9/1 Trixie AMBG 122 "+3.5" 82 PMBG 98 - Pics

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Amy&TrixieCat

Amy&TrixieCat

Member Since 2011
Yesterday

Another very nice start for Miss Trix....of course now I'm wondering if the fact that her BP was running a bit low was causing her BGs to go up these last several weeks, and reducing her BP meds has brought them back down. Yep, I'm a typical LL MamaBean, always searching for an answer that I'll probably never find! And while she's been eating well for me in general lately (with me holding the plate, of course), she has been eating REALLY well since we dropped her BP dose, and since I started the syringes to get some extra calories into her....naturally, that could just be a coincidence, but one again, "crazy MamaBean looking for an answer" reporting for duty...was her low BP reducting her app???

I am relieved that her BW results were stable. I'm still waiting for the report to come via e-mail...sometimes it takes them a couple days to get their acts together with that sort of thing. But, for some reason, my vetty was a bit doom-and-gloomy. She's usually not that way. I think, though, that she was focused more on Trix's numbers than she was on Trix, which is also unusual for her, but...I don't know...it was weird, and so I wasn't feeling as celebratory as I would have liked.

Yesterday, I washed a couple of the kitties' fluffy blankies. Before I had a chance to fold this one up and spread it across the bench like I usually do, Trix moved on in. Here she is, ensconced in fluffliness...she looked sooooooooo comfy:





I lost the breakfast attention span of two of my civvies, Franke and Petey, to a gnat so small I couldn't see it at all. But they were running around in circles, blindly batting it instead of eating .... I guess it kept buzzing them :lol: . They were very entertaining.

My Dad was still feeling pretty crappy yesterday. This is probably the part of each chemo cycle where he's just going to feel beaten down. It's frustrating because my Mom is worried about giving him anything in case it might make things worse (ie, in case of a drug interaction with the chemo chemicals), but neither of them are quite willing yet to call the doctor to ask if there is anything else he can take to help him feel better. My Mom is all worried because it's a holiday weekend, and my Dad (who is just like me) wants to figure it out on his own :roll: . I'm like that, too, for most things....but this is different. I told my Mom that the doctor's office said to call at any time, and that someone is always on call. Hopefully today will be better.

So between the vetty being a downer and my Dad, it's been a bit of a bummer for my long weekend. Oh well...I never seem to have fun-filled time off any more anyway, and there's always today......

Hopefully I can also finally start REALLY getting caught up here in LL, too. I have been peeking in on everyone, but I've also been SO wiped out and crashing pretty hard at night. As always, though, my LL family has been in my prayers....

Have a great day, everyone!

Amy
 

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Re: 9/1 Trixie AMBG 122 "+3.5" 82 - Pics

Love the pictures of Ms. Trixie and love that her numbers are going down!

I am sorry that your dad is not feeling well after his chemo, it seemed so hopeful at first that perhaps he wouldn't have many side effects. What about calling a pharmacy and seeing what they have to say about what else he can take? Usually the pharmacist has some info on that kind of thing. Not ideal, but if they aren't wanting to call the doctor's office on their "day off", would they be ok calling a pharmacy that is open anyways?

Sending healing vines to your dad and hope that he is feeling better soon!
 
Re: 9/1 Trixie AMBG 122 "+3.5" 82 - Pics

She's showing you what she can do, Mom! :mrgreen:

Cats LOVE fluffy things to lay on. I need to find one or 2 of those types of blankets for mine. I know that Blackie would definitely claim one. :-D Can I find it at a pet store, and if so, which store?

I'm so glad that her #s are improving with the reduction of the BP meds. Nobody likes taking meds, including our kitties. FWIW, I, too, have to hold Blackie's bowl while she eats. I have found that when it's flat on the ground, and with her neuroapthy, along with the potential pain she may be having at the time, holding it relieves the stress on the rear end. Whereas, when she bends down I would think that it would put some stress on her back end, and would cause her some discomfort/pain. So yeah, we're both (along with the others on here) very dedicated Mama Beans, aren't we? :lol:

Sending tons of prayers, positive thoughts, and healing vines for your Dad. I wish for him to make a full and speedy recovery. :YMHUG:
 
Re: 9/1 Trixie AMBG 122 "+3.5" 82 - Pics

Trixie looks so adorable on her fluffy blanket. I think getting the BP medicine at the right dose could impact other things like her BG.

My brother-in-law just went through chemo. His late treatment was about 2 months ago. He had some rough days, but they had to adjust the dose sometimes.

He is doing well now though. I wish he would call the doctor to let them him know how he is feeling or what he can take. Sending prayers for your dad.
 
