3/16 Doodles PM +2 381 ... Diagnosis is HCM

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Doodles & Karen

Doodles & Karen

Member Since 2015
Doodles 3/15 Many thanks for all your continued support, prayers & vines. We're off to the IM vet/ cardiologist at AM +5. I anticipate being there for a few hours :( Plan on having every test under the sun done to try and figure out my little mystery boy.

Generally speaking he's in good spirits. Stalking/ chasing the Moo a little (not like yesterday's attack thank goodness) along with cat chat going on.

Extra vines for Elizabeth & Gus, Elise & Max, Paula & Smokey and all others in need.
 
This is the "mommy, please don't make me go to the vet" look.
 

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I'm here waiting for Doodles. I like the IM vet. She and I have already agreed to disagree about how "low" is too low :rolleyes: I told her I wasn't here for dosing advise but to figure out why he has sudden resistance... she agreed. Also asked about Levemir and she won't prescribe. She says it's too dangerous of a insulin for catso_O That's fine for now since I have 2 full viles of Lantus in the fridge. She is actually familiar with Acro/ IAA and they have an account with MSU already.

Tests
- Acro/ IAA
- chest xray for asthma screening:nailbiting:
- Eco - HCM/ Heart screening:nailbiting:
- BW again including for pancreatitis, thyroid the whole works w/ urinalysis of course

I'll give another update later but we have a lot of waiting to do with the BW.

ETA: Weight was 15lbs 7oz. Not sure what to think. He was 16.5 on my other vets scale 2 weeks ago. Is he loosing weight because of the higher numbers? Doodles didn't start gaining weight again until we had him in good numbers.
 
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Glad you are getting everything checked out and that the new vet is more knowledgeable about Acro/IAA. I hope that she will discuss the results with you at the end of the day! ...I hate nothing more than waiting for the results.

Doodles & Karen said:
Weight was 15lbs 7oz. Not sure what to think. He was 16.5 on my other vets scale 2 weeks ago. Is he loosing weight because of the higher numbers?
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I would think that that might be a fluctuation in different scales... unless you noticed that he has been losing weight. Walter just weighed 14.9 pounds at the vet's office and I was convinced that he was 14.3 at home a few days earlier. I weighed him again right when we got home and he is still 14.3 on my baby scale.

Sending more vines for good results and answers!
 
If you don't have one, you might want to invest in a baby or pet scale. That way you can monitor his weight at home and will know if it fluctuates more than you want. I weigh my kitties first thing in the morning, before feeding, once a week, if I'm concerned about their weight.

I see in your subject line you have a diagnosis of HCM so far. :bighug: What course of treatment is the vet recommending?

Sending lots of vines for good results on the rest of the test.
 
I try to weigh Boomer every couple of weeks. I just weigh myself first, then weigh myself while holding him, and then subtract my weight. It seems to give a pretty accurate #.
Many more hugs coming your way Karen! :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
We're home finally and he ate Tiki Sardines for dinner and chowed. Probably because he hasn't eaten since +3 this morning. I did a big no-no and didn't test at PMPS but shot a reduced dose of 3 units.:nailbiting::nailbiting: Will be checking him but felt it was safe.

The HCM (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is severe. However we did catch it early thanks to everyone here especially @Marje and Gracie and @Wendy&Neko....can't thank you both enough. :bighug::bighug:

He's starting Furosemide and will get the injectable form. 20 units in the morning and 10 units at night. Second drug is Enalapril that we're having compounded into treats. Since this particular drug and damage his kidneys (of course, right) we'll be getting a blood test done 7 days after we start. They will know by then if he can tolerate it or not.

Other blood work will be in tomorrow or Friday and the Acro/ IAA tests late next week. We're really not suspecting Acro/IAA any longer but doing it anyway.

Although I'm devastated I'm also a little relieved. The anxiety of all the guessing the last month & 1/2 has been horrible. I am forever thankful to you all for supporting us and taking a lot of your time to try and help us figure things out.
 
