11/18 Huey OTJ Trial Day 9 AMBG 133

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Nancy & Huey

Member Since 2014
Higher than I'd like but also he hadn't eaten much of anything since yesterday evening. I forgot to plug in the numbers from yesterday evening when I tested him after eating but they were pretty typical 70-90s. He ate a reasonable amount this morning, but he's still blocked up so presumably low output = low input. I gave him another qtip of glycerin last night before I went to bed but as of this morning, still no poop. (Last BM was Saturday morning nailbite_smile)

I mentioned in previous threads, I'm probably going to cut this trial short, but I am taking him to the vet tonight so hopefully we can get everything cleared up and we'll see what happens. Hope everyone else's Monday has been going better...

Previous condo: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=128383#p1322987

(Keeping this condo since I'm still waiting on vet stuff...)
Monday 11/17
AMBG 128
+9.5 133
PM+2 119 (after the vet!)
PM+5 86

Tuesday 11/18
AMBG 99
PMBG 84
PM+3.5 118

Wednesday 11/19
AMBG ~133 (didn't eat much yesterday evening but eating OK this morning)
 
Re: 11/17 Huey OTJ Trial Day7 AMBG 128 +9.5 133 +13(PostVet)

Well we're back from a three hour vet visit and I just wanted to jot some notes down while they're still fairly fresh.

The vet's initial examination didn't find anything too alarming except that he's lost some weight and his belly is a little bloaty looking so I ended up waiting around and pondering worst case scenarios for a couple hours while Huey got an ultrasound. It took extra long because it turns out that despite having used the box today, his bladder was so full, it made him "too antsy" for the vet to get a good picture! They actually drained it some with a syringe, gave him a litter box and waited for him to use it so they could get a decent look around. They didn't find anything immediately alarming there either, no fluid in his abdomen or obvious lumps that shouldn't be there, no blockages or stones or such in his bladder, and it doesn't seem like there's anything in his colon either. BUT he was rather tender in the spot where his pancreas is and the vet suggestedhaving an ultrasound specialist take a more precise looksee. They also drew blood for a "senior panel" so we'll have the results for that tomorrow and see how his kidneys and potassium and blood sugar are. Eyes, the vet thought they seemed fine, despite the weird dilating. The constant tearing is probably his feline herpes flaring up more when he's already stressed. Aside from all that, we'll wait for the bloodwork tomorrow and go from there.

All in all a nice inconclusive visit to the vet! I have some thoughts but I just got my first real meal in and now I'm about to fall asleep over the keyboard...
 
Re: 11/17 Huey OTJ Trial Day7 AMBG 128 +9.5 133 +13(PostVet)

Poor Huey and poor you. No experience w/ the potassium supplements but, constipation is no fun. Have you tried pumpkin? About 1/2tsp mixed in food. It adds fiber, which keeps things moving normally. Miralax can also help, 1/8tsp or even less. Miralax draws water into the stool to soften it.

If i am too slow getting Tess's meals she will often go and fill up on water and then barf it up. Could Huey be doing this?

If you think he may be having a herpes flare-up are you giving l-Lysine? My Emma has feline herpes and during flare-ups she gets 500mg BID, otherwise just once a day and it helps keep things normal.

Lastly
... I wish there was a smiley for ::exhausted:: !
Click to expand...
Creaturewithsmileymug.jpg
 
Re: 11/17 Huey OTJ Trial Day7 AMBG 128 +9.5 133 +13(PostVet)

You can post the blood work results in a tab on Huey's SS. Take a look at Tess's. Go ahead and copy the columns of test names and ranges (if your vet uses IDEXX) to save yourself a lot of typing. I like having the results all together to see changes from test to test. It is a great help to those who can advise too. Since they took urine from the bladder did they do a urine test as well?
 
Re: 11/18 Huey OTJ Trial Day 8 AMBG 99

Ann, that image pretty much sums it up... Huey's existing labwork is already there, the tabs on my spreadsheets are on the bottom for some reason. I'll update when the vet sends me the results for yesterday's tests. I think the urine is included in the "senior panel" too but to be honest, I was so hungry and nervous the vet had to repeat everything twice and I'm not positive.

