? Prayers Please: Saoirse Not Well at All | UPDATE Wed 6th: Recovering from Severe Pancreatitis Flare

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Mogs, I know you are very worried. But I know that Saoirse is in very good hands. You are a great cat mom and Saoirse loves you and trusts you. You can get over this together!
 
Critter Mom said:
Hi all,

Not been around because I needed to concentrate on Saoirse and my own health is very bad.

Saoirse had been doing really well (other than regular (managed) chronic pancreatitis stuff - overall eating quite well). Hot spot resolved, fur all grown back, proper pigmentation returning, BG in good numbers, back to being affectionate and sociable. Her blood pressure was creeping a bit high so she was started on benazepril last month and I think she may have had an adverse reaction to it. On Thursday Saoirse showed signs of pain so I got the vet to check her over. (I've discovered that ACE inhibitors can cause arthritic pain, hypertonia, and they can worsen inflammatory conditions.) She was diagnosed with arthritis and the vet thought she might also have a stress-related UTI. The vet prescribed pain meds for her and an antibiotic. In spite of the note on her records that she was NEVER to be treated with Convenia the vet gave her an injection of same. My heart sank when he told me. I still can't believe it.

Saoirse has been up and down for the last few days but tonight she's not been well at all; very lethargic and depressed most of the time but then she perks up and wants her grub; she has been eating well the vast majority of the time since Thursday but she has had some diarrhoea and loosish, tan stools. I am really scared. I can't bring myself to type the words for my fear right now, nor can I adequately express my anger and frustration about the error.

I would be grateful if you could send prayers and/or good thoughts to my beloved girl. I'm in bits.


Mogs
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So sorry to hear this, I ask God in Jesus name to heal your beloved cat.
 
(((Mogs))),

Thank you for letting us know how you and Saoirse have been despite feeling under the weather...I've missed your posts.

I can only offer you healing wishes and many many prayers to get Saoirse over yet another hurdle, and I believe she will. I must have missed this, but did she have a previous reaction to convenia?

I don't want to be this way, but I'm losing confidence in veterinarians...I really do feel for you, Mogs. Gosh, I wish I could just make it better for you both. Giant hugs coming your way.

Dawn :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Hi Mogs, I am so sorry that you have to worry about the convenia that the vet gave her. I hope she is on the mend and please update us as soon as you can. Sending hugs and vines of healing and strength. :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Sending more prayers and healing vines, Mogs. I really hope both Saoirse and you are getting better. Hugs for you and scritches for Saoirse! :bighug: :cat::bighug: :cat::bighug: :cat:
 
UPDATE: 6 July 2016, 20:31
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Saoirse started to pick up in the hours before breakfast time on Monday morning (especially after she managed to have a poop). By Monday afternoon she was very much improved (not difficult given how bad she was overnight).

The vet who examined Saoirse on Friday called to give her a B12 injection on Monday afternoon. She examined Saoirse again and the intense pain in Saoirse's back has subsided big time. The best hypothesis is that the benazepril may have caused massive inflammation throughout the body, which I have now learned is a known side effect of ACE inhibitors - as is hypertonia. This may have been responsible for the severe back pain Saoirse was experiencing on Friday (plus her abdomen was so rigid on Thursday that the vet who examined her that evening could not feel her internal organs at all). It looks like Saoirse has also experienced a severe pancreatitis flare as a result of the inflammatory effects of the medication. Saoirse's BG was in the 17s yesterday evening (Alphatrak).

Thanks to the improvements, Saoirse now needs a smaller dose of bupe and, mercifully, the severe depression has lifted. She is very tired a fair part of the time but her sleeping is more relaxed now; she's hopping up onto the sofa to snuggle beside me instead of those awful lethargic sprawls on the floor she had been doing over the previous days, especially on Sunday. Anti-jinx, her intense urge to hide has diminished substantially and her BG was down a fair bit earlier today. It varies with the food batch, but overall Saoirse is eating steadily with the help of freeze-dried chicken sprinkles on her food, smaller meals, and some occasional hand feeding from her mom. Her abdominal distension has reduced markedly.

