Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Lita today.  It's been  long time since I've been a long the blog.  Did you miss me?

Last week, I went to the vet for my sixth Convenia injection.  So I finished the course my Internal Medicine vet recommended for me.  While I was there, I got some blood work done because I have been urinating a lot and the Mom was concerned about my kidneys.  I was overdue for my annual blood work anyway, so the Mom thought it was important to get done in any case.  Our vet was nice enough to set up a payment plan with the Mom so I could get the bloods taken.

The Mom was a nervous wreck when they took me to the back because since I was traumatized a couple of years ago, I have been very terrified of "the back."  The vet tech assured her that she would come get the Mom if I got upset.  The Mom really trusts these people, so that made her feel a little better.  

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Lita today.

It was really cold here over the weekend.  The apartment got just a little chilly (it is usually very hot in here even in winter without the heat on!).  So the Mom thought I might like a fleecce blanket on me to help me stay warm.  I usually don't like blankets on me, but I didn't mind last night.

Last week, I went to see the vet and got another antibiotic injection.  This was my third antibiotic injection.  We know there are many people who do not agree with giving the Convenia injection, and the Mom says she will only use it as a last resort.  

The first injection I got reduced my coughing about 15%.  The second injection I got reduced my coughing about 90% for about 10 days, but then my coughing got worse again.  This third injection hasn't helped nearly as much as the second one did, but it has reduced my coughing a little.  

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Lita today.

I know the Mom told you about how sick I've been lately last week.  I still feel crummy, but I wanted to come and say thank you for all the purrs, prayers, love, and hugs you all have sent me.  We really appreciate all of you so much!

I have been taking this nasty-tasting pink stuff called Amoxicillin since last Thursday.  If my fur looks disheveled, it's because I spit some of my medicine out on my fur, and then I like to shake my head and get some of it all over me when the humans quit fussing over me at meds time.  

Despite my best efforts, though, I am getting plenty of the gross medicine.  

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today.

I know it has been a long time since I posted on here, hasn't it?  I thought it was about time I posted an update about me. 

After I wrote this post, I started taking Tramadol for my leg.  Being pilled twice a day was really upsetting me, though.  To the point where I would hide under the Mom's bed for hours and hours afterward.  The Mom didn't think it was helping any more than the gabapentin, so she talked to the vet, and they decided to put me back on the gabapentin.  While I hate the taste of that liquid, I don't hide afterward.  Since the 0.8ml twice a day wasn't doing a whole lot for my leg, the Mom and the vet decided to try me at 1ml twice a day instead.  

I also won an Assisi Loop from our friends over at The Conscious Cat.  The Mom is trying to get me used to it slowly.  She hopes it will help my leg pain.  

So what have you all been up to lately?  Please share with me in the comments!

Milita's Monday: An Update on the Mom

Hi everyone, it's Milita!

Thank you all for all the good wishes, nice thoughts, healing purrs, and hugs for the Mom's surgery.  Her surgery was last Wednesday, and me and Carmine knew something was up because the Mom was leaving the apartment even before the sun came out!  She had to leave at 5:45am so she could get to the hospital and check-in at 6:30am.  The Mom says she doesn't know why they wanted her there so early because they had her waiting in the waiting room for an HOUR before they took her back to the pre-op area.  Then it was another hour or more before they took her back to the operating room.  The Mom said she did not get scared until they said they were taking her back to the operating room, but they gave her "happy juice" before they told her that, and it kicked in fast.  The Mom says she doesn't even remember getting to the operating room, MOL!!  It sounds like the stuff the vet gave me when I had my heart ultrasound.

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Lita today.  I thought you all might be missing me since it's been so long since you've seen my beautiful face on the blog.

Do you recognize this bed?  It is Carmine's heated bed.  I have been stealing it from him a lot lately, and he is too nice to kick me out, even though he gets annoyed that I stole it, MOL!  

I am still having some struggles with my asthma.  I have not been feeling the best the past few days.  The Mom says she may be taking me to the vet if I do not perk up soon.  So I better go and get some rest so I don't have to go there!  

Milita's Monday and a Gotcha Day

Hi everyone, it's Milita today!

Today is Carmine's Gotcha Day!  Please be sure to wish him a happy day, okay?  

