New member 03 May 2020 - Newly diagnosed 30 April

Status
Not open for further replies.
Tressa

Tressa

Member Since 2020
Hello everyone,

I desperately need some guidance.

My Missy is in her 20th year. She has the following conditions:

feline anorexia - diagnosed approx 10 years ago
Hyperthyroidism - diagnosed approx 5 years ago
Enlarged heart and liver - diagnosed a year ago
Advanced kidney failure - started a year ago
Hypertension - diagnosed approx 2 years ago.
Dark spots in her intestine and liver - possibly cancer - diagnosed a year ago.
She is on a diuretic to stop fluid gathering in her chest and lungs.
She has severe spondylitis in her lower spine (receiving acupuncture once a week for this)
She is currently 2.7kg and has lost alot of muscle mass and I believe is showing signs of diabetic neuropathy.
She was diagnosed on Thursday as being diabetic.

I am originally from Northern Ireland but live in Belgium and I believe I have a really good Vet practice. They love Missy, I think she is their best patient and their oldest.

I am distraught with what to do. The vets gave me the weekend to think about what I want to do and also because they didn't have the insulin. My first reaction to all this, was I can't do this, that I just couldn't physically stick needles in her, my second reaction was, i don't know if I can put her through all of it. She is frail but a fighter. A year ago they give her at the very most 6 months to live. They even made space in their agenda to do the euthanasia but she has battled on.

I have watched the videos on you tube on giving the injections but they are all big plump cats. My Missy has nothing to pinch, she is skin and bone. I just cannot see being able to stick a needle in her twice a day, every day. There is also very few places you can touch her, head, neck and shoulders is about it. Anywhere else and she will eat you.

I love her to bits, she is my furbaby and i know I can't hold on to her forever but she has been through so much and this was just the last thing she needed. But the alternative is to do nothing and I have done everything in my power to keep her alive. But the stress of the treatment might kill her, I just don't know what to do.

Thank you for any help and advice you can give.
 
Welcome to FDMB Tressa. Missy certainly has been through a lot. While I understand your anxiety to treat diabetes, the alternative can be far worse. Without insulin Missy will literally starve to death. This is a huge decision for you to make. Have you discussed with the Vet just what happens if Missy is not treated?
I believe this lands squarely on your shoulders. Of course whatever you decide WILL be the right thing for Missy AND you.

Should you decide you want to give Missy this chance, we will support you the best we can. There are caregivers here, who's cats have multiple issues, and they are treating their loved kitties for this disease. We cannot make this decision for you but I just wanted to say that we ARE here for you.
I know there will be more responses so lets see what others say. ok?
Again WELCOME This is the best place to help you help Missy with this new diagnoses.:bighug:
jeanne
 
Tressa said:
Hello everyone,

I desperately need some guidance.

My Missy is in her 20th year. She has the following conditions:

feline anorexia - diagnosed approx 10 years ago
Hyperthyroidism - diagnosed approx 5 years ago
Enlarged heart and liver - diagnosed a year ago
Advanced kidney failure - started a year ago
Hypertension - diagnosed approx 2 years ago.
Dark spots in her intestine and liver - possibly cancer - diagnosed a year ago.
She is on a diuretic to stop fluid gathering in her chest and lungs.
She has severe spondylitis in her lower spine (receiving acupuncture once a week for this)
She is currently 2.7kg and has lost alot of muscle mass and I believe is showing signs of diabetic neuropathy.
She was diagnosed on Thursday as being diabetic.

I am originally from Northern Ireland but live in Belgium and I believe I have a really good Vet practice. They love Missy, I think she is their best patient and their oldest.

I am distraught with what to do. The vets gave me the weekend to think about what I want to do and also because they didn't have the insulin. My first reaction to all this, was I can't do this, that I just couldn't physically stick needles in her, my second reaction was, i don't know if I can put her through all of it. She is frail but a fighter. A year ago they give her at the very most 6 months to live. They even made space in their agenda to do the euthanasia but she has battled on.

I have watched the videos on you tube on giving the injections but they are all big plump cats. My Missy has nothing to pinch, she is skin and bone. I just cannot see being able to stick a needle in her twice a day, every day. There is also very few places you can touch her, head, neck and shoulders is about it. Anywhere else and she will eat you.

I love her to bits, she is my furbaby and i know I can't hold on to her forever but she has been through so much and this was just the last thing she needed. But the alternative is to do nothing and I have done everything in my power to keep her alive. But the stress of the treatment might kill her, I just don't know what to do.

Thank you for any help and advice you can give.
Click to expand...
Hi Tressa,

I wanted to commend you for your dedication to Missy and unconditional love. As JT, said it’s a decision only you can make. All we can do is support you on that and if you decide to treat the diabetes on that as well. All that I can say, is that when it came time to make the decision for my late cat, I told myself as long as she had quality of life in her I’d do whatever it took to get her through it. But once that was gone, personally for me the decision became obvious. If you’re unsure or not ready to make that decision yet, then treating the diabetes is your best shot at maintaining her quality of life for as long as possible.
Tagging a few other folks here who may be able to provide some input as well @Bron and Sheba (GA) @Deb & Wink @Chris & China (GA) @Nan & Amber (GA)

sending you much love and strength :bighug:
 
The decision on what to do with a gravely ill cat is not an easy choice. You weigh all the factors and then make the decision that is the best for both you and for your cat.

