Non-diabetes question: Immune hemolytic anemia

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Won't be far behind you, Rhonda (need to take my meds).

I hope that yourself and Natalie will manage to get some bit of sleep, and I'm praying for the transfusion to buy the time Honey needs for the meds to work.

(((Rhonda, Natalie and Honey)))

:bighug::bighug::bighug:


Mogs
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Slight off-topic:

For anyone following this thread, by way of board peer review this is just a note to clarify that red blood cells are not called "hemoglobulin" as erroneously posted above.

Mature red cells are most commonly referred to as erythrocytes. Immature red cells are called reticulocytes. [Ref]

Red blood cells contain haemoglobin (alternative spelling 'hemoglobin'), the substance that enables transport of oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

Wikipedia has no entry for 'hemoglobulin'. However, Wiktionary identifies it as a synonym for 'hemoglobin'.


Mogs
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Us in Both Human Medicine and Animal Medicine are Literate otherwise we wouldn't gotten our exams grades and licences to practice.
https://www.emedicinehealth.com/hematocrit_blood_test/article_em.htm

All Blood Proteins, even vegetarians blood proteins, are made of the Full Range of Amino Acids, which the already person-specific DNA-RNA Proteins, which in turns becomes the Blood Proteins Albumin, Globulins, Hemoglobulin, Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, Monocytes, All ANS, CNS, Fibrotic Collagenes, Blood Vessels, Muscle Fibres, Skins, All Hairs and Nails, Bones, and crucial parts of All Membrans.

I am sure the American Veterinary ER Licenced in U.S were kitty is admitted to been in practice for long and the kitty is in safe direct care there with Her Mom. I at least trust them since I am a legal resident in Cambridge, Massachusettes since 1990 myself and had to go the American doctors there after being thrown off a horse, Silver Shadow (all on pics so is my American Social Security Number) and then for the worst strep throat even that American doctor had even seen. Getting thrown off horses was no biggie for me, I have a long even Competing life of that, nor was the strepthroat. I am v e r y Careful with Both My Animals and Myself.
 
My sister said Honey had a rough night. They are doing the transfusion, but keep having to stop because her fever starts spiking. The vet also said that she seems more subdued this morning. My sister is trying to decide how much to put her through. :banghead::spam:
 
Rhonda, my thoughts have and continue to be with you, Natalie, and Honey. It’s so hard to chase symptoms without knowing for sure the underlying cause.

Cats have amazing healing capabilities. It’s difficult to know how far to go when the diagnosis and prognosis are unclear — I’ve seen them live when they should have died, and die when they should have lived. Sometimes all we can do is give them the chance and let them decide. I’ve been where you guys are and it’s wrenching. If only we had that crystal ball...
 
She has such a big heart. She started out with two cats, then the neighbor hood strays started coming by to eat and never left. At one point several years ago, this is what her porch looked like daily.
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Also curious whether they double checked the platelets (looked crazy low, even with possible clumping??) and clotting factors? Any mention of DIC? I wonder what’s triggering the fever, though. Just grasping for straws, I guess...
 
I don't know whether they did a hand count on the platelets or not. I know they have to do that with me. No mention of DIC, she has no bleeding or bruising than anyone has noticed. Thanks for grasping. We are just at a loss as to what to think. Natalie is going to research herself crazy.
 
My fear in doing rescue and feeding strays/ferals over the years has always been FIP. It’s a sneaky beast — and one disease I hope to never see.

edited to add: the photo of lots of cats eating together and the intermittent fever made me think of it.
 
Oh no... :banghead:

Praying they'll manage to help Honey. Praying for your sister too.

(((Honey and Natalie)))


Mogs
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Our mother has ITP, at one point with her platelets down to 7000. She was on steroid therapy for years, had a stroke, a blood clot in her leg, and eventually a splenectomy. She has been in remission from it for years now. They don't know what caused it either.

Natalie's husband had a myxoma which caused a stroke years ago, necessitating open heart surgery. He has some physical problems as a result, but it had a greater effect on his mental faculties. He has in the past few months almost stopped eating unless she forces him to eat. He has been having some blood issues as of late as well.

I just wish that I could do something for her.
 
My God but you guys have been through a lot.
Yeah. Our father passed away when I was 17 and my sister was 15. Then our mom got sick a few years after that. Last year was rough as well. Mom fell and broke her collar bone, had an ocular stroke in her right eye causing her to loss her vision in that eye. When they were trying to figure out what caused that, they found aneurysms in her aorta, two of which have been fixed, one more to go (I think).

