7/30 Shasta AMPS=245 PMPS=252 +2=314 +4=237 +6=238

[Deborah & Shasta]

7/29 Shasta

Shasta's blood work from yesterday: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4QkzekNQKfYUGVFcm5VZ0pvNVE/view?usp=sharing

Thank you, Rhiannon, Tricia, Amy, Carla, Michelle, Melissa, Elise & Marilyn for checking in on us last night. I slept in my bed and made my bed accessible to Shasta, but she stayed in the hallway all night (where she spends 80% of her time, lately). When I woke up at poke time, I had a horrible headache...went back to bed and must have turned off my alarm at 8:45...woke up at 10:20 w/ a 10:30 chiropractor appointment. Oh...and the headache was worse.

WCR: Some Ps in place. We have pee, 1 small poop (but yay!) and some purrs. Her walking is fine; she's not "falling" down when she goes to lay down, but it's still labored to lie down (she's been laying down on her left side 9 times out of 10)...getting up seems easier (@pollydoodle - sounds similar to what you described w/ your dog); jumping up has become much more difficult; eating is ok...she was rubbing on my legs this morning as I got her fuds ready...meowing at me like old times. Her back legs do seem to a bit restless as she's laying there. Not all the time, but sometimes they look like their spasming a bit. Last night, when she would eat, she wouldn't sit all the way down...it's like she would hover over the sitting position. Right now, she's sitting on her tush.

I'm so lost and confused as to what is truly going on with her. Last night, I started researching a little on spinal problems/injuries and several things line up. However, I also read that thromboembolisms can present like spinal problems. hmmmm...now my brain is really going. Many years ago, Shasta unofficially diagnosed with saddle thrombosis (S.T.) (diagnosed by our original vet whom we really, really liked!) He put her on atenolol to help her heart work better and the "problem" disappeared (as she would be walking around, she would just fall/sit on her butt...for no reason and look at me with a confused look on her face; after about 7-10 seconds, she would get back up and walk off). Both the spinal problems as well as the thromboembolism could explain her brain issues...as could her age. Oh, and my new vet doesn't think she has a heart condition. Again, the S.T. was never officially diagnosed as it was early in my career and I had no money.

QOL...that's what I'm going for. I want her to be pain-free, self-sufficient (well, mostly) and happy.

The .02mL Bupe seemed to be a much better dose for her. I meant to give her some this morning to make it every 12 hours, but I completely forgot thanks to my headache. I haven't given her fluids today yet, but now that my mind is pondering heart problems...fluids can make them worse. UGH!

SHASTA...SPEAK TO ME! PLEASE!!!!

Sending healthy vines to all our sugar kitties and their hoomins! Blessings!

~Deborah & Shasta


AMPS=245 (13% FF Grilled Chicken in Gravy 1oz w/ Atenolol) (5% Friskies T&G Special Diet)
+4=164
+7=264 (3% FF T&G 1oz w/ Atenolol)

.02mL Bupe
PMPS=252 (13% FF Grilled Chicken 1oz & Zobaline)
+2=314 (9% Friskies Chicken & Liver)
+4=237 (5% Friskies T&G - Special Diet & Atenolol)
+6=238 (3% FF T&G 1oz & Miralax)

Poo Pee tally
Pee piles - 5 (2 small)
Poo piles - 1 (am - 3 small logs)

 

[Wendy&Neko]

(((Deborah))) Sending healing vines for Shasta, and for your head. I'm glad to hear that she is eating today, and even asking for it.

I had a civie with a thromboembolism - he lost all movement of his back legs, couldn't use them at all. And he lost blood flow there so his legs were cold. His was from HCM but he had a heart murmur and we were in the process of getting than diagnosed when he had his episode (2 days before his heart ultrasound). And echocardiogram/heart ultrasound would help any diagnosis there, but that would be a lot for Miss Sassypants. It would be good to ask the vet his/her take on fluids and thoughts on Shasta's heart.

Neko takes her time lying down, and mostly goes on one side. With her, it's arthritis.

It is good to see Shasta has a very nice potassium number now. Actually, her labs look really good.

 

[carfurby (GA)]

I'm glad the lower dose of bupe is helping Shasta. Sending more prayers.