Sorry it has taken me so long to post an update. I'm beyond shattered and there isn't a bit of me that doesn't hurt right now; I need to use what little energy I have to care for my beloved girl. I cannot get over Saoirse's courage, her resilience, and her intense desire to live; she is nothing short of astounding. It was wonderful to see her sitting comfortably on the sofa today or asking me for food, open-faced and tail held high, when she got hungry. She's snuggled up under her blankie beside me right now, purring contentedly. What a girl ... (((Saoirse)))

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your prayers and healing thoughts! Yet again, you have all helped my girl when she was in great need, and I am profoundly grateful to each and every one of you for being there for us.

:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:


Mogs
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Maggies Mom Debby said:
Mogs, I know you are very worried.
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The older she gets, the worse the worry, Debby. It doesn't help that bad pancreatitis flares are terrifying to witness. After the awful flare Saoirse had not long after starting insulin treatment I've done everything I could think of to try to protect her from ever having another one. It's so hard when doing something to try to help her (the ACE inhibitor) makes things worse, not better.


Mogs
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Wow, that's really good news!
Both of you now get some rest, watch a comedy, smell some flowers and heal - that's an order!
What a relief to know that things are so much better.
Lots of love, hugs and kisses:cat::cat::cat::kiss::kiss::kiss:
 
Mogs

So glad to hear that Saoirse is improving each day. With all the meds she needs it must be so difficult to track problems with one or a combination of them. Hopefully by removing the benazepril that will alleviate some of the problems. Chronic pancreatitis is very difficult to deal with as well. My Tuxie always has a very tight belly with all his organomegaly. I have been most fortunate that the few serious pancreatitis attacks he has had responded well to fluids, cerenia and bupe.

Sending more prayers and positive energy that Saoirse continues to feel better and better each day and you can relax and gather your energy back.

:bighug: :bighug: :bighug:
 
@Allan - Thank you for your message. I can't hit the Like button on your post because it's got a rainbow in it and I'm extremely superstitious (I have quite severe anxiety problems) so I'm thanking you here instead. :)


Mogs
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Critter Mom said:
Saoirse started to pick up in the hours before breakfast time on Monday morning (especially after she managed to have a poop). By Monday afternoon she was very much improved (not difficult given how bad she was overnight).

The vet who examined Saoirse on Friday called to give her a B12 injection on Monday afternoon. She examined Saoirse again and the intense pain in Saoirse's back has subsided big time. The best hypothesis is that the benazepril may have caused massive inflammation throughout the body, which I have now learned is a known side effect of ACE inhibitors - as is hypertonia. This may have been responsible for the severe back pain Saoirse was experiencing on Friday (plus her abdomen was so rigid on Thursday that the vet who examined her that evening could not feel her internal organs at all). It looks like Saoirse has also experienced a severe pancreatitis flare as a result of the inflammatory effects of the medication. Saoirse's BG was in the 17s yesterday evening (Alphatrak).

Thanks to the improvements, Saoirse now needs a smaller dose of bupe and, mercifully, the severe depression has lifted. She is very tired a fair part of the time but her sleeping is more relaxed now; she's hopping up onto the sofa to snuggle beside me instead of doing those awful lethargic sprawls she was doing, especially on Sunday. Anti-jinx, her intense urge to hide has diminished substantially and her BG was down a fair bit earlier today. It varies with the food batch, but overall Saoirse is eating steadily with the help of freeze-dried chicken sprinkles on her food, smaller meals, and some occasional hand feeding from her mom. Her abdominal distension has reduced markedly.

Sorry it has taken me so long to post an update. I'm beyond shattered and there isn't a bit of me that doesn't hurt right now; I have to use what little energy I have to care for my beloved girl. I cannot get over Saoirse's courage, her resilience, and her intense desire to live; she is nothing short of astounding. It was wonderful to see her sitting comfortably on the sofa today or asking me for food, open-faced and tail held high, when she got hungry. She's snuggled up under her blankie beside me right now, purring contentedly. What a girl ...

