Friday, February 02, 2007

Poor Oscar-Bear


(picture several months ago; before surgery)

This week has been very stressful, frustrating, and unproductive. My lingering cold has sapped all my energy, and I am completely out of my routine. I made a feeble attempt to do some workouts this week. Let's just say it didn't go well. I feel chronically tired and completely sapped of energy. I know it's the cold, and I am getting better on the whole. I am just freaking out about how much fitness I have lost. Basically, I've taken 2 weeks of R&R, and I have 8 weeks until Race Day. I'm hoping to ease back into this weekend with some good, short, confidence-building workouts.

On Monday night, I noticed Oscar has a huge lump on the left side of his jaw. Upon further examination, it seemed to be emanating from the bone. Great. I took him to the vet Tuesday morning, and, as I had feared, it was a molar abcess. I have no idea how he remained symptom-free all this time, and worse, I have no idea how long this infection has been festering without me noticing. I feel so negligent. He went in for surgery to have the abcess removed Tuesday afternoon. They tried to pull the suspect molar without much success (it came out in pieces). Apparently, he had a hole in the bone of his jaw, and the infection was inside the bone. All I can say is, OW! They made an incision on the side of his neck and took out the abcess (without going into more detail, I've been told by the vet techs that it was quite disgusting). They packed antibiotic-soaked beads into the hole to help fight the infection, and inserted a tube into his jaw (coming out his throat) to help drain the rest (yes--very gross). I picked him up on Tuesday night. He was groggy and his neck is shaved, covered in stitches, and has a tube poking out of it. He looks a little like a big bunny with a skinny turkey neck; poor guy.

Since then, I've been tending to him constantly. Wednesday, he spent the day huddled up in his box while his tube drained, not eating, drinking, playing, or looking at all comfortable. He's in a lot of pain as his jaw heals and can't eat very well. He's on pain meds, stomach meds, and antibiotics (which I have to inject daily for 3 weeks--yuck). Plus, I'm force-feeding him with a syringe, which is just awful and very messy. The only thing that seems to comfort him are the hot compresses I apply to his drain, which I do for 20 minutes, twice a day. He curls up on the hot washcloth and presses down on top of it, closes his eyes, and purrs. I took him back to the vet on Thursday so they could give him fluids and meds for his tummy (when bunnies don't eat, their digestive system shuts down, which further keeps them from eating). He finally seemed to come around a little Thursday night when he started eating lettuce with enthusiasm. Today, he seems even more perky. He came out of his box and spent the day on his blanket. His drain hasn't been leaking "stuff" today, which makes him feel a lot better and makes me hope that maybe his infection is clearing. He goes in again tomorrow to have the drain taken out. I can't wait. I know that thing has been making him feel really icky.

I'm very hopeful that he will heal. I think he will continue to improve from here on out. I just pray that the antibiotics work and the infection goes away so that the abcess doesn't re-develop in the future. I don't want to have to put him through this again.

Needless to say, between my being sick and Oscar being sick, it's been a very stressful week.

18 comments:

JeffM said...

Poor Oscar, that sounds awful!
Hope you get better soon, that can be so frustrating.

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Poor Oscar! Tidbit sends kisses and binkies!

Cliff said...

Poor bunny..i hope he gets well

Tammy said...

Oh, poor huney-bunny! Sounds like he is on the mend, though, along w/you. Hope you are both feeling like your old selves very soon. :)

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to hear about Oscar! I know exactly how you feel about being negligent. I felt that way when I had to take Saffy in to get her teeth cleaned. They had to knock her out and shaved her neck and legs. Then they injected around 30mLs of fluids under her skin. : [

Habeela said...

I hope Oscar heals! No fun!

Bolder said...

i just got a cold too -- frustrating! i've written off all of my workouts today, and probably tomorrow.

poor oscar.

Faithful Soles said...

My name is Robert Key and I am a runner from Houston, Texas. I saw your blog listed when I was looking through the RBF directory and very much enjoyed reading some of your entries. I plan to do my first Ironman in the next 3 years before I turn 50 (already done 15 marathons, including 3 Bostons).

I have a web site at http://www.faithfulsoles.com that is inspirational stories for walkers, runners and athletes of all ages and abilities. A new feature I have recently added to the site is a categorized and searchable Running Blog Database where members of my site can find a blog of interest to them based on other walkers, runners or athletes of similar abilities, goals and interests. To my knowledge it is the only one of its kind specifically for walkers and runners on the internet. I would appreciate it if you would take a moment to put a link to your blog in our Running Blog Database. Just click on "Link your running blog" under "Free Features" from the home page. If you want to learn more about my running background, just click on "Meet Robert" from the main menu , or to learn more about my involvement in the running community, click on "Faithful Soles in the news" in the left column under "Weekly Features". I also have a blog that I just started at http://faithfulsoles.blogspot.com, but most of my running information is on my web site. Also, if there is anyone else in your blogger network that you think would be interested in listing their blog, please feel free to pass this information along to them. Thanks and continued good luck in your training.

Kate said...

Poor bunny! I'm glad he's doing better, and hope you feel better soon.

You have been hitting the big weeks really well- I'm sure these two weeks will be nothing when you get to race day!

somebunnysloveDOTcom said...

Big hugs to Oscar and you from our little warren. Please do not fret and give yourself so much blame. Remember that bunners instinctively hide their aches and pains quite well so that they cannot be tracked in the wild. I am just glad you were able to notice before it was too late. Hope you both feel better sooner than later!!
=:8

Triteacher said...

Wisconsin adds well wishes too!

Afternoon Tea With Oranges said...

Oh, poor bunny. And sorry to hear that you are under the weather too. It sucks - I finally went to the doctor Friday and found out I have bronchitis. If this cold weather would just go away!! Get well soon, Rachel!

Anonymous said...

OMG, I hope the you and the bunny are back at it soon!!

Mike said...

Hey Rachel,
Hope you and your baby are feeling better soon...not to discount your illness but poor Oscar...OUCH!

Congrats on the half-mary..I know you said it wasn't your fastest but no taper and some SOLID training in the few days before the race..that is huge! Keep it rolling!

Anonymous said...

Hi rachel!
I'm sorry poor Oscar's in so much pain. I hope he's doing better, and I hope you're on the mend, too. How are Taz and Babs handling Oscar's illness?
I miss having you in lab...By the way, did you move? The Christmas card I sent to you, Jason, & the bunnies was returned:( Let me know your true address when you get a chance!

Paul said...

Any updates? Is Oscar doing better? Did you kick that cold yet? I hope you, Jason, and the bunny family are good.

Best wishes,

-Paul

Fizzgig said...

He's such a handsome boy!

Ellie Hamilton said...

What a sweet, tough bunny! I'm glad he's feeling better.