that this now may lead to her having the same issues as the other one...a slippery slope and she is not anywhere near as easy a girl to manage. We'll see.

Thank you so very much though, I will let you know how she is and how we get on and whether the vet has any fingers left after! (don't get me wrong she is very loving and sweet...EXCEPT when you do something she does not like...!)

 

[Stacey]

I'm so sorry to hear whats happening

My boys have constant chest infection, nothing compared to what your poor piggies are going through but its horrible to know they are suffering in the slightest.

I'm quite lucky as i can see my vets from my window and its a 2 minute walk and we never need appointments, we just walk in.

At first when mine were constantly ill i felt like the worst person but now because it happens so often I'm just so use to it. I do feel bad and worry but i know they will get baytril and they will be fine (til the next time) I'm at the vets atleast twice a month with mine. Like you, our vets know our names because we are there so often. Ive only really ever had 1 scare and i was nearly crying in the vets. Darwin had a really severe chest infection and he stopped breathing. I thought he was going to die and we lived in our old house at the time which was 10mins away and i had to get a taxi. I ran into the vets screaming he's not breathing (very dramatic lol). The people in the vets must of thought i was in a episode of casulty I had him cradled in my arms aswell like a baby. The vet nurse grabbed him out my arms and put him on oxygen and i was left sitting in the waiting room, panicking and i just wanted to curl up in a ball and cry my heart out (not good for someone with severe ibs lol) :red Most of the people in the vets actually comforted me :red
That really scared me and anytime they get symptons i do panic but mine are constantly chesty with infections that its kinda second nature to me now.

Your not weak for caring about your pets. Anyone who loves their pets enough feels the same as you. x)

 

[Guinea Slave]

Thanks Stacey

Your story re Darwin...OMG thats awful! If you had been further away can you imagine! I often cry down the phone to my poor vet who I am sure thinks i am completely nuts! When I sobbed down the phone that I thought she was suffocating last week I got a very patient vet rolleyes

I so wish I lived just two mins from the vets..that would be heaven. May be I should move! I do have one two mins away but they are not at all cavy savvy and openly admit that, they are great at helping me out with medication if I need something quickly but thats about it.

You guys have all made me feel so much better...thank you I cannot tell how much I appreciate its great for us all to share... x)

 

[flintstones]

Glad we could all help, I'm sure between us all we have mass amounts of embarrassing stories and irrational thoughts between us re vets, your not alone honestly!

 

[jasandcinders]

I totally understand .... I only work part time but have 2 young children and a husband that travels with work so it mainly falls on me to hold it together ... Well most of the time ... Had a good old cry last night. Guineas are a misunderstood animal and all have individual personalities. There are funny and intelligent and very affectionate. I swear my two think they are cats. Love nothing more than a cuddle on my lap or the children's. It's so easy to get attached and they give so much so in turn we do our best for them. I feel blessed to have them and just wish that they didn't get poorly. Jasmine seems happy and with everyone's advice and the vets help I hope she improves. Same goes for your's I hope they get better and all we can do is make their time with us a wonderful as possible x You're not weak but a caring person and is doing your best.

 

[Guinea Slave]

Thank you everyone, I feel so much better now and I hope it has helped others in the same situation. I hope all of us with sick piggies will have a smooth weekend andthat they will get better.

My trip to the vets was OK, my heart piggy has had to have her Fortekor increased but she already looks better..fingers crossed. The other girl does have an ovarian cyst which explains why she was not responding well to the antibiotics, so she has had a chorulon injection so will be watching her like a hawk.

My best wishes, love and healing vibes to us all x