3/25 - Mr Kitty - hyperT dx

FrostD

FrostD

Member Since 2020
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...-ambg-72-pu-pd-bg-fine-coat-bleaching.260411/

Never ends! Most unlucky lucky cat on earth I think. Took him in for PU/PD as a refresher.

I'll gets labs updated later, ALT still elevated but everything else good.

T4 was 9.2 with upper range of 4.7. I have to do my research on meds and stuff, but I am pregnant again so DH is on med duty for sure with this.

The vet did mention hyperthyroid can mask kidney problems so we'd have to recheck a few times. Said starting dose is 2.5 (I forget the units), I'll have to double check
 
FrostD said:
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...-ambg-72-pu-pd-bg-fine-coat-bleaching.260411/

Never ends! Most unlucky lucky cat on earth I think. Took him in for PU/PD as a refresher.

I'll gets labs updated later, ALT still elevated but everything else good.

T4 was 9.2 with upper range of 4.7. I have to do my research on meds and stuff, but I am pregnant again so DH is on med duty for sure with this.

The vet did mention hyperthyroid can mask kidney problems so we'd have to recheck a few times. Said starting dose is 2.5 (I forget the units), I'll have to double check
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Well first I will say congratulations on the love on the way!

Poor Mr. Kitty! He sure has it rough :bighug::bighug:

DH gets a :bighug: too for all his help!!
 
Congratulations on the new addition to be! Sorry about Mr Kitty’s diagnosis. I understand completely what you mean about the most unlucky lucky cat in the world. Max is that cat too. You do a wonderful job though Melissa. So you’ve got this.
 
First congrats on the new addition to your family, is this #2
I'm sorry about the diagnosis, I hope it can be taken care of with meds
Mr Kitty had a enough to deal with and so did you, you did an amazing job with him.
He's one tough kitty and an amazing warrior.:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::cat:
 
tiffmaxee said:
Congratulations on the soon to be new addition! Sorry about the hyper-t though. I hope nothing is unmasked once treated. At one of the vet visits I would also check bp although that might have already been done. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
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Yes thank you, I was reading about that after the appointment. I'm not sure he's ever had BP checked that I can think of
 
Christie & Maverick said:
Sorry to hear this additional diagnosis, Melissa. I was doing some reading myself since I have been watching Maverick's T4 levels, and felinecrf.org has some good info on hyperT. http://felinecrf.org/hyperthyroidism.htm

Sue's kitty Luci was on the methimazole, then she decided to do the radioactive iodine treatment. She sometimes pops by @Sue and Luci
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This is wonderful thank you! Just sitting down to read everything. One of the articles the vet sent me home with mentioned that cats on a canned food diet have 5x the risk of development hyperT, those on a mixed diet are 3.5x. possibly linked to can coatings, but obviously a lot of different factors
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
First congrats on the new addition to your family, is this #2
I'm sorry about the diagnosis, I hope it can be taken care of with meds
Mr Kitty had a enough to deal with and so did you, you did an amazing job with him.
He's one tough kitty and an amazing warrior.:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::cat:
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#3...3 kids under 3, special kind of crazy over here lol we just wanted them close in age, and I don't want to be raising kids forever!

Thank you :bighug:just another bump in the road
 
I will never understand why vets don’t check bp and at least get a baseline at about 10 years. It should be included in the exam fee. It’s how I discovered Max had it. Primary high bp.
 
FrostD said:
#3...3 kids under 3, special kind of crazy over here lol we just wanted them close in age, and I don't want to be raising kids forever!

Thank you :bighug:just another bump in the road
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I get it wanting to have them close in age and want to be done raising kids forever
In my book you are Super Mom! :bighug::bighug::bighug::cat:
 
tiffmaxee said:
I will never understand why vets don’t check bp and at least get a baseline at about 10 years. It should be included in the exam fee. It’s how I discovered Max had it. Primary high bp.
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Honestly he might have back when I kept bringing him in during COVID, he's usually really thorough about everything. I'd just have to check paperwork
 
Yes, we went the route of the I-131...That cream did very little to help her.

Now she's fat and sassy...she had the zoomies today so obviously she's feeling her oats! She sure is funny when she runs like that - then gives a howl or two...and takes off in the other direction...

I don't know why I don't get an email anymore when I get tagged...

I've been working since 6 a.m. this morning...had to tell my boss twice...gotta stop and give Luci her insulin...yes, that was at 6:45 this morning and then again this evening...

SO sorry to hear about the dx...but thankfully it IS treatable! I'm sure I posted about it - last year it was Jan 11, 2021 that she had her procedure.
 
