New sugar momma with diabetic cat who has swollen face

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by skinky44, Dec 28, 2014.

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  1. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 16, 2014
    @skinky44 - I see from Marje's post that your name is Laura. :)

    How is little Skinky doing today, Laura? Has she managed to eat any little bit at all? And how is the swelling? Are the kitty sauna's helping? And how are you in yourself, Laura? You've both been on my mind all day, and in my prayers. (((Skinky and Laura)))


    (Sorry for all the questions. It's just that I'm worried about you both.)
     
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  2. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    911 - i have some reason to believe that kitty has Cryptococcosis fungal infection. I was able to get one 150 mg pill of fluconazole. if anyone has experience with this or knows where to post or review, please advise. I am reading that dosages vary from 50mg every 12 hours to 2.5 - 10 mg daily. URGENT. please if anyone has info or experiences with this drug...
     
  3. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    update. bad day. went to vet mobile where I was supposed to pick up some anti nausea and other meds and go over kitty's symptoms with the vet who has seen her the most. however they left early. went to the &*%$#@ humane society and they were utterly useless. asked for anti nausea med due to her reaction to the app stim. won't give it. asked for sub q fluids as she is not drinking, won't give it. said to call on monday with doctor who has been seeing her. i said if i call on monday i will probably just show up with her dead body, she is dehydrated and not eating and won't make it till monday. they tell me to go to a 24 hour emergency clinic. this is supposed to be a full service vet hospital administering EKGs, xrays, ultrasounds.

    Cryptococcosis fungal infection and fluconazole is one of the medicines for this. crypto. demonstrates a lot of symptoms she has. http://www.merckmanuals.com/petheal...ystems_of_cats/fungal_infections_in_cats.html (raspy breathing, nasal lump, eye issues and another site mentioned loss of appetite). please, if anyone has experience with administering this drug to their cats for this fungus please let me know. and please be kind. if it is not this, it is cancer, so I am willing to try this medicine to see if it clears things up.
     
  4. Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)

    Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Hi Laura,
    I am so sorry that your are facing these roadblocks. I think that some of the knowledgeable people on the Health Forum might be able to help you.
    Please start a new post on the Health Forum so that you can get some more eyes on the issue. You can link the present thread to your 911 post on Health by doing the following: 1) Go up to the top of this thread and highlight the subject line. Click the chain-link symbol.
    2) Start a new post in the Health Forum. Give your post a title that will get eyes on your question, something like: "911. possible Crypotcoccosis. Please Help".
    3) In the body of your post, include the following quote from your most recent post:
    4) Finally, in the body of your post in the Health Forum, provide a reference to this entire thread in the Welcome Forum: Type something like "see my long thread in Welcome to the Group":
    Then go up to the Edit button in your Browser and select "paste". A link to this thread will appear and people will be able to read Skinky's whole story.

    Please know that we are praying for Skinky to recover and that we hope that you will get some answers. It is so tough to find good vet care on weekends.

    :bighug::bighug::bighug:

    Ella & Rusty
     
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  5. Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)

    Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Hi again, Laura,
    You posted in the "Health Links FAQs" forum rather than in the "Feline Health Forum--the Main Forum". Sorry I didn't catch this. If you can also post it in Feline Health--Main Forum more people will see it.

    Ella
     
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  6. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

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    Jun 16, 2014
    (((((((((Laura and Skinky)))))))))

    My heart goes out to you. I've been on the receiving end of behaviour like that from vets in the past.

    From now on, I will follow Skinky's progress on your new thread in Feline Health.
     
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  7. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    I wanted to update all of you..
    I have "decided" that tomorrow I am bringing my little girl in for...sleep. I say "decided" because I thought I was going to do this today. I can now though, that this is not going to reverse itself. I was syringe feeding her Cat Sure - the only thing that she would hold down, been doing IV fluids, tried anti fungal medication. Friends are coming tomorrow with a car and said they will take me anywhere - a new vet or to the Humane Society for sleep. I suspect when they see her, they will advise the latter. I'm too close to this and to her. She is *always* curling up on my lap and just sleeping. When I try to assess her "quality" of life, well there were really only two things that she loved to do...be loved and eat. One is gone. And so, I've been 50/50 with what to do and praying for miracles. But it's not happening and I can see that she's starting to break down. The facial swelling is just too much and I strongly suspect that right now she is in pain. I am trying to give her tramadol, but this is stressing her out. I think it is time, and I am glad that I will have friends here tomorrow for a brief time. Else, I would, perhaps selfishly or ignorantly, attempt to convince myself tomorrow that I should give it one more day...

    I am so sad. My first pet that I will have to do this to. I can't imagine ever getting another animal again. Although she was so much more.

    A final "sign". I found someone giving away some Lantus on craigslist yesterday. I responded - this is how much in denial and how hopeful and how up and down I have been with all of this. This poor woman had to put her baby to sleep just recently as well. She is right in my neighborhood and we ended up having a phone conversation about vets in the area (neither of us have good things to say) and feline diabetes, our babies and the great support (and knowledge) we've found on the internet. That phone conversation was today. And a friend who I hadn't heard from in a while called and offered to go with me to do whatever it is that I decide to do. So I think these two people reaching out to me today are also signs that it is time.

    I'm sorry for the rambling. I just still feel guilty about waiting too long, and I feel guilty about giving up on her. There could never, ever be another Skinky.
     
  8. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Oh Laura ... You're not rambling at all, and my heart aches for you. :bighug: Such an impossible situation... :( I'm relieved to know that you have friends coming to you tomorrow.

    I read a little more about the anti-fungal agents. Apparently it may take a little while for symptoms to improve after treatment starts, but the treatment can take some months to complete. I'm very sad to hear that Skinky's still struggling with eating. :(

    I know that it's not easy but please try to be gentle on yourself. You have fought very bravely to care for and get help for your beautiful, sweet girl. I am so sorry that so many of the vets you went to made things so difficult. I pray that the vet you go to tomorrow is kind and wise, that they will give you the information and the support that you need to help you at this time, and that you will receive some clear sign of what to do.

    We are here for you.

    Your baby could not be more loved, and she has really touched my heart. I will keep you both in my prayers.

    (((Laura and Skinky)))
     
  9. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2010
    (((((Laura)))))

    While I am very sad for you....very, very sad.....I think you are making the right decision. It is always so difficult to let them go and My husband and I have had to help five of our kitties cross over the years. What I can tell you is that when it is inevitable, waiting until it reaches a crisis and you have to run to the ER is not the way to let them go.

    Last year, our sweet boy Gus...who had chronic kidney disease and likely lymphoma, was getting tired. He had lost a lot of weight over the course of his CKD. We just knew the time was coming and we decided we would let him go before he couldn't get out of his bed and while he was still eating. It was hard...so hard; he was an incredible companion. But it was such a gift we gave him to transition from love and light in his own home surrounded by those who adored him and into the arms of peace and comfort. While my husband and I have been haunted over the years when we waited too long, we have had an incredible peace with the way we helped Gus cross.

    As much as we love them, as much as we grieve when they are gone, this is a gift you give her for all the love and companionship she has given you.

    Fly free, sweet Skinky. Sending you prayers, Laura.
     
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  10. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

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    Dec 19, 2014
    Would you believe...she is a little better this morning?? Here I go again.
    Last night I was crying as I felt that I waited one - maybe two days too long. Her left side really swelled up and it was affecting her eye. when I would lift her at times it would hurt her. I could hear labored breathing. Maybe fluid in the lungs? I felt so bad that I waited too long. Today, swelling has gone done a little bit. When I lifted her she seemed fine. Maybe the Catsure caused some gas? Still she won't eat a thing.

    I have had a difficult time with vets. Yesterday I called two. I specifically asked the desk person to kindly ask the vet if she had any experience treating cryptococcocis. (sp). One place callled me back and said that the vet said I should go to Blue Pearl Animal Hospital. (Everyone refers here. it's kind of odd. I'm not asking about brain or spine surgery here for heaven's sake). The reviews are not great. https://www.google.com/search?q=blu...8#lrd=0x89c25859952a54eb:0xdc7a43a1c7359e7d,1

    Anyhow, the other vet's office didn't call back and kept trying to talk me into coming in. I just don't want to go to yet ANOTHER vet only to be told she needs an internist at Blue Pearl, which i KNOW is ridiculously expensive. I think this place was 195 to walk in the door. Or it was 5th Ave Vet.

    ANYHOW. My friend who is coming today (I did mention I hadn't been in touch for a while. I've had about 10 operations on my leg/foot/ankle over the last few years. Just not as social with people when it hurts to walk, or all i have to talk about /plan is my next surgery). SO she did mention that she has a vet in the suburbs who she trusts (she feels the same negativity toward vets. Maybe it's a Manhattan thing. But they are RIDICULOUSLY expensive around here) and who doesn't financially try to gauge her. I might just go there today.

