5/30 Darcy AMPS 241

Suzanne & Darcy

Suzanne & Darcy

Member Since 2020
Happy Sunday, every one. I hope all of your kitties will have a good day. Darcy is doing okay today. He was just meowing for food (he's had all his meds). I think he's really meowing for me to give him some kibble, but he got canned food. I can't seem to pursuade him to eat the non-renal foods anymore (maybe because one of them is tuna? not my favorite for him to eat every day). @Tina Marie and Jan I got some of the Nordic Naturals Omega oils that you recommended, and he eats it in his food just fine (so I don't have to squirt it into his mouth.) Thank you.

We are supposed to go back on Wednesday for a recheck of blood work. I am getting really nervous and may not go. I may postpone it for a few day or into next week. I am afraid of getting bad numbers and I just can't take that right now. I need to have hope. I'm thinking it could be too soon, anyway, to show significant differences (11 days.) I mean, what am I going to do differently than what I am doing now? Nothing that I can think of -- unless his HCT had dropped really low we might start ESA injections, but I don't think that is happening because of the way he is acting... I don't think he's dropped into super anemic territory. I think he's getting better, but the bloodwork may tell me otherwise... and then I would go into a deep depression.

Rambling...

yesterday's condo:https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/thr...ing-to-get-back-on-track.247982/#post-2797069
 
Meowing for food is a great thing! Yay, Darcy! If he seems to be acting fine, checking off a few Ps, I don't see why you couldn't put off the bloodwork. Your QoL matters, too, cat mama. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
PerfumedCatMom said:
Meowing for food is a great thing! Yay, Darcy! If he seems to be acting fine, checking off a few Ps, I don't see why you couldn't put off the bloodwork. Your QoL matters, too, cat mama. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
Click to expand...
He is purring. Definitely grooming. Happy Dancing (goes with purring). Snuggling. Pooping not so good today or yesterday. Playing not really. If I got his ribbon toy out, I think he might.
 
I don't blame you for your fear of more testing. You have had enough bad news to last a lifetime. I do wish he was eating better. Have you ever tried the Fancy Feast Classic Pates with Darcy? I know they are not the best food but Susie loves them and she eats them and they are so easy to get just about anywhere. Maybe Darcy would too. When Susie had the high ALT readings (and others) for several months, and we did not know what was causing them, it was very distressful for me. But, I looked at her behavior and she seemed just fine. I finally decided not to stress about it because my vet could not pinpoint what the problem was. I put her on milk thistle and I really think that was what drove the number down. Who knows? I do know that you do the very best for your Darcy. I do know he has extra medical concerns. But, like Katherine said, your quality of life matters, too. Put off the blood test if he is acting happy and eating pretty well. Hope this doesn't sound cavalier. We do the best for them but it is not always in our hands.
 
Nice to see a little spot of blue today. Purring and grooming is really good too. Whenever I considered going to the vet for more testing, I always asked myself what I would do differently with the data. Good luck with your decision. :bighug:

@Summer and Susie All of the Fancy Feast Pates are very high in phosphorus and not suitable for kidney kitties. Darcy has kidney disease so Suzanne has to stick to low P foods.
 
Very glad to hear Darcy is having a better day, especially meowing for food!

And I totally know and empathize with the feelings of, "I don't know if I can take bad news right now". Sometimes, there's just a part of me that doesn't want to know. I'm both eager for and dreading Fred's virtual specialist appointment. I want to know why he's so tough to regulate, but I DON'T want to know it's something horrible. I know that a diagnosis or result is the first step towards starting or continuing treatment, but boy oh boy, it is a hard Band-Aid to rip off.

As @Wendy&Neko said, maybe just think about what you would do with the data or results if you have them. If the answer is, "nothing too different", then perhaps you can save yourself some mental angst and just enjoy the purrs and the love for right now. But it's a tough call, and I totally, totally get it.

And as my DH is always saying to me, "You know, it could actually be GOOD news, sometimes". (though I don't listen to him...lol)

Hang in there...again, so glad you had your outing, and Darcy is having a good day.
 
@Purrberry Odd as it sounds, I was somewhat relieved when I got Neko's IAA and acromegaly diagnosis. It meant then I could focus on how to treat instead of worrying "why"?
 
Purrberry said:
Very glad to hear Darcy is having a better day, especially meowing for food!

And I totally know and empathize with the feelings of, "I don't know if I can take bad news right now". Sometimes, there's just a part of me that doesn't want to know. I'm both eager for and dreading Fred's virtual specialist appointment. I want to know why he's so tough to regulate, but I DON'T want to know it's something horrible. I know that a diagnosis or result is the first step towards starting or continuing treatment, but boy oh boy, it is a hard Band-Aid to rip off.

As @Wendy&Neko said, maybe just think about what you would do with the data or results if you have them. If the answer is, "nothing too different", then perhaps you can save yourself some mental angst and just enjoy the purrs and the love for right now. But it's a tough call, and I totally, totally get it.

And as my DH is always saying to me, "You know, it could actually be GOOD news, sometimes". (though I don't listen to him...lol)

Hang in there...again, so glad you had your outing, and Darcy is having a good day.
Click to expand...
Hey, Kathleen. I like your husband's thoughts... it could actually be good news. The real issues is that I am not convinced that it isn't just a little too soon to see any progress. Of course, I will be devastated if things are a lot worse. Enjoy the vacation!
 
