Ozy 12/20 Negative for Acromegaly!!!!!!!

[donaleen and Ozy]

I just got the call. His number is 88 and normal is 12-92. Great jubilation here.

Sometimes other people's condos can be so valuable and Crushy's today is very instructive to me. I am trying to do learn to use food to effectively steer Ozy's cycles. I still feel very clumsy treating Ozy. Yes, I can keep him safe but I certainly haven't finessed how to respond to and predict his cycles.

We had a bad night last night.... Ozy went down to 44. The bad part is I didn't get up. I just couldn't wake up. Thankfully John realized I wasn't getting up and he got up (highly unusual) and tested Ozy and then woke me. He asked me to test again because he has a hard time with the testing and wasn't sure of himself. I tested and got 39. We fed him medium carb food and he came up easily and quickly.


Ozy

 

[Michele M]

YAY!!!!! no Acromegaly!!! *whew* :mrgreen:

Glad your learning something from Crushy's condo! I have received a lot of good advice from this list on steering his curves with food, but a lot of it has been trial and error too...

I know what you mean about it being hard to get up some nights. Ive been so tired some nights that I cant even make sense of the numbers I get....

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Hallelujah!! What a great early Christmas present for you Donaleen! :YMHUG: :YMHUG:

And WOW on that 39 last night. :shock: Great catch on John's part.

 

[Anne & Zener GA]

Woohoo!!! I'm so glad! You all did great last night, you kept Ozy safe. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Liz

 

[carfurby (GA)]

Woo Hoo! That's great news.

How great that John got up and tested for you last night.

 

[Rachel & Chyna (GA)]

Congrats on the good news Wow on the night time greens :shock: I'm glad that he came up quickly for you. Have a great day!

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Great news on the lab report!!

I didn't see the 39 on Ozy's SS.

Just an FYI - Numbers that are below40 warrant a dose reduction. If you tested immediately after the 44 and got the 39, I'd consider the number somewhere in between.

With the insulin resistance, you want to try to avoid holding on to a dose that doesn't lower Ozy's numbers into the desired range. Essentially, you need to get ahead of the antibodies and use the insulin to squish them.

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

Thank you Michelle, Liz, Carla, Rachel, Sienne and especially Wendy.

Sienne,

Yes, the two tests were one after the other. I chose not to reduce because the average was above 40 and reductions from this dose have failed more than once.

I picked up the Levemir today. It has bubbles at the top. I read on line that can be okay. Any experience?

We got the Levemir at Walgreens and they have some program that makes it half price. We paid $118 for it. That is a great deal less than the Lantus.

I am torn between wanting to make the injections more comfortable versus getting ahead of the antibodies as quickly as possible. I think we want to switch to Levemir before we try R. On the other hand as I watch his bounce gather steam....

I know that I should start with 70% of his Lantus dose. Is there any additional spacing between the last Lantus dose and the first dose of Levmir?

 

[Marje and Gracie]

This news made me so happy that I didn't know if I wanted to dance or cry tears of joy!!!

There shouldn't be any problem with the bubbles in the ben. Just be sure that if any of them get into the syringe, you expel them. You'll shoot lantus one cycle and then shoot a dose equivalent to 70% of the lantus dose the very next cycle. Sometimes cats drop fast and have a long, green cycle so you might want to start in the morning and not at night so you won't be up all night. You're decreasing one depot while increasing another so just monitor closely. It might be active, it might not be.

I'd get his depot on levemir built and see how he's going to do before I shoot R. I think that is a wise decision on your part.

THRILLED for you!!!!!

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

Thanks, Marje. Just what I needed to know and thanks for the encouragement and for sharing my joy and relief.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Good luck with starting the Lev. I agree -- it's a good plan to get Ozy acclimated to Lev before considering using R.

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

i third the agreement! :mrgreen: when you start using R you are going to be gathering data on what it does to a cycle. if you do that on lantus and then switch to lev, the data you've gathered becomes meaningless. make the switch and let it settle, probably at least a week, then if it's still needed we can try the R.

and you already know what i think about the negative acro diagnosis . . .

:mrgreen: when one gets the acro diagnosis, you gotta shift gears and make the best of it. but i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. so i am beyond glad for you, donaleen!

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

i third the agreement! :mrgreen: when you start using R you are going to be gathering data on what it does to a cycle. if you do that on lantus and then switch to lev, the data you've gathered becomes meaningless. make the switch and let it settle, probably at least a week, then if it's still needed we can try the R.

and you already know what i think about the negative acro diagnosis . . .

