3/7 CYRSTAL - +6 = 95! first Green - but ended up a PJ party

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suki & crystal (GA)

suki & crystal (GA)

Member Since 2014
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Good morning LL and a very happy Saturday to all,

After Crystal's recent trials and tribulations we seem to be getting back on track this morning, her AMPS was 243 and she's just given me a +4.5 of 171 - so back in the blues!! She was a little quiet first thing but is outside now grooming and sunbathing and purring. Eating well, no sign of any further LB activity but just of to the pharmacy to get the Miralax to keep things moving.

Good vines to everyone, enjoy the weekend!

Suki & Crystal
 
I couldn't get Miralax here but the pharmacy checked on the computer and came up with Transipeg 2,95g, which is another name for Macrogol 3350, which is the same as Miralax. I've checked this out on Wikipedia and it seems the same so I shall give it a go with her evening feed. Looking at the Feline Constipation.org site, they recommend 1/8 teaspoon over the day's feed so I'll start on that. As we will be out all evening, from just after her PMPS at 18.00 until gone midnight, I was just thinking of leaving out some normal cat food (Felix and gravy) so she can graze, it might run her a bit higher than normal but as I'm not there to monitor I think I will feel more comfortable with it. Good idea?
 
If you're not able to get anything else, another alternative to constipation that I've tried is 100% psyllium, which you can get at Walmart inexpensively. Simply open up a capsule, and sprinkle a bit onto the food, then mix in. I've learned that using a bit once a day helped Blackie, and I've used it on my civvies, also. If you decide to try it, you may only need a small amount for Crystal, Sending tons of wonderful poo vibes Crystal's way. Come on, Crystal... Surf a little lower, please.
 
Glad to see Crystal getting better numbers. I bet that is a relief. I know it was for me when Toby started getting down in the blues.
Have a great week-end
 
Hi Angela, thanks for that info, it's worth knowing something else which might work. She's just done a poo, but very hard so hopefully the Miralax subsitute that I've put in her food tonight will work. Thanks for the poo vines.
Hi Peg, it takes a bit of getting used to seeing blues after such a run of pink and yellow. Hope you have a good weekend also.
 
Now this is the kind of bounce back I like to see. You go, Crystal...yes, you go!!!

Have a great time. I, too, love Celtic music. Sorta envious.

Marilyn and Polly
 
@Wendy&Neko @Suzanne & Cobb(GA) @pollydoodle - Just got home at +6 and she's GREEN at 95!!!!! I left some normal food out but doesn't look like she's eaten it by these numbers. I suppose I need to stay up now and keep an eye on her in case she goes lower. Still having a bit of trouble in the LB, managed to go earlier with 2 very hard little deposits but I still think she has some more to come out. Will give her some more olive oil.

Good evening with lots of friends in a village hall but glad to be home with all our furbabies. Bolly as ever goes berserk when you come in, he is so pleased to have us home, cats, well it's a case of "follow me to the food"
Right, time for PJ's and a coffee, see you at +7.
 
Go Crystal, go!:D:D:D


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Suki, great news on Crystal hitting the green. Well deserved you worked hard enough for it.
Have a good evening Peg and Toby
 
Wow, thank you all so much for your great encouragement, she's a very lucky little girl to have so many people care for her. Back in the blues at 104 at +7 but I'm quite happy with that, these low numbers frighten me more than the high numbers. I can't quite believe how quickly that last increase has had such an effect, it's been a long slow frustrating road to get here, I really didn't think she would ever see a breakthrough - I am just so grateful to everyone for their support and guidance in getting us to this point, I really couldn't have done it without you all. Wait til I tell my vet the good news, she will be surprised!

I think I will stay up to get a +8 and if all is well, get to bed.
 
84 @ +8, think I'll give her a snack to bring her up a bit, would really love to get to bed.
Should I still give her the 45u dose, which is due in 4 hours? Not sure of the procedure at these sort of numbers, any advice would be helpful.
 
Hi Suki - I wonder if Crystal wants to nadir at preshot again like she did this morning. The tricky thing with acrocats, is that they often have a working pancreas. A little low carb food when they are lower may in fact trigger the pancreas to kick in and send the numbers lower. You might want to try a little honey (a couple drops) and/or high carb food to see if you can get her to reverse direction. Unfortunately, it still means testing for a while.

As for the dose, I think you need to reduce. She's having some lovely cycles, but this is in spite of a couple of skips. I'm also worried about Monday when you can't monitor all day. Normally when I have a cycle I can't monitor, I'll temporarily reduce the dose for two cycles before hand, to reduce the depot. But Crystal has a much larger depot which can last longer. Since 40 units was not enough and 45 seems a bit much, I'd pick somewhere in the middle as her new dose (42 or 42.5).

Next question, you must be exhausted, how much can you monitor the next cycle? If not much, I'd do something to reduce her depot again. Maybe a half dose (22.5) for AMPS. We'll have to see how she does in the next day and a half, but I'd be tempted to do another depot depleting dose after that to make sure she's safe on Monday.
 
Time for a few drops of honey on high carb food. Test again in 30 minutes. I'll hang out with you.
 
