11/1 Ivy Amps 255, +3 167, +625 155, +9 237, Pmps 348 Libre

[Staci & Ivy]

Yesterday
Amps 255 Libre

Kind of a long night with lower numbers last night.
Slept on the sofa near Ivy, 4th night this week. Yawn
When I checked her once with an ear prick I got 105 on the Contour meter (Libre was Lo).

So a nice surf for her, little sleep for me ️️️

We began using the methimazole pills last night for thyroid and I gave a half a dose recommended by the vet.
She was on 5 mg transdermal, which doesn’t appear to be working, so they suggested sticking with 5 mg dose with pills.
I’m being conservative and started with 2.5 mg just to make sure she tolerates the pill form OK, since I know it can cause G.I. upset. That’s the last thing that we need since we need her to eat so I can give insulin.

Peeing was less overnight (than it’s been all week, hoping that’s a good sign)

Still waiting to actually see the lab results. Called vet office to request a copy again. Sigh.

Hope everyone has a calm weekend

 

[Kat & Trixie]

Sending positive thoughts that Ivy has a calm day with no tummy troubles. So happy to read that she peed less, that’s a great sign.

You must be exhausted, hope you can get some rest today

 

[Karolina & Nestle]

Sorry she's been keeping you so busy. Wants to keep mama cloae to her at night and snuggle! Hopefully you can relax and rest today. And enjoy your weekly outing if you go out for dinner.
Hopefully the vet calls you back today and you dont have to wait till monday.

Sending some CATpuccinos your way cause you'll definitely need them today. Hugs and kisses too

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Sending positive thoughts that Ivy has a calm day with no tummy troubles. So happy to read that she peed less, that’s a great sign.

You must be exhausted, hope you can get some rest today

Thank you so much, Kat
I’m amazed how quickly the peeing has decreased after increasing the med.

I hope that means we are on the right track and she tolerates it ok

I hope you and Trixie are having a very calm and relaxing Caturday

 

[Mary & Jude]

Sooo glad she's peeing less and getting back to normal. I know that's got to be a relief.
Hope you can grab a little nap today, Staci! Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Sorry she's been keeping you so busy. Wants to keep mama cloae to her at night and snuggle! Hopefully you can relax and rest today. And enjoy your weekly outing if you go out for dinner.
Hopefully the vet calls you back today and you dont have to wait till monday.

Sending some CATpuccinos your way cause you'll definitely need them today. Hugs and kisses too

Love the CATpuccinos, thank you so much, my friend
Badly needed, veryyyy tired today.

I spoke with the vet yesterday and he suggested we switch to the pills (instead of the transdermal form).
After 1 dose it seems her peeing has gone back to normal (I gave a 1/2 dose yesterday and this morning).
Hoping she can take the pills with no bad side effects
I hope you are feeling much better today
Sending you and your boys lots of hugs and kisses

 

[carfurby (GA)]

Glad the pills seem to be working. I hope there is no GI upset. I hope Ivy lets you get some sleep tonight. Sending prayers.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Glad the pills seem to be working. I hope there is no GI upset. I hope Ivy lets you get some sleep tonight. Sending prayers.

I’m really hoping the pills work for her. Thanks Carla

 

[kitten68]

her thyroid levels were high/low right?.. is that the cause of the urination (maybe)?? hoping the tummy stays good!! maybe give a little more probiotic for time being.. just sprinkle sprinkle it in..

 

[Staci & Ivy]

her thyroid levels were high/low right?.. is that the cause of the urination (maybe)?? hoping the tummy stays good!! maybe give a little more probiotic for time being.. just sprinkle sprinkle it in..

Yes, her T4 went higher than the last time tested in August. We couldn’t bring her T4 down using the transdermal.
I’ve been trying to avoid using the pills or liquid (since it can cause GI issues or bad itching).
But after 1 year and 7 months of not getting it I def control and the sudden increase in peeing and drinking the conclusion was it’s thyroid related.

So here I am, giving pills (and praying she can tolerate them)!

She gets pre and probiotics ready as her maintenance supplements, so I’m hoping they help her overall system.

 

[Elaine and Ember]

Yes, her T4 went higher than the last time tested in August. We couldn’t bring her T4 down using the transdermal.
I’ve been trying to avoid using the pills or liquid (since it can cause GI issues or bad itching).
But after 1 year and 7 months of not getting it I def control and the sudden increase in peeing and drinking the conclusion was it’s thyroid related.

So here I am, giving pills (and praying she can tolerate them)!

She gets pre and probiotics ready as her maintenance supplements, so I’m hoping they help her overall system.

My kitty Luna (RIP last month ) couldn't tolerate the pills but did well on the liquid. Hopefully the pills will work out for her. If you need to switch to liquid, we got the vanilla butternut flavor (super random!) but she didn't even seem to notice it in churu.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

My kitty Luna (RIP last month ) couldn't tolerate the pills but did well on the liquid. Hopefully the pills will work out for her. If you need to switch to liquid, we got the vanilla butternut flavor (super random!) but she didn't even seem to notice it in churu.

I’m so sorry about your loss of Luna

How long had she been on tht pills and how did you know she was not tolerating them? I’m trying to figure out what symptoms I need to look for.

That’s interesting about the vanilla flavor, where did you get that from? Was it compounded?
Thank you for reaching out. I appreciate your help.
Wishing you all the best with Ember!

