11/8 Reuben PMPS 122

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Alexa and Reuben

Alexa and Reuben

Member Since 2012
thdYesterday

My boy came down from 260 PMPS to 110 AMPS after the stress of being at the clinic for 10 hours yesterday, hooked up to an IV for hydration - and getting the feeding tube put in.

So the feeding tube is in, but it's not working (or I don`t know how to work it - but seriously, pretty much either stuff goes down it or it doesn`t, right?) So nothing has changed, except that he is letting me feed him with the syringe without running away or being upset - because he is weak from the anesthetic still.
The vet does not want to measure Roo's potassium level. I have asked him twice now and he says, 'we have all the information we need, we don`t need that'. He even prescribed Renal K+ , which IS potassium!!! So this makes ZERO sense. What on EARTH could he be thinking? Is this not a Very Basic thing to have information about? With a cat that is water obsesssed? For crying out LOUD???

He found 'intestinal tumors' in a preliminary Ultra Sound yesterday, (the expert Ultra Sound technician comes on Friday) and is jumping immediately to conclusions...

I feel that neither of these were very professional decisions that he made.

Opinions?

I am going to start with Essiac Tea now. It can`t hurt.

Ongoing Medications:
Ondansetron 5mg BID
Pepcid 2.5mg bid
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

Alexa

I would not use a potassium supplement without knowing that he needs it. Diabetes can cause low potassium levels in some cats. Here is some great info on Potassium Levels. It might help you be better armed to discuss this with your vet. Also...he works for YOU. If you want a potassium test, all he has to do is run it with the other blood work. You're willing to pay for it. It is a standard test on a SuperChem done in the US.

I've put the word out to some other folks that you need help with the feeding tube. You should be flushing it but there is a specific way to do it so I'll get some help for you.
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

Thank you Marje -- i think the food is going down now a little, it seems like maybe the problem is that the syringe doesn't make a seal... also when the food *does* go down it makes him swallow... doesnt seem right.

and yeah, giving potassium 'blind'... no good. i'll suspend it like you say..
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

This isn`t right. He is acting half alive, the food isn`t going down well if at all, i can`t flush the line. We were better off with me struggling to syringe feed. My gut says to take him back and have them take it out.
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110 HELP

Maybe you should take him back for help right away? Half alive? That doesn't sound good. Not necessarily to take the tube out, but to get it to work and to make sure he's ok.

You said Reuben was letting you feed him by mouth because he's still feeling the effect of the sedation. That worries me. I think you need to post for advice about the feeding tube primarily, and the potassium issue. I have no idea about the potassium issue, but I hope someone will.

I'm glad you are able to feed him by mouth, but I don't know if that's safe. I assume the vet didn't tell you anything about feeding by mouth? Some of them tell you that in X number of hours you can let the cat eat by mouth. Maybe he forget to caution on the assumption the feeding tube would work fine? If Reuben happens to aspirate -- get a little of the food in his lungs because he chokes and the flap doesn't close well enough -- he might get a lung infection -- pneumonia.

It could be just fine, and you may be doing the right thing - I have no idea, but I'm worried. I personally would hold off on feeding him by mouth until I got some answers on that, and I'd want the answers ASAP. You need to know what the risk is and balance it against the risk created by the fact that you can't get the feeding tube to work. I just don't want you to end up with additional problems, of course.
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110 HELP

I`m getting ready to take him back right now. The vet had said liquids by mouth, and the food is liquid.

This is all NOT okay, we are going back. I want this thing out.

We don`t even have a d*^%mn diagnosis.

Thank you Dale :YMHUG:
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

Oh no! What;s wrong with Reuben?? I missed it! I've been sick and babysitting a sick grandson. I can't believe he got so sick so fast!

Melanie & Racci


I'm going back through time to see where he got sick. Will be waiting for an update. Good luck with the feeding tube & test, Alexa.
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

Please join the YAHOO Feline Assisted Feeding group right away. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/...d. Sending hugs. Karrie and angel Maverick.
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

thank you so much karrie, i just got home from the vet and will join the group and post his history. i`m worried about learning how to use a different kind of site (this was my first and it was a steep learning curve :roll: ) but I`ll do my best.

the vet had not left the opening of the tube correctly to receive the syringe, was the problem. (major major head desk) it was fixed, and then as soon as we got home reuben wanted to eat on his own, i guess he was That Hungry. The tube is made and placed for him to be able to eat and drink normally so I let him, of course. He ate more than a half of a liver and a little bit of chicken and drank a good healthy amount of chicken broth with a little mashed up liver in it.

and then promtly went to find the litter box and did all the correct deeds in a Very healthy manner.


