To my astonishment, it looks to be about May 2012 when we first had an occasion to do a urinalysis. Since that was an isolated incident, it's hard to pin that as the start of Shelly's TCC.
Regular activity on this symptom began in June of 2013. I have invoices that show the frequency and number of urinalysis' done along with prescribed antibiotics. There was even an ultrasound done last July by my routine vet. I had brought Shelly in three times before this complaining of her increased urinating. He clearly told me nothing was showing up in her bladder, so not to worry. All totaled, I now see at least 8 different times where we did a urinalysis and prescribed antibiotics between then and her recent diagnosis earlier this month.
My whole reason for sharing this information today, is to help anyone who may be experiencing chronic symptoms of any health challenges without any resolution, either for themselves or a beloved pet. Trust yourself!
You see, my everyday veterinarian is of a very conservative nature. That's obvious, otherwise we would have diagnosed Shelly's condition much sooner I believe.
I was trusting him when he did not give me reason to worry about any potential serious health issues. There's something about our innate belief of wanting to believe everything is alright, when intuitively we know it's not.
I told myself he's the doctor, he studied veterinarian medicine, I did not. Trust him. Perhaps his offer of an explanation that Shelly was possibly just marking on her walks was possible. She was clearly showing signs of serious arthritis in her hind legs, which he said could have caused her to stop frequently (to urinate) in order to slow our walks down...
Even in writing this now, I clearly see why it's hindsight that's 20/20...
That little voice inside me was just beginning last July in an attempt to capture my attention. I squelched it quickly and quietly. No problems, not now, not ever...
DON'T do that!! Don't ever, turn down the volume on your little voice. Always, always listen to it loudly and clearly.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:27-28
Do you hear God's voice?? Don't turn away from it as it can cost you your eternal life if you do.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20
I question myself how come I didn't push more when I felt something was wrong. All it took was for my veterinarian, a professional, to assure me that it's all o.k. I even worked in the industry, seeing insurance claims processed daily for hundreds of pets with all kinds of health reasons. I called on over 200 different vet clinics/hospitals, and became quite knowledgeable about many pet health issues. I should have known better when it came to my own pet. So why didn't I?
Because I wanted it to be o.k. more than I wanted to face the possibility it wasn't. Aren't we all like that? It's easier playing ostrich, than it is to face our fate head on. It's difficult to take a hard look in the mirror and have that conversation with the face looking back. It's just easier to take someone's word when it's really what I wanted to hear. No one wants to hear the truth, especially when it hurts!
I could have easily taken Shelly to another vet, for a second opinion, as I now know I should have. I didn't. I played it safe, or so I thought.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
Our innate nature is to be self sufficient, to be in denial to our true selves and to be autonomous people, not wanting to be accountable to others. The sad truth is we aren't self sufficient, we do deny the truth and we are accountable for all that we do. God's word is clear on all of this. When we go down the wrong path, at least for me, I am so grateful to know our heavenly father is there to pick me up, dust me off and set me straight.
One of my favorite life verses is this:
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
Psalm 40:2
Halleluiah!
Won't you be sure your feet are on solid rock this day and everyday? There's no turning back when you're on solid ground!
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