11/7 Luna - Update

For_Luna

For_Luna

Member Since 2019
All of Luna's electrolytes were in the normal range this morning after not being on any supplements or IV for two days. The doctor said her red blood cell count was down to 24 from 27, but he said he expected that. Not sure why that is, but he also said the Heinz body count was down too. So maybe the bad cells are being removed and that lowered the count? I'm not smart enough to understand any of this. All I know is he wasn't worried.

We're attaching a Freestyle Libre today. She lost a lot of weight, so they have to figure out where to put it. I hope she tolerates it, because this will make things so much easier when she gets home. Even if it's only until she gets the feeding tube out. And if anyone wants to try out the Libre, check out GoodRx before you buy. We got ours for $38 at Walmart. List price was around $65. And we're saving some money by using our phones to check the sensor instead of buying the meter.

Now the good news: the techs said Luna ate last night. It was only a teaspoon, but it's the first time she's eaten anything in about 2 weeks. We'll still have to use the feeding tube, but hopefully not for too long.

Just waiting on a call from the vet, but she should be coming home tonight. There's a lot of information to go over, so I think they're just figuring out a time that we can meet with the doctor.
 
I sure hope little Luna gets to come home tonight. It is a wonderful thing that she ate, and I bet/ hope you are right that she'll start eating soon after she gets home. Thank you so much for the good news:) The Libre sounds like a great thing too.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Party at Dan’s house tonight. Awesome news! :joyful:

Tagging a couple who tried the Libre and might have feedback for you, @Crista & Ming @J.J. and Phoebe Squeak

Good luck with bill. :rolleyes: Neko’s vet says I could have bought a car with what I paid for her. They aren’t nearly as fun.
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GREAT NEWS!!!!!!! So happy for you!
Sadly, Phoebe Squeak did not have a great experience with the meter (I loved it!). The advice I'd give you is to NOT believe your vet if they tell you she won't try to scratch it off. Make them cover it or secure it somehow just in case -- I know Luna is not in top form right now, but a determined cat WILL get it off. We had to go back and pay for a second meter after she promptly removed the first one within minutes of being home. We also ended up having to buy a surgery shirt for her to wear over the mesh covering the vet used because she was chewing it off. I'll try to paste the link for the shirt below. Others have had better luck with the meter and after all Luna's been through it will be wonderful not to have to poke her. I wish you all the best, and I'll be following along. Here is a link to the shirt we used https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NHNF5L6/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
and here is a link to a post where I answered questions people asked about the Freestyle Libre meter that includes feedback from others as well: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...questions-ive-been-asked.215627/#post-2401713
 
WOO GO LUNA!

Let me know if you have any questions about the Libre :) Ming's libre was put under his shoulder blades. He's a big boy so he couldn't really reach it. He could almost lick it but that was the extent.
 
Congratulations:bighug::bighug:!! It is so awesome that she is eating—especially at the clinic. She will be so excited to be home with you & your wife ❤️!!

I know a few of the researchers actually put the Libre on the neck vs. between the shoulder blades & then use the Kitty Kollar to help keep it in place. They use the skin tac in addition to the adhesive that comes with the Libre. One has also shared that he learned that most cats adjusted to it if they just kept putting them back on a few times. Granted, that is not fun when it is not a study & you have to pay for multiple sensors :(. Hopefully Luna will leave it alone—even only a few weeks of CGM is able to capture a lot of data & catch the dynamic trends you wouldn’t see otherwise.
 
J.J. and Phoebe Squeak said:
GREAT NEWS!!!!!!! So happy for you!
Sadly, Phoebe Squeak did not have a great experience with the meter (I loved it!). The advice I'd give you is to NOT believe your vet if they tell you she won't try to scratch it off. Make them cover it or secure it somehow just in case -- I know Luna is not in top form right now, but a determined cat WILL get it off. We had to go back and pay for a second meter after she promptly removed the first one within minutes of being home. We also ended up having to buy a surgery shirt for her to wear over the mesh covering the vet used because she was chewing it off. I'll try to paste the link for the shirt below. Others have had better luck with the meter and after all Luna's been through it will be wonderful not to have to poke her. I wish you all the best, and I'll be following along. Here is a link to the shirt we used https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NHNF5L6/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
and here is a link to a post where I answered questions people asked about the Freestyle Libre meter that includes feedback from others as well: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...questions-ive-been-asked.215627/#post-2401713
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Thanks for the info. I think she'll leave it alone because she's still kind of weak, but we might look into getting one of those shirts. They make her little shirts out of some stretchy material to cover her feeding tube, so maybe this could replace them.
 
TSP said:
Congratulations:bighug::bighug:!! It is so awesome that she is eating—especially at the clinic. She will be so excited to be home with you & your wife ❤️!!

I know a few of the researchers actually put the Libre on the neck vs. between the shoulder blades & then use the Kitty Kollar to help keep it in place. They use the skin tac in addition to the adhesive that comes with the Libre. One has also shared that he learned that most cats adjusted to it if they just kept putting them back on a few times. Granted, that is not fun when it is not a study & you have to pay for multiple sensors :(. Hopefully Luna will leave it alone—even only a few weeks of CGM is able to capture a lot of data & catch the dynamic trends you wouldn’t see otherwise.
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I'm not sure where they'll put it because of the feeding tube, but i think she'll leave it alone until she gets some energy back. When she's feeling better, we might need to cover it.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
YAYYYYYY!!!!

