Quick check-in from Paige and River in Chicago

Discussion in 'Lantus / Levemir / Biosimilars' started by Paigeworthy, May 4, 2020.

  1. Paigeworthy

    Paigeworthy Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2018
    Hey everybody,

    Looooooong time, no see. (Seriously — it's been since last April.) Hope you are all staying healthy and safe — both kitties and humans these days!

    Many moons ago, I stopped tracking River's BG quite as closely, and out of shame I subsequently dropped off the message board. I tend to make myself a little crazy over a LOT of things, so I let this fall by the wayside.

    River is overall doing really well. Her BG numbers are a little higher than I'd like, but she seems relatively steady. The real issue lately seems to be her liver. I took her for a socially distanced vet appointment last Monday (that was wild), and they did some standard blood panels and checked all her levels.

    I don't have numbers in hand, but apparently her liver levels have doubled since last time we checked them, and the vet (who I love) wants to put her on an antibiotic for three weeks then test her levels again to see if there's a biliary infection causing the additional inflammation.

    If it's not that, then we have to look at stronger treatments like steroids, which I understand can make the diabetes harder to keep under control, or prepare for her liver health to continue to decline.

    I'm worried about my girl. So I'm here to say hi and rest for a moment in a community of strangers who love their kitties more than life itself.[​IMG]
     
  2. SingsToCats

    SingsToCats Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2020
    Hi there!

    River looks awesome. I'm sorry to hear she's having problems with her liver. Have you decided what to do yet?

    Is her glucose more or less under control? I understand about not testing enough, my cat is starting to get really upset when I test him. I'm also really bad about not updating my spreadsheet. I have little pieces of paper everywhere with notes on them.

    How is River feeling? She looks like an energetic cat, I hope she still feels good.
     
  3. Noah & me (GA)

    Noah & me (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    Don't know how this translates to cats but we fostered a drooler who came to us half dead with liver issues. A course of antibiotics and whichever Royal Canin wet food was appropriate turned everything around. That's a pretty vague description but like almost everything if you catch it soon enough you'll have a better chance.
    Shame? We don't do shame here. Maybe a side order of humiliation, mortification, ignominy and abashment but certainly not shame. :rolleyes:
    Getting off topic here but until the above pic I never noticed that River could pass for Andy's sister. Look at the symmetrical stripes behind the eyes and the lines on his forehead.
    andy002.JPG andy013.JPG
     
  4. Paigeworthy

    Paigeworthy Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2018
    Oh sweet Andy!!! What a pretty boy.
     
  5. Paigeworthy

    Paigeworthy Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2018
    She is an INCREDIBLY energetic kitty. (Sometimes to a fault.) Her glucose seems to be hanging in the mid-200s daily, which I don't really feel like is "under control." But her appetite is healthy, and by all visible measures she is doing really, really well.

    @Noah & me (GA) Per your experience, I guess I will move forward with that recommended course of antibiotics and see where we end up. CATS ARE SO EXPENSIVE.
     
  6. Noah & me (GA)

    Noah & me (GA) Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    My vast storehouse of knowledge??? That was one time with a dog a long time ago but a month later his lab work was perfect.
    Wait until you spend three mortgage payments on an MRI and spinal tap all for nothing, that was painful. :banghead:
     
  7. Paigeworthy

    Paigeworthy Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2018
    OOOOF. Well, we spent about 2.5 months' rent saving River's life when she was first diagnosed. But I do maintain that was worth it.
     
  8. Bobbie And Bubba

    Bobbie And Bubba Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2015
    Ask your vet about SAMe for liver support. We used it for our dog for a month and his liver enzymes went back to normal. I think it can be used with cats too?
     
    Paigeworthy likes this.
  9. Paigeworthy

    Paigeworthy Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2018
    @Bobbie And Bubba River has been on Denamarin, which contains SAMe, for a year! She's already hopped up on it, ha.
     

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