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your prayers and healing thoughts! Yet again, you have all helped my girl when she was in great need, and I am profoundly grateful to each and every one of you for being there for us.

:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:


Mogs
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Dear Mogs,
I've been away as well dealing with pancreatitis in my two babes and renal issues, along with other crisis. I'm relieved to hear Saoirse is improving. One thing I have had tremendous success with, after resisting using it for a long time, is Cerenia. It helps in a global way by not only stopping any vomiting and nausea, calming the nerves, but globally reducing inflammation (they are discovering it does have targeted anti inflmmatory properties). I keep both injectible and oral forms at home now.

My vet also gave a Convenia shot against my instructions and also a cortisone shot at another time against my wishes. With the Convenia event, I was pretty worked up about it. He got loose stools and was not himself. I decided to give him supplements to support the bone marrow, because that is what can get affected by the Convenia. I simply used Amino B Plex--(it's about $20), it has full spectrum B vitamins, iron, and spirulina. All support the bone marrow. the drawback is that it has fructose in it. Anyway, it seemed to help him bounce back and he loved the flavor. I watched his glucose very closely while he was on it. I also found that he loved baby food, and made sure he ate during the flare up of pancreatitis, which is very important to keep them eating.

I learned from you about Benazepril and I'm grateful for that. He is also on it, and although it has helped with his renal issues and helps the heart, I'm not sure it is truly worth some of the side effects. I'm checking into this too. It seems to throw him off, but I cannot stop it suddenly--he must be weaned slowly. Not sure I can actually stop it since he has renal failure.

All my best,
Bliss
 
I am just seeing this thread Mogs, sorry! I am so happy to hear that Saoirse is feeling more herself, and hope she continues to improve :bighug: :bighug: That girl is a fighter and she is lucky to have such a caring bean, just as you are so very lucky to have such an awesome girl in her :bighug::bighug: I hope you both can get some relaxation and mend together
 
Mogs, I can't tell you how glad I am to read this. Saoirse is such a fighter! I know this is a huge relief to you as well.

Do know that we understand when you can't post updates. You've got so much going on that you don't need to ever feel any kind of worry or anxiety on our behalf!

Spend your time snuggling with your previous girl. And please take care of yourself. Now that she is feeling better I hope you are getting some much needed rest!
 
@MsBliss -

Thank you for your message, and also for the tip about Cerenia. Saoirse has received that in the past and seems to have been OK on it (albeit she only got it occasionally). One of our vets wonders whether the elevated blood pressure may be due to inflammation, including the arthritis, so the Cerenia lead is most welcome; it's not something I'd have thought of. We're looking to find things to help with inflammation and related pain; the vet thinks it's possible that those issues may be feeding into the elevated blood pressure problem. Saoirse's very med-sensitive and she can't tolerate amlodipine to help her blood pressure hence the Rx for benazepril. Our vet has recommended Nutraquin (similar to Cosequin) but I'm concerned about the chondroitin it contains because it's from a shellfish source and Saoirse's sensitive to fishy things. I note from your signature that you're giving Adequan. According to marvistavet.com, Adequan's chondroitin is bovine in origin so that's something I'll be able to discuss with our vets to see whether that might help Saoirse.

I'm sorry to hear that your little ones haven't been feeling so well; I hope they feel much better very soon.


