7/17 Bear Man Update

Last week: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=19440&p=192862#p192862

Bear man started his Darbepoietin (Aranesp) shots on Thursday. The vet gave 6.25 mcg, which is the max dose I have come across in my reading. He also got a shot of iron dextran. His blood pressure and PCV (packed cell volume) were checked before the shot. The PCV was down to .18, down from his hematocrit of .19 one week earlier, so that confirmed for me that we were doing the right thing by starting shots. His heart rate is still crazy high at 240 bpm.

I didn't expect to see results so quickly, but I *think* he is doing much better! He is venturing out of his bathroom bed and walking around the house a bit. This morning he is sitting in his old favorite bed in the den. I haven't seen him do that in weeks. I think he is churning out red blood cells in that sweet little bone marrow of his. I am keeping paws crossed for a nice slow and steady increase in PCV.

Unfortunately, the vet also had bad news in Emily's cytology report. Two of her suspicious masses are likely lipomas, but the third is a mast cell tumour. The vet is removing it on Monday. Due to her age (17) and renal disease, the vet hopes to do it under local anesthesia and light sedation.
Emily's report: http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bwg ... y=CInU7oMI

I am so thankful to everyone on this board who has sent vines, snowflakes, and words of support. My heart is filled with sadness for those who have lost their babies, or whose loved ones are going through difficult times. Please keep the blizzards (of red blood cells) coming for the Bear Man. Next week, we will be marking the three year anniversary of his diagnosis with diabetes.

 

((((((Linda))))) I am happy to hear that Bear Man is venturing out. Still sending blizzards of RBC's and prayers for the surgery next week. Many hugs and prayers to you.

 

So wonderful to see this update.
And always love big pics of Bear Man!!

Tons and tons of healing vines for Emily kitty and Bear Man!
cat_pet_icon cat_pet_icon cat_pet_icon

 

I am so relieved to hear that the meds seem to be making Bear Man feel better. So if I'm relieved I can only imagine your relief....

Sending healing vines to Emily and will be thinking of her and you on Monday.

:YMHUG: to bear Man, Emily, Teddy and you!

 

Love the picture. Makes me want to bury my face in his fur.

Sending blizzards of snowflakes and vines for increasing red blood cells for the Bear Man and continuing to feel better. That's so good that he has been wandering about the house and he went to lay in his old bed again.
Also sending blizzards of snowflakes and vines for a successful surgery for Emily next week.

You're a good mom, Linda...well, the Best, actually.

 

sending a blizzard for Bear Man and a prayer as well

 

Yeah for Bear Man, keep it up sweetie!

 

What great news that Bear Man seems to be feeling better!!! I love the picture!! :smile:

Sending snowflakes and healing vines for Bear Man and Emily.

 

Thanks for that huge and amazing picture of sweet Bear Man.
Now I can really out my face right up to my screen and kiss him all up.

Terrific news that he has left the bathroom and is enjoying some of his
favourite places. Very encouraging.

Still keeoin those prayers and healing vines and snowflakes and hope
all goes well for Emily's on Monday.

((hugs))

 

What an awesome Bear report!

I hope things go well for Miss Emily.

 

Snowflakes for Bear and Miss Emiliy. I'm glad to hear Bear is feeling better and is up and about. And vines for them to improve and/or recover quickly.

 

Hi Linda, Very good news about Bear Man. We'll keep the snowflakes and healing vines coming for him and for Emily. Enjoy the weekend with your fur family.

Ella & Stu

 

What a great report for Bear Man and a fantastic picture. He certainly is a looker.

Hope Ms. Emily responds well to treatment.

Prayers, positive energy, Reiki and white light on its way. (Hugs too)

 

I am sure you are feeling so relieved to see the Bear man coming around so quickly with the new meds; all of us are as well. I sure hope it's just a little taste of what's to come of even more improvement for the big guy.
It's so good to hear that he's out and about now.

I am hoping that all goes OK for Emily too; we'll be pulling for success for her as well on Monday.

 

OMG, i'm so happy Bear Man and his feeties are feeling better. If I was smiling any bigger, the top of my head would crack and fall off! :mrgreen: I'm doing the Charlie Brown/Snoopy dance in my head.

And because God/the universe (whomever) knows you need a break, I know Emily will do well on Monday.

Thanks for updating!

 

Sending hugs & loves, blizzards of snowflakes & miles of healing vines for lots & lots of red blood cells for the Bear Man.

Also here's hoping all goes well with Emily's surgery next week.

Hugs & loves & good Karma wishes to you & yours Linda.

Love the big pic of Bear Man, just wanna bury my face in his fur. What a doll.

Desi, Tinkerbell & the Gang

 

Hi Linda & Bear Man, so happy to hear he is doing better!! What a sweet boy! Sending blizzards of rbc's to u!!! Fingers crossed! Hugs & prayers!

