Is a broken heart a medical problem?

HI Suzanne, I am so sorry about your cat. I relate to your sadness as we lost a true friend 2 1/2 years ago and we still get teary eyed over it. Pets are so kind, forgiving,trusting and loyal, how couldn’t one be sad. Those who don’t understand your grief over an animal have never been lucky enough to experience what you have from your wonderful cat. It will get better and I hope you can relax yourself enough so that your GBS calms down. I said I would never get another dog, but everywhere I looked, I missed that wagging tail. We lasted about three months and got another border collie that looks just like our best friend did. It was the best thing I ever did, he too brings us so much joy! Please feel better! Dawn Kevies mom 😮

Suzanne,
The tears started coming to my eyes reading your post and I know that we feel grief and a broken heart at the loss of our “other” family member. I wish a word other then “”pet” could be used to describe them. My two dogs CODY and STANLEY were my babies, not my pets. I had to choose to put both of them to sleep because they would not have recovered from their illnesses and I could not let them suffer. I made that decision for them and not for me. I think that many of us here understand what you feel. Grief is stress and stress can do alot to us.

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Dear Suzanne,

I’m new to the board but just wanted to let you know that someone else knows just how you feel. “Pets” just doesn’t seem a strong enough word to describe what our furry family members mean to us. The bonds after so many years are strong. Let it out… and when you’re ready let yourself remember the good stuff. After so many years I bet there’s lots of good stuff 🙂 .

Thinking of you and hope you find a bit of comfort soon. sylvia

Suzanne I have you in my prayers. I have 4 cats and they are our children. just like our son. Last yr they got bad cat food and we spend over $10,000 to save them. I have 1 now I am waiting to hear from my vet to see if he has cancer and the oldest has a kidney problem. They do what so few humans can do and that is unconditional love. When we are sick they are the 1st ones to come to us. I feel your sorry and pain and know I will be going through this one day. Remember the love and joy Pepper gave you and he is with God and now pain free. Suzanne my beliefs are of the Native American and we believe that animals have spirits as we do. and Pepper will come back to you in a spirit form. One of my cats is a spirit from a cat my wife had years ago and we named him after her cat (Ceaser) I have hand made coffins for my cats as when they were sick we felt we would loose at least 2.I wish I could just hold you and help you through this time of loss.I know my time will come and it will tear me apart.I am praying for you as I type. May the Great Spirit touch you and soften your pain and mend the loss and pain within you Your friend (Steve)

Suzanne, we have raised three children on a farm. Believe me, I know exactly what you are feeling. We were fortunate enough to offer our children an education you can’t get at school and that is the gift of animal friends. They teach us so much and ask for so little in return. Those who have not had the opportunity to experience the human part of pets just can’t understand.
Remember the good stuff, and know that you did the right thing for your friend.
Be well,
JayDee

Suzanne,
I can appreciate how feel. Our family has lost a number of beloved friend over the years. My prays go with you that stress you feel will not aggravate your physical condition. Crying helps, I know.

Suzanne you can see you have received a big group hug from this group. We know what it is like when a pet leaves foot prints on your heart. Since I have been home from the hospital I have lost two of my dogs. One my Yorkie Tyler from old age about two months after I got out of the hospital. then this Spring I also had to put down Coach my 9 year old German Shepherd Dog. As times goes on and your heart heals you memory will regain those better days when we had such great days with our pets. Remembering them during those times will help that healing process. Big Hug and get your rest…..you need to think of yourself also. The tears will soon change from sorrow to tears of joy as your thoughts change. Their memory will always touch our hearts. Have you been to the site called the Rainbow Bridge….their is a great poem there that needs a box of Kleenex to get thru it but it really helps to see you are not the only one that has lost a great pal and friend. Cat or Dog or Tadpole they are all animals that that made us smile and laugh.

Suzanne, I’m sooo sorry for your loss. I had to make the same decision 9 years ago with my German Shepherd, it is very hard to get over, but you will. Its the same as accepting and recovering from GBS/CIDP, one day at a time. I have the same feeling as Steve mentioned with the spirits, I know my Henry has my Shadows’ spirit in him also. I believe in the healing power of animals also, thats why I saved Shadow from death, and thats why I tool in Henry after that. Animals help my depression alot better then meds ever did. Please take care of yourself. You made the right decision. I’m sending you Big Hugs.

[B]Suzanne,

My heart breaks for you, I know this pain very well, as I just had my Rottie of 12 yrs put down because of bone cancer and my other dog last year from cancer. They are our babies, our family and it does hurt so badly.

