Cami's blood work results from last week

[Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA]

I was gone all day, but the vet left a message that Cami's liver values have returned to normal and all her other values are better to some degree. She still has the toxic changes to the white blood cells. I don't know what that means, exactly, but she wants Cami to continue the Baytril for another two weeks and then see her a month after she finishes them if she is doing well (sooner if there are issues).

Right now Cami is sleeping on the carpet next to me. She is on her side with her little back feet crossed and her face is completely relaxed. She does not often sleeping like that. I picked her up earlier because she started purring when I said good night to her. Usually she wiggles down in a few minutes. After about 10 mins I slowly walked into my room and sat at the computer. She stayed curled up with her head on my arm for another 10 mins or so before getting down. And yesterday, when I left, she was sleeping on the sofa and just stayed there while I got ready to go. Normally she jumps down and follows me around or goes to her place by the door.

I know that doesn't seem like much of a big deal, but having her act like a normal relaxed cat is such a change for her.

She was on my lap last night and I had my hand supporting her belly. I could feel, and hear, the gurgles in her intestines. It really felt like there was something small and alive in there. I can't imagine how uncomfortable that must be for her. All seems quiet right now though.

 

[MommaOfMuse]

Well from what I could find on the net it looks like toxic changes in the WBC is from a bacterial infection. http://tulane.edu/som/departments/pathology/training/hematopathology_images_10.cfm this is what I found when I looked it up.

I know what you mean about when they finally start acting like a normal relaxed kitty. Glad Cami is finally starting to be able to relax and get nice and comfy, even with all that she is going through right now.

Mel, Maxwell, Autumn & The Fur Gang

 

[Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA]

Thanks, Mel. That article led to to a few other searches and I found this - explains a little more:

Toxic granulation is found in severe inflammatory states...... The toxic granulation is thought to be due to impaired cytoplasmic maturation, in the effort to rapidly generate large numbers of granulocytes.

From here: http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/courses/path/innes/wcd/qualitative.cfm

I have been keeping my fingers crossed for a "severe inflammatory" situation with her and NOT a conversion to lymphoma. Still keeping my fingers crossed....

It does appear that her bloating is going down. Makes me wish I had found a way to accurately measure her girth and had been doing that all along. It would be very interesting, I think.

 

[MommaOfMuse]

What about using a dress maker's measuring tape? That way you could just wrap it around her to get a measurement on her.

Mel, Maxwell, Autumn & The Fur Gang

 

[MommaOfMuse]

I also went looking for symptoms of nightshade type poisoning since that thing Cami hacked up looks for all the world like the top of an eggplant...and the things that the whole family have in common are rapid heart rate and resperation, sensitivity to light (might explain her wanting to stay in the dark hallway), and urintary retention (bloat). Makes me wonder if whatever that thing was/ is also causing what Cami is and has been going through right now...it can also cause an increased glycemic index. Wonder if she wasn't so much diabetic as just starved enough to eat the wrong thing and was a poisoned kitty?

Found this on Eggplant and cats as well...sure sounds a lot like Cami. http://www.helium.com/items/653448-first-aid-tips-for-food-poisoning-or-intoxication-in-cats specificately

Ingestion of plants from the nightshade family (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant) can lead to arthritis, inflammation, parasite infestation, respiratory problems, swelling, and excess mucus.

Mel, Maxwell, Autumn & The Fur Gang

 

[Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA]

Possible. I know I will never know for sure what she ingested in her previous home(s), what it was she threw up, or how/when this all started. I feel bad that the 5 months she was here she did not get better, and in fact got worse. I would have thought that FD treatment, good food, plenty of water, healthy treats and attantion would have given her the nutrition to heal herself, but I guess the inflammation was too far advanced and my inquiries into her bloated belly were dismissed to readily by the two vets that saw her. They both palpated for masses and didn't feel anything so they decided it wasn't serious, I guess. Makes me question them, which I hate because one of them has seen all my cats for the last 13 years and has been very good with them, especially Beau and his multiple issues. And they all think Convenia is great for just about everything. The vet who saw Cami there suggested giving it to her "in case she has a bacterial infection of some kind. It can't hurt." Of course I told them how bad it was and that it caused kidney failure in some cats. I think the point that they most understood was that if the cat has a reaction to it, you can't stop it or take it our of their body the way you can just stop giving a bid or sid dose of ABs. Sigh.

