6/5 Ruby AMPS 74/+3.5 59/+9.5 59/PMPS 81/+3 66

Katherine&Ruby

Katherine&Ruby

Member Since 2020
Yesterday on A Tale of Two Kitties. :cat:

After a little PJ party, Ruby flattened out last night and I went to bed. Looks to me like this morning she's still on the up and up ↗️ (meaning she's staying low and feeling good). By my count, it seems Ruby's flares affect her BGs for 4-5 days.

Ate her breakfast (didn't quite clean her bowl, but that's ok) ✅
Nice low green start to the day. ✅

Have a great Caturday everyone!

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Tomlin said:
I hope you aren’t feeling this today—-my body hurt reading it :rolleyes: & hopefully the food managed to be digested ok for her :bighug:. She’s been in such a good place with glucose. This is so time limited....now until diagnosis and a plan. Hang in there & be safe :bighug::bighug:.....now you probably need some acupuncture and a massage :p
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My kingdom for acupuncture and massage! :p Signed up for my first in-person yoga class since the pandemic tomorrow morning. Can't wait to stretch out these old bones! Thrilled right now that I don't have to worry about Ruby's glucose levels. Very impatiently waiting for that diagnosis to come through! I should probably hear by Tuesday. :nailbiting:
 
PerfumedCatMom said:
My kingdom for acupuncture and massage! :p Signed up for my first in-person yoga class since the pandemic tomorrow morning. Can't wait to stretch out these old bones! Thrilled right now that I don't have to worry about Ruby's glucose levels. Very impatiently waiting for that diagnosis to come through! I should probably hear by Tuesday. :nailbiting:
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Super exciting :bighug:!! Good for you!!! Maybe you can share your “new” pose from last evening :rolleyes:...you need to name the position you managed to put yourself in...LOL! Happy Ruby is doing well this morning :D. Enjoy the stretch—be careful :)!!
 
tiffmaxee said:
I’m still doing at home workouts.
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That's great that you've been able to get your body moving through this past year. You have a Peloton, right? I have a hard time staying focused and motivated at home. Unless I'm running outside alone, I don't do stuff at home. I like having other people around me and a teacher guiding me. I always did like school. :p
 
Received a call from Ruby’s IM. She has small cell lymphoma. :( I’m out and about so will post the biopsy results when I get home but I’m devastated. Trying to hold it together.

The IM did not recommend a treatment program. She is referring us to their oncology department given Ruby’s many concurrent issues. Will call them on Monday morning to get an appointment next week.
 
I’m sorry but if she had to have something it’s the best of them. Treatment is pills. Join the groupsio small cell group. I was kicked out because I don’t have a scl cat although the mod knew it when I joined and let me in. :banghead: :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
I'm am devastated for you and your girl. I pray that this is nothing terribly serious. My Mom has lymphoma and just gets her blood monitored periodically. I think it depends on the degree of severity. No matter what this is sad news for you and I do not mean to make light of it. Wait to hear what the oncology department has to say, Katherine. It may not be as bad as it sounds. Prayers of comfort for you as you wait to hear more.
 
tiffmaxee said:
I’m sorry but if she had to have something it’s the best of them. Treatment is pills. Join the groupsio small cell group. I was kicked out because I don’t have a scl cat although the mod knew it when I joined and let me in. :banghead: :bighug::bighug::bighug:
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Thanks, Elise. The words “cancer” and “oncology” scare the crap out of me. Well, I guess I have yet another aspect of senior feline health to nerd out on now. :rolleyes: Yeah, I joined that group several months ago but it looks like they kicked me out too because I didn’t have a biopsy yet. Will try to join again.
 
Summer and Susie said:
I'm am devastated for you and your girl. I pray that this is nothing terribly serious. My Mom has lymphoma and just gets her blood monitored periodically. I think it depends on the degree of severity. No matter what this is sad news for you and I do not mean to make light of it. Wait to hear what the oncology department has to say, Katherine. It may not be as bad as it sounds. Prayers of comfort for you as you wait to hear more.
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I’m sorry about your mother, Summer. Thanks for the encouragement.
 
:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
My third SCL kitty (in remission) is currently making biscuits on DH over 3 years after she started treatment for SCL. Treatment consists of a daily steroid. Ask for budesonide, you can get it compounded though it's a really tiny pill, I gave Neko it as a liquid too. Budesonide best for heart or diabetic kitties. The second part of treatment is a once every two weeks mild chemo pill, with ondansetron before and a couple days afterwards. The steroid does the heavy lifting at the beginning in helping symptoms, and it's possible after a year or so to taper down or even remove it. The chlorambucil does the heavy lifting later on. All my SCL kitties saw relief with a week or less on the steroid (2 on pred, 1 on budesonide). Two out of three went into remission. I don't think SCL did Neko in, she just had too many things happening at once.

The "good" thing about SCL, is that unless your cat also has IBD (lucky me!) you can feed any low carb protein.

You do have to have regular visits in the beginning to check blood work and see that she is handling the meds well. Neko went to an IM vet instead of an oncologist. The IM did discuss with the oncologist (who got the every two weeks dosing wrong, I had it right thanks to the groups.io group). By that point the IM vet knew I was very opinionated in treatments. :p The groups.io group generally recommends an IM vet for treatment. They are far better than oncologists for managing multiple issues. Neko's IM saved my sanity with all the juggling of meds and issues. Currently kitty just goes to my regular practice vet, but she's not otherwise complicated.

You can do this, I know you can. :bighug::bighug: It will be overwhelming at first, but will soon become routine.
 
Oh Katherine I'm so so sorry, I know nothing about SCL,but from reading what Wendy said sounds very promising .
I know it sounds scary but thank god it's treatable and Ruby can go into remission.
You and Ruby got this! I will always keep you and Ruby in my prayers ♥:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
I am sorry to see this post & know it will take some time to digest the news :(. As others have posted, it is something that can be treated and controlled very well with medication, so hopefully you can find some peace with that in time.

I don’t know what the situation is in Canada, but in the US, most of the oncologists are also board certified in IM, so it is not one or the other...you continue to be in excellent hands :bighug:!

When you get ready to geek out :rolleyes: one other contact that would be good to ask your team to reach out to (either now or in the future) would be Dr Craig Webb out of Colorado State University. They started a Feline Cancer Core Center a few years ago & he is extremely helpful & thoughtful about treatment options/combinations when needed. They are doing some cutting edge research with IBD & SCL. It is always nice to have some collaboration & although more often than not the opinion is the same, sometimes they may offer a different perspective/idea that may be helpful with a case.

https://www.csuanimalcancercenter.org/2019/03/14/feline-cancer-core/

I know it will take a little time, but you and Ruby are super strong & will rock this diagnosis just like you did with the DM :bighug::bighug:!! Keep your optimistic spirit!
 
I'm so sorry about the diagnosis, but at least it is something that can be treated. I'm glad you've received some good advice about treatment. Sending prayers for you and Ruby. :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Omg, no :(

I'm so sorry, Katherine.

Olivia and I will keep our fingers and beans crossed for you. Y'all are so capable and resilient, you've helped me so much, if anyone can navigate it, I'm sure you can!
 
Thank you so much for the outpouring of support here. :bighug::bighug::bighug: I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Ruby's been very sweet, as if she knows what's happening and is telling me everything will be alright. I really hope so. Thanks for letting me know about your kitty in remission, @Wendy&Neko. That makes me feel more optimistic about the future.
 
Now that the board is up and running again, here is a snapshot of Ruby's biopsy report from the oncologist. Would love some eyes on it from anyone with experience with SCL. The diagnosis seems rather unequivocal.
 

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