    The place where I would take her for sleep is the Humane Society. I did speak with the doctor there who I had been seeing for her. I asked him for the anti nausea meds and it was really like pulling teeth, so I let it go and told him that I decided to bring her in for sleep. He said he felt that was the rigth thing to do. But I just don't think that he tried hard enough. Maybe this doctor in Yonkers could help. Maybe the fluconazole is working, perhaps that's why she is a little less swollen. Or am I just being cruel to both of us. to wait till the very end when she is in agony isn't right. Anyhow, this moment I am leaning on trying this suburban vet.

    Kitty is in the "sauna" now. I put vaseline around her little nose and turn the shower on to hot water. It helps release the crusties so she can breath. I've always felt if what's in there can be drained... not sure if I mentioned it, but one of the vets said that he could remove her eye in order to access whatever was in the nose and get it out completely.

    What to do. What to do.
     
  11. Squeaky and KT (GA)

    Squeaky and KT (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2011
    Oh Laura, this is so hard on your head and heart. Please continue to keep us updated and thank you for taking time to let us all know what's happening. I've fallen in love with your baby even tho' I've never touched her. Whatever you decide is best IS best....you've done everything possible and continue to do it. BIG HUGE LOOOOOONG HUG and prayers continue.
     
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  12. jt and trouble (GA)

    jt and trouble (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2009
    Sending prayers for guidance and strength. You arent giving up, you are giving in. Whatever you do WILL be the right thing. We support you 100%. I learned in much the same way sometimes we just cant fix everything. God bless.
    jeanne
     
  13. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Laura,

    I really feel for what you're going through but boy did my heart give a flutter when I read that Skinky is feeling a little better today. :) (((Skinky)))

    I don't know whether or not this will be of help to you, but in my reading about the anti-fungals, there was repeated mention that the response isn't immediate, but that improvements do tend to appear not too long after treatment commences.

    I hope that you go to see the vet your friend trusts. I am so upset that the vet at the (allegedly) Humane Society wouldn't prescribe an anti-nausea med. With nausea-related inappetence the combination of both anti-nausea med and appetite stimulant seem to be a case of the whole being far greater than the sum of the parts. Here's a link to Tisha's story. Tisha experienced severe inappetence as a result of a pancreatitis flare a few months back. Her mom, Lisa, was in a similar predicament as you when it came to getting the right meds. In Tisha's case, she was prescribed anti-nausea meds but no appy stimulant and it was a battle royal to get food into her for a while. Tisha became extremely ill (see posts from about half-way down the first page of the thread) but with the right meds she started eating relatively quickly and the food made a world of difference and greatly asssisted her recovery. Saoirse went through similar last year, too, but thankfully our vets prescribed all the meds she needed fairly quickly.

    If the vet in the suburbs will support you with both the anti-nausea and appy stimulant (and maybe something to help Skinky if the swelling is painful) maybe if you could keep Skinky comfortable for just a little more time to give the combination a chance to work and maybe help her to start eating again? A few days with better nutrition could tell you a lot.

    Listen to your head, your heart and your gut, Laura. I know how very much you love your baby and how much she loves you. That love will guide you. Sometimes we need enough love to help our babies go through tough treatments to help them get better. Sometimes we need enough love to let them go. I'm praying that you'll get great help from the vet your friend trusts and clear signs about what to do. Maybe you might give Skinky a gentle fuss from me? As with Lyresa, your baby has captured a little corner of my heart, too. She's so brave.

    Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.

    (((((((Laura and Skinky)))))))
     
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  14. Marje and Gracie

    Marje and Gracie Senior Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2010
    Wishing you prayers for guidance.
     
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  15. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

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    Dec 19, 2014
    Critter mom - you are so sweet. All of you people are!
    So the well intentioned trip to yonkers did not happen. Car issues. Would have to spend the night at this woman's house, with her two little yappy dogs and bring the IV fluids? Skink would keel. What is it they say of the best intentions...?

    HOWEVER. I am am encouraged that she is a little better today and agree w/ you regarding the pills taking time to work. I am however, out of flucotazole. I went back to the pharm that gave me the one pill and they give me another. I can't even get polysporin DROPS for her eye w/o a script. Only the ointment.

    I have to say, she looked just awful yesterday. I thought her right eye might be blind, there was redness in it. It's still bad, but a little better today. It's from all of the swelling in the nasal area. Poor thing was uncomfortable last night just resting her head. I felt like a real piece of you know what. She dislikes syringe feeding - what cat doesn't? So I stopped giving her the Cat Sure yesterday, fairly confident I was putting her to sleep today. I just can't believe that her swelling subsided a little, her eye is marginally better (worse than in the picture, but better than last night) and when I touch her nose area - it is still very sore for her, but seems less sore than yesteray... I started feeding her the Cat Sure again. She is in the Kitty Sauna again. Shortly I'll start fluids again. She is just SO strong given all that she's been through and with hardly any nourishment or water.

    I asked the vet from the humane society to call me and referenced that i wanted a call in script for the flucotazole. IF he calls, it won't be till after 430. I asked a friend to ask his girlfriend to ask her ob for a script too. I don't have a regular one, else I'd do that. I also made an appt to see the humane society doc for tomorrow morning, but not sure how much use i'll get out of it. there was a cat only vet recommended to me whom I called, tried to get in today, but he can't see me till Thursday. I booked the appt, but informed them that she is really weak and it's possible we might not make it in on Thursday. But at least it's booked. I just hope I don't get the run around to the expensive emergency hospitals. The vet mobile, which I do like, isn't in my area till Fri and Sat.

    I think a kind soul has sent me some anti nausea meds...hope to receive today. If I do, I wonder if I should start the app stim/antinausea combo and see if she will drink the cat sure or baby food on her own? I know my own diagnosing isn't at all ideal...I'm just tired of these vets directing me to emergency care for her, which is not at all affordable for me. I will ask the Humane Society doc tomorrow (or even discuss tonight if he calls) about doing a latex agglutination test, which specifically tests for fungus. I dont' why he didn't mention that earlier, especially when he said that it could be fungal related.

    And that particular fungus Cryptococcis, can affect their pulmonary system as well, which would explain her labored breathing...

    Gosh I hope this guy is cooperative w/ calling in the flucotazole for me. IF it has started working, her last dose was last night and I'd hate to skip a dose. I hope he's not the type that will wait for the test result. I mean I discussed bringing her in for sleep today while in tears, so I don't see why we can't TRY something here. But given that their other doctor, the ice queen, wouldn't even give me fluids on Saturday...I mean she could've just given me the bag without the IV, which I already have.

    But yes Critter Mom - have been so hopeful that if I can clear up her nasal passageway, she can smell again, eat again, and regain strength...

    I think the prayers from this group have helped... MUCH love and hugs to all of you...and thank you for the support...
     
  16. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2013
    If you get the anti-nausea meds, I'd try just that first....give it some time and then offer her some food and see if she shows any more interest and/or at least isn't lip smacking. IF she's nauseous, you need to get that under control before using the appetite stimulant.

    (((Hugs for you and Skinky)))
     
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  17. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    Thanks Chris - all the vet offered yesterday when I spoke with him was peptic AC, which isn't working. Anti Nausea meds didn't come. IF vet calls me tonight, I will ask him about meticlopramide or something other than peptic ac...
     
  18. Ann & Scatcats

    Ann & Scatcats Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    Laura, we Love You. You are Skinky's C h a m p. What a Wonderful Lifelong Champs Pair you are. I have plenty of my own totally absurd problems so not been able to check in on you but believe me we keep root for You!

    Simba, Gustav and their Ann
     
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  19. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
    Ask for cerenia or a script for ondansetron which is a human medication. Pepcid won't be enough and metilopramide isn't the best one for cats unless that is all that you can get. Prayers your way.
     
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  20. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Laura,

    Just read your update. I'm glad to hear of the kind soul sending you some anti-nausea meds. Hopefully they will get to you very soon. If you can't get ondansetron at first, then metoclopramide can help a little. Our vet initially prescribed a combination of cyproheptadine and metoclopramide for Saoirse. It definitely helped a bit - it got her eating again, but longer term the ondansetron worked much better (metoclopramide doesn't target the right anti-nausea receptors in cats, if I recall correctly). As a stop-gap, some anti-nausea support is better than none at all. In some ways the metoclopramide might be easier to administer at the moment since it's a liquid? I'd also ask the vet whether it's possible to give the pepcid AC alongside the other meds or whether there are any negative interactions. What dose of Pepcid is Skinky getting at the moment?

    When you're talking to the vets, I'd suggest asking about something for pain relief for Skinky. Maybe that might help her to eat a bit better, too? Keeping fingers and paws crossed that the cat specialist will be much more helpful - and compassionate.

    God willing, if you can get Skinky eating again be prepared for it to be a slow process to get back to normal and you may need to continue assist feeding for a while. Given that her sense of smell is probably not great and it may take some time for that to improve with anti-fungal treatment, Skinky may very well need some bit of coaxing to start eating for quite some time to come. With Saoirse, I'd warm her food a little and/or sprinkle some blitzed freeze-dried chicken treats on top (I think that may be quite strong-tasting/smelling). If she didn't start eating straight away I'd dip my finger into the food and let her lick some off. After a couple of goes at that, she'd get the taste properly and finish the meal under her own steam. Even now, if her appetite's a bit off, I still use these coaxing tricks to kick-start Saoirse's eating. Once she gets going on a meal, she eats away merrily.

