2:00 in the morning ... UPDATE

[Rose]

Hi, everyone!
I wanted to update you all on Zoey's progress.

We went back to the vet yesterday afternoon. We were there for three hours. Of course, I was armed to the teeth with information and questions. This is what we came away with:

Doc feels that diabetes is secondary to the pancreatitis ("itis"). He wants to treat the "itis" and see where the BG numbers go from there. We have a follow-up appointment Friday afternoon to make sure there is improvement before going into the weekend.

Doc took Zoey off from the Metronidazole to see how she does on just the Baytril. Agreed with us that her not eating was probably due to nausea. He will look at the "itis" numbers on Friday and see if there is progress without the meds and readdress that situation then. (He likes Metronidazole for treatment of "itis" but is hopeful that Zoey will still make progress on just the Baytril or at least we can determine for sure that it is the meds making her sick and deal with it for a few days once we have that knowledge -- if they're needed)

Doc gave Zoey fluids (150) and agreed life would be easier and less stressful if I administered fluids at home (150 daily) until she turns the corner.

As recommended by many of you, Zoey was given a B-12 shot.

Potassium ... he wanted to wait on that and I'm sorry, I'm on information overload here and don't quite remember exactly why, but there was a reason and it made sense to me. They're going to order something for me that has potassium in it to supplement her with but he wanted to address that more conservatively (my words/interpretation).

Zoey has both a UTI and the "itis." He felt her urinating all over herself and lying there was due to the UTI and the nausea/lethargy from perhaps the Metronidazole and not due to high numbers of her BG.

We tested my meter (he was thrilled we had one and knew so much ... ty all!) and it tested 100 points above the lab work results. It gave me a bar to work with for test results going forward and when we go back Friday to run the numbers again, we'll compare those findings to see that they remain true so we'll know that we know.

Between now and Friday he would prefer me to not test Zoey unless I feel she's acting out of sorts and dropping low. He's not worried about the high numbers while he's fighting the "itis."

Zoey's BG was 497 (their number) when they drew the blood last night. This was not alarming to him given the history of her day and the stress of being there.

Vetsulin ... he agreed to the one shot, twice a day. He had changed it to the two units once a day because he feels that her issue is "itis" first and foremost. He/we are unsure if Zoey truly went into hypo or if I was overreacting to symptoms out of worry. Even so, he said the steps taken were exactly right and that the greater threat was low BG so we got "attagirls" and the changed dosage so I can just eliminate (or greatly reduce) low BG from my worries and concerns over the next two days. He also wants to keep her on Vetsulin while working with the "itis" and if it does turn out that the "itis" was caused by the diabetes, and not the other way around, then he will change it to one of the others that you all have already suggested. (Y'all know your stuff!! )

He gave her the anti-nausea med ... starts with a C -- cyromax, something like that -- again, recommendation here on the thread.

Also put her on twice-a-day feeding (special diet) and no more of her favorite treats. (I was overdosing her with treats to get her to eat and I totally wanted to bang my head on my desk when I read the post that just two could cause the BG to go up as much as 100 points. No wonder my poor baby's numbers were not getting lower! )

Doc supports hands-on care giving so he also taught me how to draw blood in case I ever found myself in that situation of low BG and needing to test but not being able to get blood the usual way. Just knowing that I know that option and can do that helps my anxiety levels tremendously. There's nothing worse than needing something that you can't get to and now I know how to get to it. I will not go there though unless she were to be suspect for low BG and the other blood resources are not producing. At least that's not one of my fears anymore and the weight that's been lifted with that knowledge is palpable.

I think that's it as far as the vet visit. (It was lengthy!)

I just checked on Zoe and she's not zombied out like she was when we took her in. She's far from giving me a warm and soft feeling on my insides, but I don't feel like I need to be a helicopter mom and hover over her like I was doing yesterday. Today should be all about giving her meds and letting her rest and praying for some improved results on Friday's vet visit.

You guys have been wonderful and dead on with your support and wealth of knowledge!! As they say, knowledge is power and this is one powerful group of people and website. I have no doubt cat lives have been saved with the information here. And I can say firsthand that having the support available kept me from jumping off the ledge. Thank you ALL!! <3

 

[Larry and Kitties]

He gave her the anti-nausea med ... starts with a C -- cyromax, something like that

Sounds like Cerinia

 

[phlika29]

I am so pleased that you had such a productive visit with your vet. Hopefully the high blood glucose will disappear as she feels better but it is great that you are giving her all the supportive meds. You might want to reread through all the comments from yesterday as you might have missed some of the later ones.

So to recap you are giving her sub q's, an anti nausea medication (possibly cerenia?), 1 unit of caninsulin twice a day and Baytril. She has had a vitamin B12 shot and is on a special vet diet. What about the other medication such as the laxatone, the methigel and the Carafate. Has anyone mentioned that the Carafate can cause constipation. If you could update your signature that would be great.

May I ask what the diet is? it would be worth while working out how many calories come from carbohydrate so we know where we are.

I know that the vet mentioned not to worry about taking any blood glucose readings but I still think you should give it ago at least before you give the shot and if possible sometime in the 4-6 hour window after the shot. Maybe if the pressure is off now you may find it less stressful. It really would be helpful in telling us how she is getting on. The more you practice the easier it gets. I don't want you to feel like we are saying you have to do it but if you feel up to it and are relaxed then just give it a go.

 

[BJM]

Please see my signature link Glucometer Notes. When you report numbers here, give them as they are, plus the meter used; do not attempt to adjust them as it doesn't work due to the +/- 20% error in over the counter meters.

And it may work better to give 0.5 units of Vetsulin twice a day, based on testing, rather than 1 bolus in the morning. The glucose is likely to be more stable. It is possible to use a conversion chart and U-100 syringes so that you can give smaller doses, too.

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Hi Rose,

Wow, it sounds like you covered a lot of ground yesterday with the vet visit.

Great too that the vet is supportive of hometesting and showed you how you can get blood.

Carl, yesterday, brought up the very good point that quite a few folks find it easier to test with using just the lancet and not the lancing device. People really seem to fall into one or other camp on that one. (I prefer the lancet device because my close vision isn't great. And I think folks with shaky hands prefer the lancet device too.)
And I can't help but wonder if the problem with testing yesterday was just caused by something really simple like, maybe, the lancet being pushed too far down into the lancing device. (I've done that myself occasionally and then find myself wondering why Bertie's head seems like a bloodless turnip...)

It could well be that Zoey's blood glucose drops as the infection subsides.

I expect you are exhausted.
Do take very good care of yourself. Get some good rest.

Zoey is very lucky to have you as her caregiver.

Keeping everything crossed that Friday's vet visit goes well.

Best wishes,

Eliz

 

[Sharon&Tabitha (TX)]

Carl, yesterday, brought up the very good point that quite a few folks find it easier to test with using just the lancet and not the lancing device. People really seem to fall into one or other camp on that one. (I prefer the lancet device because my close vision isn't great. And I think folks with shaky hands prefer the lancet device too.)

For me, newbie (vision & shaking), I find that by using the ReliOn device (& lancet) but still poke free hand is more comfortable.