Critter Mom
Very Active Member
(Previous thread starts here: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...ea-reduced-eating-again-eyelids-puffy.152157/)
We are having another very rough day. Saoirse really isn't well.
* BP Check:
Saoirse very, very stressed and cranky so we could not get a completely reliable reading. BP 180 - 190. Last home reading a couple of months ago it was 140 at home.
* BP Measurement - Home Equipment:
I've ordered a Doppler unit to try to monitor Saoirse's blood pressure at home (due tomorrow). I am hoping I can use desensitization techniques so that she won't find it stressful and therefore we will have accurate readings upon which to base her treatment. I would welcome advice and suggestions about this from any members with experience of monitoring BP at home.
I also ordered a paediatric stethoscope. (Thank you, @Larry and Kitties, for the suggestions about monitoring equipment; much appreciated.)
* BP Lowering Medication (Amlodipine):
Strategy was discussed with vet. I told him that Saoirse was very, very cranky and that - apart from the terrifying scare in the small hours of Saturday morning with the ½ tablet dose - the medication did seem to help Saoirse because once she was stabilized she seemed a lot calmer and more comfortable.
I also told the vet about my late father. He had cardiovascular issues and used to get quite hot-tempered at time. He would go red in the face at those times. My brother (a doctor) told me that high blood pressure can affect people in that way. I am wondering whether Saoirse's crankiness may be a clinical sign of high BP. I also wonder whether she is in pain.
We agreed to give her 1/6 tablet of amlodipine. I administered it a few hours ago. No fainting this time. Saoirse was a little groggy for a while but she did seem a lot less uncomfortable. I gave her the tropicamide an hour later and that seemed to help her as well. I think my girl is in pain and it is shrivelling me up inside. She has just gone to hide under the dining table.
* Affected Eye (Right Eye):
Still bloody. Worried about whether she may have glaucoma which worries me because tropicamide is contraindicated. It does seem to make her feel better after she gets it but I'm worried sick about whether it's the right med for her. Does anyone reading have experience of eye problems in feline diabetics, including glaucoma. I would welcome anything you can share with me. Also the vet advised that there is a possibility of problem being cancer-related (see below).
* Left Eye:
Pupil is dilated and does not react to light - not as dilated as one being treated with tropicamide. I thought the eye was also being affected by the drops. The vet says it should not affect the untreated eye this way. There are also some dark spots (?) on the retina in this eye and this could potentially cause problems.
Vet is making immediate referral to veterinary opthalmologist to measure intraocular pressure and possibly do a scan of Saoirse's eyes to better determine what is happening. I would welcome hearing of any experience members can share in this regard.
* Digestive System:
Saoirse is hungry but having some difficulty with eating again today. In the main, she needs a bit of help to start eating but once she gets going she eats well. I need to let her lick some of the juice from the food off my fingers or warm the food up for her. Could this be a sense of smell issue? She did seem a little nauseated earlier (ondansetron on board this morning OK - afraid to give famotidine or anything else right now) but that was just after she passed a few segments of tan stools with some mucus on them and then she started passing tan-coloured diarrhoea. Between the blood pressure issues and possible med side effects (e.g. tropicamide may cause nausea; amlodipine has nausea and abdominal pain as a common side effect in humans; fusidic acid can cause liver upsets and transient jaundice - and I'm too frikkin' scared to give Saoirse her SAM-e and milk thistle supplement right now - terrified of doing anything that might make the situation worse. ) Saoirse seemed to find it easier to eat after the amlodipine and tropicamide were administered so I wonder whether she's in enough pain to make her queasy. Also Saoirse's BG has been running around the 13.0 mark (Alphatrak) and that's not going to make her feel too clever either. Gave 0.25IU Lantus this morning. Assuming PMPS is high enough I will give 0.25IU again tonight. (I can't give more because I will not last the night before passing out; I am physically sick with exhaustion. I wish I had a family and that there was more than just me to watch over Saoirse; I don't want to fail her and if I can't get at least some rest that is what could happen. I am so scared.)
I've already taken a dose of beta blockers today to try to stop shaking and function better for my girl. I am contemplating taking another one. My stomach is a mess. My heart is in shreds.
I feel like I'm standing on quicksand and every move I try to make to get out of the predicament just sucks me down further.
Help!
Mogs
EDITED TO ADD:
Saoirse was not sedated at the vets on Friday so the fatty stool and nausea on Saturday was caused by something else.