Sue and Luci said:
Yes, we went the route of the I-131...That cream did very little to help her.

Now she's fat and sassy...she had the zoomies today so obviously she's feeling her oats! She sure is funny when she runs like that - then gives a howl or two...and takes off in the other direction...

I don't know why I don't get an email anymore when I get tagged...

I've been working since 6 a.m. this morning...had to tell my boss twice...gotta stop and give Luci her insulin...yes, that was at 6:45 this morning and then again this evening...

SO sorry to hear about the dx...but thankfully it IS treatable! I'm sure I posted about it - last year it was Jan 11, 2021 that she had her procedure.
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Sorry about the long day!

Unfortunately the I-131 was quoted at 2200 for us (same as thyroidectomy) and not doable for us

Did you ever try the pill form? I've been reading the cream can be unpredictable/less effective
 
FrostD said:
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...-ambg-72-pu-pd-bg-fine-coat-bleaching.260411/

Never ends! Most unlucky lucky cat on earth I think. Took him in for PU/PD as a refresher.

I'll gets labs updated later, ALT still elevated but everything else good.

T4 was 9.2 with upper range of 4.7. I have to do my research on meds and stuff, but I am pregnant again so DH is on med duty for sure with this.

The vet did mention hyperthyroid can mask kidney problems so we'd have to recheck a few times. Said starting dose is 2.5 (I forget the units), I'll have to double check
Click to expand...
Wow. He really is hyperthyroid! Off the charts. Has he lost weight at all? Has he been restless. You took him in just because of the pu/pd? There’s is transdermal methimazole. Just don’t buy it from Chewy as @Jill & Jade can attest. But it sounds like you have started him on some meds already. That’s good.

Your vet is right about the excess thyroid hormone potentially masking kidney disease. Acromegaly can do the exact same thing with the growth hormone. The way to find out is to check the Urine Specific Gravity. That is not influenced by the hormones

He isn’t the unluckiest cat in the world… he has a fantastic mama!

CONGRATULATIONS on the new baby! When’s the due date?
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Wow. He really is hyperthyroid! Off the charts. Has he lost weight at all? Has he been restless. You took him in just because of the pu/pd? There’s is transdermal methimazole. Just don’t buy it from Chewy as @Jill & Jade can attest. But it sounds like you have started him on some meds already. That’s good.

Your vet is right about the excess thyroid hormone potentially masking kidney disease. Acromegaly can do the exact same thing with the growth hormone. The way to find out is to check the Urine Specific Gravity. That is not influenced by the hormones

He isn’t the unluckiest cat in the world… he has a fantastic mama!

CONGRATULATIONS on the new baby! When’s the due date?
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Crazy isn't it? Looking at him last week I thought he lost weight but not at all, exact same at vet. I noticed he's been eating maybe 1-2 tbsp more out of each can, that's about it. But yes PU/PD was the only glaring thing, especially with BG being fine.

Not restless, energy is same as usual - zoomies at night, sleeps during the day. None of that meowing I've read about.

I haven't started him on meds...you know me, I like to read read read (as does the vet, he must have printed out 25 articles for me lol). But also since DH is doing meds I wanted to get his preference too...I can pill Mr Kitty no problem, not sure I can say the same for him. But with the transdermal I also worry about kids petting him.

I intended to bring a urine sample but the stars didn't align...and of course they couldn't get it in office because he lets it all out on the ride there :rolleyes: I think I'll let the meds settle in first and then see where the kidneys really are. BUN and creatinine were on the higher side of the range but still had good cushion, though I know that can change with thyroid meds

November! Still very early, but I admit I'm a little happy to be off med and litterbox duty :smuggrin:
 
FrostD said:
Crazy isn't it? Looking at him last week I thought he lost weight but not at all, exact same at vet. I noticed he's been eating maybe 1-2 tbsp more out of each can, that's about it. But yes PU/PD was the only glaring thing, especially with BG being fine.

Not restless, energy is same as usual - zoomies at night, sleeps during the day. None of that meowing I've read about.

I haven't started him on meds...you know me, I like to read read read (as does the vet, he must have printed out 25 articles for me lol). But also since DH is doing meds I wanted to get his preference too...I can pill Mr Kitty no problem, not sure I can say the same for him. But with the transdermal I also worry about kids petting him.

I intended to bring a urine sample but the stars didn't align...and of course they couldn't get it in office because he lets it all out on the ride there :rolleyes: I think I'll let the meds settle in first and then see where the kidneys really are. BUN and creatinine were on the higher side of the range but still had good cushion, though I know that can change with thyroid meds

November! Still very early, but I admit I'm a little happy to be off med and litterbox duty :smuggrin:
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I agree about the transdermal and the kiddos!
 
