Update on Phoebe - feeding tube

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Hi folks,
This is Dixie and this board and DCIN have been wonderful resources after Phoebe was diagnosed DKN last month! Thank you!

Phoebe is doing much better since surgery for her tube in late October. She had one last crisis the week after getting her tube where her blood glucose dropped
so low it wouldn't register, she went into convulsions, but thru the grace of God, our 24 hour vet clinic pulled her thru again! It was her 3rd crisis, but my little
fighter came back!

She has been switched to Lantus and we watch it closely as she hopefully stablizes, but she is usually reading in the high 300's to well in the 500's. Of course,
our vet is happier with the higher #'s than getting too low again.
Food - syringe feeding A/D is by far providing the majority of her nutrition. She began to show some interest in tuna and I was giving her tidbits of it several times a day, but it looks like I can give her too much tuna! Our vet said I couldn't give her too much - so who knows? Phoebe is not pleased about much less tuna!
Minimal interest in dry food and none whatsoever in Fancy Feast or prescription wet foods.

And quite honestly, I'm exhausted!!! So tired I often can't think straight with 4 feedings a day and 2 insulin injections. I'm not young anymore, and it definitely reminds me of having a new baby - but we will continue to do what has to happen to keep Phoebe moving forward!

I do have a question if anyone has had a similar situation. Phoebe has started being pretty darn aggressive about the insulin shots and it's so unlike her. She will growl and act like she's going to snap at me. She actually lunged at my daughter yesterday when she leaned down to kiss Phoebe's head a couple minutes after a shot. Then Pheebs turned on me, acting totally unlike herself. I've read numerous suggestions about giving shots and been following the vet's instructions...just guess she's tired of being poked. But if anyone has any ideas, I'd be grateful for the advice.

I apologize to everyone who may have wondered about how Phoebe has been. It's been really hard to function at times with the limited sleep, and didn't want to post something incoherent!! =) I DO look forward to Phoebe eating on her own, though!

Thank you again for this board and all the kind hearts! God bless you all!

Dixie
 
Phoebe's blood glucose is usually running high with some significant swings, but here's a snapshot.
11/14 from 357 low to 543 high
11/15 from 394 low to 510 high
11/16 from 209 low to 510 high
11/17 from 81 low to 569 high

It's hard to predict and we're waiting for it to stabilize to see if an insulin adjustment is necessary. The bad behavior did come at a time when her BG was over 500,
so you're right there.

Trying some Blue Buffalo Wilderness dry and canned today along with A/D - just hoping for a food she'll eat on her own - except tuna.
Thanks!
 
Hi, Dixie-
Sorry to hear that the past month has been a hard one for you. But such good news about Phoebe! I know that things still are not settled down to some semblance of "normal' for you and for her but hang in there. Both of you are fighters that's easy to see. I don't know much about the aggressiveness she is showing but I would think that her roller coaster of BG's are behind alot of that. Others here are much better at giving opinions on that, I'm sure. But thanks for the update---been waiting for one! And take care of yourself as you take care of Phoebe. Will be thinking of you both. Lorraine
 
Hope Phoebe keeps improving. My Shiloh was on a tube twice, once for 7 long months. Talk about being wiped out! But he survived another 5 years and I am glad I hung in there. Are you familiar with Yahoo's group : Feline Assisted Feeding? Donna
 
Can you do a mix with the tuna - maybe 1 teaspoon of something else mixed into 4 or so of the tuna?

Also, neosporin ointment (not cream) with pain relief will help the ears with the testing, so some of the poking annoyance can be minimized.
 
Hoping today finds Phoebe acting and feeling better.
I wondered what her thyroid test showed?? My civvie Slappy had a high thyroid test result and was one nasty camper. The vet informed me that her thyroid being out of whack would make her nasty acting. Well, since the meds and another test, her thyroid is back in normal range and so is her attitude.
 
Thanks again for all the support and kind thoughts for Phoebe! We both appreciate it!
Phoebe's blood test levels were all back in the normal range except the blood glucose, which continues to run high.
She is beginning to eat some of the Buffalo Wilderness dry food along with tuna (I caved in and am giving her limited tuna). She just looks at the tuna canned cat
food like "are you serious"? We've tried several. She can be a diva sometimes! :)

And not quite so grumpy about the insulin shots the last few days, thank goodness. She will growl and carry on to show she's not pleased - but nothing out of line.

A special thank you to the wonderful folks, and DCIN especially, who had encouraged us to try to tube feeding option. It truly DID save her life!
I continue to be hopeful she'll start taking in more and more "real" food though, so we can have a more normal life again and SLEEP!!!

Attached is a more recent picture of Phoebe and her beautiful hot pink Kitty Kollar! She needed something to help her feel pretty!
Thanks again to all! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and God bless you all and your precious babies!!!

Dixie
 

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