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{{{Karen}}}

I know this diagnosis is not what you wanted to hear, but at least you know what you're dealing with and have a plan, and that is so much better than wondering and worrying. I'm so glad the doctor feels you caught it early and treatment may help. Sending oodles of vines and prayers. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Thank goodness you were pushing so hard to find answers and found things before it was too late. You are such a good bean. :bighug: I will always remember my Buster(ga) having his stroke two days before his scheduled echocardiogram. So many do not catch HCM in time and it is treatable. And heart issues can cause insulin resistance.
 
What a long day you've had! Doodles is lucky to have you as his Bean! :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
I don't know anything about HCM so I'm going to read up on it!
 
Wendy&Neko said:
And heart issues can cause insulin resistance
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They are thinking this is the cause but other tests will be in next week.
Wendy&Neko said:
So many do not catch HCM in time and it is treatable
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I picked up a hand out at my groomers specifically for Mainecoons. If it wasn't for that and everyone here we wouldn't have caught it. Well and of course the whole mystery Doodles with the BG's certainly brought major attention!
 
As others have said, it's not the news you wanted but you now know what the "enemy" is and have the tools to fight the battle. Did you get to talk to Dr. Church? One thing you might want to ask about the enalapril is whether it can cause intestinal ulcers. When the vets here put Gracie on enalapril, they said that a side effect "can be" intestinal ulcerations but I never found that in the literature. I know Doodles has had an issue in the past with that. Hate to be a Debbie Downer but better to ask and get a "no way" than to not ask.

Baby steps.....now to get him better. And seeing Dr. C is the lemonade :smuggrin::smuggrin::rolleyes:
 
Karen
Sending vines and prayers. I am glad that finally you have diagnosis and treatment plan. I hope that the medications will work well and Doodles gets back to his blue/green #.
 
Karen, I'm sorry to hear about Doodles' dx, but so glad you caught it early! I just went through the whole testing/echo/cardiologist with one of my Bengal civvies (Bengals are also very prone to HCM); he has a fairly serious heart murmur but fortunately, it hasn't developed into HCM yet, although they say it likely will, eventually.

Sending prayers for Doodles, hope his meds work out well and have no side effects!

Lucy :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Just wanted to stop by and send you and dear Doodles lots of vines and purrs. Glad you found out the HCM fairly early. I hope the other tests come back with some good news :bighug:
 
Doodles & Karen said:
Actually they are worried about kidney damage and said they would know with the first blood test 7 days after we start. Some do well and some don't on it. But I'll also ask about the ulcerations :arghh:

I did not but he's going to be the main Doc so will soon :smuggrin:
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I know you do lots of research.... when 1 of mine was on enelapril I also was researching and there was a controversy whether or not the drug made ay difference. I never got to the bottom of it other than some do well and some don't.....:bighug:
 
Sending lots of hugs and vines your way. :bighug::bighug::bighug: As several others have said, I am sure it is not the diagnosis you wanted to hear - but I agree that it is so much better to know what you are up against than to not know. At least this way, there are treatment options... and no one deserves a break more than Doodles and you, so I sure hope that, for once, he will be the cat that has no side effects.
 
Karen and Doodles, sending vines and :bighug::bighug::bighug: your way. Glad you got answers even though its not want you want to hear. You know now what is wrong and it was caught early. Treatment plan in place. Doodles work those meds and feel better. Karen hang in. Have a drink and try to get some rest tonight.
 
So many vines your way- and so glad you have a diagnosis- now you know what to work with! I am so glad you listened to your gut and kept pushing! What a wonderful momma- and Doodles will do his best- I know he will! So glad DH was there for you tonight- with the perfect medicine! I will be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers- :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
I just haven't found anything definitive on the enalapril and ulcerations so I wouldn't worry about it. How did you like Dr. B?
 
Sending vines and prayers for you and Doodles going forward with his treatment, well done for following your gut instincts and pushing for answers. :bighug:
 
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