5/2-5/4 Billie - Thank you for the vines, home from the ER!

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/4-22-billie-amps-227-4-184-atopica.194526/#post-2176177

Hello all,

Billie was at the ER today due to jaundice. Her liver enzymes are significantly higher than they were 6 weeks ago, and her borderline anemia has progressed to mild anemia.

Despite all of that, she is eating very enthusiastically and acting like herself. I wouldn’t have even thought to bring her in if I hadn’t noticed her ears looking jaundiced. The vet tech remarked that Billie seemed happy and looked good, and she would never have guessed that she has so many underlying illnesses.

So, on one hand, her quality of life is still good. However, on paper, things look bad. Her liver disease, whether it’s inflammatory or cancer (we elected not to biopsy and vet said it could be either), is progressing. I’m very worried. He said we could hospitalize her and push fluids to try to get her bilirubin and GGT down, or take her home, keep her eating, and try steroids again. I thought she had some side effects with methylpred when she tried it a few weeks ago, so we stopped it, but maybe what I thought were side effects were unrelated issues. He didn’t think hospitalizing would help and thought it could do more harm than good, which I agree with. In general, he was not optimistic. I understand. I will always hold out hope; she has been known to make miraculous recoveries. But I just want her to be happy and comfortable for as long as we are lucky to have her here.

We are trying the methylpred again, and hopefully it will help. He also gave her subq fluids before sending her home because she was a little dehydrated. Since she got home, she ate what was probably an entire pork chop (doing homecooked food with premix) and has been sleeping on her bookshelf.

Something amazing has been happening for the past few weeks, and I think it means something...I have been catching the clock at :27 very often. 27 is my dog, Taffy’s number (her birth date). She was my soulmate, and she passed away a few years ago. I have been catching :27 so often that I started getting a little freaked out, wondering what she is trying to tell me. Now, I think it’s her letting me know that she is here to watch over and guide Billie.

Any vines, prayers, and good thoughts are much appreciated

 

Sending vines and recovery prayers for you and Billie

 

Oh Deanna, I sure hope Billie has another miracle or two left. If it is cancer, the pred might help so I’m glad you are trying that. Eating on her own is a very good thing. She’s fighting. Prayers and vines are being sent from Los Angeles.

 

So many vines and prayers....

 

Many vines and prayers.

 

Try to focus on the day at hand and spend time with Billie and not think about what may happen. I know it's not easy. Sending prayers.

 

Sending healing vines to Billie.

 

Thank you all so much

Billie is showing some improvement and some worsening today. Her respirations are better than they were yesterday...they had been elevated close to 40 and now they're close to 30. Her jaundice looks more pronounced, which worries me. Her appetite is stable. She's still enjoying her pork chops. Paws crossed that the steroid helps or at least helps her feel better.

Billie's primary vet got the report from the ER and called me first thing this morning to check in. He's the best. You're all the best too. Billie is lucky to have so many wonderful people rooting for her.

 

Vines for Billie...I like the thought Taffy is there to help when needed.

 

I hope she continues to improve. I don't know her history, but wanted to mention that there are supplements available for liver health in cats very similar to people. Have you thought of trying something like milk thistle to see if it would help her?

 

Sending more vines your way!

 

Adding Vines and more vines for you and Billie

 

adding lots and lots of vines and prayers....

I know what you mean about getting stuck on a number.
My first loss of a soul mate happened at 4:06 am.

This was back in 1981.
I wake up at that time.... or just happen to look at the clock and there it is. I don't know if it's a sign or just a brain thing. But it's happened for all these years.

 

Deanna, I hope that Billie will continue to enjoy quality of life. When her time comes, she and you will know. Taffy's signs are to be treasured: assurance that she is watching over you and Billie, and that when Billie's new adventure begins, Taffy will be there to show her the way.
Many prayers and vines for your girl,

 

I used to give Denamarin to J.D. It is for liver support. We used it off label to help with dementia and it seemed to help.
Sending liver healing vines to Billie.

 

Sending more vines for Billie.

 

Sending vines and prayers!

 

First, HUGS for you and headbutts for Billie.

We share a '27' - how unique. One of my 'soul cats', Hot Rod, crossed on 2/27/7 - he was my 'numbers kitty' - born 9/6/96. We adopted Snowshoe on 4/27/7 - he always went everywhere at a fast run and purrs louder than a Harley....I tell him he's '427' powered often. I notice 27's often.