    I'm so glad that Skinky's managing to eat some of the Cat Sure for you. Tiny amounts frequently can be easier to digest. Following on from Chris's post above, I found it helpful to slightly stagger the doses of anti-nausea and appetite stimulants. I'd give the anti-nausea med, wait about an hour or so and then give the appy stimulant. It then took another little while before Saoirse started showing interest in food. That seemed to help. As the treatment continued, I was able to administer the two meds at around about the same time since by that stage there was a bit of overlap in the period of effectiveness of consecutive doses. In an earlier post, You mentioned above that Cat Sure is the only think Skinky can keep down at the moment. I wonder, has she vomited up white foam at any stage? That can be indicative of excess stomach acid. (Pepcid AC helps that.) Once the food starts going down regularly it can help to break the cycle of build-up of excess stomach acid and subsequent nausea after long periods of fasting.

    Prayers shall continue to fly across the waves to you both from the Shire.

    ((((Laura and Skinky))))
     
  21. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    Hi Critter Mom,
    She has not foamed or thrown up "foam like". She has vomited very little actually. But...the other day I might have over done it with the cat sure. she vomited up the cat sure...and there was some blood in the vomit.

    I do think the cat sure *might* upset her stomach a little. There is gurgling afterwards. I think at times there is gas (vet said air?) in her stomach as when I've picked her up she might cry a little. Skinky is very vocal and very whiny - always has been. She probably is in some pain/discomfort at times when i pick her up, but it is hard to gauge with her because, well she's a very vocal maine coon. ANYHOW. I might've mentioned that i got a few squirts of cat ensure into her last night as at some point I was certain I was bringing in for sleep and she really doesn't like being syringed. And as I said, she seemed better today - but noticeably I think she had less discomfort around her midsection. But I don't know what else to feed her. I tried chicken broth and she spat that out. Grinding up food isn't happening for her either. at least with the cat sure I know she is getting some vitamins in.

    Am uploading the pic of cat sure/blood and pic of her eye. If anyone has recommendations for medication for her eye that i can ask idiot vet about tomorrow, that would be great. previously tried gentamicin sulfate from another vet. if she gets thru this, am concerned for her eye. i know the fungus can affect the eye, and i think the swelling has really affected her eye as well...

    oh, and the vet that I liked (from the van) had given us some toradol that I still have for her...

    I could get another shot of convenia for her tomorrow too, although I know a lot of folks seem to greatly frown on it. She has not had any reactions to it the first two times, all three vets had only positive things to say about it, and the first time it seemed to help the most. I CAN understand the concern of it staying in her bloodstream for so long, especially if i'm going to be giving her different drugs...

    oh - only as small a piece of peptic as i can. i'm cutting from a 20 mg, so i try to do somewhere between an eigth or slightly larger..

    This is great. Preparing my list for tomorrow morning, God willing.
     

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  22. Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)

    Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Dear ((((Laura)))),
    We have been thinking of you and Skinky a lot and I am amazed at the spunk and courage your kitty has. Since you are considering taking Skinky to Yonkers, perhaps you might think about going a bit further into Westchester. Here's the very best general vet practice I have ever encountered:
    Katonah-Bedford Veterinary Center
    546 North Bedford Road
    Bedford Hills, NY 10507
    (914) 241-7700

    When our diabetic cat, Stu, was very sick and not strong enough to have the radio-iodine treatment for HyperThyroid, Dr. Mark Peterson (HypurrCat Clinic) sent us to Katonah-Bedford (which was close to his clinic) for stabilization. Unfortunately, Stu not only had HyperT, Chronic Renal Disease, and, of course, Diabetes, but at Katonah-Bedford he was found to have cancer also. We chose to let him go; and I know now that was his wish. Although we were not regular patients (we live in upstate NY and were far from home), the compassion and professionalism we experienced at Katonah-Bedford were wonderful and comforting.

    Laura, you are doing everything possible for Skinky. I admire you so much and I know that whatever you (and Skinky) decide on, it will be the right thing to do.

    :bighug::bighug::bighug:

    Ella & Rusty
     
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  23. Deborah & Shasta

    Deborah & Shasta Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2012
    (((Laura))) & (((Skinky)))

    Sending you both lots of love and TONS of healing vines for you and Skinky. Both of you have been through so much and you love each other so much. Blessings to both of you, sweet beings.
    :bighug:
     
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  24. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    Cat People! I noticed this on my girls back....she also has a "wound" like thing under her chin. it was pink and fleshy and inverted, but i can't get a pic of it..

    Do these look more like fungus or cancer issues or something else?
     

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  25. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    Thank you Ella! I'm going to try to call them tomorrow and check on pricing. Maybe since they are in the burbs it will be more affordable than some of the ones in NYC...and hopefully a little more personal. Got a nice list from another person on this thread as well. You guys are great!!! :):kiss:
     
  26. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    Can't really tell by looking. A skin scraping might determine what it is.
     
  27. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

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    Dec 19, 2014
    thx BJ. seeing humane society doc tomorrow and I think I"m better off suggesting things to him...wondering if this might support his analysis of cancer, my thinking of fungus, or not related to either and just from malnutrition...

    Thank you!
     
  28. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Laura,

    (((((((((((((((((((((((((Skinky)))))))))))))))))))))))))

    I just want to surround her with a ball of healing.

    This reply's going to come in fits 'n' starts. First up, I've no experience with either cancer or fungal infections but from the bit of research I've been doing online for Cryptococcosis it can cause skin lesions. Click on this link to see some pictures from a web search. Do they look anything like the sores you can see on Skinky's skin?

    WARNING - some of the pictures aren't very nice.

    https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Cryptococcosis in cats skin lesions images&t=ffcm&ia=images&iax=1

    One of the cats in the pictures has lesions under its chin, and in one of the articles I read the cat in question had lesions on its back as well as the nasal swelling.
     
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2015
  29. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    I've just looked up toradol - not heard of it before - and I see that it's a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). When did you give it to Skinky in relation to when she brought up the vomitus containing blood? Did she have anything in her tummy at all when you gave it to her? I know that NSAIDS like ibuprofen can cause stomach upsets and bleeding in humans and they are not supposed to be taken on an empty stomach for that reason. (I can personally attest to the truth of that.) I'm wondering whether there might be a connection between the two, but please note that this is conjecture on my part. Definitely something to discuss with the vet to see whether the empty tum/NSAIDS might be a reason, or whether something else could be upsetting Skinky's tum.
     
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2015
  30. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    Hi Busy Critter Mom!
    There's one pic there that looks like something she has under her chin, an ulcerated lesion. But all of those pictures look so different from one another. I see the idiot vet tomorrow, so i just want to be prepared to coax/ask/demand the appropriate tests from him, because HS being a nonprofit hospital, i guess what they do offer is inexpensive. Even the discount van said the convenia, at $58.00 was quite reasonable. But as you know from previous posts, he just tends to refer me to the larger emergency places for a CT Scan for her...

    As for the toradol, I've used it very rarely with her (didn't want to mix too many drugs, especially where she is so thin....3 ABs, insulin, peptic AC, cpro...) I only used the toradol a few times at night. I think when this happened, it was just me giving her too much CatSure...but the blood concerned me. So, no, she did not have toradol in her when this happened.
     
  31. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    Look at this pretty baby with the nose swelling....

    How is a chronic fungal infection treated?

    The most common fungal infection in the nose is caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. Because some of the drugs used to treat this organism are quite expensive and will occasionally cause adverse effects, they are not used unless a firm diagnosis is made. Fortunately, the newer antifungal drugs have fewer significant side effects and many cats with fungal diseases can be successfully treated. If the cat is infected with the feline leukemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus, the outcome will usually be less favorable.

    The image below shows a cat named Parker who came to us with a severe swelling in her nose. Microscopic evaluation of samples collected from her nose showed the fungal organism Cryptococcus. Treatment was started and over time, her nose returned to normal.
    [​IMG]
     
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  32. phlika29

    phlika29 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2014
    Remi can sometimes sound uncomfortable when i pick him up. I am not sure if it is because of his IBD, because he gets acid reflux or because his tablets are upsetting his tummy. One way I try to avoid this is to make sure he has food with his tablets or just before/after. I know you are struggling with getting food into skinky so this may be not be possible. Some tablets also need to taken before food such as ondansetron (about 20 minutes before food). I also flush the tablet down with at least 3 ml of water.

    Thinking of you both and sending healing vibes.
     
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  33. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Laura,

    I really appreciate how difficult things are for you at the moment. As I mentioned before, I've had difficulties with 'gatekeeper' type vets before (and human doctors of similar ilk). It's tough enough to see our little ones poorly without the additional trauma of having to beg for diagnostic testing and treatments to help them get better. I also know what it's like trying to get help when finances are limited. You're holding things together so well in spite of all you're contending with. (((Laura))) You've got your hands full trying to get some nutrition into your little one. If I can help by tracking down some info for you, I'm only too glad to do so. :) Wish I could do more ...

