Deanna & Billie
Very Active Member
Last condo: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/5-29-billie-amps-378-5-194-pmps-231-2-5-209.196261/
Hello all!! I can't believe I haven't checked in since May. Billie is still here, alive and well!!
When I last posted, we weren't sure what to do about her elevated liver enzymes. The IM vet had recommended chlorambucil but I was hesitant to try it.
I did end up trying it very briefly after her liver enzymes continued to rise, but Billie did not do well on it. It made her lethargic and nauseous, even with cerenia and cypro. So, we stopped that because it became a quality of life issue. She had continued to lose weight and seemed unwell.
Her IM vet then suggested something she called "out of the box," sort of a last ditch effort with the understanding that we would likely have to make a difficult decision soon if things continued to decline. She suggested mycophenolate, which is an immunosuppresant used most commonly in humans to prevent organ rejection after transplants. It is used in dogs, but rarely in cats, although the limited research that exists is favorable. I figured we had nothing to lose, so why not try it.
She has been on it for about 6 weeks....and she is doing unbelievably well. I'm seeing a Billie I haven't seen in years. She had been losing weight steadily since 2015...but she gained an entire pound in a month!!! It's an absolute miracle. I can tell that she feels great. She has been trotting around the apartment. She has been eating well, which she had been for the most part, but now she's actually putting weight on as opposed to eating and eating but losing weight.
I don't know if it's helping her liver or if it's too soon to tell; her liver enzymes are still elevated. But, it's clearly helping her in general, and that's more important than numbers. I'm wondering if it's reducing intestinal inflammation from her IBD, and therefore she's absorbing her food better and gaining weight.
I'm astounded by this turnaround, which came at a time when I didn't think a turnaround was possible. I know how lucky we are.
Thank you all for all the vines along the way! They really do work.
Hello all!! I can't believe I haven't checked in since May. Billie is still here, alive and well!!
When I last posted, we weren't sure what to do about her elevated liver enzymes. The IM vet had recommended chlorambucil but I was hesitant to try it.
I did end up trying it very briefly after her liver enzymes continued to rise, but Billie did not do well on it. It made her lethargic and nauseous, even with cerenia and cypro. So, we stopped that because it became a quality of life issue. She had continued to lose weight and seemed unwell.
Her IM vet then suggested something she called "out of the box," sort of a last ditch effort with the understanding that we would likely have to make a difficult decision soon if things continued to decline. She suggested mycophenolate, which is an immunosuppresant used most commonly in humans to prevent organ rejection after transplants. It is used in dogs, but rarely in cats, although the limited research that exists is favorable. I figured we had nothing to lose, so why not try it.
She has been on it for about 6 weeks....and she is doing unbelievably well. I'm seeing a Billie I haven't seen in years. She had been losing weight steadily since 2015...but she gained an entire pound in a month!!! It's an absolute miracle. I can tell that she feels great. She has been trotting around the apartment. She has been eating well, which she had been for the most part, but now she's actually putting weight on as opposed to eating and eating but losing weight.
I don't know if it's helping her liver or if it's too soon to tell; her liver enzymes are still elevated. But, it's clearly helping her in general, and that's more important than numbers. I'm wondering if it's reducing intestinal inflammation from her IBD, and therefore she's absorbing her food better and gaining weight.
I'm astounded by this turnaround, which came at a time when I didn't think a turnaround was possible. I know how lucky we are.
Thank you all for all the vines along the way! They really do work.
Keep us posted on how she's doing.
. If you have an openminded vet or an Internal Medicine specialist, I think it's definitely worth asking about mycophenolate. Many vets may not even know much about it, but you could ask your vet to research it and strongly advocate if you want to try it. I would suggest that for anyone who is dealing with IBD/triaditis (what Billie has)/anything immune-mediated and feeling out of options. I think more vets might be open to it, especially if you're at a point where it's a "last hope" kind of effort. 