Not having a pity party. We have just adjusted as needed. But as some point, I am afraid my sister is going break.
 
That's awful young to lose a parent, Rhonda. :( I was a late baby and lost my dad when I was in my mid-thirties and even then I felt cheated. (((Dad)))

I'm so sorry to hear about all your mom's been through. (((Mom))) And all the worry for you. :bighug:

Is it just your sister and yourself or do you have other siblings?


Mogs
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Dad was only 45 when he passed.

We have an older brother that actually lives with my mother after he and his wife lost their house. My sister lives across the street from her. And I'm all the way in Florida.
 
How long is it since you've seen them? I'd imagine it's been a while, what with all the covid restrictions.


Mogs
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Natalie just said they are going to do x-rays today. She forgot to ask about it last night. And Honey's temp is normal now. Transfusion is still progressing.
 
Praying, praying... (((Honey)))

Did they do a tox screen?

Very grateful for all the updates, Rhonda. I've had a knot in my stomach since waking. :bighug:

Have you got any pictures of Honey?


Mogs
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They said without knowing what they are looking for, a tox screen would probably be a waste of time. And here are some pictures.
 

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Aww... Thank you for the photos, Rhonda. She looks like a real lovebug. I really like the one of her on the dashboard. She does indeed look very much a people cat. (((Honey)))


Mogs
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As I said, Honey was a stray that wandered up at my sister's old place. All of the cats there were TNR'd. When she moved across from my mom three years ago, she brought their indoor/outdoor cats with them. The others that were completely outside and strays stayed at her old place, and she has gone every day during that time back to the old place to feed them. Last year, she started bringing the ones that she could catch to the new place. Kept them in the shed for a couple of weeks, to allow them to get used to the new smells and now they are free roaming for the most part, but always come to eat. She has five inside, six outside, and three more at the old place that she plans to bring over when she can. And she still goes everyday to feed those other three, and any others that happen to wander up. She has a heart the size of Texas!
 
Praying, praying... (((Honey)))
Natalie just got a call from the vet. Honey's body temperature has dropped to 95. They are trying heat therapy, but it isn't working. The vet said that it could be a side effect of the transfusion. And said if my sister wanted to see her, she needed to head that way now.
 
Oh no, that's not good. :( My heart goes out to Natalie, and I feel for you both that you can't be with your sister.

Will keep praying for Honey.

(((Natalie, Honey and Rhonda)))


Mogs
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Thank you everyone for your advice and prayers. My sister did get to spend some time with her, but her temp is down to 91. Natalie decided it is time to let her go. Fly high, Honey...
 
:(

I'm so sad for you all. Also, I'm relieved to hear that Natalie got to Honey in time - for both of them. So hard, but Natalie did all she could to give Honey that oh-so-precious chance. How I wish things could be different...

Prayers and tears... :(

(((Natalie and Spirit Honey)))

(((Rhonda)))

:bighug::bighug::bighug:


Mogs
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And the ER vet is 75 miles from where my sister lives. She is contemplating taken her to the University of Missouri at Columbia Vet Clinic. She had her Big Red treated there for stomatitis, and my mom had her dachshund Laverne's back surgery.
I am reading this thread a few months later as I am researching IMHA. Franklin's sister was just diagnosed with that. It's been a long two weeks but she's doing better now. I am sorry for Natalie's loss. I know it was tough.

I am posting because I used to live in Columbia, Missouri and my vet was Dr. Susan Sczepanski at Horton Animal Hospital. She was recommended to me by my boss at the time and was the best vet I've ever had for my cats. I am in Florida now and have joked to myself that if I ever win the lottery, I will either be flying my cats there for their appointments or flying her down here. You can read about her here: https://www.hortonforum.com/meet-our-team.pml FYI for your sister if she ever had vet needs in Columbia down the road.

One story I remember Dr. Sczenpasnki sharing with me was that when she was in vet school, they once had someone bring in a dog who was getting sick and they were on the verge of going out of town. So she started asking them questions about when this was happening and what they had been doing before he started to vomit. So after talking to them a bit, they had never made the connection but their dog got sick whenever they pulled out their suitcases to pack for a trip. She is not one to quickly jump to tests, depending on the situation. She considers the home environment and behavior as well.
 
@FranklinsMom Thank you for that. I will pass that information along to my sister. She lives a couple of hours from there, around Ft. Leonard Wood. She and my mother have both taken animals to University of Columbia vet hospital. My mom, for back surgery on her mini dachshund. And my sister for Stomatitis in one of her cats. She kicks herself daily about Honey and not going to the University.
 
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