    Definitely you need to let the vet know about the blood in the vomitus. I had another gander online and excess stomach acid may be another possible cause - feasible considering she hasn't been eating properly and the nausea may be indicative of excess stomach acid production - but it's definitely something you need to investigate with the vet.

    The Pepcid dose that you're giving is the same as my vet prescribed for Saoirse. I think I've seen some cats here prescribed a slightly higher dose, but I can't remember what that dosage was. Perhaps you could ask the vet about dosages.

    I've found a link to a very good video with a vet talking about cause, diagnosis and treatment of cryptococcosis. She mentions the latex agglutination test for diagnosis. In the video the vet advises that the fungal infection can be a sign of an underlying problem that's affecting the cat's immune system and she emphasises the importance of checking for and treating any underlying conditions. She also gives a good indication of how long it takes to treat the condition. With the proviso that I don't have any experience with cryptococcosis, the presentation comes across to me as quite comprehensive, well-researched and balanced. I've seen some of her other videos on subjects of which I have some knowledge and experience, and I've found her advice to be generally quite accurate (with a sales pitch for Mercola products, granted!) . I hope that you find it helpful, and it might give you some pointers about how to handle your consult with the vet at the Humane Society tomorrow.

    For what it's worth, I got brushed off by the vet I took Saoirse to when I first knew something was seriously wrong with her last summer and she got an initial Dx of 'old lady'. Just as you know your baby better than anyone else in the world, I know my girl and I knew there was something not age-related wrong with her. It scared the willies out of me to go back a couple of weeks later to demand she be tested for diabetes, but my baby was depending on me and I am so glad that I didn't accept the first vet's opinion and I got her the help she needed. Also, I wasn't happy about the protocol they use for treatment of feline diabetics. Luckily we moved to another practice shortly afterwards and both the feline diabetes treatment protocol and the general approach to patient care and client collaboration was much better. I've got better at asserting myself with the vets now and asking about treatments, tests etc. that I want for Saoirse instead of waiting to be told what she's going to get. It took time to find the right vet, but the difference is fantastic. We are partners in Saoirse's care, and she's doing great as a consequence. I fervently wish the same for you and Skinky, and I pray to God that you will come away tomorrow with all the medication she needs to give her a fighting chance. If Skinky were my cat I'd be looking to ensure she has:

    - an appetite stimulant.
    - a decent anti-nausea treatment (the vet might be able to give her a Cerenia injection and an Rx for some ondansetron generic for continued home treatment).
    - something for pain.
    - assuming cryptococcosis is the cause of the swelling, an Rx for more of the fluconazole.
    - depending on the vet's assessment, something else may be needed to help with any underlying condition he may find.
    - something for her eye.

    Needless to say, I'd want to get an idea of any drug side effects to look out for and possible interactions.

    With respect to the Cat Sure, I think the right food for Skinky just now is anything she can eat. Hopefully tiny amounts frequently will help her. If you can get her stabilized on that and eating a bit better there's a recipe for a liver shake for sick cats that members here have found helpful for their cats that you might want to consider if Skinky continues to have trouble with her regular food. I've not tried the liver shake, but when I was nursing Saoirse through her pancreatitis flare I did feed Saoirse a liquid commercial food that was chicken meat and chicken liver based and it helped her a great deal.

    With respect to the Convenia, Saoirse has been given it in the past but since I learned more about it I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with her getting it again. I do wonder whether it may have been a contributing factor in the duration of her diarrhoea during the pancreatitis flare, but I have no research to back up that concern: it's just conjecture on my part. From what I've read since, one of the reasons for Convenia being a popular treatment choice for vets is that some caregivers aren't as compliant as they might be when administering courses of antibiotics, particularly if their cats are difficult to pill. Again, something for you to discuss with the vet.

    I am hoping and praying that your consult will go well with the HS vet today, and that he will give you the help and advice you need to help your beloved baby girl. My thoughts will be with you both. Blessings to you both.

    ((((Laura and Skinky))))

    Edited to Add:

    I've just seen the pics of the kitty successfully treated. Fingers and paws crossed that if it's the fungal infection you're dealing with that the same could happen for Skinky.
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2015
  34. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    You've been givging ANTIbiotics. It may be helpful to give PRObiotics a few hours later to replenish the good bacteria killed off by the antibiotics. It may help with some of the GI issues. Forti Flora is one product many cats find very palatable as its in an animal digest base.
     
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  35. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Laura,

    Just checking in to send a wish that the vet will listen, be considerate, and most of all give you all the things you need to help your baby girl without any more hassle. I hope Skinky managed to get a bit more food down for you.

    I think I'm going to be asleep for a few hours (health problem means I have difficulty with sleeping) so I wanted to send you both some hugs. Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.

    (((((((((Laura and Skinky)))))))))
     
  36. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    @BJM - great suggestion.
     
  37. Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)

    Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Good morning, Laura and Skinky,
    Just chiming in to wish you a successful vetty visit today. We are all thinking good thoughts.

    :bighug::bighug::bighug:

    Ella & Rusty
     
  38. Peg and Toby

    Peg and Toby Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2014
    Laura and Skinky, Wishing you both the best at the vets. today. You are in my prayers.
    Peg and Toby
     
  39. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Laura,

    Just checking in to let you know I'm thinking of you and praying for you both. Everything's crossed here that the vet visit goes well and that your baby's feeling a bit better today.

    ((((Laura & Skinky))))

    :bighug::bighug::bighug:
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2015
  40. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    Thanks everyone! Quick update... Had a very decent visit at the vet. B12 shot, cerenia injection, some fluids, he gave ointment which is also otc for her eye, said no antibiotics for the eye, it's that the fluid is pushing her eye and making it uncomfortable. got scripts for flucozarole compound and ringers solution. trying to call around for these things....turning into an all day thing... but found one place for the fluc compound which I'm very anxious to get into her...will get that later tonight....have to return to another place tomorrow to pick up more fluids. Ringers Solution difficult to find, guess there's a hospital shortage of it.

    The issue with diagnostics, besides cost, is anesthetizing her for a tissue sample from her nose to confirm/deny fungus. I believe I was getting some results from the fluc pill I lucked out in getting...but last dosage was mon night, she was better tues morning...anxious to try to keep that stream in her. vet suggested hills a/d and tonight will pick up a can or 2 of that for her and try to syringe that into her...she gurgles after the cat sure, but she really needs some nourishment. She's still trotting..at times. can jump into and out of the tub on her own, although i prefer to assist her if i see that she needs to to jump in (this is where the litter box is).

    so can't get the fluc compound till around 7 pm tonight, which is when i'll get the Hill's a/d. then I'll have to figure out whether or not to administer the app stim. Ondansetron can be given along w/ cerenia injection? doc still encoraged peptic ac

    BJM _ will check into forti flora at store tonight. good idea. thank you!
     
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  41. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Laura and Skinky)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

    Yay!!!!! :) :) :)

    Will post a bit more later, but I just had to send this quick reply to tell you I'm s0000000 happy for you that the visit went well. I could kiss the vet for helping you at last.

    Well done you :bighug: and sending lots of the gentlest healing scritches for your beautiful girl.
     
  42. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    PS ...

    Try posting on Feline Health to ask where you might be able to get some Ringer's Solution - I suggest calling the topic. "Sick Kitty in NYC - Where can I get Ringer's Solution ASAP?
     
  43. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    Thank you CM! :) :) :)
    I think he sees that I really care for her but am restricted with funds for some things. And I think he feels uncomfortable administering certain tests due to anesthesia and her weakened condition. I swear he gave me a break too on costs...B12 for 10.00? I think that's pretty cheap. I had to sign off on the fruc drug, that I understand we have not confirmed diagnosis and this could have a negative effect on her...but based on what I saw with the one pill I was able to get, I am hopeful. I guess if it's not this fungus, his hunch is she has a cancerous nasal tumor. This vet felt if it explodes on its own, it would be very bad. the other vet thought it would be a good thing, i guess provided it's not cancerous. but no one wants to anesthetize her as she is so frail and weak. although she gave them a helluva fight when they were paw-handling her.

    so, I feel that this guy today really worked with me. And, I could not have done it without all of you folks...and special shout out to Diane GC from the FB page who kept suggesting fungus related. From doing my research on it, when the doc initially asked about how long ago I moved and that the time period wouldn't add up (previous apt was in times square - dirty place, pigeons outside window, this fungus can be transmitted thru kitty inhalation of pigeon feces dust) I was able to counter strongly with my knowledge of an 11 month incubation period. boy did i feel smart. but he really, really listened to my concerns and tried to help and i was appreciative.

    but didn't know i could take celeria with that anti nausea drug that begins with an O at the same time? anyhow. compounding pharmacy called and fluc. is ready. so gotta go wobble over there and try to get some food into this girl's belly. she's had extremely little since monday night. maybe 1/4 can of cat sure all day. going to try to syringe a little of the science diet ad into her later...

    wish us luck!
     
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  44. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    oh i can get the ringers solution from this same uptown pet pharmacy...i just have to go back tomorrow to get it as they have none left today. and since she got a dosage today at the vet's she is good till i can get there tomorrow... :)

    thank you!
     