.
We are having another very rough day. Saoirse really isn't well.
* BP Check:
Saoirse very, very stressed and cranky so we could not get a completely reliable reading. BP 180 - 190. Last home reading a couple of months ago it was 140 at home.
* BP Measurement - Home Equipment:
I've ordered a Doppler unit to try to monitor Saoirse's blood pressure at home (due tomorrow). I am hoping I can use desensitization techniques so that she won't find it stressful and therefore we will have accurate readings upon which to base her treatment. I would welcome advice and suggestions about this from any members with experience of monitoring BP at home.
I also ordered a paediatric stethoscope. (Thank you, @Larry and Kitties, for the suggestions about monitoring equipment; much appreciated.)
* BP Lowering Medication (Amlodipine):
Strategy was discussed with vet. I told him that Saoirse was very, very cranky and that - apart from the terrifying scare in the small hours of Saturday morning with the ½ tablet dose - the medication did seem to help Saoirse because once she was stabilized she seemed a lot calmer and more comfortable.
I also told the vet about my late father. He had cardiovascular issues and used to get quite hot-tempered at time. He would go red in the face at those times. My brother (a doctor) told me that high blood pressure can affect people in that way. I am wondering whether Saoirse's crankiness may be a clinical sign of high BP. I also wonder whether she is in pain.
We agreed to give her 1/6 tablet of amlodipine. I administered it a few hours ago. No fainting this time. Saoirse was a little groggy for a while but she did seem a lot less uncomfortable. I gave her the tropicamide an hour later and that seemed to help her as well. I think my girl is in pain and it is shrivelling me up inside. She has just gone to hide under the dining table. * Affected Eye (Right Eye):
Still bloody. Worried about whether she may have glaucoma which worries me because tropicamide is contraindicated. It does seem to make her feel better after she gets it but I'm worried sick about whether it's the right med for her. Does anyone reading have experience of eye problems in feline diabetics, including glaucoma. I would welcome anything you can share with me. Also the vet advised that there is a possibility of problem being cancer-related (see below).
* Left Eye:
Pupil is dilated and does not react to light - not as dilated as one being treated with tropicamide. I thought the eye was also being affected by the drops. The vet says it should not affect the untreated eye this way. There are also some dark spots (?) on the retina in this eye and this could potentially cause problems.
Vet is making immediate referral to veterinary opthalmologist to measure intraocular pressure and possibly do a scan of Saoirse's eyes to better determine what is happening. I would welcome hearing of any experience members can share in this regard.
* Digestive System:
Saoirse is hungry but having some difficulty with eating again today. In the main, she needs a bit of help to start eating but once she gets going she eats well. I need to let her lick some of the juice from the food off my fingers or warm the food up for her. Could this be a sense of smell issue? She did seem a little nauseated earlier (ondansetron on board this morning OK - afraid to give famotidine or anything else right now) but that was just after she passed a few segments of tan stools with some mucus on them and then she started passing tan-coloured diarrhoea. Between the blood pressure issues and possible med side effects (e.g. tropicamide may cause nausea; amlodipine has nausea and abdominal pain as a common side effect in humans; fusidic acid can cause liver upsets and transient jaundice - and I'm too frikkin' scared to give Saoirse her SAM-e and milk thistle supplement right now - terrified of doing anything that might make the situation worse.
) Saoirse seemed to find it easier to eat after the amlodipine and tropicamide were administered so I wonder whether she's in enough pain to make her queasy. Also Saoirse's BG has been running around the 13.0 mark (Alphatrak) and that's not going to make her feel too clever either. Gave 0.25IU Lantus this morning. Assuming PMPS is high enough I will give 0.25IU again tonight. (I can't give more because I will not last the night before passing out; I am physically sick with exhaustion. I wish I had a family and that there was more than just me to watch over Saoirse; I don't want to fail her and if I can't get at least some rest that is what could happen. I am so scared.)I've already taken a dose of beta blockers today to try to stop shaking and function better for my girl. I am contemplating taking another one. My stomach is a mess. My heart is in shreds.
I feel like I'm standing on quicksand and every move I try to make to get out of the predicament just sucks me down further.
Help!
Mogs
EDITED TO ADD:
Saoirse was not sedated at the vets on Friday so the fatty stool and nausea on Saturday was caused by something else.
.
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