09/12 Shmee AMBG 63, PMPB 108, bloodwork results in

Amanda & Shmee

Amanda & Shmee

Very Active Member
Previous condo

Good morning everyone.
Shmee had a "nicer" morning today, and let me test his BG without a problem. But.. something is still definitely wrong. Last night in the bed I had to move him and he really meowed a lot, and just right now he wanted to get on my lap but couldn't make it so I picked him up and more very sad meows. Ugh I can't stand this I want to know what's wrong so bad. Both last night and this morning he got a full Gaba in his food. He has been so hungry that he didn't even notice... (he normally does). The vet better talk to Dr. McCue early in the day so she can call me asap. I also woke up to the water bowl being almost gone and lots of litter around it.... because I think he peed a lot. It's hard for me to tell honestly but it does look like a lot. I did not give him the Desmopressin yesterday because he was so combative and moody, and I am almost positive that is why. He honestly wouldn't have even let me if I tried yesterday morning. Plus the vet said his urine looked well concentrated so he probably doesn't need it, but I was supposed to wait until she talked to Dr. McCue. So thank god he wasn't as combative this morning so I could give it to him. I hope that not giving it to him yesterday didn't do much damage since I started back up today..... I wish Dr. McCue would have texted and asked for an update these last few days but he hasn't. He is out due to a family issue. If he would have asked, I would have asked him to call me to get his opinion on this whole situation with his (stomach???) being in pain. But I have the bloodwork..... so I just need to be patient and wait for that today. PLEASE let there be some answers in that. I feel really horrible this morning, my throat head and stomach hurt and I am really hot as I type this. I think I am making myself sick. I cannot stand this. I am trying so hard to keep thinking of what everyone has said, that he has been through so much and he needs time to heal and balance his hormones. I am not a patient person. At all. I keep thinking this is all my fault. I did this to him. I know its for the better in the end. Its so hard to look at it that way but I have to try really hard to day because I have hardly done any work these last few days and I fear I am going to get in trouble at work for it if they catch it. Going to try my best to relax. Thank you all for being there for me.... this is probably the hardest thing I have ever had to go through and I don't really have close friends anymore. All I have is DH and you guys. Everyone here is so heartfelt and I know you are here with us. It is getting me through this.

Many vines to @Amanda and a Loudogg during their moving day, @Ana & Frosty, and @Squalliesmom <3 Hugs
 
Something else I keep forgetting to mention with everything else going on - he weighed 15.5 at the vet Monday, but when I took him in because he was in pain 5 days earlier he was 16..... the vet was not concerned at all and said it was actually good he was losing weight (I think she is still stuck on the diabetes thinking). But I swear in the beginning they told me losing weight should not be this dramatic. Confused. I know weight loss is a sign of pancreatitis. But he's still extremely hungry (on the Gaba though?). I swear to god if he has had pancreatitis from the beginning I am going to be so upset. The vet said if anything looked wrong with his bloodwork they would not wait for her (she is back in the office today) and they would call me yesterday, but when I called the tech on the phone said she didn't even know if the bloodwork was in yet.... so I don't even think they were looking out for it.
 
I really don't understand this waiting days for bloodwork thing. That would drive me up the wall. My vet processes the majority of testing in-house, so the most I wait for information is 45 minutes. Thank you so much for the moving vines! We can use all the help we can get! I really hope you get some good news today and Shmee starts feeling better. Sending you vines and hugs of our own! :bighug::bighug:
 
Amanda and a Loudogg said:
I really don't understand this waiting days for bloodwork thing. That would drive me up the wall. My vet processes the majority of testing in-house, so the most I wait for information is 45 minutes. Thank you so much for the moving vines! We can use all the help we can get! I really hope you get some good news today and Shmee starts feeling better. Sending you vines and hugs of our own! :bighug::bighug:
Click to expand...

I can't answer for Amanda but the labs were probably sent out because they need a specific test.

Myself I always ask for labs to be sent out as I don't trust the vets in house equipment, it's rather dated as the Dr said himself and they only do basic tests.
 
You have done a good thing for Shmee. I am sure you are right in thinking he is in some pain if he is being unfriendly towards you. TITAN tested positive for some pancreatitis before surgery, but they went ahead anyway. We had moments of self doubt yesterday, TITAN having hypos and looking so weak and feeble, and barely lifting his head to acknowledge us, and we felt so responsible for what we had done to him. But without some treatment, what would have happened to him? And if we get through this, Shmee and TITAN may have many years of happy life ahead of them. Stay strong. And good luck with the blood results.
 
With my experience, tests sent out take about a week to hear back on. I know it feels forever when you are anxious to figure out what's going on with your kitty.
:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
We are all in your corner and we know how much you care for and love your kitty.
:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Thanks so much everyone. Sorry it took so long for an update, I had my first quote today for my second job as the Disney Travel Agent (woo!) so it took a lot of time to talk to her and get all the info I need for the quote.