  45. Squeaky and KT (GA)

    Squeaky and KT (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2011
    WOOT WOOT!! BIG DANCE! Lots of good news here! Prayers still continue - it's still a looooong road but sounds like you FINALLY found someone that cares!!!

    HUGS AND HUGS!
     
  46. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Cool that you've found a source, Laura!

    I've not given Cerenia and ondansetron together. I just checked Saoirse's journal and the one time she had a Cerenia injection the benefits lasted for about 36 hours. After the Cerenia wore off I gave her more anti-nausea medication. I imagine it can vary based on an individual cat's metabolism. Might be an idea to chat to the pharmacist about it.

    I'm relieved to hear you're managing to keep getting some bit of food into Skinky and that she's keeping it down.

    Wishing you both tanker-fulls of good luck!

    ((((Laura & Skinky))))
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2015
  47. Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)

    Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    This is very good news, Laura. We're sending lots of good vines that all will continue to go well.

    Hugs and scritches,

    Ella & Rusty
     
  48. phlika29

    phlika29 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2014
    When remi was very poorly I did give both cerenia and ondansetron. The cerenia may work better for the sickness and cerenia for the nausea. If you have to go back to the vet still push for the ondansetron.

    Great news, my thoughts are with you both.
     
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  49. Ann & Scatcats

    Ann & Scatcats Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    Laura and Skinky


    Just a very important note - On Cats that much stomach blood and on top of it too besides the brighter red fresh blood, that huge amount of livaraged old dark red thick blood - is never under any circumstances normal.

    Cats are not as humans stomachs, first they have a much much much more High Acid Low pH value in their stomach and subsequently different stomach membrans according to that.
    So cats hardly never throws so much direct both old dark thickened blood and brighter fresh red blood from the stomach unless serious stomach ruptures of some kind.
    Gustav's stomach membranes quick burst when I accidently overdosed him with an on cat's prohibited Anti-Inflammtory Anti-Pain med Tolfedine. It is allowed to be prescribed for them, but under strict control, of e x a c t weight and amount calculation, and he was supposed to have a tiny bit only one time a day, but had antibiotics too given the ordinary twice a day, so I was a little too fast there thinking 'antibiotics two times a day' , and instantly realised my prescribed Tolfedine mistake and bang it said his stomach ruptured and he threw up blood, and swoosh I drove him emergency straight into hospital telling my mistake and for them to help him get it out of him. He got bitter Zantac for acid stabilisation. And thankfully got home alright.

    Simba had a lot of intestine and stomach blood in relation to a severe Hyper-T developed in 2011, which the radioactive iodine cured.


    Just stay on top of that stomach blood in Skinky.
    The cause could be more than one multi-factor.


    Also, the ulcerations wounds, Simba also got struck by the w o r s t hellish kind of vet maltreatment related staphyloccous infection his horrible pics! http://felinediseases.weebly.com/staphylococcus.html
    For it in his ears I had a combo fungus bacteria ear Fucidine, but for all in his face all over, neck, throat e.t.c only persistent pure clean medic alcohol Klorhexidine, rubbed washed several times a day on clean new separate cotton pads, and everything of our diabetes things touching him cleansed too, since those damn staph bacterias moved and spread fast as hell on him, and even me, just by tiniest breathing near them. His severe maltreated diabetes and pacreatitis with everything, bodily resistant weakened him so much that these staphs who are latent in all skin explode attacked him. We worked haaard, 24 hour around the clock Simba, Gustav and I to save him.
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2015
  50. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    @Ann & Scatcats - is there anything Laura could do for Skinky with the medicine she has at the moment. I believe she has Pepcid AC. Or should she do something else?

    (I hope it's OK for me to ask on her behalf. )
     
  51. Ann & Scatcats

    Ann & Scatcats Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    Aine, I think right amount Pepcid ac is better than nothing in regards of tummy.

    The cerenia and other anti-naus, is stuff we really don't use in Sweden.
    Mirtazipin as app stim I would not even use on a hampered cat, it has such nasty neuro brain effects and other things since it process rescripts in the brain and neuro might conflicting with other things, , we call it how much you b u r d e n them with.


    Simba's stomach and intestine blood, and that was a daily lot, got regulated controlled with Prednisolon, 2 a day to start with, than lowered a day. Also food balanced with M/D wet. Kept him in control until he could have his needed radioactive iodine. I was severely sick myself and with hands full with Gustav's cancer too, so I didn't get Simba in to the doctor in right early time to find out it was severe Hyper-T that had broken out on him too. I can shoot myself every day time and time again for not being quicker with Simba there in that. Really. But they had severe brain hypoed him too, again, at the hospital in January 2011, without being honest and telling me, it was again their fault, why my boy didn't know how to eat ir even find the food. They brain injured him so severe, I have it in his vet hospital journal, and they had made him blind and more. It was horrible. I had again to hand syringe feed him KMR cat medic rescue milk. It was after all that he also got severe tummy blood throw up and blood squirting intestine large blood and even long big puss strings in and on around the poop. With the Prednisolon for a while that was well for a month. But by the time Gustav shockingly passed in spring March 2012, Simba's Hyper-T was wild rampaging, he weighed zero and all organs and all. All the rest from there are so horrible, but when I finally got him in for his radiactive iodine, he instantly became all well from it.


    Flagyl multi spectrum antibiotics has been the real magic antibiotics on both of them, always through life, and even on me. On myself with all idiot human doctors here, I have a l w a y s had to ***** fight them every time when getting something myself. There is One spectrum antibiotics, and often work well on many, but we are all so individually different, that some of us, all these various one spectrum antibiotics, have z e r o effect on, we just get sicker and sicker until we die. And I know myself, and every time I have said direct Give Multi Spectrum Flagyl. The only thing that works on me. And it always has. And the same with Simba and Gustav.


    I nearly died in one of the worst inner explosive spread staph blood poisonings too in 2012. I was since before struck by all these skin staphs, since july 2004, spread to me from dirty snotty kids then. I was given two rounds of antibiotics then in 2004-2005, with temp disappearance, but as soon as off, all the face staphs came back. So Simba really got it zoonos spread to his lil cute nose from his kissing, nibbling, and oink oink on you mama of my nose, and for him then also just staph skin exploded when he hampered from and the diabetes broke out in 2006 and 2007.
    The exploding inner blood poisoning staph nearly killing me in 2012, was hospital induced on me by the life revival emergency surgeon on me, the amount of high intensive survival rescue tubes going in in hands, arms and throat on me, one of all those breaking up direct in in blood streams on me tube needles, they t h i n k transported in the staphs into entire me. So I was hooked up too on 3 different Intravenous fluid super strong antibiotics then. They had to smack it out as fast as possible. Also made since I was solely floating nutrition survival fed through the throat tube collars going direct in to my throat aorta, that they had to remove it entirely, which ment I was put off 'food' too. It's a ghastly and long horrible story, Information Overload, but Simba alone at home needing me at home kept me alive. All we got eachother.
    I will check in those journals which 3 of these super strong antibiotics they had to give me. If something can match Skinky's.
    I hate the ipad too trying to write even cohersive on it.
     
  52. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    I am sorry to hear that you and your little ones have been through so much, Ann. My Saoirse keeps me going, too. I would be lost without her. (( Ann ))

    I agree with you about mirtazapine. I've had it prescribed in the past for my own use. It's a very harsh drug. I couldn't tolerate it.
     
  53. Deborah & Shasta

    Deborah & Shasta Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2012
    ((((Laura)))) Sending more prayers your way and TONS of them for Skinky! Ok baby, time to eat your fuds!!!!!
    [​IMG]
     
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  54. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    Yes, Yes, YES please send the prayers, karma and cosmic hugs. Little girl is very weak tonight. So tiny. She lost a little more than a half pound since her last visit.
     
  55. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Sending special prayers for strength and resilience to your little one.

    (((Skinky)))
     
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  56. Ann & Scatcats

    Ann & Scatcats Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    If you want a real bad survival journal state to compare with here is from my own horrors in 2012
    and the critical near death parameters, both state of the art for cats and humans

    On me July 11th with a horrible process before that

    Temperature 35.8 Celsius degrees (37 is normal)
    Blood pressure still 111/88 - right chamber gone to pressure h'
    CPR

    I was sent home


    On me July 13th
    I might have arrived in 10.52 or before
    Found on floor at home
    Total internal and external dried, unable to speak, total paralysed
    CPR sky high
    Pottassium 1.3 ( 3.5-4.4)
    Laktat 2.0 (0.38-1.34)
    Blood pH 7.47 (7.35-7.45)
    pCO2 4.2 (4.6-6.0)
    Kreatinin 102 (45-90)
    Bilirubin 3.8 (5-25)
    WBC 11.6 (3.5-8.8)
    Liver all gone too
    Troponin over 800
    Blood pressure, zero - My heart started to fail there
    All shirt cut up and The acute so called silicon tube throat collar CVK survival throat feeding throat cut up and into aorta inserted - I was gone then. They did chest lung xray of the insertion but I have not the slightest memory of that or being High Intensive sent up and around entire 7 floors. By 21.00 o clock I had arrived up there. They had spent almost 10 hours downstairs trying to save me.