Summer and Susie said:
I don't blame you for your fear of more testing. You have had enough bad news to last a lifetime. I do wish he was eating better. Have you ever tried the Fancy Feast Classic Pates with Darcy? I know they are not the best food but Susie loves them and she eats them and they are so easy to get just about anywhere. Maybe Darcy would too. When Susie had the high ALT readings (and others) for several months, and we did not know what was causing them, it was very distressful for me. But, I looked at her behavior and she seemed just fine. I finally decided not to stress about it because my vet could not pinpoint what the problem was. I put her on milk thistle and I really think that was what drove the number down. Who knows? I do know that you do the very best for your Darcy. I do know he has extra medical concerns. But, like Katherine said, your quality of life matters, too. Put off the blood test if he is acting happy and eating pretty well. Hope this doesn't sound cavalier. We do the best for them but it is not always in our hands.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Summer! I think he likes those foods... I may even try them except I will have to take into consideration the phosphorus -- I can use binder or may not need to depending on how well the niacinamide is working. Instead of using Aluminum Hydroxide, I am trying 50 mg. of niacinamide (vitamin B3) on him. It did seem to bring his blood phosphorus levels down quickly. That may be why I want to go ahead and do the testing this week. I don't want his phos. to drop dangerously low either! He was high, I started binders... it dropped too low... I was advised to back off on binder... it went up... I started niacinamide and it was at a very good level (the phosphorus, I mean). So we will see! Thanks for writing me, Summer. You've been so busy and I've been reading your condos... but I feel like a loser who has nothing to add to all of the advice that you've been getting!
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
I happy to hear that Darcy is having g a good day.
Whenever you decide to take him for labs I'm praying they have improved.
Have a nice day Suzanne ♥:bighug::bighug::bighug:
Click to expand...
Hi Diane! How are you and Tyler? I have been searching for your posts to see if you have posted a condo. Are you okay? What's been going on with you?
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Hi Diane! How are you and Tyler? I have been searching for your posts to see if you have posted a condo. Are you okay? What's been going on with you?
Click to expand...
Hi Suzanne, I don't post any condos since Tyler is in remission.
I'll just update his SS
So sweet of you checking up on me
I'm ok, same ole same olé lol
Tyler is doing good, right now he's pawing at me for food , he is relentless
Now the nails are coming out :p
Going to go feed him something before he gets too crazy
Thank you for reaching out.
I hope you and Darcy have a good night ♥:bighug::bighug:
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I mean, what am I going to do differently than what I am doing now?
Click to expand...
Butters's vet always asks this of me when we are discussing different options/tests for her. It's a great question.
On the one hand, Darcy's labs were only done 11 days ago and it doesn't sound like you have much emotional energy to spare:bighug:. On the other hand, if you are worried his P might be getting too low, then maybe you want to bring him in so you don't worry about that? Or maybe you can give less binder than you were giving to him before? Either way, I'm sorry he won't eat his renal foods but I am glad he is eating for you today!
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
what am I going to do differently than what I am doing now? Nothing that I can think of
Click to expand...

Lyla beat me to it! This is what I like about our (not so new) IM, she said the same in the first appointment. She doesn't like doing tests if she's not going to take any action on account of the results. And Lyla also had excellent words about your emotional energy. Sounds like you are afraid of the numbers not improving. Only you can know if you will get more stress out of not knowing than knowing! I have similar dilemma even with the BG. Sometimes I just want to judge based on how she is behaving and not have the numbers hanging over me.

And - reposting this from Minnie's condo as well!
You have my complete sympathy on this afternoon's R roulette...trying to be positive for you, at least it went down if only a little? Minnie had a stretch the other week of -37, 0, -141, +2 and +13...then finally -108. Truly is roulette. I hope he responds to this evening's R dose and the L was not a FS...I am certain you are already debating whether to get up in the middle of the night to test and give mid-cycle R. You are, aren't you?! FWIW I think you should just sleep. If he's high at AMPS, give him the R then.

It sounds to me that Darcy is feeling and eating well and you...not so much, right now. Genuine case of :cat::banghead:.

Hang in there. :bighug::bighug:
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Thanks, Summer! I think he likes those foods... I may even try them except I will have to take into consideration the phosphorus -- I can use binder or may not need to depending on how well the niacinamide is working. Instead of using Aluminum Hydroxide, I am trying 50 mg. of niacinamide (vitamin B3) on him. It did seem to bring his blood phosphorus levels down quickly. That may be why I want to go ahead and do the testing this week. I don't want his phos. to drop dangerously low either! He was high, I started binders... it dropped too low... I was advised to back off on binder... it went up... I started niacinamide and it was at a very good level (the phosphorus, I mean). So we will see! Thanks for writing me, Summer. You've been so busy and I've been reading your condos... but I feel like a loser who has nothing to add to all of the advice that you've been getting!
Click to expand...
YOU are never a loser. Even if you have nothing new to add, just knowing you are there for me is important. I did see all your "likes" yesterday. Thank you!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top