7/8 Tennessee AMPS 163 Vet Update

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Andrea&Tennessee (GA)

Andrea&Tennessee (GA)

Member Since 2014
yesterday's 2 vet visits, and chest tap.
I went to feed and give Tennessee his insulin this AM. He tested at 163. The vet was concerned that he might drop again today, and as there are less people are there to keep close watch of him so they asked that I only give him 4 units.
He was purring and ate his full meal. The only upsetting thing was he is loosing hair along his neck where they had to hold him to do the chest tap. They are going to do an ultrasound today and let me know what they find.

I had a long discussion with my BF last night. He thinks that I am taking this too far. My thoughts are to wait for the ultrasound results and decide what to do at that point. I am hoping that the vet is straight with me and let me know if this is worth treating or it is time to PTS.
 
More prayers for you and Tennie! I agree with you...wait to see what the ultrasound says before making any decisions; you don't have a complete picture yet. As someone mentioned in Tennie's condo last night, Melissa's Tarragon ( @Melissa & Tarragon ) has been on meds for HCM for several years now and he is thriving. It sounds like Tennie is still feeling very, very good - prayers that he stays that way for a very long time!
 
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Hello Andrea! I am so sorry to hear about Tennessee. I know how scary it is. Like Amy said, our kitty, Tarragon, has been on meds for HCM for a few years. The ultrasound will tell them a lot and is really not a bad procedure. Hang in there. Lots of prayers coming your way. If you have any questions or need anything, please let me know.
 
Morning :coffee::coffee::coffee:

Vines and positive thoughts for Tennessee this morning. I will hope for good results. One of my kittiwakes dealt with heart issues too. The U/S isn't too bad, treatment isn't either. hang in there. I hope all goes well today.
 
Sending a whole ton of prayers, healing vines and positive energy that the U/S will be good.

:bighug: :bighug: :bighug: for you as you wait for the results.
 
Ok the vet just called he has right side heart failure, and thickening on the left side. They did not try to remove any more fluid. They are going to start him on 4 meds. Enalapril, pimovendan (sp?), Plavix and Lasix.
We will be going back for a check next Monday if all goes well until then. I figured that it is worth a try. But kinda nervious.
 
Thinking of you! Heff is on Lasix & Enlaporil. He was diagnosed with HCM in December and is doing great! He had a left plural effusion which went away with treatment & meds.
 
Just googled plural effusion.
Unfortunately it is more than that. He has right side heart failure, and I believe a thickening on the right side. He is going to the cardiologist a week from Thursday.
 
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Still keeping fingers crossed. My first cat had severe HCM and was given a month to live. He lived another 4 quality years, developed hyperthyroidism and eventually died of an oral cancer. You are lucky to have a cardiologist in your area. They best we have is an internist who specializes in ultrasounds. I love her (have seen her way too often!).
 
Certainly worth a try Andrea to give Tennie a chance, let's hope the meds do their work and he still has a good quality of life. Hugs to your both :bighug:
 
First, HUGS and HUGS! This sucks.

I had a kitty with the same problems - he took enalapril and lasix for almost a year full of more love before it just got to be too much for him. It's not an easy diagnosis for OUR hearts to handle. Only you know his quality of life and know him well enough to listen to what he is telling you.

More hugs,
 
I'm figuring it is worth a shot, but I am preparing myself that he may not respond well. I am going to take it day by day.
My BF is not going to be happy, as I said before he thinks I am taking this too far. But I have to try.
If his quality of life is suffering or he seems too unhappy, I am preparing to let him go.
 
It absolutely is worth a shot - right now, Tennie is happy and eating, so there is no reason to not try. Similar yet different - almost a year and a half ago, Trix was diagnosed with advanced Stage 4 kidney disease, totally out of the blue. We were just there for routine check up - not because she wasn't feeling well- quite the opposite, there was nothing indicating something was amiss. The vet couldn't believe that she felt as well as she did, given what her values were. We even reran the tests, did x-rays and ultrasounds because her values didn't match HER. I don't think anyone expected it...but with support and a few meds, she is just has healthy and happy today as she was before diagnosis last year, despite these horrific kidney values that she has. You just never know....a little bit of love and support can do amazing things.

So yet another round of prayers and hugs from us!
 
{{{Andrea}}}

I am so sorry to hear of the diagnosis for Tennessee, but I agree with everyone else. As long as he is eating and seems to feel well, it's worth pursuing treatment. I had to make similar decisions with all four of my cats when they were diagnosed with cancer last year. One, Harvey, was given six months to live last November. He's still driving me crazy today. They are all still here and pretty much thriving. You have to let Tennie tell you what's too much. I know your BF doesn't quite get it, but hopefully when he sees how well Tennie is feeling and acting normally, he'll at least go along. Sending many vines and prayers to you and your dear furbaby.

One question: Plavix is a blood thinner. Did the vet say anything about any special precautions when you test him? Will it be hard to get the ear to stop bleeding? Just wondering.

:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Tricia & Cinco said:
One question: Plavix is a blood thinner. Did the vet say anything about any special precautions when you test him?
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That is a great question Tricia. I don't think it should be much of a problem as there are very small capillaries in the ear. I take blood thinners myself and just need to take a little extra time to clot. My civie cat, Quall (Tennie's brother) is also on Plavix for cardiomyopathy, last time we drew blood it just took him a little more time to clot too.
But I guess it wont hurt to ask.
My BF is definitely not on board and is upset that I am letting the "crazy cat ladies" influence me. I just told him, that there are crazy cat men too!
 
My Frankie has had HCM for 6 years and he is doing great. So well that the vet keeps forgetting that he has a heart problem as the murmur has gone and the echocardiograms come back fine and no deterioration. Even the thickening has gone. He started off on Atenolol syrup but when he developed Diabetes he was put on the tablet version. He is under a cardiologist at the RVC and has echo's every year. He doesn't need to be anaesthetised for that either.
 
I am in the UK so we do not get Friskies here. I feed Frankie Felix Senior fish flavours or Felix chunks fish flavours. In case you can't guess he's a fish freak.
 
You absolutely are doing the right thing. He's happy and eating and will be thrilled to be back home. As you said, it would be different if he was acting unwell, but he's not!
 
The important thing to concentrate on right now is Tennie's quality of life....if he's eating well, doing all those things our kitties do and still capable of loving and receiving love, those are the important things to consider.

Sure hope your boyfriend can see things from your point of view....would he want you to give up on him when he's being a little difficult?
 
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