More hugs,

 

I don't know how I missed all these lovely messages yesterday. Thank you all so much Your kindess is a great comfort.

We are unfortunately at the ER now. Billie's jaundice actually started to improve slightly today, and she has been eating well, but her respirations got very fast very quickly this morning. I'm worried that she is in congestive heart failure again. They are doing some x-rays in the back right now. This doesn't look good, but she's fighting.

I have to show you this so I know it's real...look what room we are in.

 

I just got goosebumps!

 

Goosebumps here too.

 

Sending vines.

 

Prayers, vines, and goosebumps here...

 

Goosebumps here too, for sure. Thank you Update from the doctor...he doesn't see any signs of congestive heart failure or any masses which is great news. He's wondering if this is a freakish asthma flare up. Wouldn't that be nice? I would be surprised since she's on Flovent and now pred, but it is allergy season. She's in oxygen and he's going to try a puff of albuterol to see if that helps.

 

Sending prayers.

 

Sending more vines your way

 

Sending lots of prayers and vines as well

 

Sending vines to you and your kitty.

 

Sending healing vines to Billie.

 

OH! OH OH OH! HUGS! MORE HUGS!

 

Hugs, vines, positive energy, loving thoughts heading your way.

 

Sending 27 tons of vines!

 

Many prayers and vines going out at 4:27 p.m. (Eastern time).

 

Thank you all so much!!!! I think the vines and prayers worked!!! Billie is home again. They really couldn't figure out why her respirations were so elevated. They took x-rays and had their radiologist review them, and all they saw was signs of asthma which she has had for years. No fluid, masses, or signs of congestive heart failure. I truly thought this was going to be the end, but she's still here! Their only thought was asthma flare up/allergic bronchitis, or bacterial bronchitis. They prescribed Clavamox in case it's bacterial bronchitis, but they said it's "a shot in the dark" so I'm not sure if it's worth giving and risking upsetting her appetite.

It was terrifying, though...I check her respirations regularly (helicopter) because of her past heart issues. They have been around 30 and were 32 this morning. Then 42 mid-day which is when I got concerned. Then up to 50-60 within 15 minutes. At the vet, they were 80-100. They went down from 100 to 80 with albuterol but stayed that high. Being in the oxygen chamber didn't seem to make a difference. The doctor (the same one we saw on Wednesday which was helpful) felt that despite the rapid rate, she was stable and taking in enough oxygen, so he recommended taking her home rather than hospitalizing her to minimize her stress. Now, she's resting comfortably on the windowsill, and her respirations are back to 36.

I'm relieved but also concerned and confused, because this has never happened before. She usually has coughing fits/asthma attacks during flare ups. But, it's possible that it's asthma. It is allergy season. I'm trying to think if anything this morning could have caused this, like any drug interactions I'm not aware of. She had methylprednisolone and Keppra in one gel cap, followed by Cerenia and Denamarin maybe an hour or two later. She of course got her insulin and Flovent inhaler as well. I double checked her inhaler and it seems to be working normally, although I'm going to throw it out and start a new one just in case it's bad.

I guess Taffy was just there for a miracle today, not to guide Billie. I can't tell you how cool and comforting it was to see the 27 I know she's there. The veil is thin.

Billie drank a lot when she got home but hasn't wanted to eat, so I will be bugging her shortly and maybe trying ondansetron and cypro. I made the famous Liver Shake for her when we got back, but she wasn't into it. I'll try again!

 

love light and healing

 

Good report!

 

Thank goodness, so glad Billie is home with you. Take care of both of you,

 

That’s it Billie. Keep up the good work. I’m sure that you know the steroids will make her thirsty and pee more. Not sure if they can cause rapid heart rate but it sounds like that was the only change.

I just looked on drugs.con and it is not a possibility. https://www.drugs.com/sfx/methylprednisolone-side-effects.html

This was for humans so may not be the same for cats. I’m guessing it’s not the cause.

