9/30, Susie 291 AMPS, 229 @+2

Summer and Susie (GA)

Summer and Susie (GA)

Member Since 2020
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/9-29-susie-145-amps-231-2.253599/#post-2859557

Thank you to all for the wonderful comments, suggestions and prayers. I'm sorry to not respond to them all individually right now. A lot of information to absorb and I'm sure I will forget much of it so will have my thread to go back and review. I have moved back to a custom SLGS with reductions at 80. Sorry to all the folks who think protocol must be strict. I will simply do what I feel is best for my cat at the time.

I am still waiting for the ER intern's report. Frustrating because I cannot develop a plan with my vet until I receive it.

Susie was acting better this morning (except her glucose). She moved around the house more. He ears were up and she even rubbed against my leg. She seemed a little more comfortable and purred up a storm when I was testing and shooting. Best of all she ate all her breakfast. Make no mistake though. She is definitely sick. She still has a distant look in her eyes, moves very slowly and is getting too skinny. I did not give any Mirztaz yesterday so maybe this has helped.

We will see what the day holds. Prayers to everyone who is dealing with a sick kitty. Those of you with healthy, regulated cats - be grateful because everything can change in a flash.
 
Summer,
Just keep loving Susie! I couldn't sleep well . . .worrying about health in several people, myself and pets and other peoples pets and losses. I am doing my best, like you are. I hate when it doesn't feel like our best is good enough. Our power and control is limited though.
You are helping Susie and that matters so much.
I just chatted with a special person while out walking my dog, making my worries almost dissipate, maybe enough to rest some. This special man has a great sense of humor, even when life sucks.

Hope you get your full sonogram report soon!!
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I know that you are not, but I am optimistic to hear about how Susie is feeling this morning — just a little better. I will take small victories.
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I keep telling myself that it is a small victory but then I look at her this afternoon and she is not a happy kitty. When I pick her up she is totally limp. Your right, Susanne. I need to start thinking positively but I am so afraid to. Something has made her very sick and right now she is not on any medicines to make it better and I don't even know what "it" is.
 
Tina Marie and Jan said:
Summer,
Just keep loving Susie! I couldn't sleep well . . .worrying about health in several people, myself and pets and other peoples pets and losses. I am doing my best, like you are. I hate when it doesn't feel like our best is good enough. Our power and control is limited though.
You are helping Susie and that matters so much.
I just chatted with a special person while out walking my dog, making my worries almost dissipate, maybe enough to rest some. This special man has a great sense of humor, even when life sucks.

Hope you get your full sonogram report soon!!
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Maybe he is your guardian angle sent to brighten your day and mood. I'm sorry about your worrying. I am feeling a little overwhelmed with worry myself but I just can't shake it off.
 
Sounds like something in the air. :rolleyes: Maybe the changing seasons are affecting everyone's mood and the kitties are reacting to that. :eek: I know Dolly is very reactive to my moods. If I am off she is off as well. When I put out happy vibes she is a different cat, I can almost see her smiling. :D Maybe we all need to find the things we have to be grateful for and focus on that :joyful:. I know I need to do more of that, everyone wins when I can smile or even laugh about things regardless of all the scary things that may be going on. Wishing everyone a good day with some smiles thrown in and the ability to deal with whatever comes our way. We have all these wonderful people on this forum to remind us we are never alone when it comes to the health and well being of our cats. :cat:
 
Summer and Susie said:
I keep telling myself that it is a small victory but then I look at her this afternoon and she is not a happy kitty. When I pick her up she is totally limp. Your right, Susanne. I need to start thinking positively but I am so afraid to. Something has made her very sick and right now she is not on any medicines to make it better and I don't even know what "it" is.
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You know what…. It’s pretty insane that a kitty who is limp like that isn’t in the ER or at the vet. The delay is unbelievable! What are they thinking? I think when you were tomd to take her home and watch her for two weeks meant to wait to weeks only if she dose didn’t get worse. Limp kitty sounds worse to me! You didn’t mention that before. I don’t understand what’s going on.
 
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Summer and Susie said:
I keep telling myself that it is a small victory but then I look at her this afternoon and she is not a happy kitty. When I pick her up she is totally limp. Your right, Susanne. I need to start thinking positively but I am so afraid to. Something has made her very sick and right now she is not on any medicines to make it better and I don't even know what "it" is.
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They need to find out what “it” is! And they’re not even trying.
 
Hi Summer, thank God, you can at least move forward, find answers, treat and manage any results. Hopefully you can begin to breathe again. My prayers are with you and Susie.
 
Our Dolly Girl said:
Hi Summer, thank God, you can at least move forward, find answers, treat and manage any results. Hopefully you can begin to breathe again. My prayers are with you and Susie.
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Thank you so much, Adrienne. I really appreciate your prayers. Seems whichever problem it is it has gone on too long based on her behavior. She is one sick kitty. I hope I can get her back.
 
I already sent a PM as I have experience with IBD and Lymphoma. But let me tell you it is probably not too late! I have had very sick kitties turn around after tons of weight loss, not eating, diarrhea and vomiting (or just not eating depending on the cat we are talking about.). They had a new life on either Prednisolone or chlorambucil or both at different or the same times (again depending on which cat we are talking about here.). The point is that these treatments are very effective. My cats went from me thinking they were going to die to absolutely new happy cats in a very short period of time.
 