Melanie, thank you :YMHUG: it's been coming on for quite a while... his situation is, as rhiannon says, a 3,000 piece puzzle...

I am going to get some food in me now, and then join the other site.

he just went back to drink more chicken broth.

I`ll syringe his canned food in 90 minutes or so...

thank you again... :YMHUG:
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

Poor Reuben! I'm so glad he's eating! I wonder if the tumors are what's been giving him all the pancreas issues before this? I wonder if it could be something else? Well I guess the expert will know when he comes to do the sonogram? I"m so sorry he's sick like that.

Never a quiet moment!

You'll be able to do the other site without too many problems, I'm sure. They're not that much different from each other. Good luck!

Hugs,
Melanie & Racci
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

Melanie -

There were no tumors detected 10 months ago... who knows. and who knows what that guy really even saw.... I surely do Not necessarily believe anything this guy is surmising. We shall see. I`m taking advantage of his 250 dollar deal that covers all the testing etc for a year... and taking his opinions with a grain of salt. I`m going to send the results to the vet who saved Reuben`s life a year ago (in another state).

Time to suspend judgement, keep him alive with food and love, and not give up. We did it before, we will do it again. He needs a not-a-run-of-the-mill vet. the meezer is a complex dude!

Thanks so much for your concern Melanie, and the assurance that we will be okay on the other site. Both much needed and appreciated :razz:

i hope you and DGS are feeling better,.... sending a belly rub to Racci in her little outfit :YMHUG:

Alex
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

Hi Alexa, You and Reuben are going through so much lately! cat_pet_icon I am very glad to hear the feeding tube was corrected and is now positioned properly to work when you need to use it. If Reuben is eating on his own when he wants, that sounds promising too. Dont be nervous about joining the assisted feeding group, you figured out LL quickly enough :-D and folks here would not refer you there unless it was a good group. I agree with you getting the potassium test sounds like the obvious step especially before starting K treatment, and I dont understand why your vet does not just do it? Makes no sense to me. I am glad you have the ultrasound expert coming in Friday (tomorrow?) hope it does not show anything serious and this vet is simply mistaken about masses. Maybe the tech will let you observe the ultrasound and ask questions in the moment.
Reuben is fortunate to be in your very capable hands and after everything you have handled already I have confidence you two will come through this too. Hugs :YMHUG: and strength and all positive vines coming your way.
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

Please register, and post. There are a lot of mis information and bad advice from vets. Once you join I can send you the file on tube feeding and pictures on how to change bandages. If you can afford it please go to kittykollar.com and order a couple of these. They are great for making the cats adjust to their tubes and makes changing bandages very easy.

I'll try and find my crash course posts from the past. Blending and straining food is recommended. Blockages can happen - buy coca cola (only no diet or pepsi) and have this on hand. If your cat bolts, DROP THE SYRINGE - don't hold the syringe or you will pull the tube out. And don't do a pre flush, only a post flush of 6-10mls. Most cats can't handle a volume of more than 40ccs total. No appetite stimulants with a feeding tube. The yahoo group is great for this info but I can't link to files without your registering first.

The FAF site saved my cat Maverick's life in 2008. His story is in my signature.

Karrie and angel Maverick.
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

Karrie -Thank you! :-)) I registered, and am reading through the automatically generated emails that came... I think I am registered under my email address. I still haven`t figured out how to post yet... I`ll try and do it right now...

Leslie - Thank you soo sooo much... :YMHUG: for understand and believing in us :razz:
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

I just got home a little while ago. I'm glad there is info to help you with this.
Sounds like the vet is one of those doctors that doesn't think outside of the box.
Prayers for you two to get thru this and Reuben to feel better.
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

Alexa

I'm so glad you got him to the vet and got that sorted out and he is eating. Good grief!!! What crazy days you've had lately but I hope he is now on the way to improvement.

Sending many hugs and prayers. I'm glad Karrie made it on to help out.
 
Re: 11/8 Reuben AMPS 110

Alexa --

Karrie has a wealth of experience with assist feeding. Many of us haven't had to tube feed so I'm glad Karrie has you and Reuben on her radar.

I agree with your instincts and Marje -- giving a potassium supplement without a level could be dangerous. It sounds like getting in touch with Reuben's former vet is a really good plan!
 
Thank you Marje, Sienne and Rhiannon :YMHUG:

He is suddenly eating, chicken and livers so far.. I am absolutely exhausted after not sleeping last night... I am going to try to syringe some, then leave a plate of more food out and go to sleep.

I have a question... the vet is saying that his water obsession is the diabetes, but i can`t imagine that it is at this point. Could it be?
 
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