    By 21.00 My pO2 had started travelling on me too
    po2 10.3 (10.6-13.8)
    Chlorid 97 (100-110)
    Magnesium 1.8 (0.70-0.95)
    Blood pressure 124/79

    By morning 07.50 they had had to shut off the NaCl throat supplied IV fluids, since they had given me 7 liters into me too fast so instead got severe edemas in intestines, stomach, legs and so on.
    And besides fill ups started get throat supplied 'food' too, called KabiVen 1056 milliliters in pump with amount pumped in speed 30 millilitre per hour, ca only 700 calories a day.
    I am able to be contacted now, but are very far away, extremely tired and can't speak and from head to toes total paralysed.
    Ultrasound heart. Severly self life pumping left heart chamber, PA pressure highest 30 mm Hg. Irregular lung ventilation with lung perfusion.

    Day 3 my body is not responding to all the litres of pottassium they try to fill me up with, only up at 3.1 and I get the first staph blood poisoning indicating fever on high 38.1 Celsius degrees. They dismissed it.

    Day 4 moved to another room.

    Day 5 tossed away in the other not high intensive hooked up room, waking barely up, all gone again, now 39.5 Celsius degrees in rampaging super high blood poisoning fever. Entire only life and 'food' support throat tube collar CVK pulled out, and blood bacterias culture. Started direct on super amount IV antibiotic Cefotaxim and Nebcina before blood culture reply done. A day later that new high intensive had knocked it down in the blood a bit to temp 38.5 celsius.
    I was refusing to give up on my urine catheter too, in spite it being clogged up with blood too. Blood culture poison reply showed the staph aureus, sensitive responding to everything tested. Heracillin 750 mg antibiotics tablets also given.
    There they wanted to do a TEE heart gastroscopy xray to see up close better how the staph blood piosoning had bacteria spread to my heart. But I refused.

    I only had one thing in my mind anyway - Simba. Simba, my boy Simba. I have to go home to Simba, he has his radiactive iodine treatment appointment and have waited so long and can't miss it. He didn't either. Mama came home and got him direct in to his vet. Demanded a troponin test for him too first thing.


    From that I am still however not well fighting for medical care and follow ups but to my own surprise remarkably still ticking.


    But there is a bit comparative, and a Keep Fighting. Go Skinky!


    Gustav, Simba and their Ann
     
  57. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Laura,

    Sending prayers and wondering how things are going for you both. Let us know when you can. We're here for you.

    ((((Laura and Skinky))))
     
  58. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
     
  59. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    UPDATE. Well, she made it through another night. She is listless and a little depressed. Her eye greatly concerns me. Doc gave me OTC artificial tears ointment. Very unpleasant to use. He does not think she has an infection...that it is the pressure from the swelling pressing on her eye. the corner of her eye is red. I am going to pick up OTC artificial tears, to use as a "wash". I am very concerned about her eye.

    Let's see. the good news is she is allowing me (more or less) to syringe feed her the Hills AD. between last night and today, she has a little over half a can in her. I know this isn't much, but for her it is very good. If I go much more than this, she starts choking and stressing out. I'm trying to cause her the least amount of stress. I"m going to get more cat sure and mix some of that into it and I'm mixing the liquid fluc into the food, as she hates the pure syringe. I spoke w/ the pharmacist who said it is a little bitter. he offered to mix more chicken flavor into it. I just don't want it to be diluted, so I think I"m going to pass on that for now.

    I hear *less* rumblings in her tummy...until I try to get "too much" syringed food into her - then the rumbling and the very labored breathing begins again.

    The kitty sauna seems to be the best thing for her, I swear the swelling goes done in there, I continue to apply a little vaseline to the tip of the clogged nostril.

    I'm off to get the ringers solution for her.
     
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  60. Ann & Scatcats

    Ann & Scatcats Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009


    Half a can is very good

    Even if on nose inserted tube feeding on cats in Intensive
    they start food tube low here, like say calculated a whole 1 can of some emergency tube food, like optimal end 100 % amount
    But sick cats can't handle that much at once, and pee and poop out ability has to function and adapt too, input output
    So they start the first day with given 25 % of the amount food over a day
    Then as soon as cat can handle it raise to given 50 % amount food over a day
    Next step raise is 75 % amount food over day
    This kept up until the cat can take the entire optimal 100 % day amount food


    So give Skinky hugs and kisses from us and a hug to you too
    And give her the level amount of food she can day handle, slow
    Same with the Subcutan Ringer. When giving her that, feel through her first so you feel through again for subcutan fluid slid dropping elsewhere, like edema creation. Some here have lots of subcut home giving Ringers experience, I hope they guide you more ahead with that.

    Hugs
     
  61. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Laura,
    I'm overjoyed to read your update, and that Skinky's eating a bit better. She's so brave! :)

    I'm beyond glad to hear that both of you seem to be getting on better with the assist feeding and that Skinky's tum isn't rumbling so much. I've never had to syringe-feed so I don't know much about the technique or signs to look for from the kitty being fed. I have read that little and often is the way to feed.

    Fingers and paws crossed that the artificial tears will soothe her eye.

    Sending soothing vibes for Skinky and more prayers for you both. Will check back here for updates later.

    ((((Laura and Skinky))))
     
  62. Deborah & Shasta

    Deborah & Shasta Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2012
    Still praying for both of you!!! Happy to hear you got some more fuds in her. She sure is a fighter. Give her some pets and scritches from me and don't forget to take care of yourself, too! Praying that the meds kick in and help her feel better.

    Eat your fuds, Skinky!!
    [​IMG]
     
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  63. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    Skink is doing a little better tonight. Yay! If I posted a few hours earlier, I would've probably said she's doing worse. We torture each other like that. Between yesterday and today we were able to pretty much get through one whole can of food, which was mixed a little bit with cat sure. Today, her stomach rumbled less. She still hasn't pooped in 2 or 3 days.

    Some questions/advice:
    • would it be too much to mix a little pumpkin in with my Hills AD/Ensure to give her some fiber?
    • kitty sauna works best for her. Is this negating any positive impact from the Sub Q fluids?
    • i just got an email from the vet mobile. they now have an online pharmacy, so i'm hoping that I can get a few items, hopefully w/o schlepping in. This is the place where we would have to wait outside for 2 -4 hours, and my girl can not handle that. Going to post a pic of Skink's eye - suggestions of what to request from the vet mobile would be appreciated. She had gentamicin (sp) drops before, but they didn't do much. Humane Soc. doc thinks it's all because of the swelling. In the corner of her eye near her ear, her eye is red.
     

    Attached Files:

  64. Ann & Scatcats

    Ann & Scatcats Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009


    I would leave out the pumpkin fibres for now in foods. Take it slow there, you are doing good already.


    Your Kitty Sauna, if I have understood right, moisture sature the air around here, in a home setting eqiuvalent to the er hospital oxygen cage. While they are in that one at hospital, they have very often both inserted nose feeding tubes, and IV ingoing tubes in legs, where the IV fluid Ringer types fluids are on IV drip speed given. sub cutan giving Ringers fluids is just the equivalent home thing then. Pitch that to the vet.

    On a real medical fact oxygen saturation and breathing fact, the skin is the body's largest lung. Since the body both take up oxygen from the air through it, all skin, and also let out what's the be rid out through oxygen through it. It is called ions, the ionic 'exchange' that goes on through all small molecyl thin tissues as the body skin and inside membranes and organ tissues.

    The sub cutan Ringers is then given in its larger molecyle fluid shape u n d e r the layer of skin, in a local sub skin body area, how far down into the skin layers that fluid is given, depends on the needle lenght then, and absorbed by the tissue around it inside then.
    I will see if I have descriptive picture somewhere in all anatomy med books.
     
  65. Ann & Scatcats

    Ann & Scatcats Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009

    The editing adding of the anatomy pics into the editing didn't work in that first, so bear with me and this "" ipad technology.

    Anatomy pic 1 - the respiratory system, sans all the largest lung the skin
    Only note in needle insertion caution, for sub cutans, and even acupuncture needles, is stay safe away from the lungs, since a needle easily perforate punch a tiny hole in the lungs.


    Anatomy pic 2 - The blood system, just a brief macro vein system.
    Finding the arteries and veins too before sub cutan fluid is important too, so by mistake the needle don't end up in the blood streams, if it is not adapted fluid for that.


    Anatomy pic 3 - The skeleton. They are tiny our kitties, so micro small finger means on them


    Anatomy pic 4 - The skins layers and contents. An 0.8 millimeters short needle might end up just in Epidermis-Upper Dermis sub cutan layers. An 1.5 millimeters long needle perhaps in Upper to Middle lower Dermis.


    Anatomy pic 5 - Under the skin layers comes all muscle layers and fibro-fascias layers. Could be good to know how it looks.


    Do the pics click work? Perhaps printable too for you to have and look at at home.
     