Dr. McCue texted me this afternoon after he talked to my vet. I finally got all the info entered into the SS. The t4 was low, .6 (normal .8 - 4) so we are upping his thyroid supplement to .35 twice a day (up from .25), which could be causing muscle soreness. He also said the pancreas test is slightly high, which can be affected by many variables and does not suggest significant pancreatitis, and he is expecting the thyroid adjustment to help. He also said Hypothyroidism (I assume the low t4 level?) can compound the pancreatitis and can explain the triglycerides, sodium, and hct levels, and lethargy. After looking at the bloodwork, the pancreas test looked much more than slightly elevated to me..... so I asked him about that and he said; "Markers of pancreatitis are not absolute and there is a disconnect from the PSL and fPLI values" and "pancreatitis is tricky and blood tests an over or under estimate it. I do not discount it, it might still be part of the big picture." (Great $90 test....:confused:) So.. overall he thinks he just needs more time, the thyroid hormones increased, and to stay on the gaba and cerenia. If he doesn't improve, we need to think about changing the formulation of meds (from liquids to pills), although additives can rarely cause a problem. I asked him about the very low cortisol level too, and he said he wants to take one thing at a time. He expects things should improve in one week. Ideally blood tests again in 7-10 days but can wait one month if he is doing ok. I CANNOT imagine taking him back in one week. PLEASE let him feel better with this increase in hormones..... He is traumatized enough.

I am still pretty confused by the pancreas numbers because the better test is extremely high..... but I guess it doesn't matter anyway because he said there is no definitive treatment.... ugh. I do not want him on this Gabapentin his whole life, he is so sad, mopey, and sleepy on it. I also do not want to add the cerenia pill back into the mix for the rest of his life.... I really hope he improves. For cerenia users - I know you said you use the shot. Does it sting your cats like my vet is saying? Is it much more expensive than the pills? He was only getting 1/4 pill every 24 hours.
 
So frosty has been taking 1/2 cerenia pill daily and he takes it by itself without food and he hasn’t had any problems. I know people have told you in the how horrible their cats reacted, but frosty hasn’t had any issues, so I just wanted to throw it out there.
 
You are doing good Amanda. And it sounds like Shmee is improving incrementally.

I like Dr.McCue's advice to look for progress in a week. Sometimes when we are around a recovering patient all day long, it may be hard to see improvement. If you were away at work everyday, then came home, maybe it would be more noticeable.

Hugs to you and Shmee. I hope he is getting some good cuddles tonight.:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Yes the cerenia stings. Putting it in the frig helps but it was the only shot that Phoebe screeched on. EcID. So I went with pills. They do make them foam at the mouth if not gotten all the way to the back. And was told it's very bitter. I just got the gelcaps and put it in one of those to avoid any issues. BIg hugs hun!! You are doing wonderful by Shmee! Have we heard how he got his name? :) is it from pirates
 
Amanda & Shmee said:
The t4 was low, .6 (normal .8 - 4)
Click to expand...
We like to see 1.5-2.5. 0.8 is too low to be considered normal. My civvie was overdosed when he was first diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and I could tell he didn't like being that low at 0.6. Did the doctor explain why he's not doubling the dose? Otherwise, I'm glad he's addressing all the issues the best he can. :bighug::bighug:
 
I tasted a cerenia - it's bitter.

I also tasted a prednisolone, and that is one bitter pill. No wonder Leo doesn't like getting it every morning. Too bad they can't put some kind of 2 minute coating on it.
 
I know what you mean about Schmee getting stressed out going to the vet. It's only a 7 min drive to my vet but Ravan hates riding in the car & gets so stressed out. He yowls all the way there.

It gets me very upset also. Last time I sprayed a tiny bit of Feliway on the towel in his carrier.It did seem to help calm him a little. Instead of getting used to being at the Vet, he's gotten worse. When they drew blood he struggled & yelled the whole time.
I dread taking him. I no longer bring him in for a urine test I collect the urine & drop it off.I'm even wondering if I could learn to draw the blood,it would save both of us from all the stress!

Any meds I give Ravan I put in a teaspoon of Baby food & add a bit of water & give it in a feeding syringe. He doesn't seem to mind that.

You need to take care of yourself also. Who will help Schmee if you get sick? :)

Take a few really deep breaths when you feel stressed. It always helps me to calm down. Our kitties feel our stress.
Sending you & Schmee Healing energy. :bighug:
 
@Amanda & Shmee

I didn’t see a condo for today and probably won’t be on tomorrow but Dr. McCue is spot on that the PRecision PSL is not as accurate as the specfPL. However, once you get over the abnormal range of the specfPL, the higher the number doesn’t mean the worse the pancreatitis. I also wonder if that test value is another that lingers even after the episode is resolved. I don’t think Gracie ever had a normal specfPL and yet she never appeared to have pancreatitis based on any clinical symptoms and based on ultrasounds...of which there were many.

The other thing is that the thyroid hormones, when not normal, can really make one feel “off”. I was lucky with m Gus because after he had I131, we put him on a very low dose of synthetic thyroid, like Shmee, and that was all he ever needed....he was stable. But I’ve seen others in the thyroid groups that it wreaked havoc in how the kitty felt until they were able to get the right dose. Same in humans. And add to the mix that Shmee had this major surgery.

I hope he will start to stabilize and feel better soon.
 
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