You are probably wondering why I am posting on Carmine's Gotcha Day, right?  Well, to be honest, the Mom forgot today was Carmine's Gotcha Day.  She only realized it when she was looking at her Facebook memories, MOL.  Isn't that awful?!  If I were Carmine, I'd make her feel very guilty about that.

I wanted to give everyone an update about me.  

I have continued to struggle with my asthma.  I have at least one asthma attack a week still (last week, I had two).  The Mom says some of my struggles have to do with the fire we had in the building a couple of weeks ago and from the fire in Canada, but she still doesn't like me struggling so much.  The fire here was two floors above us and on the other side of the building.  Nobody was hurt, but many of our neighbors on the other side of the building got flooded from all the water they had to use to put the fire out.  In fact, there are still very noisy fans in the hallways trying to dry out the floors, and some people even have them in their apartments!  

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today!

A lot has happened since the Mom's last update about me.  

I continued to have asthma attacks nearly everyday, so the Mom called the cardiologist/lung specialists at VRCC where I had my heart ultrasound and asked them for suggestions.  The specialist recommended the Mom start me on Terbutaline again.  The Mom already had some (unexpired) Terbutaline from the last time I was on it, so she started me on it right away.  She also updated our regular vet about the medication change.

It only took a couple of days for the medication to start working, and I have not had any asthma attacks since Tuesday!  I really don't enjoy getting six pills a day (Prednisolone, Terbutaline, and Doxycycline - each twice a day), but the Mom is glad that all the medicine is helping me, and I am glad I am feeling better, too.

The Mom noticed that I seem to go into the pink cube when I feel crummy.  She says she likes it more than me hiding under the dresser, but it always makes her sad when I don't feel well.  I haven't been in the pink cube in about five days now, and that makes the Mom very happy.  I have even been out in the living room helping the Mom with whatever she is doing more often, which really makes her smile!

The Mom is trying to find where to purchase reasonably priced Flovent inhalers for me.  Dr. M, the specialists at VRCC, and the Mom all want to try the inhaler with me so that they can (hopefully) get me off the Prednisolone.  The Pred doesn't seem to be helping me as much as it used to, and they are all afraid of the risk of Diabetes for me.  I don't much like the sound of an "inhaler," whatever that is, but I don't think I have much choice in the matter.

FUNDRAISER FOR MILITA'S MEDICAL BILLS

By the way, we are still fundraising for all of my medical costs, including my chest x-rays, heart ultrasound, and medications.  If you would like to, you can donate to my medical costs HERE.  I really appreciate all of your care and support!

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today.

The Mom told me she filled you all in on what is going on with me.  

Since Friday's post, the Mom has been giving me Furosemide for the fluid in my lungs.  She says she has not noticed any difference in me, and she thinks I am a pretty unhappy cat.  She comes to check on me a lot and pets me.  I just purr and purr and purr.  The Mom is worried all this purring means I am in pain.  

I haven't been up to eating as much as I usually am.  I only ate half of my dinner Sunday night.  That is very unlike me.  I LOVE noms and usually finish mine and then try to steal Carmine's, too!

I will be having a heart ultrasound done on Wednesday.  I don't know what that is, but Carmine said his ultrasound didn't hurt any, and the people at the hospital were very nice to him when he had one done.  

I am sure the Mom will keep you all updated on my condition.  Maybe she will even let me post later this week to update you after my ultrasound is done.

The Mom here: We will do our best to keep you updated and visit all of you as much as we can.  I am incredibly worried about Milita as she seems very unhappy today (Sunday).  I am doing my best to make her comfortable and am keeping a very close eye on her.

FUNDRAISER FOR MILITA'S MEDICAL BILLS

We are having a fundraiser to help cover the cost of Milita's ultrasound, cardiology consult, and medication.  You can donate HERE.  Every bit helps so very much!  Feel free to share the link as well.  We love and appreciate you all!

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today.

I like spending part of my mornings in my tree here.  There isn't much to look at outside, though.  The electric company has their building right across from us, MOL.  Sometimes it is fun to watch the humans.

In my last post, I mentioned that the Mom and Dr. M agreed to try me on an alternating dose of 2.5mg and 5mg of Prednisolone every other day.  