 

[Elaine and Ember]

I’m so sorry about your loss of Luna

How long had she been on tht pills and how did you know she was not tolerating them? I’m trying to figure out what symptoms I need to look for.

That’s interesting about the vanilla flavor, where did you get that from? Was it compounded?
Thank you for reaching out. I appreciate your help.
Wishing you all the best with Ember!

Thank you, I miss her very much.
Luna was only on the pills for a couple weeks. They were causing LOTS of vomiting (which the vet hoped would clear up after a few days but it didn't at all.) So we switched to transdermal for a while, but ultimately ended up on the compounded liquid. I ordered it through Wedgewood Pharmacy.
She took the liquid version for almost 2 years, so it was very successful for her!

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Thank you, I miss her very much.
Luna was only on the pills for a couple weeks. They were causing LOTS of vomiting (which the vet hoped would clear up after a few days but it didn't at all.) So we switched to transdermal for a while, but ultimately ended up on the compounded liquid. I ordered it through Wedgewood Pharmacy.
She took the liquid version for almost 2 years, so it was very successful for her!

Oh that’s good the liquid worked well for Luna.
So it seems the pills didn’t work immediately? She was vomiting right away? (Do I understand that correctly?)

And transdermal wasn’t controlling the thyroid??
(That’s where we are, I only have been giving Ivy transdermal since she was diagnosed over a year and a half ago, but it’s never brought her T4 to euthyroid level. T4 just continued to go up.
And I have felt I didn’t want to put her on the pills since she seems to have a sensitive G.I. system.
So I was trying to avoid this, but since all of a sudden she was peeing extensively and drinking more, it was clear something was going on.
When we looked at the T4 last week, her number had jumped significantly from three months ago, so we needed to do something.

In some ways, I’d love to be able to do the I131 treatment, but I just don’t know that she would be a good candidate due to her fractious personality, not eating well without my coaxing, and how they would handle the insulin and if she were going low on insulin.
All issues since they really cannot handle the cats when they are in for that treatment.
Ivy is very complicated and not an easy patient so it’s hard to know what is the right thing for her.

I appreciate your feedback and experience here

 

[Elaine and Ember]

Oh that’s good the liquid worked well for Luna.
So it seems the pills didn’t work immediately? She was vomiting right away? (Do I understand that correctly?)

And transdermal wasn’t controlling the thyroid??
(That’s where we are, I only have been giving Ivy transdermal since she was diagnosed over a year and a half ago, but it’s never brought her T4 to euthyroid level. T4 just continued to go up.
And I have felt I didn’t want to put her on the pills since she seems to have a sensitive G.I. system.
So I was trying to avoid this, but since all of a sudden she was peeing extensively and drinking more, it was clear something was going on.
When we looked at the T4 last week, her number had jumped significantly from three months ago, so we needed to do something.

In some ways, I’d love to be able to do the I131 treatment, but I just don’t know that she would be a good candidate due to her fractious personality, not eating well without my coaxing, and how they would handle the insulin and if she were going low on insulin.
All issues since they really cannot handle the cats when they are in for that treatment.
Ivy is very complicated and not an easy patient so it’s hard to know what is the right thing for her.

I appreciate your feedback and experience here

We never even got to the point with the pills where we could check if they were helping her. She was vomiting multiple times a day and was getting dehydrated from all the vomiting and not wanting to eat. We switched to transdermal for about a month and the vomiting stopped but her vet wanted us to try the liquid since she said that they usually don’t absorb enough for the transdermal to be a good long-term option.
When we switched to the liquid, I gave her a small daily dose of cerenia to help with any possible nausea, but we tapered back on that when she handled it well.
I was hoping to do the I-131 treatment for her, but she was diagnosed with lymphoma within a few months of that and was given 2-3 months to live. Luckily she responded amazingly to prednisolone and she lived almost two more years!
It does sound like Ivy’s situation is super complicated! Even one of those issues might be problematic but she’s got a triple whammy! Hopefully she doesn’t react poorly to the pills and you won’t be forced to risk it.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

We never even got to the point with the pills where we could check if they were helping her. She was vomiting multiple times a day and was getting dehydrated from all the vomiting and not wanting to eat. We switched to transdermal for about a month and the vomiting stopped but her vet wanted us to try the liquid since she said that they usually don’t absorb enough for the transdermal to be a good long-term option.
When we switched to the liquid, I gave her a small daily dose of cerenia to help with any possible nausea, but we tapered back on that when she handled it well.
I was hoping to do the I-131 treatment for her, but she was diagnosed with lymphoma within a few months of that and was given 2-3 months to live. Luckily she responded amazingly to prednisolone and she lived almost two more years!
It does sound like Ivy’s situation is super complicated! Even one of those issues might be problematic but she’s got a triple whammy! Hopefully she doesn’t react poorly to the pills and you won’t be forced to risk it.

I see about the pills
I'm glad the other methods worked for Luna. Interesting to use Cerenia as a precaution.
It's so sad she never got the chance to do the I-131, it sounds like you had it under pretty good control. You really had good successfor 2 yyears with her despite the lymphoma diagnosis.
I am so very sorry

Yes, Ivy is so complicated. I am really having a hard time figuring out how to handle all the complications