Summer and Susie said:
This is it. This is what I have been waiting for. She needs a biopsy to determine IBD or lymphoma. Will discuss with my vet. I'm not sure I trust her to him with a biopsy.
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Thanks for sharing these results. Please let us know what you decide to do. I don't understand the underweight comment. I know you said she feels skinny but if I remember right this is about the weight the vet wanted her to be in the past. Over 12# seems about normal although I don't know if Susie is a large kitty or more petite. Dolly is at 13# at age 12 and no longer has much muscle mass from lack of activity. She has a flabby belly and could stand to lose a pound or two. Not important at this point. You have tons of support here so I'm sure you can get some guidance from those with experience in this area. Sending prayers for Susie and you. :bighug::bighug::bighug: Hope you can breathe a little. I understand how scared you are but now can get answers as to whatever is ailing Susie and treat whatever results you get.
 
Tina Marie and Jan said:
Summer,

How quickly can you get a biopsy, if you decide to do so? My civvie wasn't presenting ill enough to get one done in potentially less than a month which led me to go ahead and start prednisolone.
But, can you get a biopsy quickly?
Tons of love to your house, and a big kiss on Susie.
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Yes. I've had some that have had biopsies and were treated. Some that haven't had them and were also treated (with pred and later chemo) after we had ruled everything else out via testing. How's your pred kitty doing now?
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Yes. I've had some that have had biopsies and were treated. Some that haven't had them and were also treated (with pred and later chemo) after we had ruled everything else out via testing. How's your pred kitty doing now?
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Good! She is one of my sweet wobbly sisters (CH kitty - cerebellar hypoplasia). Gained up to 7.8 from 7 since Sept 3. She would ideally weigh another 1 to 1 1/2 lbs.
She never eats much at a time, but enjoys lots of tiny servings. And she prefers me to be with her when she eats. Even placing her bowl in just the right spot matters, seriously.

We are at twice a week dosing, all the way down from twice a day. She has a check up on Monday, and we go from there.
I almost shared this good news earlier, but did not want to take attention back to myself.
However, similarities give me hope for Susie getting better, and maybe quickly.Thanks Suzanne:bighug:We do benefit from your experience and kindness and generosity:)
 
I would get an appointment with an internal medicine doctor and see if they can get at the gastric outflow area of the stomach with endoscopy. That is the only way to get a definitive diagnosis of either IBD or lymphoma. If that is not possible, budesonide will get her eating and gaining weight again and hopefully it will not affect her glucose levels. You will probably have to increase her insulin and watch her a lot. This means keeping track of how much she eats and weighing her on a regular basis to see how she is doing. Getting a supply of ondansetron for nausea and cyproheptadine as an appetite stimulant will be better than using the mirtaz as she seems to not react very well to it. Learn how to pill her better. I have Ruby at my side, I open her jaw with my right hand and pop the pill into the back of her mouth and she swallows it just fine.

I freaked out a lot when Ruby was going through her bouts, and then it took weeks for me to get a handle on how the steroid was affecting her. I went from a drop of insulin back up to 2.5 units, but she seems to be doing fine, eating well and gaining weight.
 
PerfumedCatMom said:
I would get an appointment with an internal medicine doctor and see if they can get at the gastric outflow area of the stomach with endoscopy. That is the only way to get a definitive diagnosis of either IBD or lymphoma. If that is not possible, budesonide will get her eating and gaining weight again and hopefully it will not affect her glucose levels. You will probably have to increase her insulin and watch her a lot. This means keeping track of how much she eats and weighing her on a regular basis to see how she is doing. Getting a supply of ondansetron for nausea and cyproheptadine as an appetite stimulant will be better than using the mirtaz as she seems to not react very well to it. Learn how to pill her better. I have Ruby at my side, I open her jaw with my right hand and pop the pill into the back of her mouth and she swallows it just fine.

I freaked out a lot when Ruby was going through her bouts, and then it took weeks for me to get a handle on how the steroid was affecting her. I went from a drop of insulin back up to 2.5 units, but she seems to be doing fine, eating well and gaining weight.
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As I had mentioned, thank goodness Susie hasn’t lost a ton of weight. I think you got ahead of it Summer by being a great cat mom and knowing right away that Susie was not doing well. That’s the best we can do, knowing your kitty and taking action when you couldn’t fix the problem on your own. Most of the time you can treat and manage most things by paying attention when they just are not right. Katherine and Ruby are great examples. Ruby is doing well and I pray Susie will be as well. Try to stay positive Summer and give yourself credit for doing everything you could to ensure Susie’s well being. You are both in my prayers.
 
Summer and Susie said:
This is it. This is what I have been waiting for. She needs a biopsy to determine IBD or lymphoma. Will discuss with my vet. I'm not sure I trust her to him with a biopsy.
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Hi Summer, I've been catching up on the last few days, had been waiting for an update. I'm sorry that of all the things it could be it's a little more serious, but I believe your attentiveness caught it in time. There's a lot of people on here with IBD and lymphoma experience, unfortunately it seems all too common in cats.

My two cents about the biopsy comment- if you're not sure you trust her to him, that means you don't :bighug:
 
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