5/3 Belle- Recovery Update 3 Day 2

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jason & Belle (GA)

Jason & Belle (GA)

Active Member
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13583

News on her anemia was troubling this morning. Despite two blood transfusions over the last 3 days, her PCV was down to 12% this morning. From what the nurse said, through the night, it was up to 18% and back to 12% by morning. They didn't see any internal bleeding yesterday, and will be checking again this morning. I'm sure her mycoplasma infection is back, because her PCV was down to 29% on Friday. Normally, she would be put on high doses of prednisolone to fight the RBC destruction, but we had to lower her dose for the surgery. She was very dehydrated, so after hydration and before surgery, she was down to 20%. So she had a significant drop even before the surgery. If it's not internal bleeding, then I have hope that the AB and transfusions will kick in and help. She is highly regenerative, so her body is trying like crazy to replenish the RBC's. They said she is bright and eating, which isn't typical for a cat with this level of anemia, so I know she has an immense will to live.

I just can't seem to have more than a few hours of hope without crashing back down to earth. This good news/bad news cycle is killing me. I'll be seeing her in an hour, so I'll be able to hold her and calm down for a few minutes. At least until I see the doctor and she gives me an update.

Jason
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update Day 2

Best wishes for Belle. You are such a good care giver, Belle is fortunate to have you. Even though the ups and downs are hard, we do this because we love them so much. We'll say a special little prayer for Belle & you too & keep both of you in our thoughts today.
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update Day 2

I will be thinking of you and Belle and wishing all the good that can be mustered for you.
I am so glad that Belle's a fighter; often that's what makes or breaks the recovery.
I sure hope something kicks in and starts to work along with Belle's fighting attitude.
Hang in there Jason. Keep positive. Be strong.
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update Day 2

Belle is a fighter, Jason. You can't underestimate how much that contributes to healing. You are a great caregiver and are giving her every opportunity to get well. Just hang in there. I know the ups and downs are so difficult. It's very discouraging, I know, but Belle is strong. I'll continue to pray for her recovery.
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update Day 2

I'm thinking of Belle and sending positive thoughts. Fingers and paws crossed that she just needs to gather up some steam to get her blood counts back where they need to be.
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update Day 2

Belle sounds like she doesn't want to listen to how she should be doing and going to take a happier path. So good to hear that she is bright and eating. Paws crossed.
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update Day 2

Hi Jason, Your Belle is really a fighter and she is doing a fine job striving to get better. We are continuing to send good thoughts, prayers, healing vines, snowflakes, to Belle and hope that she is well on the road to recovery. Good thoughts being send to you, too! Hang in there!

Ella & Stu
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update 2 Day 2

I just got back from my visit and she is not bleeding internally. There is no noticeable fluid in her abdomen. She is likely "leaking" some, but that is to be expected. So that means the anemia is from the mycoplasma infection. She is on her third transfusion now, and may get a fourth soon after. The goal is to keep ahead of the cell destruction and allow the Baytril, Doxycycline, and newly increased dose of prednisolone to fight the infection. Her jaundice is all but gone, and it's likely her other values are closer to normal.

They said she ate very well this morning, and she continues to get glucerna through her j tube. She has fought off this mycoplasma infection before, so I hope she can do it again. At this point, that seems to be the biggest remaining issue. I am convinced if she didn't have the jaundice last week, she would have been back in the hospital this week anyway for the mycoplasma. It was on it's way back last week with a vengeance, and I know she would be dealing with this regardless.

I can't say it enough how nice it is to have your support. I'm not the type of person that usually needs anything from anyone, but I'm having a little trouble with this and reading your posts lifts my spirits. I'm hoping that I can get back to posting about her BG levels again soon.

Jason
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update 2 Day 2

Jason & Belle said:
I just got back from my visit and she is not bleeding internally. There is no noticeable fluid in her abdomen. She is likely "leaking" some, but that is to be expected. So that means the anemia is from the mycoplasma infection. She is on her third transfusion now, and may get a fourth soon after. The goal is to keep ahead of the cell destruction and allow the Baytril, Doxycycline, and newly increased dose of prednisolone to fight the infection. Her jaundice is all but gone, and it's likely her other values are closer to normal.

They said she ate very well this morning, and she continues to get glucerna through her j tube. She has fought off this mycoplasma infection before, so I hope she can do it again. At this point, that seems to be the biggest remaining issue. I am convinced if she didn't have the jaundice last week, she would have been back in the hospital this week anyway for the mycoplasma. It was on it's way back last week with a vengeance, and I know she would be dealing with this regardless.

I can't say it enough how nice it is to have your support. I'm not the type of person that usually needs anything from anyone, but I'm having a little trouble with this and reading your posts lifts my spirits. I'm hoping that I can get back to posting about her BG levels again soon.

Jason
Click to expand...

She'll fight it off, Jason. She sounds like a very strong, amazing kitty with a very strong, amazing dad. The support of this board is awesome. I'm also not one to ask for support or help (DH2B tells me I'm stubborn and too independent) but going through something like this really takes it out of you and it's hard to find people that truly understand what we're going through. Everyone on this board loves their kitties as much as we do so they completely understand!
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update 2 Day 2

Sending my strongest Healing Vines to sweet Belle for a complete recovery!! HUGS to you for being such a great bean!!
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update 2 Day 2

Hang in there. You and Belle are really fighting hard to turn things around.
Your Belle looks just like my little civvie "Pip". Pip wanted me to remind you that butterscotch cats are darn tough and always pulling surprises out of the hat.
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update 2 Day 2

Any chance that the Mycoplasia caused the jaundice? I wasn't familiar with this sort of infection so I went to read about it. (I'm geeky that way.) In a couple of places, they noted that both anemia and jaundice can result from the infection.