FrostD said:
Sorry about the long day!

Unfortunately the I-131 was quoted at 2200 for us (same as thyroidectomy) and not doable for us

Did you ever try the pill form? I've been reading the cream can be unpredictable/less effective
Click to expand...

Pilling Luci is the equivalent of putting my hands down into the garbage disposal...we tried it once. She taught us a lesson. We will not do that again.
The best I can do on occasion is put some liquid meds into her foods...I have attempted to get some into her mouth...she still thinks I need a lesson in Garbage Disposal 101!

We were able to get a discount (because my husband is a Veteran)...I didn't know that was even a thing until she mentioned it. Yes, it's expensive...but well worth it for us. I think the final cost of the I-131 treatment was $1200 or there abouts - it was the follow up labs that kept adding to the overall expense....
 
Sue and Luci said:
Pilling Luci is the equivalent of putting my hands down into the garbage disposal...we tried it once. She taught us a lesson. We will not do that again.
The best I can do on occasion is put some liquid meds into her foods...I have attempted to get some into her mouth...she still thinks I need a lesson in Garbage Disposal 101!

We were able to get a discount (because my husband is a Veteran)...I didn't know that was even a thing until she mentioned it. Yes, it's expensive...but well worth it for us. I think the final cost of the I-131 treatment was $1200 or there abouts - it was the follow up labs that kept adding to the overall expense....
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Yikes! Yes unfortunately with a lot of health problems for him the last two years we can't do anything else "big" for him. The follow up labs are also a bit of a concern at the moment, it'd be like $110 each time. I'll have to talk to vet and see if there's anything we can do
 
So sorry, Mr. Unlucky has one more thing to add to his resume.:bighug: Here's hoping he'll beat it as he's done so far with the rest. I had friend who had the med compounded into a chicken flavoured liquid so much easier to give. And congrats on the pending family addition!

@Dyana took her civvie Ginger to Dr. Peterson for her treatment. He's also very knowledgeable in acromegaly and other endocrine conditions, but decided to focus on hyperT. She had a link to a interesting article: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/16/magazine/the-mystery-of-the-wasting-house-cats.html By the way, those same flame retardants (PBDEs) as possible cause have been possibly linked to acromegaly.

Suzanne & Darcy said:
excess thyroid hormone potentially masking kidney disease. Acromegaly can do the exact same thing with the growth hormone.
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Can you point me to an article about this, I'm always wanting to learn. I have seen articles saying that the growth hormone/IGF-1 can contribute to renal disease, specifically they are involved in the regulation of electrolytes by the kidneys and influences glomerular filtration and tubular re-absorption processes. I haven't heard about masking being a possibility. It was pretty obvious in Neko.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
So sorry, Mr. Unlucky has one more thing to add to his resume.:bighug: Here's hoping he'll beat it as he's done so far with the rest. I had friend who had the med compounded into a chicken flavoured liquid so much easier to give. And congrats on the pending family addition!

@Dyana took her civvie Ginger to Dr. Peterson for her treatment. He's also very knowledgeable in acromegaly and other endocrine conditions, but decided to focus on hyperT. She had a link to a interesting article: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/16/magazine/the-mystery-of-the-wasting-house-cats.html By the way, those same flame retardants (PBDEs) as possible cause have been possibly linked to acromegaly.


Can you point me to an article about this, I'm always wanting to learn. I have seen articles saying that the growth hormone/IGF-1 can contribute to renal disease, specifically they are involved in the regulation of electrolytes by the kidneys and influences glomerular filtration and tubular re-absorption processes. I haven't heard about masking being a possibility. It was pretty obvious in Neko.
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The link Christie posted above to the crf site mentions it, and links several papers. It's a fantastic article. I believe quick summary is that the excess thyroid hormone increases blood flow through kidneys so they appear to be functioning better than they are, plus GFR is increased. Additionally, the loss of muscle mass lowers the creatinine.

Edit: I now realize you meant the acro ha

I had seen the flame retardants as well, it all makes you wonder and try not to be neurotic about. My background is chemical so I'm always leery of everything anyway :rolleyes: I try to keep the house as chemical free as possible, but there's all the things you can help like carpet, etc. I adopted him when he was 5, so who knows about his previous life either

Glad you mentioned compounding, vet didn't mention it and I was thinking about it today. Much easier that way.
 
