Newbie -- 7/30 Miko AMPS 575/HI -- intro

[SarahL]

Greetings! Just wanted to get started here and say hello. Wendy and BJM and Deb and some others have been a great help to me over on the health board and suggested I come round this way. As you can see, it's slow going with little Miko and his BG.

A little background -- he was dx on 7/16/13, started Lantus 1u BID on 7/18/13. All raw diet since before symptoms, lean and active kitty historically... now he's not very active at all His symptoms started manifesting as I was transitioning from Primal Raw to RadCat raw although I don't think RadCat could be to blame -- unfortunately the transition of food did make me slower to catch some of the symptoms as I attributed his increased appetite and urine to a food with much higher moisture content. He did have a raspy voice for about a year prior to other symptoms and although BG remains high and seemingly rising, his raspiness has lifted on insulin.

His first week on insulin his appetite, water consumption, and urine output decreased and his ears -- which had been itching him -- seemed to feel better. This week it's all been rising again. Yesterday his right ear started itching again (this makes ear tests a little more challenging). He did take a dash at the laser pointer last night, so that was a step up -- and since on insulin he seems to be using his floor scratch pads again, although only a couple times a day for very brief periods.

So far he's only shown trace ketones once. This morning he did throw up a little bit of bile -- I'm hoping it's a hairball or something. Very glad to have this community here and I am so impressed with the caring and support of everyone I've encountered so far here.

 

[Tara & Buster]

Hello Sarah and Miko! Lantus Land (LL) is, indeed a wonderful place to be (even though we all wish we weren't here). Itchy ears sounds like a food allergy to me or possibly and infection? Not fun, either way. I hope LL can help get Miko down into some safer numbers soon. Welcome!

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Welcome Sarah and Miko to LL!! We're so glad you joined our family here.

Just for more background info, here is Mikos Health Condo.

You've been doing a great job of testing. Thanks for your comments on the SS; it certainly helps us.

Have you ever had his thyroid checked? Raspy voice can be attributable to hyperthyroidism as can drinking/peeing alot. And hyperT FD cats can be a little more difficult to regulate. It's probably worth a check if your vet hasn't done a free and Total T4.

We suggest you read the stickys at the top of the forum and please ask questions. We are all here to help and everyone is happy to pitch in with emotional support or answers.

Here is some basic info on Making the Most of your a lantus ISG Experience.

 

[SarahL]

Hello Sarah and Miko! Lantus Land (LL) is, indeed a wonderful place to be (even though we all wish we weren't here). Itchy ears sounds like a food allergy to me or possibly and infection? Not fun, either way. I hope LL can help get Miko down into some safer numbers soon. Welcome!

Thanks so much for the welcome, Tara! His itchy ears started right before starting insulin and were clear of infection -- The itching almost disappeared when he first went on insulin but has returned with his levels being so high these past couple days, so I am thinking it's very likely blood sugar related? I know that can make humans itchy...

Welcome Sarah and Miko to LL!! We're so glad you joined our family here.


Have you ever had his thyroid checked? Raspy voice can be attributable to hyperthyroidism as can drinking/peeing alot. And hyperT FD cats can be a little more difficult to regulate. It's probably worth a check if your vet hasn't done a free and Total T4.

Thank you, Marje! I really appreciate your welcome. I'm slowly working my way through the stickies (except the effects of high BG on the body, because that one makes me panic a little too much right now).

I have had this thyroid levels checked -- his levels show up normal on all his bloodwork and I've been looking for some indication of it for a while. As of 2010 he also has a heart murmur, grade 3 -- hyperthyroidism would explain SO much, though, including this diabolical diabetes. I have been looking into the T3 suppression test, although I'm a little worried that if I start pilling him he's going to freak out and not allow me to do ear tests and insulin right now. (He was feral and has been pretty unmanageable so far as treatment his whole life -- it's a magical miracle that he's accepting of the BG tests and injections.) You've actually prompted me to start looking into nuclear medicine scans, too. Not sure how risky or expensive they are, but I aim to find out!

Thank you so much for all your welcomes

 

[Janet and Izzy (GA)]

Welcome Sara and Miko.

Izzy and I are new here too. When he was first diagnosed her glucose was over 800.

The people here are awesome. So helpful and patient and understanding.

Couldn't ask for a better place.

 

[Janet and Izzy (GA)]

Welcome Sara and Miko.

Izzy and I are new here too. When he was first diagnosed her glucose was over 800.

The people here are awesome. So helpful and patient and understanding.

Couldn't ask for a better place.

 

[SarahL]

Welcome Sara and Miko.

Izzy and I are new here too. When he was first diagnosed her glucose was over 800.

Thank you, Janet! I just checked out Izzy's spreadsheet -- amazing to see how far along and wonderfully she's come down after being in the 800s!

 

[Lkldcatlady]

Welcome Sarah & Miko! Just wanted to stop by and say Hi. I checked out Miko's profile and he and his brother are so precious!!! What cute kittehs! I liked his "likes and dislikes" - very funny. Glad to have you here - it's a great resource and so many nice people. You will learn a lot!

Have a great night!

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I just wanted to wish you a warm welcome. I think others have pretty much covered the basics.

FWIW, if Miko is difficult to pill, most medications can be compounded into liquid or in some cases (like meds for hyper-T) as a transdermal gel.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Welcome to the board,

As Marje said, read the stickies and ask questions! Rmemeber to add a ? icon to your post when you have a question to get eyes on it.. Post here daily (or as often as you can) and the guys will give advice and keep an eye on you both!

For now I hope this new dose works better.. Paws crossed.

Also when you see trace ketones, water down his food to get liquid into him and make sure you get lots of food into him. Anything more than trace is a call to the emergency vet..

Wendy

 

[Missy & Kitty]

Hi Sarah and Miko!

I'm new as well, and I already adore everyone here. I was scared and overwhelmed when I first arrived, but because everyone is so encouraging and knowledgable, they were able to calm me down and walk me through the scary times. I am so thankful for them, and I'm so glad you are here!

Just in case you didn't know, there's no such thing as a stupid question here. Don't feel embarrassed if you need to ask the same question over and over; ask until you are sure you understand what to do. I think you and Miko are going to love it here!