trip to emergency- returned alone :(

Status
Not open for further replies.
melba tee

melba tee

Member Since 2014
I thought Melly's lethargy was due to his diabetes. One good day... One bad day... so went the cycle....

Today was REALLY bad. He wouldn't eat, so I syringe fed him. That always gets his appetite going. Not today. He was stumbling around, basically crawling instead of walking and nearly fell asleep with his head in the water bowl. I was thinking low blood pressure (he is taking blood pressure meds) and checked his gums... They were white. Being, Sunday, I had no choice but bring him to the emergency clinic ($$$$)

His blood pressure is low but not too bad. He also has a slight fever and some tenderness in the pancreatic/kidney region. (He had severe pancreatitis four years ago.) The bad news is that his red blood cell pack (that's the term they used) was 18%. (Normal is about 35 and they do transfusions at 15.) They are now sending blood to test for mycoplasma.

I left him there. They are putting fluids in him and some pain meds and will be monitoring his blood count and blood pressure.

My poor baby. Please say a prayer.
 
Sending purrs and prayers. It is always hard to leave alone.
Luckily I have not had to experience that for years since I know bring my doggie with me. She has helped me say goodbye to over half-dozen of my kitties.
 
Melly is home now. :smile:

He is off blood pressure meds and may be in remission for diabetes. I am to meet with the pharmacist so they can show me how to use an "insulin pen" which will accurately dispense half units of glargine insulin.

His red blood cell count is still very low but stable. Still waiting for the mycoplasma test results. He is on an antibiotic.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We are not out of the woods yet.
 
The Lantus pen only dispenses in 1-unit increments. This I do not understand your statement "use an "insulin pen" which will accurately dispense half units of glargine insulin."

I'm glad that Melly is home now.
 
You are right Larry and Kitties. It didn't fit their pen. I could have saved a trip. However, I did buy a new curling iron. :smile:

AND I just learned that glargine is lantus. I am such a newbie.
 
Well his first day home ended poorly. He hasn't eaten, has been vomiting and pooping and peeing on the carpet.

The mycoplasma test results are negative. His CBC is holding at 19%. (was normal three months ago) The anemia appears to be non regenerative as there do not seem to be many new blood cells being produced.

Melly is at the vet for the day. He is getting anti nausea medication and pain medication as his chronic pancreatitis appears to be causing him pain. Waiting for a referral to experts.....
 
Thursday was great. Melly was eating and purring like a pro. But Friday morning he could barely get up, let alone eat, so I dropped him off at the vet on my way to work because I didn't want him to be home alone.

I called at noon. He had a fever and his red blood cell count had dropped to 16%. At this point my vet referred me to the Guelph University Hospital so I packed Melly in the car and made the hour and a half trip there. They took him from me when I got there. I consulted with the vet and didn't get to see Melly again before I left. They did blood tests and ultrasound, called me that evening and said his spleen was abnormal, his liver was enlarged and his kidneys showed early onset kidney disease. They suggested following up with another ultrasound to get a biopsy of bone marrow, spleen and liver tissue. But that wouldn't happen until Monday.

At 11 PM I got a frantic call from the doctor saying Melly's heart rate was 70 and his blood pressure was dangerously low. They had been giving him potassium in his IV because he has had low potassium. Now it was up to 10 (5 is normal) and they were doing their best to lower it, but afraid it might lead to cardiac arrest and did I want them to perform CPR in case he did. Of course I said yes. About an hour later they called again, he seemed to have gotten through the crisis and his potassium had come down to 7, but now his red blood cell count was down to 12% and they could not do a transfusion because he has rare type B blood and they didn't have any. So they suggested artificial blood. I agreed. By morning his potassium was normal, his red blood cells were back up to 19% and he was eating voraciously and they were keeping close watch on his blood sugar. They suggested one option was to start therapy to increase his red blood cell count and send him home. I said that I came there for a diagnosis and was willing to wait until Monday. I would prefer to have a diagnosis before beginning treatment because so far all we have been doing is treating symptoms.

I went to visit him yesterday. They brought him to me in a room and as soon as he saw me he meowed constantly and tried to get away. He found the door and was scratching on it. I was there for an hour and he was very angry with me and meowed and acted like this for about 40 minutes. Finally he calmed down (or spent all his energy) and lied quietly while I petted and soothed him. He was calm when I left.

I called this morning. He had a good night and was still eating, so I decided not to visit today. I don't want to upset him. Likely I will not have him home until Tuesday, regardless of the biopsy results.

I am beside myself with worry.
 
Dear Wendy,
what a tough situation! My words are only of support, but I believe that his walking around is a great sign of energy and strength. Please accept many ((((hugs of hope)))) for both of you.
Best wishes,
Sophie
 
Melly came home on Monday and was active and eating. I started his treatment of prednisone and by morning he was in decline. He was lethargic, peed copious amounts and wouldn't eat. His bg was 299 and I did not give insulin since he was not eating. My husband was home with him during the day and by the time I got home, he had not improved and his bg was 448. I brought him back to the hospital. He had lost one pound since I had brought him home the night before. They would not confirm that his condition had worsened due to the predisone, although I know it has.

His red blood cells are holding at 18%, but he is depressed. They did not want me to visit with him last night as they thought it would be too stressful for him. Today they are expecting B blood and at this moment I am hoping he is getting his transfusion. The coombs test results were negative (hence the administering of prednisone was not needed).

They do not seem to understand that the reason he is depressed is because he thinks I have abandoned him. In 16 years he has not been separated from me for more than a day. I will be there this afternoon whether they like it or not.

I am dying inside.
 
Oh, Wendy I'm sorry to hear Melly had to go back. I hope the blood transfusion helps. Sending gardens of vines to you both :YMHUG:
 
When the glucose is elevated, even if the cat has not eaten, you may need to give some insulin. This will allow him to use the glucose already in his bloodstream, rather than breaking down fat and creating ketones and/or developing hepatic lipidosis.

You likely need to adjust the insulin dose - ie if a given pre-shot + food + insulin = a certain nadir range, you may need to estimate how much food contrib confused_cat uted to that and reduce by that amount. Maybe go with 1/4 of the usual dose and see what that does.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top