Re: 9/1 Trixie AMBG 122 "+3.5" 82 - Pics

Love, love, love the pics!! I just love when they're all cozy in their warm blanket! I just want to snuggle up with them!!!!! Glad to hear that Trixie's BW was stable. She's such a good girl...always trying to please her mamabean. Pretty sure she wants you to hold her bowl so that she can spend more time with you. I try to tell myself that with Shasta!!!! :-D Lots of prayers for your dad (and you and your mom...I know it's got to be frustrating and scary.) Amy, I hope you can enjoy your day today and get a few more things done today and get some snuggles from the furkids!!!! Happy Labor Day Monday!!
 
Re: 9/1 Trixie AMBG 122 "+3.5" 82 - Pics

The pictures are priceless. She is beautiful and looks quite content. I bet the vet is basing her gloom solely on the weight loss. Been there before. Look at how she is acting for reassurance. Have you tried raising the food dish? Just a thought.

I hope today is a much better day for your dad. Prayers and vines your way for all of you. You have a lot to deal with so you need to take extra good care of yourself. I hope you get to do something fun today.
 
Re: 9/1 Trixie AMBG 122 "+3.5" 82 - Pics

Thank you for the visits, everyone!

I am trying my best to remind myself about how Trix is acting and not how the vetty was reacting. (She's snuggling right now :smile: ) Like I said, that's not how our vetty usually is, but it seemed to be her mood yesterday, saying things like "Unfortunately there really is nothing more that you can do for her than what you are already doing." It was weird. I know I'm doing all I can, I wasn't really asking what else we can do since I know we're maxed in all we can provide for her, I know CKD is not reversible, and I know Trix feels quite good, especially considering all she's got going on.

But I think you're right, Elise...I think she was really, really focused on the weight loss, and I think that because it is hard to keep weight on a CKD kitty in general, she needs more calories, and since her eating habits have gotten odd since the p-titis, and I have to work and sleep at some point, it's hard to get them all into her except when on my days off. But, the additional syringes should help...some extra "guaranteed" calories.

I have tried elevating the plate. She does seem to prefer elevation, which I think is one of the reasons why she likes me holding it. But, at the same time, she's developed that annoying habit that so many kitties seem to come down with: she eats a little, then roams to another spot. And so on and so on. Our GA civvie Mario did that as he aged, too. Like Trix, he was willing and able to eat - just liked to walk around while doing it. So just building an elevated eating station won't work, because she doesn't stay in one place while eating anymore. Trix was never like that before the darned p-titis....

I got the fluffy blankies at Sam's Club. THey've had them the last few years. Last year, they were $19.99 in the beginning of the winter, which wasn't bad. But at the end of the winter, they were $9.99, so I grabbed a couple more. I probably should have stocked up even more, 'cause I love them for myself, too!

I haven't talked to my parents yet today. I'll call after I work out. I doubt they'd call a pharmacy, though...My Mom in particular really only trusts the word of doctors, and with this being such hugely new uncharted territory, I can understand that. I know the doctors are on call, even on holiday weekends, but I guess she's thinking of them as more like GPs and not oncologists. He was just feeling yucky yesterday...I do think it's a typical reaction to chemo, but it's still hard and totally makes you understand why many people say they wonder if it's worth it. Hopefully it will be...hopefully that cancer is already feeling our wrath!
 
Re: 9/1 Trixie AMBG 122 "+3.5" 82 - Pics

Hey Amy,

I did a quick search on hypotension in cats, and one of the signs was nausea. Of course, the articles I found were about severe hypotension. Based on the quick search (and not necessarily from reputable sources, either), I'm wondering if the lower bp did upset her stomach a bit. Now that her bp meds have been adjusted, maybe the nausea has subsided, which has allowed her appy to pick back up a bit.

So sorry to hear that you're dad was feeling so poorly last night and am hoping he's feeling better today. My aunt went through chemo many years ago, and I know it wiped her out for a while. The good news is that she beat the cancer (breast).

(BTW - thanks for asking about my dad. He's doing great - more active than I've ever seen him, in fact.)

I'm keeping Trix and your dad in my prayers, and lots of anti-stress vines are headed your way, too!
Shelly
 
Re: 9/1 Trixie AMBG 122 "+3.5" 82 - Pics

Trixie looks so adorable in those pictures. I'm sorry the vet wasn't more encouraging. I'm glad the b/w results were stable. I hope your dad if having a better day today. Sending prayers. :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
 
Re: 9/1 Trixie AMBG 122 "+3.5" 82 - Pics

Kitties snuggled in fluffy blankets look so comfy - makes you want to crawl in and snuggle with them! It also makes me wonder why my kitties seem to be equally comfy on hard surfaces, like a desk littered with stuff! I guess it's pointless to try to figure them out, but we never stop trying, do we?