The puking, I think it's stomach acid or bile, not water. Since I put him on all wet food, Huey's basically stopped drinking water, besides what I add to his food. I'll give the lysine for the eyes a shot though, do you have a specific kind you'd recommend?

More random vet thoughts:
- Teeth. He's got some bad teeth, it might be affecting his sinuses and eye too, especially if his immune system is stressed from herpes or whatever is affecting his gut/appetite/bowels/etc.

- Sugar: Previously, they pretty much jumped two hundred points whenever I took him to the vet. It probably didn't help that we were usually on public transportation. His post-vet test once we got home was pretty good though, so I'm curious to see how his BGs come out on the blood test. (I shelled out for an Uber both ways this time, since it was kinda cold and wet, WELL WORTH THE MONEY!)

- The vet didn't feel or see anything blocking up his bowel movements and said that there was not an emergency re: either his bladder or bowels. He's also been eating regularly, albeit less than normal, since Saturday. That's a relief at least, I'm supposed to go out of town this weekend and was thinking about canceling if he was still really off.

- It's really annoying me that the minor chronic things keep being set on a back burner. Yes, I know the diabetes and the making-sure-it's-not-cancer-or-FIP-or-something-else-major is important, but his eyes and the puking are daily quality of life things too. Part of it is just that he's getting old, I keep taking him in for what I think is going to be a routine visit for a few minor complaints and then other stuff comes up that takes priority. I feel like it got addressed this time, but only because I made myself write out a list ahead of time and pushed it even though I was also spazzing about the possibility of cancer or CKD or Martian brain infections or whatever. Also I get that part of it is just how medicine goes, but then I have my criticisms about how people medicine is practiced as well, I just needed to get on my soapbox for a second.
 
Re: 11/18 Huey OTJ Trial Day 8 AMBG 99

We all know that feeling and the need to vent. That's a big part of why we're here.

Sorry, I didn't see the labs down there. If you could but in a column for the normal ranges that would help. Different testers have different ranges. If it's IDEXX it looks pretty good.

We use the Vitacost house brand be sure to get capsules, not tablets. Crushing them is a pain! They carry Vermont Naturals Lysine too. Half the price of other places and Tess likes their treats.

If it's acid stomach you could try Slippery Elm Bark syrup. It coats the stomach to prevent acid upset and is very gentle. Try to get the organic, no additives kind. I get it in the bulk herb section of the health food store. It's much cheaper that way and most of the capsules have additives. Mix 1/2 tsp of powder into 1/2 cup cold water. Microwave for 1 minute (use a big cup, it boils up!) Stir and let cool. I fill 10 cc feeding syringes and put the extras in the freezer (it keeps in the refrigerator for 5 days, but this makes several weeks worth and it seems to freeze well). I give Tess 1 or 2 cc an hour or two before preshot testing. Give 1 to 2 hours before or after other meds because the coating action may prevent their absorption. Added bonus it can also help constipation!

Tess has been getting it regularly for several months and I am amazed at how much better she is eating.
 
Re: 11/18 Huey OTJ Trial Day 8 AMBG 99 PMBG 84 +3.5 118

Labwork is in! The vet left a message while I was at dinner, Huey seems mostly normal, I'll call her back in the morning but highlights:
- Blood sugar was 225! Compared to the 300s he was getting previously (again, probably also in part due to the good ol NYC MTA), amazing. The vet does not recommend restarting insulin, though I am still considering it.
- Kidneys and liver function are good, urine came out good too. According to the reference ranges provided (lab is Antech), lipase and amylase came out slightly high but the vet didn't mention it in her message so we'll see what she says tomorrow.
- His thyroid is higher than it was six months ago, monitor and recheck in three months. This is especially funny because I am under the exact same orders.
- The main gist is get him to drink more water, and she recommends a specialist ultrasound if his condition doesn't seem to improve or if he keeps losing weight.

In other news, he ate all the food I left out for him today, but still hasn't pooped... I've been trying to get him to eat a bit of butter (some success) or olive oil (does NOT like) to get things moving and considering other methods.
 
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