8/22 Billie AMPS 341 +5 157 Mycophenolate, weight gain, all good news

Discussion in 'Lantus / Levemir / Biosimilars' started by Deanna & Billie, Aug 22, 2018.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Deanna & Billie

    Deanna & Billie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2014
    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.
     
  2. Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA)

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

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Hi Deanna,
    This is an amazing story! It's great that Billie is doing well. We all want to believe in miracles, and you and Billie are actually living one! Keep it going, Billie. :cat::cat:

    :bighug::bighug::bighug:s to you and scritches to your brave, beautiful girl,
     
    Deanna & Billie likes this.
  3. carfurby (GA)

    carfurby (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2012
    That's wonderful. I'm glad Billie is feeling so much better. I hope she keeps feeling better. Sending prayers.
     
    Deanna & Billie likes this.
  4. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2013
    Hi Deanna. I’ve been thinking of you and Billie lately and even tried to find your ss without success. I’m glad she is doing okay. It sounds like you have a fantastic vet!:bighug:
     
    Deanna & Billie likes this.
  5. Wendy&Neko

    Wendy&Neko Senior Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    Great news that Billie is responding well to an unconventional approach. :) Keep us posted on how she's doing.

    Should you ever have to try chlorambucil again, try ondansetron for the nausea. It made a huge difference for Neko, much better than Cerenia.
     
    Deanna & Billie likes this.
  6. Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey

    Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2011
    Hi Deanna!

    I was so excited to see a Billie condo today. I'm recovering from surgery and don't get on the Board much, but I do try to scan for "old friends" when I do. I'm so happy to hear you have found something that helps. Your vet sounds like a gem - so many would just have given up after the Chlorambucil debacle. Three cheers for her, and for you for being willing to try it.

    I'm sending loads of vines to keep Billie doing well.
     
    Deanna & Billie likes this.
  7. Deanna & Billie

    Deanna & Billie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2014
    Thank you all so much for visiting!!! :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug: Billie is so happy to hear from all her friends. I read all of your posts to her while she enjoyed a tall mug of water (quite literally...she now only drinks out of mugs...specifically, a set of fancy mugs with dragons on them that DBF's parents gave us :cat: I don't remember how it started, but she won't drink out of bowls anymore as of a few weeks ago. She insists on dragon mugs, so she gets dragon mugs!)

    We really do have an amazing IM vet! I am so grateful for her. When she met Billie (in January), she told me, "she's a mess" but she dove in to try to help her. If it wasn't for her getting creative with options, we wouldn't be here. I remember asking her if she had any magic pills, and she actually found some. Also...she complimented how well-managed Billie's diabetes is, which is absolutely thanks to everything we've learned here! I will definitely keep you all posted on how she continues to do. I'm hopeful that her liver enzymes will come down, but moreso, just happy she's happy and gaining weight. There's a whole extra pound of Billie!

    @Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey , We wish you a pleasant and speedy recovery from surgery! Sending lots of vines your way:bighug: :bighug:
     
  8. Phoebes (GA)

    Phoebes (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2017
    Wow this is an amazing thread. I am just starting Phoebe on the chlorambucil first pill today and @Wendy&Neko made me aware of your little miracle. My DH and I were just saying after 2 weeks and we don't see an improvement it will be pts time. She's just wasting away to nothing. You give us hope. Thank you for that. Good luck on your further adventures with your extra kitty!! :)
     
  9. Deanna & Billie

    Deanna & Billie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2014
    @Phoebes I'm so sorry to hear that you're going through something similar with your baby. It's so hard :(. 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.

    Billie couldn't tolerate the chlorambucil, like Wendy said. She was on pred first which we managed by increasing her insulin dose, but the pred put her into congestive heart failure (which she luckily survived). She hasn't had any side effects at all with the mycophenolate. She doesn't even need the arsenal of cerenia and cypro that she was taking before.

    If you have any questions, let me know!! I hope you find something that helps your kitty, whether it's the chlorambucil or something more out of the box :bighug::bighug::bighug:
     
  10. Phoebes (GA)

    Phoebes (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2017
    Holy moly!!!:nailbiting::nailbiting: I did not know it could do that! Well kinda glad she didn't give her that then for now. She has IBD and right now her lymphocytes are thru the roof and she has anemia. We are trying the chlorambucil then headed back for a cbc to see if they are going down in a couple of weeks. I am hoping she tolerates it. Thank you for the well wishes, and I might just take you up on your offer. :)
     
  11. Deanna & Billie

    Deanna & Billie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2014
    @Phoebes Billie has a history of heart issues, so the pred wasn't a good choice for her. Her cardiologist did an echo right before she started it and cleared her to be on it because her heart looked totally normal. But, it didn't go well! The pred did help her triaditis a lot even in just two weeks, though. If your kitty doesn't have heart issues, it might be worth a try for her. Some vets are hesitant to prescribe it to a diabetic cat, but insulin dose can be adjusted around the pred.

    Sending lots of vines your way for IBD healing and great bloodwork!! Your kitty is lucky to have you fighting for her :bighug:
     
    Phoebes (GA) likes this.
  12. Wendy&Neko

    Wendy&Neko Senior Member Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    Neko was on budesonide instead of prednisolone, because her heart could not handle pred. Budesonide's effects are localized to the gut.
     
    Phoebes (GA) likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page