Bix update

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Joanna & Bix (GA)

Joanna & Bix (GA)

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Not looking great - he continues to lose weight. We've dropped the Leuk as it didn't seem to be helping much, and are on Cerenia now for a 5 day trial. It's only day 2, so probably too soon to conclude anything (no vomiting on it so far, but if he isn't eating better I'm not sure how much it helps).

If no improvement by next Tues I think the vet wants to try appy stims next, not sure.

And he's got the sniffles today, not sure why - I saw some of that on the Leuk, but since we stopped the Leuk I would have expected it to improve, not get worse. Oh well, if it gets worse I guess it'll be A/Bs.

On the up side, his BGs continue to be decent, he's getting about 1u SID and seems to be holding steady mostly in the blues on that. Haven't updated the SS.

And it's cloudy and drizzly here (though not cold, TG for that!) & I just took a test for a county job to try to improve the $$$ situation, & found out 1500 other people are taking the same test (1 job! unbelievable! who even has time to evaluate the resumes?!?) so I am officially naming today "Cr*ppy Saturday". :evil:

Hope everyone else has a good weekend.... someone ought to, and it ain't gonna be me! LOL

Ok, obviously I need an attitude readjustment... maybe later. drinking09 :dizcat
 
Well he's on A/Bs now - I saw him walking and his back legs looked really off, so I checked his BG - 291 at +16, which is all but unheard of for him since he got regulated & graduated from liver-training, he's lately been unshootable at that point. So combined with today's stuffy nose, I figured A/Bs probably aren't a bad idea, and caught the vets a few minutes before closing, so was able to snag some Clavamox.

For insulin, I gave him 1.2u which is his highest dose in my mini-sliding scale. I'm guessing it won't be enough, but I didn't want to overdo it, so we'll see. I'll probably shoot at +10 tonight if he's high, so I don't have to set the alarm for the dreaded middle of the night BG test.

I've been having a really hard time getting blood out of his ears too, for the past 2 or 3 days. I've been burning through like 4 lancets and 3 test strips and countless pokes (poor guy!) to get any good reading. Is that a sign of dehydration? His ear seems a little floppy too, like the top corner isn't standing up like it should....? The other ear looks ok though (that one I can never seem to get any blood out of), so maybe it's from overtesting?

cat(2)_steam confused_cat ohmygod_smile nailbite_smile :?
 
((((Joanna & Bix))))

I like your idea of an attitude adjustment, I might join you. We're in the middle of a winter blizzard here, I can hardley see my neighbors house, we're supposed to have 16 inches of snow by dinner time, we already have over a foot now.

I hope the AB's help Bix with his sniffles.
 
I'm sorry Joanna. :sad:

The Cerenia is unlikely to do anything beside not make him puke - which can be good under isolated scenerios. The only way to keep the weight on is appetite stimulants. And prednisilone is my other suggestion which I know you are not so big on. I would not discontinue the Leuk either. It is more of a thing that keeps things from progressing faster than a fix for what's going on.
 
Yeah, I had thought we were going to Pred next, but then the vet thought we should try the Cerenia first - she thought it would control the nausea and he would eat better b/c of that. It's only a 5 day trial though, so at least we'll know soon enough.

He's never been just a non-eater like this before, I'm really not sure what to make of it. Even before he started on any meds for IBD and was barfing every day, he still ate ok. I'm not seeing more nausea or barfing really these last few weeks, just the weight loss. Maybe the disease inhibits appetite?

16 inches of snow, WOW! Sounds 1/2 fun, and 1/2 a pain in the a**! :lol: Hopefully you can get someone else to do the shoveling. ;-)
 
Yes, Joanna cancer does inhibit appetite!

I sent this article before:
http://www.vin.com/vindbpub/searchpb/pr ... r00168.htm
The tumor releases something that is thought to reduce appetite. It is an important read.

This is why it is important you continue with the cholambucil.

I also posted about F and how pathologists are now just understanding that they have been under diagnosing lymphoma in IBD cases.

If the cat tolerates chlorambucil then there is probably more benefit in giving it than not for suspected "IBD"/lymphoma cases.

My current thinking on the topic is that cats are either pre-lymphoma or lymphoma cats - and that "IBD" is kind of outdated. I'm actually wondering how much longer the term "IBD" will be used.

