Might be pregnant. Need some advice. update in comments

themuffinman16 · January 2015

Mr. muffinman is out of town, on business for a week, and I am getting a lot of pregnancy signs (increased sense of smell... I can pinpoint deer piss from a mile away, nipple sensitivity and darkening, and mild nausea, and appetite loss). H and I have been TTC for two months, but the test i took yesterday came back negative. It is very early to tell, so I could be pregnant, but the test isn't catching the hormone variant.. I have endometriosis, so I don't want to tell people I am pregnant until 3 months in (except for H and twin sister). Endometriosis might cause problems, getting pregnant or staying pregnant... or I could be totally fine.

Here is my issue. H is out of town, and he usually scoops the cat litter. I have been pregnant before (in a past relationship) and had severe toxoplasmosis. I did not know I was allergic to benadryll, until the doctor gave me a shot. I almost died. I felt the benadryll in my veins like fire, when it hit my lungs, it felt like it was burning me from the inside out, I stopped breathing for quite a while. Everything went black. I don't know how the doctor's got me back, but they did (they didn't use paddles, but they might have used epinephrine). I chose to end that pregnancy, because I was without oxygen for so long, that there would be side effects to the baby, as well as from the toxoplasmosis, since my reaction was so severe).

I am terrified to scoop the cat litter, even with gloves because I know my reaction is so severe. H was being so dismissive about it, and it really pissed me off. It's not like the unknown. I know what happens, and I know it because it happened to me. I don't even want to chance it, with gloves on. I am that scared to go through that situation again.

Here is my problem: My sister doesn't have a car, and the litter needs to be changed ever other day. Do I just ask H's sister to clean the cat litter? (what would be my excuse why I couldn't scoop the cat litter?) Or do I tell my step-mom I might be pregnant and ask her if she can help me? I am worried about divulging that I think I could be pregnant, with my endometriosis, in case I have problems with the pregnancy or miscarry. Am I making a big deal of this? Should I just do it myself with gloves? WWTKD?

climbingsingle · January 2015

I would call either your step-mom or SIL. Explain the situation, and ask them to please keep it discrete as you're not entirely sure yet.

JCbride2015 · January 2015

First off, I'm so sorry you went through that traumatic experience. Holy crap.

Quick Googling shows that once you've had toxoplasmosis before, you are immune and can't get it again. http://www.webmd.com/baby/tc/toxoplasmosis-during-pregnancy-topic-overview

If you are worried, why not call your doctor and ask?

theartistformerlyknownas · January 2015

Shit I would go buy like 4 more litter boxes and let it ride til H got home, or at least til you get a positive test or AF.

If you do change it yourself, use gloves, a face mask, long sleeves and goggles.

themuffinman16 · January 2015

JCbride, I will call my doc, right now. Thank you so much.

southernbelle0915 · January 2015

I think you're fine to scoop the cat litter if you use gloves and wear one of those dust masks (can buy at home depot or a hardware store).

If you're really worried about it, I would set up a brand new litter box (or two) until your H gets home. Then he can scoop all of them.

JaniV123 · January 2015

you could always go get the urine pg test which is more sensitive and accurate that HPT.

also call your DR ASAP and maybe your sis to help you out JIC

raissyrais · January 2015

Sorry you had such a terrible experience but I think JC is right and you should just talk to your doctor. No need to take unnecessary risks! Take care Muffin!

[Deleted User] · January 2015

jenna8984 · January 2015

I think others gave great advice like calling your doctor to ask the liklihood of getting sick again.

But if it comes down to it and the doctor tells you that you could possibly get it again and not to do the box, honestly just leave it. I don't understand when you say it has to be done every other day. Why? We went to Asia for 2 weeks and nobody visited my house (my brother is a dipshit and lost his key). My cat had access to the large food storage and no one cleaned the box and it was perfectly fine.

Side note- good luck, I hope you are pregnant

themuffinman16 · January 2015

My cat has kidney issues, So he can fill up the cat box in two days. I used to be fine doing it twice a week, and could even let it go for a week or longer. If I let it go, he will have so much pee in there, and then he starts to pee elsewhere. Poor fatty is aging.

Blergbot · January 2015

If need be, I would just tell your SM that you are TTC and don't want to risk it--no need to tell her you might be PG. Sending all the good PG vibes your way!

hellosweetie1015 · January 2015

Multiple boxes would be a good short term solution, if your kitty will use a new box in an odd place. But I'd pull a trustworthy, cat-box-scooping person into your good-news circle just in case. Your H may need to be gone again during pregnancy.

I don't think I'd risk scooping it even if the doctor said it wasn't likely to get toxoplasmosis a second time - your experience sounds insanely traumatic. I wouldn't want to go through it once, so certainly I'd do everything in my power to avoid a second go-round.

daria24 · January 2015

Do you have cat sitting services in your area? You could pay someone to drop by and clean the litter until your H gets home. If it means that much to you to avoid telling your SIL or SMIL that you might be KU. It's usually about $10-15 per visit, plus tip.

wrigleyville · January 2015

If you aren't comfortable telling your SM or SIL about the possible pregnancy, which I totally understand, you could always say you're nauseated and think you're coming down with the flu, and you simply cannot tolerate the smell of the box. If you were my SIL, I'd come over and help you out.

jenna8984 · January 2015

themuffinman16 said:

My cat has kidney issues, So he can fill up the cat box in two days. I used to be fine doing it twice a week, and could even let it go for a week or longer. If I let it go, he will have so much pee in there, and then he starts to pee elsewhere. Poor fatty is aging.

