2/26 Mary Grace AMPS 269 +2 228

[marygracemom]

Good Morning and happy hump day!

Yesterday's condo: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=114425

Thanks for the visits, and the replies Devon, Tara and Julie. It was such a frustrating experience with the vet. And the more and more I think about it she seems to know very little about FD (I mean suggesting a third shot of Lantus???) :shock: I am going to go ahead with her lab work in two weeks. I wish I could combine that with the blood draw for the high dose conditions testing like Julie did, I am just back at the overnighting issue because my appointment needs to be on a Saturday. I am going to call the University again and hopefully will get someone willing to take the time to answer my questions about shipping.

Mary is working on a new dosecrease as of this morning. Work that juice, Mary! It seems like we are getting closer to the greens.....

Hope everyone has a good day, sending vines to kitties and beans that may be in need of them.

 

[Linda and Scooter & Jack]

OMGosh you are sure getting the run around from that Vet.

I am assuming that there is not another choice for local Vet and you have to deal with her.

I sure hope your numbers continue to be blue and yellow.

Have a great day!

 

[Sandy and Black Kitty]

Good Morning

Mary Grace is looking good - flirting with green there
(it was 6 months before BK saw his first green - and then another 2 months before he saw green again . . .ugh)

just caught up on yesterdays condo - personally, I would be looking for another vet.

Apologies if I missed it but why does Mary need bw every 6 months? Does she have some other condition that requires it?

 

[Kim & Twice]

Phooey on your vet. So sorry you have to go through that.
Mary Grace is looking wonderful! Keep working that juse sweet girl
Have a fab day!

 

[Kim & Twice]

Phooey on your vet. So sorry you have to go through that.
Mary Grace is looking wonderful! Keep working that juse sweet girl
Have a fab day!

 

[marygracemom]

Good afternoon!
Linda- I am not sure about any other vets, I feel frustrated and feel that its not going to be any different anywhere else. I switched Mary Grace to this vet after her dx, because a neighbor takes all of her cats there and just loves them (of course they don't have FD) I googled vets in my area yesterday, even went on Angie's list but no one specifically mentioned FD. So I feel like I am shooting in the dark. And unfortunately do not have time to interview potential vets! What to do? Right now figuring I just get my advice here, prescription from her and try not to go broke!

Sandy-I was told that at the minimum she had to have labs every 6 months (she has no other conditions). She also said that the high dose conditions that I want Mary to get tested for would be seen on the labs. Does that makes sense? If I don't need to get her labs done every six months that would be great, and I could go ahead with my original plans to get the high dose test run--but then again I remember the smirk she gave me when I told her I wanted them done. Uggh!
I guess our special black kitties take their time getting to the greens, huh?

Kim-Hope Twice is still doing good OTJ! I hope you have a fab day too and that Mary is indeed working that extra juice!

have a great rest of the day!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

G'day Elizabeth. I haven't popped in for a couple of days, but it seems like Mary Grace is really taking a shine to blue nights. And that 100 the other night was SO close to green. I'm sure you'll be adding that colour soon to the SS.

Sorry about the vet. :roll: Mine prescribed Caninuslin, and it wasn't until I got a locum vet that I got onto Lantus and FDMB. Fortunately, my vet was willing to learn and work with me. And yes, you do need to get the IGF-1 tests if you want to test for acromegaly. That will NOT show up on regular bloodwork. The other and more definitive way to test for acromegaly is a CT or MRI scan of the pituitary, but that is rather more $$$ than the IGF-1 and IAA tests. The regular bloodwork in a senior panel does test T4 for hyperthyroid, that is the one endocrine test result shown.

I found it helpful to bring copies of relevant research papers on acromegaly to my vet to read. For example, when she said I needed to be above 10U to test (and we never got higher than 8.75), I brought her the paper that says to do the tests should be done when the dose is at 1U/kg BID. Neko was 13lbs at that point. So unless Mary Grace is north of 19lbs, it would be time for the tests. There are also plenty of articles mentioning that feline acromegaly is a lot more common than previously thought, including the original paper showing that 20-30% of hard to regulate cats tested positive for acromegaly. Another thing that helped with my vet - I asked her to humor me. But I knew her philosophy is to so what the client wants.

I'm afraid I'm not much help on the blood shipping. I'm pretty sure mine didn't arrive overnight as we are on the other side of the continent and I know there is special paperwork for blood to cross the border. The IGF-1 test is only run one day a week, so it probably just sits around in a the fridge until test day. If the blood is shipped in a proper cool pack, it should be OK.

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

We didn't have blood work done on any kind of schedule. When punkin had an issue, then we ran the tests needed. For the insulin prescription, you probably need them done once a year.

I might say I couldn't afford them and only want the blood draw done for MSU.

I've told pretty much everyone to call MSU to ask about shipping - hope i haven't set the scene for the people there to be annoyed. It's not that many of us - so that seems odd. The person who answered the phone when i called was incredibly nice. the good people always leave for better jobs! :lol: or maybe she was just gone and the next time you call she'll answer! i hope so.

wendy's right - you need the specific tests done for acro and iaa. the only lab in the US that runs the acro test is MSU. I don't know about iaa, but everyone has both tests run so everyone sends the blood there from the US. So . . . i don't know how the vet thinks that would show up in routine blood work.

Sometimes when people are looking for a new vet they'll post a question here and in main health asking for vet suggestions for their city.