I got some blankets like that at Walmart a couple of years ago for like $5.99. I got them when Cinco was still an outdoor kitty we were trying to get to know, and when he came in, they became his bedding inside, too. At that price, I'm surprised they've lasted this long, but we're still using them.

I'm sorry your vet's mood brought you down. Maybe she'd had some tough, depressing cases earlier, and she was just having a down day. From all your accounts, Trixie is doing amazingly well. I think you need to focus on all the ways she has improved and how wonderful it is to have the "old Trixie" back!

Sasha does the exact same thing when eating (she's also getting pretty fond of my holding the plate). She'll eat about a third, then move away, but if I follow with the plate, she'll eat a little more, then move again. I guess it's a fun new game. I'm not sure I want to keep playing it, but her oncologist doesn't want her to lose any more weight, so whatever keeps her eating (sound familiar?)! :roll:

Sending prayers and healing vines for your DF. I hope today is a better day for him. Your parents sound just like mine - "I don't want to bother anyone"! Maybe it's a generational thing.

I hope you are able to get some enjoyment out of your day off today, Amy. Do something really nice for yourself - you've earned it! :YMHUG:
 
Re: 9/1 Trixie AMBG 122 "+3.5" 82 - Pics

Adorable pictures of sweet Trixie!!!

Amy....I think your vet is incorrect and I hate to say that because she seems awesome. You are doing all you can for her right now but if things change, there are a few other treatments that are options. Such as, if her HCT falls below 20%, you can give her Aranasp. You are spot on that it is difficult to keep weight on a CKD kitty. But that doesn't mean she can't live a long time if her numbers stay stable. Heck, Gus lost a lot of weight but even after four years, his kidney values were stable; it was the intestinal stuff (probably lymphoma) that got him. And you are right, you have to look at Trixie and see how she's doing. Treat the cat, not just the numbers. Don't let her get you down. You've got too much going on and I think her numbers are something to celebrate!!!

Sending more prayers for your folks. I hope your dad starts to feel better.
 
Oh I do like what a +10 snicky-snack does for her BGs....I so wish I could do it all the time, but sadly, it is back to work tomorrow for this bean :sad: . It will be interesting to see how her numbers trend with the change in her BP meds.

Thank you for all the support, everyone :YMHUG: ...it has just been one of those weekends. (Actually, it's been one of those years, but that's a whole 'nuther ball of wax.) My vetty usually is not that much of a downer...she's always been very good about looking at the whole cat and not just the numbers which is one reason why I love her so much, so I don't know why she seemed so much more number oriented this weekend. I guess I expected her to be happy that Trix's kidney values were stable AND that Trix is feeling well, and when I didn't get that vibe, I really felt it to the core...I'm obviously extra-extra sensitive right now. I think, too, she's really not used to seeing cats with kidney values like Trix's feeling good, so it almost seems to me like she doesn't believe that Trix feels good, and I think that's because most cats with her values DON'T feel as good as she does because their caretakers don't go the extra mile like we do here in LL. Even when all this chaos started, and Trix was initially Stage IV because of her uncontrolled high BP, Dr R didn't/couldn't believe that she wasn't knocking on death's door, but I swear, I never had a solid outward sign of any of it....Trix always seemed to feel fine despite her kidney values. The p-titis caused far more havoc than her kidneys ever did.

My GA civvie, Mario, also slowly lost weight over the course of several years as he aged, too, and despite that and his arthritis, he really was feeling pretty darned good until his last few days. And I know a kitty can live a long time with stable-but-imperfect kidney values. Argh...just one of those weekends.

I did talk to my Dad earlier today, and he does seem to be slowly starting to feel better. I'm sure this is a natural chemo crash, and now that we've been through one cycle, we have a rough idea of how things can go - although we also know that next time around can be completely different, too. Gotta love it. It was nice that his first couple days were side-effect free, but we should have known better than to get too comfy with that thought! I felt better after talking to him...the last couple days, he felt so crappy that he didn't even come to the phone when I called, so I had only spoken with my Mom.

Time for evening meds for Trix and din-dins for the beans!!!
 
((((Amy)))) I'm sorry the vet was such a bummer but I sure like Marje's perspective. She's amazing. :-D :-D And I love that PMPS! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Many more vines for DF and DM.
Liz
 
Oh my goodness, what a pretty girl!! She looks so happy and snuggly! Maybe your vet was having a bad day or feeling blue in general, so she came off as gloomy. It sounds like Trixie is doing so well! Sending feel better vines to your dad, and vines to you too!
 
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