Congratulations on the new little one !
Yes, I took Ginger to Dr. Peterson's for the i131. I took a few months to save up the money, and then her T4 went down from 5 to 4, so I delayed, and then finally had it done. Ginger is also close to impossible to pill, so I knew right away that i131 was the way for us, especially since it's the cure. Dr. P pays for the follow up blood work and urinalysis (the initial cost includes 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months tests). His price also includes the thyroid scintigraphy test, so he adjusts the dose of radioiodine accordingly. There are lots of clinics with different pricing.
Ginger had her i131 done 5 years ago. Back then, I only knew there were pills or i131, and my regular vet didn't even mention the i131 to me, I told her that's what I was going to do.
I'm on a face book group for Hyperthyroid Cats, Kidney Cats, More Cats and have read I think that there are now many more options for methimazole like pills, transdermal, liquid, or even chews.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
way, those same flame retardants (PBDEs) as possible cause have been possibly linked to acromegaly.
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Wendy is right about these flame retardants. They are in so many things that we have in our homes. They are endocrine disrupters. I remember when I bought my last mattress, I just made it in under the wire before the FR was mandated by law.
I will work on trying to find an article about the excess growth hormone masking kidney disease. I had a discussion about this with my endocrinologist. She jumped on my question and just said … YES! And then she launched into a story about one of her acromegaly patients. I will ask her if she can provide me with an article next time I see her as well.
 
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Dyana said:
Congratulations on the new little one !
Yes, I took Ginger to Dr. Peterson's for the i131. I took a few months to save up the money, and then her T4 went down from 5 to 4, so I delayed, and then finally had it done. Ginger is also close to impossible to pill, so I knew right away that i131 was the way for us, especially since it's the cure. Dr. P pays for the follow up blood work and urinalysis (the initial cost includes 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months tests). His price also includes the thyroid scintigraphy test, so he adjusts the dose of radioiodine accordingly. There are lots of clinics with different pricing.
Ginger had her i131 done 5 years ago. Back then, I only knew there were pills or i131, and my regular vet didn't even mention the i131 to me, I told her that's what I was going to do.
I'm on a face book group for Hyperthyroid Cats, Kidney Cats, More Cats and have read I think that there are now many more options for methimazole like pills, transdermal, liquid, or even chews.
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Dyana, do you live in the NYC area? I looked into going to Dr. P since he doesn’t do consultations. But for me and my cat (also Ginger!) it would be ridiculously expensive and involve a long trip for her. I don’t even know who does thyroid scintigraphy in my area. You would think there’d be somebody in Atlanta, which would be at least only a drive of between one and two hours depending on where it was located.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Dyana, do you live in the NYC area? I looked into going to Dr. P since he doesn’t do consultations. But for me and my cat (also Ginger!) it would be ridiculously expensive and involve a long trip for her. I don’t even know who does thyroid scintigraphy in my area. You would think there’d be somebody in Atlanta, which would be at least only a drive of between one and two hours depending on where it was located.
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I live in western New Jersey (on the edge of PA), and it was a 100 mile ride each way. There are people who have traveled as far as Florida to go to him. The face book group I posted would be able to help you with what facilities have this thyroid scintigraphy offered the closed to you.
 
Hello! Congrats on the baby! I saw the title so that piqued my curiosity. I had a cat with hyper-t. I saw you said the vet prescribed 2.5mg BID. That's outdated. It should be 1.25mg BID. Tanner loved his pill pockets. It was a treat and he used to come and sit at the times he needed them with no cues from me. I did methimazole for a few months before doing the i131. I agree about getting the BP checked. Tanner had to take amlodipine to get that into normal range and i131 resolved that issue so he was able to come off the BP medicine. I'm not up and up on everything with hyper-t now, unfortunately, other than it needing to be started low not high. Good luck! :bighug:
 
Mandy & Rex (GA) said:
Hello! Congrats on the baby! I saw the title so that piqued my curiosity. I had a cat with hyper-t. I saw you said the vet prescribed 2.5mg BID. That's outdated. It should be 1.25mg BID. Tanner loved his pill pockets. It was a treat and he used to come and sit at the times he needed them with no cues from me. I did methimazole for a few months before doing the i131. I agree about getting the BP checked. Tanner had to take amlodipine to get that into normal range and i131 resolved that issue so he was able to come off the BP medicine. I'm not up and up on everything with hyper-t now, unfortunately, other than it needing to be started low not high. Good luck! :bighug:
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Thank you for this! Do you have a link to what days 1.25mg BID? The few things I read all said 2.5mg - 5mg

Update I found it, 2016 AAFP guidelines
 
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