    Attached Files:

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  66. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Laura,

    How is your little patient doing today? I hope the food is helping her to feel better and stronger.

    Sending prayers for strength and healing to you both.

    ((((Laura and Skinky))))
     
  67. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Also, I looked at the ingredients for Hills a/d canned food. It contains guar gum as soluble fibre. Hopefully that might be enough to help Skinky do her poops.
     
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  68. Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)

    Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Hi Laura, Every little step forward will soon become a bigger step. You and Skinky are doing very well. I know how concerned you must be about her eye, but it looks like the swelling will have to go down some for her eye to be more comfortable. Keep up the good work with the assisted feeding.
    Thinking of you today and sending lots and lots of prayers and healing vines for Skinky,

    :bighug::bighug::bighug:

    Ella & Rusty
     
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  69. rhiannon and shadow (GA)

    rhiannon and shadow (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2012
    Adding more prayers for Skinky. Did you get the ondansetron? It should have gotten there Thursday.

    One of the things I can get my cat to eat on her own when she's not willing to eat is an egg. She loves them scrambled and raw too.
    And that liver shake that you were given the recipe is also helped many kitties here. ( even if you can't locate all the ingredients)
     
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  70. phlika29

    phlika29 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2014
    How are you both doing today? Thinking of you and skinky and sending healing vibes.
     
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  71. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    Rhiannon - no not yet! maybe in today's mail. THANK YOU! I will review again for the liver shake recipe.
    :bighug::kiss::bighug:
     
  72. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    She's still very touch and go. I'm concerned about her eye, but I can see that it's the pressure/swollenness in the tissues around her eye. she can't quite close it all the way at night. She's definitely not worse than yesterday, so that is a good thing. But, without a doubt this swelling needs to subside. you can see she has a lot of inflammation near her eye socket...

    Thank you for the prayers. I do believe they are helping her.
    :kiss::bighug::kiss:
     

    Attached Files:

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  73. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Laura,

    Thank you for the bulletin. I hope the artificial tears help to keep Skinky's eye moist. I'm so moved by Skinky's spirit - she's so brave and such a fighter. :) You're doing a wonderful job nursing her, Laura.

    I'm so relieved that you're getting nutrients into your baby girl again. To save you having to dig around, here's the liver shake recipe again.

    Sending more prayers for strength and healing to you both.

    ((((Laura and Skinky))))

    .
     
  74. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    Thank you both for the liver shake! maybe i'll try that on sunday for her...
    Thank you!
     
  75. rhiannon and shadow (GA)

    rhiannon and shadow (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2012
    well... I'm pissed. I paid for express priority mail on the 13th with guaranteed delivery - tracking #
    EK552516411US

    it shows it made it to Albuquerque on the 13th..... and then there should be status updates.... there aren't any. They guaranteed it would be there yesterday by noon. The post office apologizes .... said it must have gotten caught in a bag.... so at this moment it is lost.... they will refund my $20 next Tuesday and they are hoping that it shows up in the system before then.
    But that doesn't help Skinky......

    I can send more in tomorrow's mail..... but with Monday being a holiday.... it's not going to get there for another 4 or 5 days.

    Hey.... Is anybody closer to her.... I can replace.


    I would hope you could explain to one of these vet's that ondansetron isn't a controlled substance..... and to please write you a prescription.... you want
    the 4mg pills because the 8 mg pills are annoying to cut into eighths. The generic isn't expensive.
    I'm going to get back my $20 for the express shipping and that should cover your prescription if you can just convince a vet to let you try it on Skinky.
    What ever the price of the prescription, I'll send it to you. I can even paypal it if you have an account.

    I hate that I'm too far away ....
    and that Skinky's not getting the help.

    sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh sigh and ARGH!
     
  76. Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)

    Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Bummer on the meds getting lost in the mail.:arghh: I'm hoping that by some miracle they will arrive tomorrow. Here in L&L we believe in miracles.
    Hang in there, Laura. I hope that Skinky is eating tonight and that you both will have a restful night.

    Hugs and scritches,

    Ella & Rusty

    p.s. The liver shake sounds repulsive, but many here have had success with it. Cats like it!
     
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  77. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    UPDATE AND QUESTIONS:
    I"m able to get more food into her. She's easily gotten 1/2 can into her so far, if i can get another little bit into her later, even better. And she pooped! I do think some strength is coming back, but I"m not sure if it's going to be enough. She has very labored breathing, thru mouth, often. Her tummy definitely rumbles less, so as someone suggested, maybe that's because now she is getting some solid substance into her. Her little body makes all sorts of noises really, tummy, lungs, mouth. She often does a strange little gurgling. Today, for the first time in at least two days she purred. :) However it's a disturbing purr, combined with I don't know what, if it's because of the partial nasal blockage that makes her purr sound strange?

    So two important questions related to her (possible?) diabetes. Since she was calm today, (she's not getting poked and probed and prodded as much) and since she had a lot of labored breathing, I took her BG. She had 316. I injected her w/ 1 unit. I'm a little nervous because this is only the third time I've injected insulin into her and I only have one strip left to do a reading.

    My questions:

    Where can I get replacement strips for relion in a pinch or are there others that will work with the relion? I do not have a car, live in nyc and we don't have a walmart.

    Diabetes: I've gotten mixed info from vet people.
    1.) One vet said to give her 1 unit of insulin per 24 hour period ONLY if she tests above 250.
    2.) Advice from vet mobile owner - not a vet but very informative and has dealt with animals in a medical capacity forever - said I should be administering the insulin continuously even if she tests under 250, until she tests low for a consecutive amount of time. This is how her body will learn to "regulate" the insulin
    3.) and another vet isn't convinced she has diabetes, that her sugars are elevated due to this infection.

    Her fructosamine was 534, reference range 142- 450

    Your experienced advice would be greatly appreciated!
     
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  78. BJM

    BJM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    Unfortunately, you generally need the strips designed for the meter.
    You may need to snag a meter locally someplace that carries strips locally.
    Pick one without Free or Tru in the name, as sometimes these don't do well on cats.
     
  79. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    Hey Rhiannon, I didn't even see this. I saw the other post about the meds getting lost in the mail, but I didn't see your post. Boy that was awfully nice of you. Thank you so much!! I"m kinda stressing out right now w/ the whole medication thing. SERIOUS stress headache now. I administered 1 unit of insulin and only have one strip left to monitor. although, i do have a real crappy back up bg monitor I can use.

    She seemed to have especially labored breathing, I tested, got 315 and gave her one unit. She seems fine now and I will test again w/ my one remaining relion strip in another hour or so...

    I'm trying to keep an eye on all of her drug usage, especially since she is still so frail. she's getting 35/40 units of flucazone, 12 mg of zeniquin, he gave her a shot of convenia AND cerenia. Her tummy is gurgling less, but she still smacks her lips, although less. I'm extremely ignorant with insulin and it hasn't been the focus of her issues from doctors. so my concern is how ALL of this will interact with one another. I wouldn't have given her the insulin tongiht, but she seemed to be breathing very heavy and she looked more out of it than normal, so when she tested over 300 I thought it could be a good idea.

    So, of the two vets I use, IF my doctor from the HS is there on Monday, I might be able to get him to call it in, but it probably wouldn't be till Tuesday. Even though they are opened on Sat and Sun, I can only get scripts/etc from the vet i'm seeing. The vet mobile doesn't do scripts, but I can sometimes pick up certain meds from them. They are only in my area two days a week, but tomorrow IS one of those days, so I can call them and see if they have ondansetron on hand to adminsiter. Can she have both the ondansetron AND cerenia in her system? she is gurgling less - i think it's because she finally has some solid food in her stomach...

    This was very nice of you. No wonder why the PO is going broke. idiots.
     
  80. rhiannon and shadow (GA)

    rhiannon and shadow (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2012
    I would pester that vet tomorrow and ask them to call within the hour.

    I just googled your address.... looks like you have a "downtown pharmacy " (212) 587-5252 really close to you on Beekman. ( less than a block)

    they probably have some other meters.... strips... since you are kinda stuck in your area.

    I'm sending you a pm.
     
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  81. Ann & Scatcats

    Ann & Scatcats Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009

    Great Rhiannon!
    Thank you
     
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  82. Deborah & Shasta

    Deborah & Shasta Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2012
    Laura, what kind of Relion meter do you use? This obviously does you no good right this very minute, but I just had problems getting test strips for my Relion Micro (same strips for Relion Confirm) and Carla mentioned this on my condo...

    Just thinking about the future...because she's going to get better and you'll need more test strips, eventually! (thinking positive!!!) :smuggrin: I haven't actually looked into those strips from ADW, but it might be worth storing that info away for future reference. Still sending you both lots of prayers...prayers of strength, comfort & healing!!! Keep eating your fuds, Skinky!!!!

    [​IMG]
     
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  83. skinky44

    skinky44 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2014
    i LOVE that picture! it's funny because everyone that knew Skinky...well...we all had a running joke that I'd be afraid to return home and find her on her back, kibble bowl empty, with some kibble dropping out of her mouth. This would be her preferred way to "leave", sort of the equivalent of an octogenerian dying while having sex with a 20-something. What a way to go.