 

[Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)]

Hi Deborah,
i've read both your most recent posts tonight and am sending lots of vines for Shasta to continue to improve. It is so frustrating when the vet won't run the tests you request. Vines for your headache, too. Nothing worse than a 3-day migraine.
Hugs and scritches! Feel better,

Ella & Rusty

P.s. don't spend too much time reading medical books of "symptoms"!

 

[Deborah & Shasta]

Shasta's appy has been pretty good today & tonight. In fact, I was almost late for PMPS & dinner because she was asleep on my lap!! Can I just say that it's been a really long time since she's actually laid on my lap for any length of time. I guess it's my fault, though. I don't sit still very well anymore because of my back...and then there's this laptop thing in the way. Anyways, I was super happy to share some snuggly time with her since we haven't snuggled at bedtime since this weekend. I gave her fluids this afternoon. Tonight, I saw her standing in the kitchen and there's this huge lump on her leg. I freaked out for a split second until I realized that it was the fluids! Currently, she is stretched out next to me with her Bupe eyes staring at everything and nothing at all. Oh, and she is acting peculiar in the LB. Keeps circling inside the LB, digs a hole, then circles, finally squats, but then circles again...eventually, peeing. I think she's got more poop up there, but I'm thinking it hurts her butt/backend to poop. I'll add Miralax to her overnight fuds like I did last night.

@Wendy&Neko - I'm sorry to hear about your civie. My previous vet suggested the EKG/ultrasound for a definitive diagnosis. But I think you're right, Miss Sassypants would be having none of it at this point. In fact, she keeps looking at her carrier like she wants to crawl in there to sleep, but won't go near it for fear that she'll get trapped in it again and have to go back to the vetty. I did ask my current vet about her heart and sub-q fluids. He thinks her heart is fine and she'll be fine with daily fluids. I know that she has the potential to have heart problems and I've told this vet about her past history. I'm not sure if he doesn't believe me or thinks my previous vet was wrong or what, but I know what I saw happen and I know that after she was put on Atenolol, the episodes stopped. To me, that says she has at least a small heart issue...and daily fluids may exacerbate the problem?! But I think she needs the daily fluids, too. As for her labs, I was pretty impressed, too!

@carfurby - Thank you! She seems much better on this dose...helps w/ pain, but not seeing demons coming out of the carpet!

@Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) - Thank you. To be fair, I did not ask the vet to get x-rays. I did at a previous visit a year ago, but not yesterday. We didn't have an appointment and I knew they were booked and short staffed. I was really just gunning for blood work and the SPEC fPL to confirm p'titis. Actually, he said that he thought about getting x-rays just "because", but then decided against them. I really try not to read too much on the internet...that's why I've been trying to keep busy this summer. But with watching over her the past few days, that's left me lots of internet time. More pets, less worry. I'm working on it!!

 

[Tiger(GA) and Ruth]

Tons of vines for your headaches; as one who gets migraines, I feel your pain! Shasta's labs do look really good, I am assuming the elevated esonophil count is her allergies? Shame about those xrays, it might shed some light on her painful behind. It causes them discomfort to have to squat even without arthritis, so I'm so relieved the bupe is working and that you gave her miralax. Vines for Shasta to feel better too!

More pets, less worry. I'm working on it!!

Easier said than done for us worrywarts!

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

The fact that she's eating well is huge. Seems like when they don't feel well, the appy is the first to go. I understand how confused and stressed you are. I wish I had a magic wand I could wave to make it all better. But I don't ( if I did, I'd use it on my kitties, too). So I'll just send more prayers and vines.

 

[Michelle and Mannie (GA)]

Morning Deborah

A nice even BG day for Shasta, and a better nght too over all. How cool that you got lap time. YAY! More prayers and vines fr both of you. I hope too that today your headache is gone.

Have a good one today!

 

[Amy&TrixieCat]

It sounds like you and Shasta had a pretty good evening! I'm so glad her appy has been pretty good and she's been snuggling. Maybe the bupe is helping her with pain-relief, and that is helping her relax and feel better overall.

The bupe can cause constipation...I wonder if it can cause urinary issues as well? My Dad just had a recent situation where he was on a cough medicine with codeine, and it actually caused him to have a difficult time peeing! So many the LB circling it has something to do with the bupe for Shasta.

Daily fluids can be so helpful for a kitty who needs them. Would your vetty be willing to have a more in-depth discussion with you about the potential heart issues, so you can have more peace of mind about whether or not that's the right thing for Shasta?

Sending along more prayers....