Mogs
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Mogs, I have been silently watching your posts and praying and hoping for the best. I'm glad she is feeling better. :bighug:
 
Mogs, I was so happy and excited to read your update!!! Saoirse is such a little trooper, what a great girl she is! I am SO, so happy that she is improving, and so rapidly. I pray that she continues to get better every day. And Mogs, please remember, you can't burn the candle at both ends; YOU need rest and food, too! Please take care of yourself, as well as Saoirse. :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
People ask me sometimes why I love cats so much, most wont understand I have seen their resilience and ability to thrive in some of the most difficult environments, I dont just love them I admire them, mine have have amazed me time and time again, heres to your Saoirse amazing you for many many more years
 
Just saw your update (didn't get a notification for some reason!:arghh::banghead:.) Anyway I am beyond thrilled to hear Saoirse is doing better. I love the vision of Saoirse snuggled under her blankie purring, beside you! Love at it's very best! Your little girl is a trooper! Now you need to get you feeling better too. It's so very exhausting worrying and nursing these little ones but so worth the effort!:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug: for you and lots of scritches for Saoirse.
 
Critter Mom said:
@MsBliss -

Thank you for your message, and also for the tip about Cerenia. Saoirse has received that in the past and seems to have been OK on it (albeit she only got it occasionally). One of our vets wonders whether the elevated blood pressure may be due to inflammation, including the arthritis, so the Cerenia lead is most welcome; it's not something I'd have thought of. We're looking to find things to help with inflammation and related pain; the vet thinks it's possible that those issues may be feeding into the elevated blood pressure problem. Saoirse's very med-sensitive and she can't tolerate amlodipine to help her blood pressure hence the Rx for benazepril. Our vet has recommended Nutraquin (similar to Cosequin) but I'm concerned about the chondroitin it contains because it's from a shellfish source and Saoirse's sensitive to fishy things. I note from your signature that you're giving Adequan. According to marvistavet.com, Adequan's chondroitin is bovine in origin so that's something I'll be able to discuss with our vets to see whether that might help Saoirse.

I'm sorry to hear that your little ones haven't been feeling so well; I hope they feel much better very soon.


Mogs
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One more thing, Cerenia can sting when injected. The pills are usually given if there is no vomiting and kitty can take oral meds. Usual dose is 1/4 of a 24mg pill. If an injection is necessary, I'm giving it every day now by injection, technique helps: keep the Cerenia chilled, and chill the syringe for ten minutes after it is filled, to bring down the temperature. I inject it into the subq fluid bubble or put it in the subq port on the fluid bag and they don't feel it at all.

Adequan is really good stuff, as well. One vet told me to inject it IM, but a second vet told me it can be injected subq. You would do the loading dose once a week for several weeks, then expand to once a month. There is a manufacturers' shortage right now. I have not been able to get any and I think that will continue through August. But I think there is some available with a short date of October 2016. But, a two vial box can last for two years because the dose is so small, so I am holding out, hoping to get some when they release the new batch.

I'm trying to think of safe remedies that address global inflammation. The first thing that comes to mind is Omega 3 oils. In that category, the safest and purest one designed for cats is Nordic Naturals (version for small dogs and cats on the label). You can buy it on Amazon for about $20. Oils are subject to rancidity, and you have to buy ones titrated for a small animal so that they do not get a case of the poops. People strength capsules are generally too strong. Mercola also has a good oil in an airless pump, but their stuff is more pricey. Start with just 4 drops of the Nordic version per meal and increase slowly to the dose on the bottle, or keep the dose low and see if that helps at all. Keep it in the fridge after it is opened.

If I can think of any other remedies, I'll post the info.

All my best,
Bliss
 
Part 2, to my post about Nordic Naturals fish oil for inflammation: I forgot to mention that with pancreatitis, sometimes vets want to restrict fats, which puts omega 3 oils off the menu, but latest data I read said that dogs with pancreatitis should restrict fats and oils, but that cats recovering from pancreatitis do not need to restrict. Best to check with your vet on that one!
 
Marlena said:
How are you both doing?
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Very up and down, Marlena. Saoirse's fine one minute and then she's not so good. She's eating well but I can't find a way to make her comfortable all the time. Her BG has gone haywire over the last week. I tried increasing the dose in line with TRP but the higher dose made her very lethargic so I had to reduce it again. I'm in bits again. And heartsore - feels like fists clenched around my heart, throat, and gut. She needs pain meds all the time now.


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