I’m sending you Big Brandy Hugs, so wrap my arms around you and feel my love.[/B]

Oh SuzyQ!!!:(

I am so very sorry to hear the news. I have not been on the forums much at all lately, in fact havent really been answering email as you know, and feeling a little guilty about it, now I feel worse because I wasnt there for you! I know that you lost another cat a while ago, and I know how much you love and care for them Suzanne. My heart goes out to you during this time of loss.

Suzanne,

Hugs to you. I am fighting back my tears as I write this – I so understand what you are going through and it sucks. We love them so and they love us right back with every cute twinkle in their eyes and those purrs… I admire your strength for going ahead and doing what was best for your kitty. I put a 13 year old cat down 10 years ago – that was when my Tigger found me (at a shelter). Mourning for our animals is very hard and a lot of people do not understand, but it looks like many of us here do 🙂 I hate to admit this, but I have cried harder and longer over a pet versus a human being.

My mother (now deceased) kept insisting that I get another and I was stubborn and kept saying no. I finally gave in to her and went to the shelter and got my Tigger (you probably remember him, he used to be my avatar). A fresh purr and kitty lick will sure help heal this wound – please think about it. Rescuing a cat from a shelter is a very good thing to do – for both of you.

I’m thinking of you and remembering when we had to put our cat “Klaus” to sleep on the 17th of May 1999, after having taken him in – or rather he just went into our house and made it clear that he wanted to stay with us – nine years earlier. He was such a wonderful personality and I miss him even now. I wish I had a picture of him to show you, but our “resident” cat, Mosse, tells me a picture of her along with comforting purrs and nuzzles will have to do.

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I send you warm thoughts and hope your GBS symptoms will soon fade as your mind comes to tems with the sad circumstance.

All the best from

Suzanne,

I am so sorry, I know how hard of a decision that is. We have 3 cats, 2 of which are brothers and are 13. Charlie (one of the twins) has been really sick lately and throwing up, we are struggling with the decision of whether to put him to sleep. We have taken him to the vet and he has lost alot of weight, his liver is bad. We decided today if he doesn’t turn around in the next day or two on his meds we are going to put him to sleep. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Jerimy

When I worked for a Vet this is the poem we would give to grieving parents (or grandparents) who lost their beloved fur babies:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

Author unknown…

Karen,

Thank you for that “Rainbow Bridge” prayer!!! I have tears in my eyes as I am trying to type this………………..I really hope that that is what is waiting for all of us that have lost our animal “friends”. I really want to believe that there is something like that waiting for us🙂

Per

I don’t know if you all believe in communicating with the dead, like John Edward in Crossing Over? But, I do and every few months there is a Spirit Fair in town with a lady that does what John Edward does. I have heard special words from my mother many times. This last time, my sisters were with me and my deceased brother-in-law came through and made a comment about him being with animals and this lady named the two dogs they had years ago. To me this is proof that are animal friends exist on the same spiritual plane as us humans.

I have had a physic tell me my cat is a ‘familiar’ – meaning he came to my spirit for a reason and he knows me. This is my Tigger and he has taught me some life lessons in his 10 years with me. Everyday I love on him and pray for many more days. [IMG]http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p146/arielccv/tiggerstars.jpg[/IMG]

Suzanne,

Thanks for the Rainbow Bridge and also for your offer. Charlie is holding his own and getting better slowly. He’s on some strong meds. which seem to be helping.

Jerimy

Chrissy, I love All the Orbs on Tigger’s Pic!!:)

I put my beautful 15 year old feline Tiger Lily to sleep 4 years ago. She passed away quietly in my arms.I held her for 45 minutes till the vet took her away. Her ashes are in a little green box in my glass enclosed bookcase.
When I was in the hospital she wouldn’t eat and my neighbor said she may not last much longer. I came home too soon to get her back eating and I relapsed. But we had another wonderful year together.She was there with me through the awful times of undiagnosed CIDP pain. She was my touchstone.
Yes, pets in not a stonger enough or correct term for our sweet furry soulmates. Now I have a extremely precious kitty “Ossie” and he will be 2 next month.I wasn’t looking for another cat and somehow when I saw him I just knew we were meant for each other. How right I was.He’s sleeping on my bed as I type.His nickname is “Beyond Handsome”.

Chrissy-your Tigger is a beauty.

I am so sorry about your Cat I know how you feel. Sometimes they are the best thing to talk to. As they agree and help. As a Cat lover I am sorry for you.
Kind Regards
Paul

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Isn’t it amazing that cats and dogs love to be stroked and scratched, cuddled and fed – and we love to do it!

What a natural win-win situation…

And we have someone to guard our food too:D !

Allaug, it looks like he is guarding his own food too 🙂

Thank you, Jerimy and Suzanne – SHE is quite a character for sure. And besides the tinned food, she is particularly guarding “her own food” when we put frozen shimps in cold water in the kitchen sink to thaw them.

Miaou from Mosse Caramel and