Perhaps the information in this link can help you to make that most difficult of choices for your beloved cat Missy.

Making "The Decision": Help to know when and how

You may run through this decision tree multiple times, over the lifetime of your cat. You may review this Quality of Life Scale, many, many times and when the quality of life degrades too much, you will know it is time to let Missy cat go.
 
Deb & Wink said:
The decision on what to do with a gravely ill cat is not an easy choice. You weigh all the factors and then make the decision that is the best for both you and for your cat.

Perhaps the information in this link can help you to make that most difficult of choices for your beloved cat Missy.

Making "The Decision": Help to know when and how

You may run through this decision tree multiple times, over the lifetime of your cat. You may review this Quality of Life Scale, many, many times and when the quality of life degrades too much, you will know it is time to let Missy cat go.
Click to expand...
@Deb & Wink I just read that poem, The Last Battle , I am balling my eyes out
It's so true though
 
Deb & Wink said:
The decision on what to do with a gravely ill cat is not an easy choice. You weigh all the factors and then make the decision that is the best for both you and for your cat.

Perhaps the information in this link can help you to make that most difficult of choices for your beloved cat Missy.

Making "The Decision": Help to know when and how

You may run through this decision tree multiple times, over the lifetime of your cat. You may review this Quality of Life Scale, many, many times and when the quality of life degrades too much, you will know it is time to let Missy cat go.
Click to expand...
Waterworks truly. For me, it was like that line from Steel Magnolias. It was the greatest honor to be there for Deanna when she left this world. To hold her and look in her eyes and tell her, you’re not alone I’m here and I love you. To make sure I was there with her at that moment was bigger and more important than any pain and somehow you gather strength you didn’t even know you had and you do what’s best for them.

we are all here for you Tressa. Please know that
 
Hello everyone, thank you for all your kind messages. I think that had to be one of the longest weekends of my life. I talked it over with the Vets again and the main vet who looks after Missy, said I had to at least try. So she ordered in the insulin but it only arrived on Monday evening so we went on Tuesday evening to get her first shot. They made me try and I did it but Missy in the Vets is a completely different Missy from home Missy. I hate needles but I adore my Missy. I have now done it twice myself and have stabbed myself twice with the needle. I am way too nervous and my clever old lady has already picked up something not good is going to happen, which I hate :( I don't want her to be nervous of me every time I go near her. The vet has started her on a very low dose and we have to do this for 2 weeks and keep a close eye on her. No ear pricking yet, I really am not sure how I will manage that. The Vet is confident I will know if she is having a hypo. I am not so confident. Missy sleeps ALOT, how on earth do you know???

I hope it gets easier because I have a constant knot in my stomach at the moment at the thought of stinking needles in her every day. She is so tiny. My husband did it this evening but I think even he was nervous but not as bad as me.

I need to keep telling myself I am doing it for her because she is an absolute little figher!!
 
I dont know anyone who didnt feel the same way. Shots? needles? lancets? How do I stick my kitty and he still loves me? Well? The good news is the insulin shot most cats dont even feel. The lancets is where I felt like a butcher. But you know what? After we got rolling with a regular schedule I saw a different cat. He had been so sick and looked rough. Day by day he got better and better and the "sticking" wasnt so much of an issue for any of us, Trouble included.;)

Treats, treats are the key. After a while you will may feel a little silly because all those shots and pokes make for a MUCH happier and healthier kitty cat. :)
 
Tressa said:
Hello everyone, thank you for all your kind messages. I think that had to be one of the longest weekends of my life. I talked it over with the Vets again and the main vet who looks after Missy, said I had to at least try. So she ordered in the insulin but it only arrived on Monday evening so we went on Tuesday evening to get her first shot. They made me try and I did it but Missy in the Vets is a completely different Missy from home Missy. I hate needles but I adore my Missy. I have now done it twice myself and have stabbed myself twice with the needle. I am way too nervous and my clever old lady has already picked up something not good is going to happen, which I hate :( I don't want her to be nervous of me every time I go near her. The vet has started her on a very low dose and we have to do this for 2 weeks and keep a close eye on her. No ear pricking yet, I really am not sure how I will manage that. The Vet is confident I will know if she is having a hypo. I am not so confident. Missy sleeps ALOT, how on earth do you know???

I hope it gets easier because I have a constant knot in my stomach at the moment at the thought of stinking needles in her every day. She is so tiny. My husband did it this evening but I think even he was nervous but not as bad as me.

I need to keep telling myself I am doing it for her because she is an absolute little figher!!
Click to expand...
Also the singing and humming really helped keep me calm for the testing. Maybe try it for the shots? What part of her are you shooting and how are you doing it? Maybe we can help. I always come from behind and it’s like Minnie doesn’t even see me sometimes. Let us know :)
 
Hi after a while you will be a pro at home testing her.
It's really the only way to make sure Missy is safe.
The reason we test before every shot is to make sure what her BG is so we know that it's safe to give the insulin.
Then we test a couple times throughout each 12 hr cycle to see how low her BG is dropping. That really is the only way to keep her safe and make sure she doesn't have a hypo
First What type of insulin is she on
Second How many units are you giving Missy
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top