If I have learned anything from my 5+ years here, it is that I have to investigate this stuff myself and arrive at the vet with knowledge about specific things to ask about and what their treatments are likely to be and what drugs to ask for and to refuse. I (we) might as well have gone to vet school...

I did ask the specialist if the "thing" could have caused all this and she thought that Cami's liver would have been able to heal itself by now. I just hope there isn't STILL pieces of something inside her causing continued irritation. None of that plant stuff shows up on xray or US.

 

[BJM]

Since you're in Chicago, there may be a large enough vet practice somewhere near you that has endoscopy equipment. Maybe it would be worth a consult to discuss the possibility of doing an endoscopy, cost, etc.

 

[Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA]

I am sure the Vet Specialty Center, where I took Jeddie for his cancer treatment, could do endoscopy, but I am so over my head on bills right now that I can't justify it.

And she is doing better in terms of her belly bloat, but she is peeing ALL OVER the place! She won't even use the trays with pee pads in them now. I don't know what I am going to do, but this is not tolerable for much longer. I will probably end up crating her and hope that she can get some quality of life that way. Seems illogical to save her life from whatever she has going on (and spend $1200 to do it) only to have her PTS for inappropriate peeing, but it is getting much worse lately.

 

[Grayson & Lu]

Hi Sheila -

So sorry to hear that Cami is still struggling to feel better. It sounds like you've looked into every possible cause - I hope your vets are much more open-minded with your suggestions and questions. I hate when their eyes glaze over when you ask about something specific. And yes, it is a shame that sometimes WE need to be the one with the vet degree! But I expect, we could argue many of the things that some of them are taught too, because of our experiences "in the trenches"!

I hate that she's still peeing. It could be related to the infection - and hopefully the Baytril will knock it out. I went round & round with Moochie and his "inappropriate peeing". :shock: I know how frustrating it is. I even got to the point of crating with a litter box on the outside, cuz he would pee OUT of the crate! I was at wits end - until we started Fluxotine (Prozac). He's a whole new cat! And one that I can let have full run of the house now - something I'd never had done before. We ruled out everything else before he started on it, so maybe if the AB knocks it out and if she doesn't start using the box, you'll want to consider it... but for me it was a last resort. They also started him with 1/2 of a 10 mg tablet - he was a zombie. I changed him to 1/4 tab and he does well with it. And I'm a little more sane. ;-)

I never knew there was an issue with the nightshade plants. But I know when a kitty is hungry enough, he'll find something - any thing to eat. Hope she's feeling better soon.

 

[hmjohnston]

Lu- I think Cami is already on Prozac currently. Maybe upping the dose will work but I don't know at what strength she is already.

Poor Sheila- I'm lucky that Sneakers never did that- no matter how frustrated she got. You've checked everything else for it and it hasn't gotten any better :sad: .

 

[Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA]

I weened Cami off pozac when she was put on all the other meds - seemed like she was taking too much stuff. And it didn't seem to make any difference. I started her on 1/4 tab, upper her to 1/2 tab, back down to 1/4 tab. No change. She goes is cycles, peeing on the rug may times a day for several says and then not for several days. She was doing really well for several days and then last night peed in my dining room.

Her baytril ends tonight. Maybe I'll try the prozac again. She's pretty resistant to being pilled so many times a day (3) with various things. But her second pill in the morning is a 1/4 pepcid, which I don't think is doing much.

I am looking for a shallow LB/tray that I can put some Cat Attract litter in. I'm hoping that will work. I have to keep one bathroom closed because someone was peeing on the floor in there (after I took up the rug that was peed on). It's just frustrating. She is such a cutie when she isn't peeing on my rugs!

Also, I have been through the ringer myself lately. I got an abscess in my jaw from a broken tooth that had a root canal, so didn't feel the break, which I think was months ago. I went to my dentist who put me on penicillin and referred me to an oral surgeon. Just had the tooth extracted today and the socket filled with bone graft so they can do an implant in 3 months. It really hurts right now. I have Tylenol 3 but it isn't helping enough. I'm going to take two next time.

Then my aunt fell 10 days ago and seemed to be OK - was checked by the home nurse and the home PT who called her doctor, but I had to take her to the ER last Friday. She has a hairline crack in her pelvis. So I was going up to her house twice a day and the hospital for an hour each day over the weekend, trying to get my taxes done...

