We're all falling apart around here

I took the small cat to the vet last night for his thyroid re-check (he's been on medication for 4 years for hyperthyroidism) and casually mentioned that I didn't think he was seeing very well these days, and also that he seemed really needy and whiney. So, I really shouldn't have been surprised when Dr. Sarah checked him out and agreed that, yes, he's pretty much blind and that it is probably very confusing and upsetting to him, hence the constant demands for attention. She says he can see shadows, but not much else, and that it's likely the consequence of senile changes in his brain due to advanced age (he's 17). Poor little guy, he's always been such an outgoing and friendly cat, it's hard to see him decline like this. He's always been really great with kids, it's sad to think that he might not be around to play with our hypothetical future children.

CD1(-5ish) and counting down to the next IUI cycle. I'm going to meet with the anesthesiologist at my clinic next week to talk about some of my concerns regarding sedation so that I am prepared in case we need to convert this cycle. I've had conscious sedation in the past for medical procedures and h-a-t-e-d it; I woke up crying hysterically and it was very upsetting. Hopefully he/she can address my fears and I can figure out how to deal with the sedation/retrieval process if we have to go there.