    I think I"m going to go back to putting insulin injections on hold till she stabilizes more...

    Thank you for the continued good wishes and karma!
     
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  84. Ann & Scatcats

    Ann & Scatcats Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    Yes, Laura. Before we decide to start up with any new insulin, we first do a 3 days worth of ordinary baseline bg testings. Then we set that test testing up in here, since most here know, we have the summarizing background information, and you can have gotten enough new test strips for it all.

    You have that short fast baseline test hrs schedule I fast wrote in on the fb thread for this critical ongoing night, we can just copy over into here, and has as start base.

    But one thing first. We will be with you.
     
  85. Ann & Scatcats

    Ann & Scatcats Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    NOTE TO ALL, INCLUDING LAURA AND SKINKY.

    I've been with them all night with this 1 U Lantus insulin give tonight, on the fb part. Many have helped Laura in U.S too with PM's to her, and I've had her and Skinky in stereo eye fb and here at the same time. In checking back here, to why Laura also asked on fb, was as I could see that her insulin question above for tonight had not been replied here earlier. So we have had her and Skinky under close talk through and guidance watch, also Chris knows.


    So with our decision to get monitor through this 1 U night, day, that was my main night priority. And t h e n we zero the insulin and start anew in getting more daily bg facts as baseline tested before starting up with any new insulin.

    This is a critical 1 U hypo avoiding bg test schedule for tonight I quick set up to go by and copied over from fb just an FYI for all helping. But we tailor it better instead when we've gotten through tonight and gotten that under our belt as we usually say with all daunting tnew bg testing, insulin giving.


    'Laura, fructosamine 500 + and bg 300 +
    Start Low, Go Slow
    with the insulin
    You have given 1 U, test that frequent now spot checks like every 2 hour, like a bg curve
    Time of insulin amount
    + 2 hours after, a bg test
    + 4 hrs after
    + 6 hrs
    + 8 hrs
    + 10 hrs
    + 12 hrs

    Lantus has a 12 hour duration but can go steep dip fast low if 1 U was to much for first time, so keep very high carb as dextrose sugar, karo syrup, high carb food at hand if hypo low for instant feed

    Otherwise I feel 1/2 U every morning and night with 12 hrs apart is the better
    Even 0.25 U twice a day 12 hr apart actually to start with
    We start very safe'


    This I just copied and FYI'd so we don't lose tonight's worked up new learning and information.

    Laura and Skinky are so new and a dire case so I haven't been willing to start shove them around yet here and there on the site. We can determine that later were we move on to next. Trying to pace and go slow.


    Hope okay with all


    Ann
     
  86. I just want to make sure I understand before posting something inappropriate...

    Is the plan to not give any insulin after the shot she gave tonight?

    If so...
    I would never suggest someone withhold insulin without discussing it with their vet FIRST.

    NONE OF US are qualified to make that call, nor should we be advising that someone do so.

    @Chris & China
    Chris, I know that the FB page is a monster to try to handle. But "advising" is not supposed to happen there, at least not dose advising. Please, please, please try to encourage people to post "here" if at all humanly possible for peer-reviewed advice?
     
  87. phlika29

    phlika29 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2014
    Carl that is not how I read it. I thinks Ann's final suggestion was about reducing the dose if the 1 unit was too much last night to 0.5 unit every twelve hours or even 0.25 unit every twelve hours. Last night was the first time skinky had been given any insulin for quite some time because until the last day or two she had not been eating and had gotten mixed messages from the vet.

     
  88. "And t h e n we zero the insulin and start anew in getting more daily bg facts as baseline tested before starting up with any new insulin."

    Then I misread that?
    I confess, I didn't read through 180 posts to get here. What I saw was "stop giving insulin" to a very complicated and sick kitty.

    My concern about "facebook advising" still stands however. It isn't supposed to be happening. That isn't what it was created for, and nobody should be giving any advice there except "I strongly advise that you join the FDMB message board".
     
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  89. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    @Carl & Polly - I can see where you're coming from because I had similar concerns reading the thread, especially:

     
  90. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    @Carl & Polly - We cross-posted. I'm not very experienced so I'm very relieved that you picked up on what was worrying me.
     
  91. @Critter Mom
    I'm glad to see it wasn't just me that was worried. :)
    My kitty Bob (GA), went through DKA and almost died. And cost me a big chunk of my savings account before he got his first shot of PZI. Any time i stumble across "stop insulin", especially in a case where kitty has lots of other things going on, all i picture is "ketones" and all that can lead to.
    If you've never been to ketone hell, i hope you never come close. Anyone who has been there knows exactly what i'm talking about.
     
  92. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    That was my concern too, Carl. Because I've only got 8 months' experience of diabetes treatment, so I am very wary of even commenting about anything to do with insulin dosing, but I was really worried here and didn't know what to do or say.

    I am sorry that Bob went through DKA. Mercifully I've not had to deal with it, but I've learned enough here to fear it.
     
  93. Ann & Scatcats

    Ann & Scatcats Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    Don't worry guys. It's just a short memo. The whole night, for me, until 08.00 AM is covered in two pretty long posts on the fb page. That was just a few lines direct copied over by me before going to bed which Laura knows.
    More nastyness towards Laura happened in fb, by a hit and run stealth extremely nasty person, not at all having read Laura's entire case in here. That person got told by two of us how out-of-the-line-nasty that person was, that we had mutual FDMB friends and and should inform herself in the FDMB thread first before stealth nasty assualting in that way. That assaulting person then left the fb group.

    So overall, I was awake for 5 hours, hanging close tight to Laura and Skinky both here and in stereo there on fb until 08.00 AM this morning. My time. And just woke up now.
    So don't worry guys by a short direct copied out of fb context lines.
    We have to sleep. And then we start Anew.
     
  94. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Laura,

    I've been thinking about the above. Diet changes can cause gastrointestinal upsets under normal conditions. Changes need to be made slowly under normal conditions. As I posted before I have no experience of feeding the liver shake to a cat. However, I have been thinking about my experience with Saoirse. I know that Saoirse's problem was pancreatitis, but at the end of the day her digestive system was very upset. My vet advised me to keep her on a bland, very easily digestible food, which I did for quite some time. It helped to stabilize her.

    It's great to hear that Skinky is currently getting on with the a/d food - and pooping! I am wondering how a food change might affect Skinky at the moment. Assuming that she still keeps eating the a/d food, my suggestion would be to phone your vet for some advice before doing any diet changes.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2015
  95. Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)

    Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Laura, if you order strips from American Diabetes Wholesale you will receive them very fast. Which Relion meter do you have? If it is the Confirm or the Micro (both use the same strips), you can order Arkray Glucocard 01 Sensor strips from ADW. Here's the link:http://www.adwdiabetes.com/product/arkray-glucocard-01-sensor-blood-glucose-test-strips_4046_54.htm

    Relion is Walmart's brand name for the Arkray products. If you order from ADW today (Sat.) you may get the strips on Mon., certainly on Tues. They are very fast in getting out orders.

    I use ADW for all of Rusty's diabetic supplies. They have great deals. Please make sure you are using the Relion Confirm or Micro before ordering the strips I have referenced above. The other Walmart Relion meters use different strips and I don't know which of the Arkray meters correspond to those other Relion meteers.

    Good luck. Lots of prayers and good thoughts for Skinky today.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2015
    Reason for edit: didn't finish post last night: it got "lost".
  96. Ann & Scatcats

    Ann & Scatcats Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009
    image.jpg

    Good Morning Dear Skinky and Laura. This is me with one ipad last night and morning and newely awake now -:) We all have to sleep some too -:) I hope you and Skinky got some much needed for you sleep in the early morning too and that you are okay today too. I will have to go and sleep more, it became like a rough night. But this was to Greet You today too. Now we start Anew.
     
  97. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014

    I don't use Facebook. What happened? How is Skinky?

    .
     
  98. Ann & Scatcats

    Ann & Scatcats Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2009

    Dear Aine, we don't start that again -:) We just move on with keep focusing on Skinky and Laura -:) They are in one outer area in NYC. It's like 7 million people there in NYC, shitty public bus transportation system, horror subway system, trafic drivers who are crazy. Laura and Skinky are original from Boston. I've lived there too, been to horror NYC too. Well all over New England. Life is a bit more easier and not so stressful in towns outside of NYC if you or your cat is sick. At least don't take so long to travel between safe, secure home, vet places, pharmacies, food stores and so on for Laura and Skinky. My clock is 17.25 PM, and 6 hrs back for NYC from me should make it around Noon something for Skinky and Laura, with things they had to do for themselves today too. She will when she has the time come back. I hope they both get a lot of sleep too, they are working very hard -:) Lets just hug them and wish them all the luck and best for all their healing -:)
     
  99. If you are starting anew, it would be a fantastic idea if you would start a new thread on the Feline Health forum.
    You could link this thread in the first post so that people can see the history.
    And there would be more "eyes" to see it there.
     
  100. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Hi Laura,

    Keeping you and Skinky in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you are both doing OK.

    ((((Laura and Skinky))))
    .
     
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