Okay I've fed her some Felix and gravy, not sure what percentage it is but it looks quite rich and she scoffed it. Also rubbed a little honey on her gums. Ill go with the half dose at Apms which is due now in just under 2 hours. I'm really worried about Monday, considering skipping dose altogether just for safety's sake. Now I have a problem with half my box of strips being dud and I will probably run out later today, so will have to find a pharmacy open on Sunday. Funny how things change from elation to panic in just a few hours. I was just going to post this when up you popped, you are an angel Wendy, thanks for staying with us. She seems okay, settling down to sleep after a surprise meal. Ill test again in 15 minutes.
 
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Whew! High carb usually wears off in a couple of hours. Given she's at 90, you could try a short one hour nap before the next test. Not sure you'll be able to sleep, but maybe recharge your batteries a bit. Don't forget to breathe. As you've seen, you are in control with carbs. Keep notes in your SS remarks field or elsewhere how much you fed. That'll be a help for next time.

suki & crystal said:
Now I have a problem with half my box of strips being dud and I will probably run out tomorrow, so will have to find a pharmacy open on Sunday.
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Another option for AMPS is a skip. That will reduce the number of strips you need tomorrow. Then you could do her new reduced dose tomorrow night and skip Monday morning.
 
My mistake, it's not tomorrow the strips will run out, it's today. Have about 10 left in total. I think that might be a good idea to skip AMPS in just over an hour as you suggest, do a reduced dose at PMPS ( is that a half dose or 42?) And then skip Monday morning totally, and the new reduced dose Monday evening. I'm comfortable with that, poor Crystal though, up and down like a yo-yo.
 
Safety first, skipping sounds like a good idea. You still have a couple of tests left to make sure she's still good after the high carb wears off. Once you see she's really on the rise, I'd put away the test kit until tonight.

Based on the limited experience with Crystal after a skip, I'd see where she is tonight and make the decision on dose. I'd do at least a 1/2 dose. Do you need to get sleep tonight to prepare for tomorrow?
 
It's now 05.00 in the morning, her normal AMPS is 06.00 so I'll test her but skip and then another test at what would be +1 and if okay ill get some sleep before hunting down the strips. I can't tell you how grateful I am that you were there Wendy to get us through yet another blip. Luckily I have an extremely comfy reclining armchair so I'm okay to nap for an hour here, but I think sleep might elude me for the moment.
 
suki & crystal said:
I couldn't get Miralax here but the pharmacy checked on the computer and came up with Transipeg 2,95g, which is another name for Macrogol 3350, which is the same as Miralax. I've checked this out on Wikipedia and it seems the same so I shall give it a go with her evening feed
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Hi Suki, I have been following Crystal's big adventures and trying to stay out of the way, however, I asked a friend in the UK about this Macrogal 3550-- it seems this is called Movicol in the UK, but unfortunately, the product has added electrolytes, which are not needed by kitties. You may want to ask your vet about this? I copied this from Tanya's Website and it looks like you can order the actual Miralax on Amazon UK

UK

In the UK, MiraLAX is not available but it can often be bought from Amazon, though supplier links change often, so if the link I give doesn't work, search for MiraLAX. The price varies depending upon the supplier. It is usually shipped from the USA, so shipping costs can be relatively high.



BioveasellsMiraLAX for £23.95.



Another product containing MiraLAX's active ingredient (polyethylene glycol 3350, or PEG3350) is widely available under the name of Movicol. Unfortunately Movicol contains added electrolytes. This is presumably to offset the electrolyte imbalances which may result from using these products pre-endoscopy, but since CKD cats are not receiving Movicol for this purpose, the added electrolytes are not necessary. Safety and palatability of polyethylene glycol 3350 as an oral laxative in cats (2011) Tam FM, Carr AP and Myers SL Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 13 pp694-7 used a version containing added electrolytes, and found that although it seems to be an effective laxative in cats, it did cause increased potassium levels in some cats. These were not clinically significant, but if you do decide to use PEG3350, I would ask your vet to monitor your cat's potassium levels.
 
Hi Ruth, that's so kind of you to investigate on our behalf. I did notice about the added electrolytes but didn't realise the importance - talk about a steep learning curve, it feels like I'm going through trial by fire at the moment. Angela mentioned Psyllium as an alternative, I will make some enquiries later today about both, and thank you for the link.
 
86 at AMPS from 90 at +10.5 so going down albeit slowly, no shot. Will test again in an hour, paws crossed she will level out.
 
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I find high carb wears off about two hours after Neko eats in. Crystal is essentially flat and it's been two hours now. Paws crossed she climbs a little now, although she's at a very safe level.
 
Thanks for staying with us Wendy, you must be tired as well from all your exertions today. I think I will go to bed now for an hour, sun will be up soon.
 
I know it has taken time but it seems like she's gone from consistentky high to much, much better. I'm also glad Wendy was around to help.....she is a gem and I would have been at a loss with an acro kitty.

Hope you get some sleep and strips. I also hope everything goes well on Monday.:bighug:
 
Thanks Marje, I certainly agree with you that Wendy is a gem, I'm so glad she was around. Anyway, what would have been Crystal's +2 from AMPS when I didn't shoot, is 131. Just going to give her some late breakfast and then have another hour or so in bed. Will update her SS then.
 
Watching while falling asleep on the couch here so sympathizing with how you feel today Suki. You did an awesome job.:bighug: It's always hard the first couple of times when the cat goes low. But you gather data that allows you to sleep more the next time. Speaking of which, my brat wants me to get up in a few hours, so I'll see you later today.
 
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