You are planning on doing a blood test for ketones, aren't you?
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Yes, we have a ketone meter and 60 strips. We're going to speak to our vet tonight about ketones, but how much do we need to be concerned if she's eating (feeding tube) and getting insulin?
Do ketones show up if food and insulin are present, or just when those things stop?

She's had extensive blood tests done every day for the last 2 weeks, and her electrolytes have been normal for a couple of days.
 
I've been following your posts. I'm so glad her electrolytes have normalized. Good catch on the vet's part with the 47.

The tricky part that we won't know is just how ketone prone Luna is. Gabby was diagnosed with DKA, pancreatitis, and hepatic lipidosis, hospitalized, and there was never a problem with any of those issues after once she was home. There have been other kitties who seem to develop ketons off and on for a while after the DKA is under control. Also, keep in mind that ketones (at least at lower levels) are not the same as DKA. It's dangerous when the electrolytes are out of whack. We will push you to get to the vet if you should see ketones above trace levels because ketones can become DKA quickly.

Remember that infection or inflammation are also a piece of the puzzle -- it's not just insulin and food. You want to aim for getting about 1.5 times the usual calories into Luna. You will also want to maximize the amount of insulin you give which can be hard if her appetite isn't great and you're still using the feeding tube. (I've been known to suggest a hot fudge sundae -- kitty gets the ice cream, caregiver gets the fudge sauce -- if that's what it will take to get calories into a cat.)

It will likely be one day at a time for a while. I was a nervous wreck with Gabby.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
I've been following your posts. I'm so glad her electrolytes have normalized. Good catch on the vet's part with the 47.

The tricky part that we won't know is just how ketone prone Luna is. Gabby was diagnosed with DKA, pancreatitis, and hepatic lipidosis, hospitalized, and there was never a problem with any of those issues after once she was home. There have been other kitties who seem to develop ketons off and on for a while after the DKA is under control. Also, keep in mind that ketones (at least at lower levels) are not the same as DKA. It's dangerous when the electrolytes are out of whack. We will push you to get to the vet if you should see ketones above trace levels because ketones can become DKA quickly.

Remember that infection or inflammation are also a piece of the puzzle -- it's not just insulin and food. You want to aim for getting about 1.5 times the usual calories into Luna. You will also want to maximize the amount of insulin you give which can be hard if her appetite isn't great and you're still using the feeding tube. (I've been known to suggest a hot fudge sundae -- kitty gets the ice cream, caregiver gets the fudge sauce -- if that's what it will take to get calories into a cat.)

It will likely be one day at a time for a while. I was a nervous wreck with Gabby.
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Yeah, we're going to be glad she's home, but we're not going to sleep until she gets back to normal. The nutritionist is putting together a plan to fatten her up. I don't know a weight, but she has to be under 6 lbs now. I think she was around 6.5 when she went in. So she'll definitely be getting enough calories and will have someone reviewing her plan as we go. She was up to 48ml of food yesterday.

At what level do ketones become a problem? I need to do some reading tonight
 
Check with the vet to see what they consider a problem. There should also be information in the user manual for your meter. There's some variation depending on the meter. A reading of 2.4 or 2.55 on a Precision Xtra (depending on the artlicle). This is a link to information on ketone measurement.. Be sure to take a look at some of the information and artlicle linked in the post. There's a lot of information there.
 
Oh Dan I am so over joyed to hear that Luna ate on her own, maybe when she gets home where she is used to being she will continue to eat on her own for you.
This poor girl has been through so much and you and your wife. Keeping all of you in my prayers
 
Yeah Luna. Welcome back home. I know it will be tough but try and get sleep tonight. Maybe both of you can take shifts.
 
I wish Luna Nation could be there to line the streets as you make your way home with Luna tonight :bighug::bighug:! There would be a lot of people there. We will just have to be there in spirit ❤️!!!

I will continue to keep Luna as well as you & your wife in my thoughts & prayers as you continue this journey. One really nice thing about the long hospital stay is that it sounds like you have developed quite the relationship with a wonderful, caring & very invested team at the clinic who worked tirelessly with Luna. I hope that brings some peace of mind knowing they all really have come to know (& love) Luna & that you are able to pick up a phone & they will be there for you guys. That is priceless & hopefully gives you some peace of mind to have that safety net in place ❤️!!
 
Yess!! :bighug:So so happy for you Dan, after all the worries, your little girl is finally coming back home! Probably be one of the nicest weekend you 'll have! :joyful: and waiting for the pictures of our little star ...
 
Quick pic before feeding time. Missing some fuzz but doing well. Will update in the morning
 

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:bighug::bighug::bighug:She looks great Dan! Welcome home to the beautiful girl with the greatest little white cheeks!!! Enjoy the wonderful evening back together again :)!!
 
LOOOOOOVE that photo!!! Thank you so much! So happy you are all under 1 roof again. Sending easy-peasy vines for the meter to be a purr-fect solution for you with no issues whatsoever!
 
Oh such good news that you have little Luna home again. She is such a little fighter and I'm sure she just be feeling better being in her normal surroundings and having you and your wife around all of the time. :bighug:
 
So good that she's home! I hope she thrives there in her familiar surroundings! I sure hope the Libre works for you...I've been curious about getting one...Please keep us posted as 'Luna-nation' loves hearing good news about Luna!
 
Great Lunas doing well enough to go home . I hope she continues to get well ! Prayers ! I know all of you are really tired .
 
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