:mrgreen: when one gets the acro diagnosis, you gotta shift gears and make the best of it. but i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. so i am beyond glad for you, donaleen!

 

[lovey11]

That is great news on the lab report! An early Christmas present! Good luck with the Levemir. will pray for good results for Ozy.

 

[Cleo & Jane (GA)]

So happy for you and Ozy on the lab report!!! Now I have to go read Crushy's condo - always learning from this board too!

 

[Kim & Twice]

What great news on the labs for you and Ozy! Great catch by DH last night Sounds like a great man and very supportive in all of this Good luck with the Lev. Our fingers and paws are crossed for you!!!

 

[Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)]

Happy news this morning and what a great Xmas present! Good luck with the switch to Lev.

Ella & Rusty

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

Thanks Catherine, Jane, Kim, Ella, Sienne and Julie. Just about to shoot the Levemir for the first time....

 

[Blue]

Removed post - opinion, based on no education

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

Do other people think this is borderline? Wendy???? Julie????

 

[Blue]

Removed post - uneducated logic

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

I don't think everyone sees it that way. It was a question I already asked because I read something about that. Some of what I read did seem to say that you treated differently for acro and IAA but other people said that wasn't so.

Further, since Ozy has auto immune issues, particularly with his skin, it makes sense to me that he would be IAA, even though I know that is rare by itself.

 

[Blue]

Removed post - mean

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

I consider Facebook in and of itself to be a lot like unsafe sex.

 

[Blue]

LMAO alrighty good luck with that IAA; you're gonna need it.

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

That is just plain MEAN. Go away.

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

I consider Facebook in and of itself to be a lot like unsafe sex.

:lol: :lol:
"Like!"

 

[Blue]

Removed post

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

LMAO alrighty good luck with that IAA; you're gonna need it.

I see you've been working hard on your "bedside manner", Gayle. It's really awesome that you can "laugh your ass off" at Donaleen and Ozy's expense.

Donaleen,
Give Wendy and Julie a chance to see this and give their input.

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

Thanks, Carl. When I read Gayle's post in the night, I couldn't sleep. It upset me. I don't think I could handle acromegaly. I can barely handle what I have with my poor dear Ozy.

The vet said that he is pretty healthy (outside pancreatitis, diabetes and auto immune skin issues). The vet thinks his pancreatitis drives his IAA. I think his compromised immune system (thank you prednisalone) may drive it.

I think of you often Carl. You have always been so kind.

donaleen

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

And, Gayle, mean is NEVER needed.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Wendy and Julie are going to contact the experts at CSU and ask them about the 88 on the IGF-1 test.

And there are others who are well versed at handling IAA. Carl is right.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

((((Donaleen)))) I am so sorry you had to go through that. You are not alone here with the IAA diagnosis and unlike the Facebook group, on FDMB the suggestions are open to peer review. And people here do have knowledge in the tools you'll need to use.

I have a couple of contacts at CSU and will ask them their thoughts. However, given the closeness to Christmas, I'm not sure how fast I'll get a response. I'll let you know the instant I get something.

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

Thanks Marje and Wendy. Your support and dedication astound me.

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

please, let's everyone step back and take a deep breath so we can focus on helping donaleen and ozy. sound like a plan?

patti is a good source of information for IAA kitties if she has done what Gayle has said. personally, i'm not familiar with patti's IAA experience, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have extensive experience dealing with IAA kitties. gayle, thank you for bringing patti's name up as a viable resource. donaleen, it's not necessary for you to go to facebook to contact patti. send her a PM: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=139. patti is not only a FDMB member, but last time i looked she was also a moderator of this board. give patti links to your threads and ask her to comment in the thread.

Sandy and Black Kitty is another member who is very well versed in dealing with an IAA kitty. her efforts with black kitty resulted in BK going OTJ after much hard work and what could be considered a nail-biting experience. sigh, IAA kitties are not easy to deal with. wish i could say differently, but i was here when all this was going on with BK. you don't know how many nights i spent here on the FDMB holding my breath while waiting for BK's next test result. if i were in your shoes, i'd send sandy a PM. her info can be found here: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=481.

you might want to take advantage of all resources offered in your quest to help ozy. i know i would!

gayle, a reminder: over the years, i believe rebecca has made it very clear she does not appreciate the FDMB being used to promote other groups. going forward, please keep her wishes in mind.

fwiw, (like gayle and carl)) i also found donaleen's response, "I consider Facebook in and of itself to be a lot like unsafe sex." hilarious! never thought of facebook that way, but donaleen, by golly, i think you nailed it! :lol:

is an 88 "borderline" for acromegaly? what a great question! we've had this come up with other kitties over the years and have never really received a definitive answer from any source. i'm glad julie and wendy are pursuing this. because the tumor's output waxes and wanes... we do have to open our minds to the possibility the test was done when the output from the tumor was waning. from what i've learned and seen with high dose kitties on the FDMB, if my cat had an acro test done which produced a result of 88... you can bet your bottom dollar i'd have my kitty retested for acromegaly again at a later date simply because the output from the tumor changes. hopefully, julie and wendy will come up with information to the contrary.

for ozy's sake, let's everyone move forward with an open mind, stop with the pointed barbs, and focus on helping donaleen and ozy. ok?