You know me Joanna, I'm sorry to be so strong about it but I do FEEL strongly about it. Continue the chlorambucil and get him on appetite stimulants. Try mirtazapine which is though to have anti nausea properties unlike Cerenia. Cerenia block vomiting not nausea - that observation is also backed by the human version of the drug. Start with 1/8th pill every 36 hours. Also get the Rx for cyproheptadine - which is super cheap. Both are cheap really. Get the cyrpoheptadine in a quantity of 100 which is the mfrs bottle.

Bud is not ideal either really. Pred is a compromise for sick kitties. But it sounds like Bixer is really sick. He can have a good quality life for quite a while if the right medications are given. H was very happy for a very long time considering he was only given 3 months initially. I admit I waited a month too long to PTS but up until then [other than the P flares] things were very good for him.

Also I highly recommend you buy a scale to weigh him on - here's what I recommend:
http://www.google.com/search?q=myweigh+kd-8000
It is the only way to know how you are doing with the food sitch.
 
Thanks for the article Gator - sorry I lost sight of stuff you've sent me previously, and all the great info you have shared. Lately my head just seems to swim.

I think the vet's hesitancy to switch to Pred is b/c of the diabetes, and also because she knows I'm already struggling to get meds in him (he is not a friend of the pill). I'll talk with her about that, Mirt, and Cypro this week.

I can't stomach the Leuk at the moment - giving chemo without any noticeable benefit from it doesn't sit well with me. If he pops back into the land of decent quality of life I may reconsider, but the way things are now there's no merit from my POV in prolonging anything. I'm a hospice gal.... but certainly happy to give meds if they show sufficient benefit.
 
p.s. I DO remember the article, LOL, guess I haven't lost ALL my marbles yet. :lol: B/c he was eating reasonably ok til recently it didn't stick. Will have to reread tomorrow when I can focus.

Thanks for the good wishes everyone. :-D
 
OK here's where I get all argumentative. "Chemo" as compared to what? I really disagree with chlorambucil as "chemo"

Obviously I feel strongly about the chlorambicil. I'm just some whacko on the Internets I know... But I really feel strongly about it. :smile: :smile:
Do you have any "proof" that it's making him feel bad?
 
I have no clue - that's what I have heard it called I think, or maybe I just jumped to that conclusion somehow.

I'm not sure what you are feeling argumentative about though - my decisions as to how to treat Bix? If that's it, it doesn't seem to me like it's something to argue over, but maybe I'm missing something. If it's technicalities of different meds, argue away, but know that you won't get much arguing from me - I know you know way more about most of them than I ever will, so whatever you say is fine w/me. If it's not chemo, sure, whatevs, call it whatever you want! I'm happy to stand corrected.
 
Joanna I'm not trying to correct you, just trying to make sure you keep an open mind. There is no "correct" in this craziness. :smile:

If you think chlorambucil is not in the interest of Bix then I have absolutely no argument in that.

My point is that *I* think Bixer is a cancer kittah and hopefully he can be given the best quality of life in light of that. And even if he is not I'm not sure the benefit of treating as a non-cancer kittah [as long as you choose not to do "aggressive" chemo].

I would not be so emphatic about my suggestions if I did not feel so strongly. I've had the unfortunate opportunity to do this course a couple different ways. I just got "lucky" with H.
 
No I don't think it's making him feel bad, but he has continued to go downhill on it, so I can't see that it is even maintaining things (or if it is, things are already too advanced for maintenance to be sufficient). I think I hear what you are saying and I take your points, and I know you did an amazing job caring for H and have lots of wisdom unfortunately gained from a difficult situation. I haven't ruled out ever giving it again, but at the moment I don't think prolonging things (unless we can get his QOL up a few notches with some other meds) is the right choice.

At least we can agree on one thing.... that you are a wacko on the internet (and I guess I am too!)! :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
((((joanna and bix)))). Sorry to hear he is not doing so well. These are all lousy decisions. And I don't know that there really is a "right" thing to do. Only your best guess.
 
Joanna, I'm so sorry Bix is not feeling well. I don't know anything about the leuk, but I agree with the appy stimulants. Also, have you tried Pepcid? You can give 1/4 tab (10mg) once a day. And one more suggestion that you may already be doing is to raise Bix's food bowl. It can help with nasaua (SP?) too. I put Blackie's food bowl on a 3 inch little platform. Do you think Bix could be dehydrated? If so, that can cause inappetitence too. You can test this by lifting the skin on his back and see if it springs back.

I'm sending prayers for Bix to feel better and have a better QOL. And prayers for you to get the county job. Just cuz you are one in 1500 doesn't mean you don't have a chance. You are smart! Actually you're probably one in a million! :lol: Hugs to you and Bix. :YMHUG:
 
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