Amanda and a Loudogg
Member Since 2017
Five-Year Anniversary Post
Hello everyone!
I cannot believe I have not been on the board in forever! I had to do a double-take when I saw that my last post was Lou's 5-year anniversary post!! I am sorry it's been so long! I don't keep up with the spreadsheet anymore, but I did enter the last week or two of data just for old time's sake.
My sweet buddy Lou is still doing wonderfully! I still cannot believe he's been diabetic for NINE years now. It feels like both no time and forever. He is still on Levemir, staying pretty steady at 0.5u. We have him pretty regulated, which I am thankful for every day. He's been more sensitive to food here and there, just extra portions/calories, not even higher carb food. He likes to keep us on our toes, but if that's all the shennanigans he's shennaniganning, I will absolutely take it! He's still healthy, despite being 18-19 years old. He's avoided kidney problems so far and I am incredibly thankful for that as well. The only sad news we have about him is that he's gone completely deaf. He likes to yodel even louder now and really get his merows ringing off the walls whenever he's able, haha. I have started using hand signals (waving, etc.) more so that he can hopefully know I'm not ignoring him. He reminds us that he's an old man in other ways, like sleeping so deeply he startles awake. Then he assumes it must be time to eat, haha.
My civvie Bella is also still alive and well at 19-20. She's still just a shade heavier than a walking skeleton, but I'll take it! She still has the exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), so she gets stomach enzymes mixed in with most of her food. She's on gabapentin, enzymes, and she also decided to become hyperthyroid, because she wasn't on enough medicines, haha. Thankfully she only gets those meds one time per day and I'm able to grind that pill up with her gaba and mix it into her wet food. I could not imagine trying to pill her multiple times a day. She's cranky enough as it is, haha. She had a pretty bad yeast infection in her ears that I am not sure if it has completely gone away despite treating it twice. She's lost her hearing as well, which is also sad because she's always been a talker. I kind of hope that it's her ears acting up again and not permanent, but she still talks to me all the time, even if she can't hear me talking back.
There have been quite a few changes for me as well (hence the not keeping up with the spreadsheet or posting here). I went back to school and earned my bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science (I had a 2-year associate's degree). I recently left my job of nearly 12 years and moved to the lab at my local Veteran's Association Hospital!! It feels crazy to be the "new girl" after so long, but considering the change came months after getting my degree, it seemed like the best time to make the switch! I've been enjoying working in a larger lab with more than 1 coworker.
I hope you and your kitties are doing well! I know how hard this dance can be, and I am sending hugs to you and scritches to all of your extra sweet kitties!! Keep up the amazing work my friends!!
Much love,
Amanda, Loudogg, and Bella
Hello everyone!
I cannot believe I have not been on the board in forever! I had to do a double-take when I saw that my last post was Lou's 5-year anniversary post!! I am sorry it's been so long! I don't keep up with the spreadsheet anymore, but I did enter the last week or two of data just for old time's sake.
My sweet buddy Lou is still doing wonderfully! I still cannot believe he's been diabetic for NINE years now. It feels like both no time and forever. He is still on Levemir, staying pretty steady at 0.5u. We have him pretty regulated, which I am thankful for every day. He's been more sensitive to food here and there, just extra portions/calories, not even higher carb food. He likes to keep us on our toes, but if that's all the shennanigans he's shennaniganning, I will absolutely take it! He's still healthy, despite being 18-19 years old. He's avoided kidney problems so far and I am incredibly thankful for that as well. The only sad news we have about him is that he's gone completely deaf. He likes to yodel even louder now and really get his merows ringing off the walls whenever he's able, haha. I have started using hand signals (waving, etc.) more so that he can hopefully know I'm not ignoring him. He reminds us that he's an old man in other ways, like sleeping so deeply he startles awake. Then he assumes it must be time to eat, haha.
My civvie Bella is also still alive and well at 19-20. She's still just a shade heavier than a walking skeleton, but I'll take it! She still has the exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), so she gets stomach enzymes mixed in with most of her food. She's on gabapentin, enzymes, and she also decided to become hyperthyroid, because she wasn't on enough medicines, haha. Thankfully she only gets those meds one time per day and I'm able to grind that pill up with her gaba and mix it into her wet food. I could not imagine trying to pill her multiple times a day. She's cranky enough as it is, haha. She had a pretty bad yeast infection in her ears that I am not sure if it has completely gone away despite treating it twice. She's lost her hearing as well, which is also sad because she's always been a talker. I kind of hope that it's her ears acting up again and not permanent, but she still talks to me all the time, even if she can't hear me talking back.
There have been quite a few changes for me as well (hence the not keeping up with the spreadsheet or posting here). I went back to school and earned my bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science (I had a 2-year associate's degree). I recently left my job of nearly 12 years and moved to the lab at my local Veteran's Association Hospital!! It feels crazy to be the "new girl" after so long, but considering the change came months after getting my degree, it seemed like the best time to make the switch! I've been enjoying working in a larger lab with more than 1 coworker.
I hope you and your kitties are doing well! I know how hard this dance can be, and I am sending hugs to you and scritches to all of your extra sweet kitties!! Keep up the amazing work my friends!!
Much love,
Amanda, Loudogg, and Bella
, so nice to see an update! Sorry the kitties have hearing issues, but they are lucky to have you caring for their senior years 
.