Ohh gotcha, that stinks! There is nothing the vet can give him to help with that?

loveislouder · January 2015

My FI and I discussed TTC, and we agreed that if we were trying, I wouldn't scoop the box just in case.

Your sister doesn't have a car, but do you? Can you go get her to help you?

Everyone has given you good advice so far. If I was a local Knottie I'd come help you out in a heartbeat.

FWIW, if I you don't want to tell your family, then don't. It might put undo stress on you, then onto the baby.

P.S. Hoping for a positive result.

themuffinman16 · January 2015

jenna8984 said:

themuffinman16 said:

My cat has kidney issues, So he can fill up the cat box in two days. I used to be fine doing it twice a week, and could even let it go for a week or longer. If I let it go, he will have so much pee in there, and then he starts to pee elsewhere. Poor fatty is aging.

Ohh gotcha, that stinks! There is nothing the vet can give him to help with that?

I substitute one of his meals a day for wet cat food, and it's supposed to help. There are so many side effects to the medication for renal disease, that the vet isn't comfortable giving it to him, just yet. I tried giving my cat special cat food for renal insufficiency, and the poor thing went on hunger strike for a month. He lost 2 lbs. So we had to put him back on his regular food.

themuffinman16 · January 2015

Just waiting for the doctor to call me back. My sis lives quite a bit away for a ten minute errand. I guess if doc tells me absolutely do not scoop litter I will let step-mom or SIL in the loop, and ask for their help.

princessleia22 · January 2015

They do make disposable litter boxes that come complete with cat litter then you just throw them away. I have used them when I moved cross country with my cat and on occasion while going out of town. Then you just open up a new litter box and when it needs changing, you just shove the whole thing, box and all, into a garbage bag and throw it away... no touching cat litter. It may not be the most cost effective option, but it may be a safer option.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cat-s-Pride-Kat-Kit-Disposable-Tray-Cats/28969366

themuffinman16 · January 2015

Thank you, ladies for the amazing advice. I always know to come here first for any advice.

jenna8984 · January 2015

Does your cat go outside the house? Now I'm really curious about toxoplasmosis. I just read quickly that cats usually get it from eating a rodent or undercooked meat. My cat does neither of those so I'm curious her chances for still getting it/ spreading it.

luckya23 · January 2015

I would definitely second the suggestion of hiring a petsitter.

themuffinman16 · January 2015

Hmmm. My cat is an indoor cat, the other cat I had was an outdoor cat when I developed toxoplasmosis. I was wondering about that. It is a parasite in their digestive system, I also, started thinking it must be something only an outdoor cat would contract.

larrygaga · January 2015

But don't cats track the litter around when it gets stuck in their paw? I mean if its that dangerous to scoop the litter box should you even have a cat? Do you let it put its butt on your furniture? I'm just confused how scooping it could cause that bad of a reaction but the cat just being in the house is fine. They get their buttholes all over everything.

rcher912 · January 2015

@larrygaga - you're right, cats do get their butts all over everything, but the dustup from litter is what really triggers the toxoplasmosis - in terms of actual cat poop, it looks like you'd have to touch it (or a dirty surface) and then touch your face/eat the infected food/etc. It's a pretty common suggestion that pregnant women are just not to clean cat litter boxes at all ever.

Good luck, @themuffinman16! Hope it all works out (I'm sure it will). As PPs have said, there are a lot of creative solutions, so pick your favorite and run with it

larrygaga · January 2015

Oh! I thought it was the cat that caused it.

I would just tell your SIL or someone. I'm sure they would be okay with helping out if they knew what was going on.

SmileDamnit · January 2015

themuffinman16 said:

Hmmm. My cat is an indoor cat, the other cat I had was an outdoor cat when I developed toxoplasmosis. I was wondering about that. It is a parasite in their digestive system, I also, started thinking it must be something only an outdoor cat would contract.

I'm pretty sure it's only in issue in outdoor or indoor/outdoor combo cats as it's from a parasite that comes from uncooked meats (e.g rodents & such that an outdoor cat might have access to), and it's the poop you have to watch out for, not the urine.

If you do need to change the litter, you should be fine if you wear gloves and throughly wash your hands. But obviously defer to the doc's word as the authority, however.

lc07 · January 2015

What a horrible ordeal you went through before. So sorry to hear that.

I love Daria and Luckya's suggestions of hiring a pet sitter. That's what I would do.

I hope you are pregnant and that you have a smooth and fantastic pregnancy!

jdluvr06 · January 2015

Do any of your neighbors have teenagers that are trustworthy? If so you could pay one of them to come and scoop the box. I'm sorry about kitties kidney problems. I know that is something hard to go through.

My fingers are crossed that your pregnant!

banana468 · January 2015

POAS with a cheapie test first thing this AM. Not sure when you tested but the first morning urine will have the greatest concentration of HCG.

Might be pregnant. Need some advice. update in comments

Re: Might be pregnant. Need some advice. update in comments

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