It's good to hear that Belle has an appetite and is otherwise doing well.
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update 2 Day 2

I think it's possible, but her PCV was 29% when she went in, so there wasn't any significant RBC loss at first. I do think the increase in bilirubin we saw before surgery was due to the infection. She went from 29% on Friday night to 20% on Sunday before the surgery and I'm sure that threw a new load of bilirubin into an already overwhelmed system. From what I read, the drop in PCV could have been caused by her being rehydrated. That would mean though that her dehydration from the pancreatitis could have artificially elevated her PCV and that her anemia was already worse than we thought. Since her jaundice is all but gone and her anemia persists, I think it's just another unfortunate coincidence in a cat that has a number of issues.

Thanks for looking into it and giving me your thoughts.



Sienne and Gabby said:
Any chance that the Mycoplasia caused the jaundice? I wasn't familiar with this sort of infection so I went to read about it. (I'm geeky that way.) In a couple of places, they noted that both anemia and jaundice can result from the infection.

It's good to hear that Belle has an appetite and is otherwise doing well.
Click to expand...
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update 2 Day 2

Jason,
Your Belle is sounding like one tough ballsy girlie; what a fighter she is! She's reminding me of Kelly's Logan for being a tough kitty, just fighting back at whatever comes up.

We will keep pulling for you guys; here's hoping that things continue to improve for Belle.
Pats and scratches for Belle from us.
 
Re: 5/3 Belle- Recovery Update 2 Day 2

Just called to check on her and her PCV is up to 18% after the latest transfusion. Not the greatest, but a 6% increase is better than the last transfusion increase of 3% and she was as low as 17% a month ago before her first treatment. They said she is bright and alert, and rubbing on everyone. She doesn't warm to people that visit the house, but she loves everyone at the hospital. It's nice to know she is being so well taken care of. The folks at the hospital are great, and it makes it so much easier to know that she is getting so much love and attention while she's away from home.

Jason
 
(((Jason & Belle))) :thumbup
You both sound amazing & I really appreciate you taking the time to update us!! We are all cheering Beautiful Belle on & I know she is going to recover!! You are an amazing daddy to her & she is surrounded by love & support!!
:YMHUG: Belle :YMHUG:
 
Hi Jason,
I noticed some things you wrote in Kelly/Logans condo a few weeks ago, and have been following you guys as much as I can (kinda in/out of LL quick lately). My latte has multiple, serious health issues as well. I understand how difficult this is. the ups/down, the hope/fear/panic. the exhaustion. the deep love you never thought could exist. it IS really hard. And yes, it DOES help to have the support of a group, along with many positive vibes being sent from all over to both you and Belle. It is apparent you have done an amazing job giving Belle the gift of a wonderful life, filled with love. She is so lucky to have you. There are some cats that have an incredibly strong constitution. No matter what stands in front of them, they find a way through it. I believe Belle is one of those cats...and I hope she can continue to show you in this current challenge.
:YMHUG:
 
Carolyn,

I appreciate your comments. As I was driving home from my visit tonight, I realized that I loved Belle as much as I've ever loved anything. I don't think love has levels, either you love or you don't. My wife and I decided to make decisions for her just like we would a person. Very few people would understand that, but everyone here does.

I have a boy named Latte. I found him outside, already fixed and declawed, and he's been the most wonderful addition to my family. I hope your Latte continues to manage her issues, and as you said to me, she's very lucky to have someone that loves her so much.

I just read Latte's history, and I see you have done a lot for her. I also have a girl, approximately 16, that stops eating without prednisolone. We noticed a year or so ago that she was losing weight, and then all of a sudden, stopped eating. An endoscopy showed IBD, and she needed to be on a feeding tube for a few weeks until the pred kicked in. She is on 2.5mg a day. When we tried to lower that, she stopped eating completely again. She also has beginning stage CRF, but that's been stable for a year now. I know what you're going through, and I wish you and Latte the best.


Jason

carolynandlatte said:
Hi Jason,
I noticed some things you wrote in Kelly/Logans condo a few weeks ago, and have been following you guys as much as I can (kinda in/out of LL quick lately). My latte has multiple, serious health issues as well. I understand how difficult this is. the ups/down, the hope/fear/panic. the exhaustion. the deep love you never thought could exist. it IS really hard. And yes, it DOES help to have the support of a group, along with many positive vibes being sent from all over to both you and Belle. It is apparent you have done an amazing job giving Belle the gift of a wonderful life, filled with love. She is so lucky to have you. There are some cats that have an incredibly strong constitution. No matter what stands in front of them, they find a way through it. I believe Belle is one of those cats...and I hope she can continue to show you in this current challenge.
:YMHUG:
Click to expand...
 
sending more snowflakes and vines and healing thoughts. It sounds like Belle is a real fighter and that she has made up her mind that she wants to stay, so I hope her body will catch up with her mind soon.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top