 

[Blue]

Removed post - insensitive and OT

 

[Marje and Gracie]

And the guys at CSU won't have the knowledge of day-to-day handling of IAA, but go ahead and ask.
And that IGF-1 of 88.... watch it because one day it's going to bite you in the backside.

They aren't asking the CSU experts about IAA; they are trying to gather info on the IGF-1 number itself, if it could indicate a waxing/waning tumor, and if/when Ozy should be retested for acro.

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

all right, that's enough!

in case i wasn't clear in my post above: STOP IT!

there's been entirely too many snarky comments on this thread already... some obvious and some subtle. remove chips from ALL shoulders.
if anyone has something to say... make it positive and helpful or don't say it.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Actually....my post was not intended to be snarky in the least. It was very much intended to be educational and to clarify what we were seeking thoughts on. It was, very much, stated to be helpful. No chip here.

Gayle is right....the CSU folks probably don't know a lot about treating the IAA.

 

[Blue]

Removed post - OT

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

gayle,

i will not be lured into a discussion in a member's daily thread that requires a response based on the interactions between the FDMB and the FB acro group over a span of many years. such discussion does not belong here. btw, if you missed it, one of my comments in my very first post on this thread:

"you might want to take advantage of all resources offered in your quest to help ozy. i know i would!"


that said, this is donaleen and ozy's thread. let's focus on ozy.


~ jill

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

I will NOT be looking at Facebook. It's hard enough for me to deal with here. I stopped posting on the forum for a while. I was just overwhelmed by too many voices . Not because anyone said anything wrong but because I get too tied up in knots with too many voices.

And I am much less trustful of western medicine than maybe most of you. Which isn't to say that I know a lot. I don't. But from what I have read, there isn't a lot of information on how all this really works. Western medicine is always more sure of itself than it has reason to be.

My main goal is for Ozy to have a good quality of life. Better two great months than two bad years. In theory, anyway. But I also want to hold him close and safe forever.

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

oh donaleen. i'm so sorry you're going through all of this.

just to clarify, I never treated punkin alone. neither has wendy. I looked at all the options for advice, read everything I could find, and then chose to stay here on FDMB. In my opinion, the best quality of advice, the most accurate understanding of dosing, glucose toxicity and the effects of the depot, is here on FDMB. i agree with Jill, you want to every bit of quality information you can get to help you.

I'll let you know when i hear back from Dr. Lunn. She's considered the foremost expert in acro in the US.

We'll help you get through this with Ozy and keep his quality of life as good as possible. Be optimistic! :YMHUG:

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

Donaleen,

Good news. I just received this response from Dr. Lunn:

No - I do not consider that borderline - it is perfectly normal. Cats with acromegaly are generally much higher. I don't really consider them truly positive until they are above 150. Rechecking in a few months makes sense to me, but in the meantime I would not worry about it too much.

Sleep well tonight and stop worrying about it.

There's always a lot for us to learn, isn't there?!

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

Thank you, thank you, thank you my dear Julie. What a great second Christmas present. You are GREAT....

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I couldn't agree more -- what a great gift for the holidays. Given Dr. Lunn's expertise, I suspect you will sleep well.

Please let us know what you need, Donaleen. I think we tend to try to provide as much information as we can and it could easily become overwhelming. That's not the intent but it can happen. It's OK to say, "Enough." It's also OK to ask questions and we will do our best to puzzle things out with you. Having the tools you feel that you need will help Ozy to have the quality of life you're wanting him to have.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

And here's what I have to say about Dr. Lunn's email:

and....MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

Thank you Sienne and Marje. You are very kind.

 

[Dale 'n' Chip]

Donaleen, I'm so happy for you and Ozy!

Now that you know what you are up against I know you can beat the antibodies!

You've already done such a great job with him... now you just need to get a little tighter, and "shoot low" to stay lower.

I suspect the Levemir will also help with this.

 

[donaleen and Ozy]

Thanks, Dale.