So I got another update from the vet. Smokey was released to me but wasn't doing well and brought her back. An x ray showed she has an enlarged stomach, which is likely what set off the DKA. It could be that her stomach isn't emptying. The vet is trying a few things to help her stomach empty, then reevaluating her. May do an ultrasound too. He has seen this before.... it ranges from nothing serious to something serious. Smokey is 13 and I've only had her for 6.5 years. She is my best friend and my baby. So I am hoping for the best for her. She has to make it through this. She will pull through. She fought through DKA with another underlying condition so I figure she is one tough cookie. She will make it through this too.
I had been guilt tripping over not testing her insulin enough.... but in this case, it wouldn't have done any good. She was acting like low blood sugar with only half a unit, even if her readings were high. If the food wasn't in her bloodstream from being stuck in her stomach.... then insulin may very well have negatively impacted her. This was a case where even the best of intentions were beyond my abilities and I needed more help for her. Next time I notice a change in her pee patterns she is going right to the vet. Anyway hopefully this was a benign cause behind her DKA. I'd honestly rather not hear about the bad causes enlarged stomachs could be from, unless you think I can do anything proactive about it to save her life (and she's already in the hands of a vet who is great with cats and devotes all his time to his practice, since it's in his house). Because I am trying to keep positive thoughts for her, so would rather hear positive stories. My suspicion is that she's had this condition for about two months now. But would love to hear from anyone whose cat experienced this and it was nothing to worry about. Thanks for reading my Smokey's story and for any good wishes and thoughts you have to help my princess. Even when she was so weak and her body width almost fit in my hand (thankfully the vet plumped her out more again), she used all her strength to go upstairs and greet me in the morning (though I hadn't been sleeping from anxiety over her). What an angel. May your stomach empty soon and you return back to normal in no time.
I had been guilt tripping over not testing her insulin enough.... but in this case, it wouldn't have done any good. She was acting like low blood sugar with only half a unit, even if her readings were high. If the food wasn't in her bloodstream from being stuck in her stomach.... then insulin may very well have negatively impacted her. This was a case where even the best of intentions were beyond my abilities and I needed more help for her. Next time I notice a change in her pee patterns she is going right to the vet. Anyway hopefully this was a benign cause behind her DKA. I'd honestly rather not hear about the bad causes enlarged stomachs could be from, unless you think I can do anything proactive about it to save her life (and she's already in the hands of a vet who is great with cats and devotes all his time to his practice, since it's in his house). Because I am trying to keep positive thoughts for her, so would rather hear positive stories. My suspicion is that she's had this condition for about two months now. But would love to hear from anyone whose cat experienced this and it was nothing to worry about. Thanks for reading my Smokey's story and for any good wishes and thoughts you have to help my princess. Even when she was so weak and her body width almost fit in my hand (thankfully the vet plumped her out more again), she used all her strength to go upstairs and greet me in the morning (though I hadn't been sleeping from anxiety over her). What an angel. May your stomach empty soon and you return back to normal in no time.
