kitty was OTJ, now not- how does it feel for you?

[Melissa&Paul-Kyle]

What does it feel like to have a bounce back kitty? I mean, one that was OTJ and now not...

Like with PK, he was on vetsulin for maybe 3 and 1/2 months to start ( LONGEST months of my life!) and then OTJ for 6 glourious, irresponsible, free moving, no time crunch months.

When he went back on insulin I thought, "eh, another few months and he will be off again"...

...now we are 16 months, 3 different insulins and almost $2000 dental surgery that was supposed to "cure" his need for insulin later and he is still exo-insulin dependent.

It never ends and is like there is nothing to fight for, no goal to reach- it is almost annoying now and sometimes I find myself either a little mad or even thinking he would be better off with someone else.

I wonder if I would not be so resentful if he had never gone OTJ to start?

 

[tuckers mom]

Tucker was OTJ for almost a year. He's now back on the juice for almost two full years. I don't expect Tucker to ever go off insulin again.

In the beginning I was half expecting him to be OTJ within weeks. After the BCP PZI wasn't helping we switched to Lev. His first OTJ was when we switched from PZI Idexx to BCP and changed his food.

I can understand your frustration but remission should not be a goal, it would be frosting on the cake, but the goal should be a happy cat with a good quality of life.

I'm probably not the best person to answer your question since I almost lost Tucker three weeks ago and the fact that I have the privilige to still be giving him insulin is an honor that I will never take lightly again. Holding him lifeless and limp in my arms has changed everything for me.

 

[Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA]

Interesting: I just posted about this on a Health thread yesterday:

I am still holding out hope that I can get him back off insulin, but for now he needs it so he is getting it. Not my choice for him, but who chooses insulin dependent diabetes?

The above refers to Jeddie, of course, but I also mentioned Beau's on again/off again episode.

Melissa, I don't think there is any "right" response to this. We all process the situation in our own way. I think that I prefer having one, or two, OTJ kitties rather than never having had an FD. That's probably selfish on my part because it is all about me and how I was able to get them off insulin. In fact, I am not sure how much of it is my skills and how much is luck. I mean, Beau didn't go OTJ until I switched his insulin, but your PK went OTJ on Beau's orginal insuiln. And now I have a former OTJ back on insulin and I certainly am not treating them differently - meaning, I am not less attentive or driven to get Jeddie back OTJ than I was Beau. I hope it happens, just as I hope Beau never has to go back on insulin (antijinx!). If it does, it does, if it doesn't, it doesn't. And then I am with Jennifer, the alternatives are not something I want to invite to happen.

Also, I am with Jennifer on the goal not being remission, which I think some people here put too much emphasis on. The goal is regulation and a healthy kitty who has quality of life.

I think you are a fine furmom. I know you take good care of everyone within, and beyond, your financial abilities. And you have given so many a home and love they would not otherwise have. Not being able to get PK off insulin should not make you feel defeated or like you are not an excellent care-giver to him.

 

[Vicky & Gandalf (GA) & Murrlin]

I cannot really relate because Gandalf has never shown any sign of being able to get off the juice. It's not something I worry about because it's a goal I can't have. But even now, dropping his dose makes me think, "Hmmm...." and I wish it wouldn't because I think it interferes with my caregiving. In the back of ones mind there's always this hope.

No matter that he went back on the juice, he is better off WITH you and cared for BY YOU than anyone else, even if you're struggling and it feels like a huge burden. You are giving him the chance to continue living with every shot, no matter that he may not be very well regulated or that you feel like you're failing him - BECAUSE OF YOU he is still alive and being a cat. That's all he would ask of you if he could.

 

[Michele&Molly]

I remember when Molly was OTJ - there were vacations, no alarm clocks on the week ends, going out after work to happy hour,,,,

My husband and i never wanted kids. I have, and continue to, dedicate my career to children with severe disabilities. I was fortunate to find a man who is loving, kind, considerate and also who didn't want children. He is as much as an animal lover as i am (yes, this is a real man we're talking about - and don't kid yourself, he has faults!). Anyway, we worked very hard and when we could, we traveled a lot - enjoying the fact that we were not tied down by children.

And then Molly was diagnosed as diabetic 4 years ago. We left her in care of the vet to go to away one time and came home to find out that she was not fed, was not given insulin and picked up ear and eye infections. We choose not to be away from home anymore for more than 12 hours.

The only reason i'm telling this story is because the family and friends that i love have a grand ol' time making fun of us that 'hey, good thing you never had kids! Could you imagine being tied down?"

Molly will not go into remission (hate that term) again and i'm perfectly okay with that. As long as she has quality of life. I might not have had kids but i have my fur babies and i love them. Will happily give up vacations for the joy they bring me (but if we could do something about those 6 am wakeups on the week ends,,,, ).

P.S. to Tucker's mom - Glad to hear Tucker is doing well now. What a scary experience!!

 

[Venita]

It never ends and is like there is nothing to fight for, no goal to reach- it is almost annoying now and sometimes I find myself either a little mad or even thinking he would be better off with someone else.

I was completely unaware of feline diabetes until July 25, 2005, and I think I will live with it for the rest of my life, whether being owned by a diabetic cat or helping them as I do with DCIN.

Others have spoken to your comment above, and I agree with them. The goal is a happy cat that is as healthy as s/he can be. The current focus on the Board on remission can make some of those who don't grab the golden ring feel like losers and incompetents. I know you don't seriously think PK would be better off with someone else. He's your baby and you're his bean.

Of the many feline ailments I've had to face, FD is the easiest chronic condition. I am blessed that I have not had to deal with conditions like hyper-T and lymphoma. I've faced CRF and aggressive cancers, and those have been heart-wrenching.

As long as Ennis is happy and healthy and giving me at least five uninterrupted hours of sleep a night, I can put up with the test and shoot BID.

But then maybe I'm being too cocky because he is so easy on Levemir.

(((((Melissa)))))