 

the bear report sounds damn good to me! WTG, bear! come on, ya red blood cells -- do your thing and proliferate!!!

bummed about emily but hoping this is just a lil bump in the road and she'll be okay. (((LINDA)))

 

What a GREAT picture!!!! :mrgreen: that is such a great report for Bear Man....doing the things he used to do. That sounds really wonderful! I know you are thrilled to see that...and we are so happy to hear about his wanderings....
Sending continued snowflakes and healing vines to Bean man and wishing the very best outcome for Emily's surgery on Monday...sending blizzards of snowflakes to her too....I hope that goes well for her....HUGS for both of them and HUGS for you too Linda!
YOU ARE THE best!!!! :YMHUG: :YMHUG: :YMHUG:
And another hug for Teddy too! :YMHUG:

 

every time I see a picture of Bear, my heart melts. He is so beautiful. I know his eyes can't see, but he looks like he is one of those kitties who can look into your soul anyway.

I'm happy to read Bear's good news and I hope he continues to improve. I agree with Jackie, Miss Emily HAS to be ok because you deserve some good news.

 

Hey Bear man! It's me, your look-a-like twin - Mannie! I am glad that you are feeling better, and doing some of the things that you love. it makes me feel really good to read these things. Keep on truckin' buddy! We should hang out sometime soon. Love ya! ~~ Mannie

Nice to read Bear Man is feeling better - such good news. I am sorry about Emily - I hope all goes well with the surgery. Many healing vines and snowflakes from Mannie and me.

 

ahhhh... that picture just melted my heart! He is one handsome kitty boy...
Glad to hear that the new meds are working well!
Sending more prayers and gentle snow flakes your way..

Give that boy a scritch from us!

 

So happy to read your condo, Linda. It's great that he seems to be doing better. Still sending red blood cell vines!

I'm sorry about Emily. I'll keep her in my prayers. I hope the surgery goes well and she doesn't require more than the local.

 

It was so good to hear that Bear is making progress with the Aranesp. I LOVED the BIG photo - he is quite a handsome boy! Sending lots of healing vines and snowflakes your way, Bear!!

 

So glad to hear the update on Bear! Glad to hear the new meds seem to be helping. Sending a blizzard of red blood cells your way (not that I'd actually want to see that!)

Also -healing vines and a blizzard of snowflakes for your little girl Emily. Praying that all goes well with her surgery...

Take care, all of you!

 

Keeping Bear Man in my prayers and lots of GLOW surrounding him. It's a very encouraging update and I pray he continues to improve. Sending GLOW for Emily too. I am sorry you got some bad news and hope that the surgery on Monday goes well for her.

 

now this news makes me smile! i can only imagine how you must feel seeing him venture out on his own.
will keep emily close in thought. sending even more snowflakes, healing vines, and positive thoughts...

 

Aww....love that picture. I just gave that sweet Bear a big kiss on the head.
I am so happy to hear that he is feeling better.

I will keep Emily in my thoughts.

 

I was looking for your update after trying to catch up on health.
So glad he had a good first day of the Aranesp. GO Bone Marrow GO !!!!
He is such a looker. Thanks for the new pic.

Wishing Emily a successful surgery and fast problem free recovery.

Wishing you some ice cream to stay cool and to treat yourself :smile:

(((( LInda & Bear Man & Teddy & Emily ))))

 

Hi Linda-

What wonderful news that Bear Man seem to be responding so quickly to the Darbepoietin!! I know you were nervous about whether to start this or not...I am so pleased that he seems to be showing signs of feeling better! As I had mentioned to you earlier, Thomas also showed signs of feeling better on a similar drug. Subtle signs, but they were there. With Bear Man, the signs seem not so subtle!! Yay!

The new photo of him is gorgeous, as always. What an incredibly handsome guy he is.

As for Miss Emily, my thoughts and prayers will be with you. I will share with you that Thomas had recurrent mast cells which he had removed over many years...note *many* years......for him, this was a treatable condition, and did not interfere with his quality of life at all. He also had lipomas, and most times when they appeared we would remove both the lipomas or the mast cells. As he got older, and surgery posed more risks, we stopped removing them altogether and he did fine. Cats can 'apparently' do better with mast cell disease than dogs, from what I have been told. For Thomas, it was just another of his chronic conditions that he soldiered through. He had them for around 8 years as I recall. I hope that for Miss Emily, that they will not present too difficult an issue for her, either.

Sending snowflakes and vines to you all...I hope Bear Man continues to feel better each day...I will envision lots and lots of new red cells growing for him!

 

Nice Bear man report...so nice to read another condo where there is good news (just visited Caryl/Alex/Jackson's condo). Way to go Bear!! Sending healthy red blood cell vines your way!!
Keeping Emily in my thoughts and prayers. I hope all goes well.

(((((Bear & Emily...and Teddy & Linda too!!)))))

 

Blizzard of RBC for Bear Man, and healing vines and white light for Emily.

I'm glad the meds are working and that Bear man is feeling better already!! It brings a smile to my face.

 

Snowflakes, vines and prayers for Miss Emily and you today. (((Linda and Emily)))

 

I'm really glad to hear at least the early indicators for Bear Man are encouraging. I know the trepidation you had in making the decision to go with the shots in the first place, and hopefully this improvement will make the second round a lot easier to bear (no pun intended!)

I hope things go well with Emily's surgery and that the prognosis is good for her recovery. At 13, Quincy's a few years younger than Emily, but he has recovered amazingly well from his recent tumor surgery. Fingers crossed for both kitties to beat cancer!

Take care

 

So happy to hear Bear Man is doing well with the shots! Sending many red blood cell production vines - he can do it! :smile:

Keeping Emily in my thoughts too and hope all went well today.