I AM THANKFUL FOR MY INTROVERSION

I am thankful for my introversion.

I  have always been introverted. A friend told me in high school that in kindergarten, she did not think I could talk.

Mostly I have been okay with my quiet nature. In eighth grade, I decided to be extroverted. That lasted as long as my pep talk to myself in my bedroom mirror.

Extroverts draw energy from time with people. As an introvert, I enjoy time with people, but draw energy from time alone.

A trait intwined in my introversion is empathy. People must be able to sense that.

Two grocery store cashier examples...

Russ and I were checking out at a grocery store we had never been to. The cashier asked how we were. "Fine," Russ said. "Good," I said. "How are you?" The cashier teared up and said that her son was in the hospital, and she was scared and she really needed me to pray for him. I teared up too. "I will," I said. I did.

We left with our groceries, and Russ stared at me. "You weren't kidding," he said. "People really do open up to you."

Grocery store cashier story number two...

We were checking out at our neighborhood grocery store and had a cashier we had not met before. Again, she asked how we were. Again I asked how she was. She stopped checking groceries for a moment and looked up. "My boyfriend drove me to work, but then he broke up with me. I have to work this whole night shift before I can go home and think about it." "Well he is stupid," I said. "You can do better." She smiled a little, and finished checking us out. THE NEXT NIGHT, Russ was checking out with the same cashier. "How are you?" he asked. "Fine thanks!" she said, and handed him his bag of groceries.

So weird! And such an honor. It happens all the time in the exam rooms at work too. Maybe because we are alone in a small room. Maybe because we have the person's beloved pet between us to break the ice. But because it happens elsewhere and so frequently, I suspect it is also because people sense my empathy and introversion and know they are safe opening up. 

Many introverts do not like small talk. I do. I absolutely love when that talk falls right into the deep end, and we can start solving life problems together, even in the check out aisle.

I am not the veterinarian who will slap your back and yell a greeting to you, but I will care for your pet as if she or he were my own, and I will think about your pet's ailment alone in my office until I figure out the next step. Our conversations will not be awesome on my end (thanks for holding our conversations up clients and friends!) but I will listen and care. 

I love the extroverts in my life. We balance each other nicely. I love the introverts in my life. We understand each other. And I love my introversion and everything that goes with it.

ONE YEAR AGO

I WENT TO THE DENTIST, AND IT WASN'T THAT BAD

TWO YEARS AGO

BEING COMPARED TO SOMETHING CUTE AND SNUGGLY

I AM THANKFUL FOR MY ALLERGIES

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my small mammal and cat allergies, however...

...this is a blessing I cannot quite get my head around.

I miss small mammals and cats so much it sometimes almost hurts. Just a few weeks ago, Dr. Morrison asked my opinion (from afar, of course) on a cat patient. I came closer to talk with her and absentmindedly started petting her feline patient. I looked down and gasped. I could feel my chest tightening. I snuck in five more pets then ran to wash my hands. I went outside to catch my breath for a bit. When I returned, Allison was there waiting to give me the disappointed Mom head shake. I needed it. She was only trying to save me from myself. I miss being around cats so much!

I stopped seeing exotic pets about two years ago because I could not breathe well around rabbits, rats or guinea pigs.

I stopped seeing cats as patients about one year ago because I could not breathe well around cats.

I developed severe asthma-like symptoms that my allergists has helped me manage by maintaining me on allergy medication including rescue inhalers, but mostly, gently pulling me away from cats and small mammals.

I can't see my allergies as completely or even mostly positive, as I can with many other situations. But I can see some positives in this sad, sad break between me and the cats and rats I love...

Dr. Bashara and the whole veterinary team have supported me 100%. As a "half-vet" (or so I feared), I could have rightfully been kicked to the curb. But everyone has been nothing but supportive, keeping me on the team and going so far as to throw themselves between me and cats.

I have been as busy as I always have, maybe even busier. This has been a relief. I wasn't sure what this would do to my practice.

I only see dogs anymore. That has caused me to focus my attention like never before. I continue to learn as much as I can, but focus my learning on everything canine. That has seemed to sharpen my medical practice. I enjoy being able to obsess about one species. I have never had that before.

Cat clients seem to come from everywhere to say they miss me. It is good to feel loved. I miss them too, but the ones who have dogs I still get to see, and the ones who have only cats, I still get to say "hi" to.

I have not heard "It's only a" in two years. I do not miss that exotic pet uphill battle.

God made me special, and he loves me very much!

I do not miss the frailty of exotic pets nor their ability as little prey animals to hide their symptoms, often until they are in critical condition.

Likewise, I miss the mystery and intrigue of cats, but not when it comes to medical issues. Is your cat eating a little less? He is probably fine, a bit sick, very sick or dying. Probably it is nothing, his kidneys, his gi system, his teeth or his thyroid. Or his heart. Or something else. Cats are beautiful and mysterious. They carry that over to their medical conditions. I do not miss that at all!

"I am fine. But I'm not telling you that!"

Angry or fearful cats and hamsters are killing machines. They are biting, howling ninjas, who are experts in their field. When the group I am working with sees our teammates with a crazed, screaming feline patient, we shake our heads in sympathy, slowly back out of the treatment room and give each other high fives. Never again. 

Angry house cats are like angry lions, only faster and sharper.

I would, of course, could I choose, not have allergies at all, and I have not given up on having them better controlled, but there are some up-sides. So for now I stay away from cats and rats and the other little guys. When I forget, Allison and the rest of the team are there to slap my hand or tackle me or disappointingly shake their heads, whatever it takes to keep me safe.

ONE YEAR AGO

THE CAT WHO SAT

TWO YEARS AGO

INTERNAL MEDICINE AND CRITICAL CARE SPECIALIST DR. CHRIS BYERS ON CONSTANTLY SEEING SICK PETS, PART 2

WOULD YOU USE TELEMEDICINE?

I recently spoke with Eric Shank, the founder and CEO of a new veterinary company, Petzam.

Petzam helps facilitate live video chats between clients and veterinarians in order to better help diagnose pets.

One of the biggest barriers to veterinary telemedicine in the past has been assuring a veterinary client-patient relationship. In most cases, what is needed to establish this relationship legally is an in person physical exam by the veterinarian of the patient within the previous year. One of Petzam's core values is protecting the veterinary client-patient relationship, which I appreciate.

Have you used telemedicine before? Would a service like this be helpful?

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Post from one year ago today...

January 12, 2016

THE STORY OF THE DAY I MET MY FIRST IBIZAN HOUND