Taxes, interestingly I withdrew $11,000 from my IRA to pay my mortgage and other things over 5 months last year and had to pay a 10% penalty on it plus the 10% tax - but I still got $800 back from the IRS because my income was so darn low. I went from thinking I owed $1100 to getting the money back. Well, that will pay for my mortgage for one month..... I have to take more money out to pay for this implant this year. At least there is no penalty when you use your money for medical expenses.

 

[Grayson & Lu]

Taxes, interestingly I withdrew $11,000 from my IRA to pay my mortgage and other things over 5 months last year and had to pay a 10% penalty on it plus the 10% tax - but I still got $800 back from the IRS because my income was so darn low. I went from thinking I owed $1100 to getting the money back. Well, that will pay for my mortgage for one month..... I have to take more money out to pay for this implant this year. At least there is no penalty when you use your money for medical expenses.

I took money out of an annuity that was barely more than was originally put in 12 yrs ago... to buy roof shingles/supplies... ugh... and it made about a $1000 difference on my tax refund. So it was a net loss. I didn't know that about the med/dental. I feel your pain... I had an emergency root canal last week. 1.5 weeks of agony, my dentist telling me I cut the gum with floss...OMG!!! I despise dental work. And dentists that don't talk while they're doing what they do. Not that I could say anything back, but could he not have explained what he was doing so I wasn't so angst ridden??? :shock:

 

[Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA]

I just realized today that I forgot to pay my 1st quarter 2013 taxes! There's another penalty. Jeeze. And there goes that refund too. I don't know how I am going to make ends meet. I have home owners insurance due in a week, $500 to pay still on Cami's vet bills - and she still has follow ups, and those taxes. And my tooth. It is all really stressful.

But, Cami, is curled up on my bed between the pillows right now. She looked like she was trying to get under the covers maybe, but settled for on top. She has never slept on my bed except 2-3 times at night for a little while. I get the feeling with her that she was allowed on furniture before her "dad" got married and then she was yelled at about it. She acts like she thinks she is going to get shooed off any second - or she used to. Now she acts like she can't believe she is allowed up on things like the bed or sofa.

 

[Grayson & Lu]

I just realized today that I forgot to pay my 1st quarter 2013 taxes! There's another penalty. Jeeze. And there goes that refund too. I don't know how I am going to make ends meet. I have home owners insurance due in a week, $500 to pay still on Cami's vet bills - and she still has follow ups, and those taxes. And my tooth. It is all really stressful.

But, Cami, is curled up on my bed between the pillows right now. She looked like she was trying to get under the covers maybe, but settled for on top. She has never slept on my bed except 2-3 times at night for a little while. I get the feeling with her that she was allowed on furniture before her "dad" got married and then she was yelled at about it. She acts like she thinks she is going to get shooed off any second - or she used to. Now she acts like she can't believe she is allowed up on things like the bed or sofa.

With my budget as tight as it is, I bought a calendar at the dollar store. I keep every payment made to EVERYthing, and every bill due (min/total) ON the calendar. I mark "incoming" monies, and plan distribution from there on a check-by-check basis. It has helped me bail myself out of a LOT of debt, (moving closer to "a little") and has helped me stick to my budget. I take out $40 for me every 2 weeks - my allowance. Everything else is on my card so I can track every penny. That's how I realized how much I'd spent on pet food, litter, vet bills, transportation/accomodations for Grayson's SRT... and when I totalled it up, you can only imagine the sticker shock!!! :shock: And that didn't take into account the credit card rewards I get - which comes in the form of a Target gift card - and buys MORE LITTER! Maybe using a cheap monthly calendar like that would help you as well. That way I can anticipate mortgage, taxes, car insurance, bills, annual vet visit, utilities (on an equal payment helps), county pet fee, etc. You still have the "extras" - like my root canal and Dom's surgery, and tires,... but then you can shuffle the distribution of other things.

So glad Cami is settling in. My rent-a-grand-dog Mea was like that initially. Murphy & Kirby (Dom & Jack's predecessors) taught her it was okay to lay on the couch, bed, under the covers, etc. She learned VERY quickly what the rules were. Chair privileges - but no paws, noses or feet on the table!