4/7 Minnie update - staying 1 more night

Liz & Minnie

Liz & Minnie

Very Active Member
yesterday's update

Hi all. Just heard from the internist who again said Minnie is well enough to come home with a follow-up Friday. I am debating. I want her home but I've been through this too many times and debating whether to leave her there til end of day (it's 10am here now) or even overnight as well. She is out of ICU and again eating 'excellent'. I do know a lot more now and have the feeding tube so I'm better equipped to have her home this time, but still feeling super cautious. Interested in opinions here!

This is a bit of an essay but at least I now have a record of notes from my phone call! I forgot to ask about BP and ketones (though they don't seem bothered about ketones). It's so hard on the phone, it's clear they want to give their report and get off the phone.

Diabetes: She has had 2 (or maybe 3) low BG events in there - 49 @3pm yesterday and again low @6am this morning. Highest has been 238 since she's been there. Dr lowered her Lev to 4.5u last night and again to 4u this morning. Possibly she's started producing her own insulin.
She is currently on a 10am/10pm dosing schedule. Dr also recommended I drop the ear pricks, the Libre has been tracking very closely with the blood glucose numbers. (the Libre is staying put under the Kitty Kollar with no apparent allergy, after Minnie pulled off the first one)

Food: They changed her food. She is now on A/D and any canned food without gravy (I didn't provide food this time)

Potassium: Aldosterone results still pending. They are doubling her oral potassium so 2 scoops of the powder/1tsp gel every 6 hours

Infection: She's on Orbifloxacin. Unable to identify source of bacterial infection. No UTI. Dr said high WBC not uncommon to be due to the pancreatitis. I asked whether painkillers would help and she said they could try a little bupe on her today and see if that helped.
 
I forgot to ask, were you giving Minnie fluids when she was home before? It's an important tool in the toolkit for ketones. Though I guess with a tube you can get liquid down her.

That paper I linked yesterday (I think it was yesterday?) on the 2020 FD updates, suggested the Libre as a supplement and not the soul source of BG data. They also recommended double checking Libre lows with ear pricks. It would be interesting to see what R dosing they've been doing if any, in addition to the L, so see whether it's L or R that contributed to the lows.

As for whether she comes home today or tomorrow, what extra will they be doing for her today that you would not? Do you need the break? Completely understandable if you do - it's a lot to take on and you have to be ready for it. :bighug::bighug:
 
If they have her on IV fluids there, I'd leave her there for another day. Also, IV potassium supplementation and/or other electrolytes ... getting them balanced. So scary since Minnie seems to do well at the vet and then crash when she gets home! Maybe they are sending her home too soon? I'd opt for another day ... but I'm not paying the bill, am I?
 
Thank you both! You are confirming my thoughts.

Wendy&Neko said:
were you giving Minnie fluids when she was home before? It's an important tool in the toolkit for ketones. Though I guess with a tube you can get liquid down her.
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I was not giving fluids. After first discharge they sent me home with a bag but it all got complicated, they used it during subsequent hospital stay.

Wendy&Neko said:
That paper I linked yesterday (I think it was yesterday?) on the 2020 FD updates, suggested the Libre as a supplement and not the soul source of BG data. They also recommended double checking Libre lows with ear pricks. It would be interesting to see what R dosing they've been doing if any, in addition to the L, so see whether it's L or R that contributed to the lows.
Click to expand...
I hear you with the combo of Libre + ear prick. I just didn't say anything to the vet about it ;)

They gave R when they admitted her after the 2nd puking. No R since so the low BG mentioned this morning are after L only.

Suzanne & Darcy said:
If they have her on IV fluids there, I'd leave her there for another day. Also, IV potassium supplementation and/or other electrolytes ... getting them balanced. So scary since Minnie seems to do well at the vet and then crash when she gets home! Maybe they are sending her home too soon? I'd opt for another day ... but I'm not paying the bill, am I?
Click to expand...
She is off IV fluids since this morning, so the incremental costs aren't quite so bad. They only used the tube when they admitted her, she is eating 'excellent'. I think another day for her to eat well for them and get stronger is good. I have been burned too many times now with them sending her home. In the long run cheaper to leave her in another night than have her deteriorate and go back in (where's that crystal ball?)

Dr just texted me a bunch of info (BG and BP) which I am about to put into her s/s.BP has run normal to mildly elevated during all the stays. BG is 327 last reading after 4u Lev this morning. Ugh. I don't want to deal with preventing a hypo overnight (don't know if they will give R or not). The last 2 times she's come home, BG has dropped way down within a few hours.

They sent me a video, she looks alert and maybe a bit afraid (noisy unhappy puppy, leaving soon though) so I am a bit torn...but I think overall better if I have one more night decent sleep. Also gives me chance to prepare meals for both of us! I'm still thinking it over for another hour or two though.

thanks all
 
I understand your dilemma. If you decide you want to have a night to rest and get all prepared to focus on her when she does come home, it's totally understandable. Taking care of a sick kitty is so exhausting.
Whether you decide to bring her home today or tomorrow, I'm just glad to hear she seems to be doing so much better than she was. Sending lots of healing vines to her for a strong recovery!
 
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