 

@tiffmaxee Thank you!! That does make sense...it’s the only change like you said. The time frame also makes sense. I wonder if this dose is too much for her (2 mg BID). It should be about right, but if she metabolizes things slowly, maybe it’s building up too much. I do think it’s helping since her jaundice is looking better, but she needs to breathe, of course. Balancing act...I wonder how she would do on 1 mg BID. I’m scared to give it to her tonight, but also scared not to.

@Idjit's mom Thank you! That is important advice.

@Squeaky and KT (GA) So cool that we share a 27! And that your “numbers kitty” says hi to you in numbers. It’s so nice to know they’re there. Thanks for the hugs!!

@rhiannon and shadow (GA) Thank you for the visits and the vines!! Wow to your 4:06. I always wondered if it was a brain thing too...like if I subconsciously knew when it was a 27 on the clock and that’s why I looked. But then, something like the room number today happens, and I think otherwise Amazing that it has been happening since 1981.

@Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) Thank you for the vines and prayers at 4:27 and @Sienne and Gabby (GA) thank you for the 27 tons!!

 

I’d probably give tge prednisolone since it’s helping and rapid respiration is not listed as a side effect. It’s also supposed to help with asthma, right?

 

@tiffmaxee Right, so it should be doing her more good than harm. It surprised me that her asthma would be flaring up while on pred. But it’s also only her 5th dose coming up tonight, so maybe she hasn’t been on it long enough. The doctor said he saw the donut pattern in her lungs which is characteristic of asthma, so there must be inflammation there.

Now, to get her to eat!! Asthma flares can also reduce appetite, so that fits.

 

Good news about the respiratory. Sending lots of vines your way

 

my civvie Mulan was coughing like she was trying to pass a hairball. Took her to the vet who did x rays and then to an internal med specialist who said asthma. He called in a z pack to the compounding pharmacy and she was in it for almost 15 days. Repeated x rays and now all clear. Waiting to hear back from internal med guy he’s on vacation this week but seems like this bacterial asthma is real and can be cleared up.

 

I'm glad Billie is home with you. I hope you can get her to eat tonight. Sending prayers.

 

❤️❤️

 

More vines for Billie. I am glad she is home. I hope her respiration rate will be down to 27 soon.

 

So glad you're home, dear Billie. Vines for complete well-being.

27 is nine lives cubed.

 

Here is to Billie combating all her probs and sitting happily on her shelf for a good long while to come. She sounds a real trooper and so do you.
Just ask her to not scare the bejeezus out of you like that.
In . Out. In .Out . Regular like purrlease, despite allergy season wherever you are.

 

Hi Deanna,

Sounds like Billie has had you on your toes lately. I'm so sorry to hear about her problems, but it does seem like she's not ready to leave you yet. Remember to take care of you, as you take care of her.

Sending another 27 tons of vines, just in case Sienne's run out.

 

Deanna --

I'm assuming you've been giving the combination of meds for a while. The only thought I had was whether there's any indication of an interaction between any of Billie's meds. it may be a matter of separating some of them by a few hours. You're not cutting the Kepra, are you? (It's time released and shouldn't be split.) If most of Billie's meds are also human meds, your pharmacist may be able to tell you about interactions.

Also, you noted Billie has food allergies. Can you take a very close look at the labels on her food. Manufacturers frequently change the formulation of their food and unless you're reading the labels routinely, you never know when this happens. (They sometimes make changes and don't let us know, as well, given how poorly regulated the pet food industry is.) Perhaps keeping track of any changes in respiratory rate and what Billie is eating may help to figure out if a food allergy is the culprit. And if your weather is anything like ours, it's a miserable time for allergy sufferers.

 

To sort of tag onto Sienne's post above, I've figured out the hard way that almost all the food out there that has 'meat by-products' has fish in it. Bebo, one of my asthma/allergy kitties has an anaphylactic flare when he eats fish. It presents with coughing and fast breathing. I long ago cut out all food that labels fish (almost all of them even chicken, turkey, etc!) and he still had 'whooppies' as hubby calls them. Changed to a limited ingredient that doesn't have meat by-products, helped it so much! Doc gets diarrhea when he eats fish - didn't realize that was the issue with him too until this food change. Might try cutting out food with meat byproducts and see if it helps...

HUGS!

 

@Sienne and Gabby (GA) good ideas. I think she’s said she’s cooking Billie’s food. Drugs.com has a interaction checker in addition to checking with your vet.