It was all going well - until Sunday.  I was on the Mom's bed Sunday morning and woke her up with an asthma attack.  She says she is going to call Dr. M today, and they will probably raise my dose to 5mg of Pred every day again.  The Mom doesn't like me being on so much Pred, but she says maybe it was the wrong time of year to try to lower my dose since the Spring allergy season is here.  The Mom says her allergies have been very bad, so she isn't too surprised that I had an asthma attack.  

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today.

I thought I was done with visiting the vet after they stole a couple of my teeth, but apparently not.  The Mom dragged me back to the vet the week before last to "make sure my incisions were healing."  I tried to tell her they were just fine, but she insisted that they take a look at my mouth anyway.  

They looked at my mouth and then came back out and told the Mom that I was healing up fine.  Hey!  Isn't that what I said?  

The Mom wanted a weight on me, so she and the vet tech went into a room and made me sit on a scale.  I have not gained or lost any weight.  The Mom got permission from the vet to try and take me down to 2.5mg of Prednisolone a day (from 5mg) since I have not had any asthma issues in a few months.

That did not work out so well.  The Mom noticed my asthma symptoms were coming back, so she put me back on the 5mg dose.  She talked with Dr. M last week, and she and the Mom agreed that it would be worth a try to alternate between the 2.5mg and 5mg dose every other day.  

I have been hiding under the dresser a lot the past couple of days, though, so the Mom is waiting a few days to see about trying that new dose regimen.  I won't tell her why I'm hiding under the dresser all of a sudden, either.  

That orange one Carmine has been quite active lately!  I am sure he will tell you all about what he's been up to next week when it's his turn to post.  

I hope everyone has a great week - and if you want a peaceful place to hang out for a while, you are welcome to join me under my dresser. 

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today.  

See the bandage on my leg?  It's from where they put my IV for surgery last week.  They shaved part of my leg for the IV, too.  

On Thursday, the Mom took me to the vet for dental surgery.  She had noticed I was starting to eat a little funny, and the vet had remarked that I could use a dental "soon" at my last visit, so the Mom got me in for one.  

When I woke up, I noticed they had stolen a couple more of my teeth - at least they only stole two this time.  The Mom came to get me in the afternoon.  I was so happy, I purred and purred and purrrrrred at her.  I would try to stand up in my carrier so she could pet me, but then I'd flop right over on my side.  The Mom didn't let me anywhere near my tree that night.  She wouldn't even let me jump on the bed by myself.  Once I was settled on her bed, that is where I stayed until the next day.  

I haven't been too happy with the Mom the past few days.  It seems like every little bit, she's giving me pain medication or antibiotics or Pred.  Can't a girl get a break around here?  

I am getting stronger with each day, though, so I make it harder and harder for the Mom to give me medication.  She tries to purrito me, but I still manage to kick her - hard.  That ought to teach her...

The Mom says I have to go back to see the vet next Friday so they can make sure my mouth is healing up okay, but after that hopefully I won't have to go back to see them for a while!  

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today.  

It has been pretty uneventful here the past week.  The humans have been shoving pills (antibiotics) down me for my urinary tract infection.  I am feeling better now, but I sure hope we are about done with those nasty pills!  Every time the human tries to give me those yucky pills, I try to flip them out of my mouth and across the room.  Sometimes I am successful, but they just put it back in my mouth.  What fun is that?

I have been hanging out on the Mom's bed a lot lately.  I like curling up on her big pink pillow.  It is very comfortable.  I even let Carmine lay near me most of the time when I am on the pillow.  Isn't that sweet of me?  

Speaking of that orange one Carmine, he seems to be eating more regularly again now.  The Mom figured he just needed time to adjust to the lower dose of Pred, and it looks like she was right.  He usually eats most or all of his meals and snacks now.  The Mom told me that he will go see the vet in March again, but don't tell Carmine or he'll start looking for a place to hide now.  

What do you all think of our new blog look?  Do all of our colors go together okay?  The Mom didn't change the color of our social media buttons (the kitty heads on the left sidebar), and she's worried it doesn't match?  The wonderfully talented Ann of Zoolatry made the beautiful blog header and wallpaper for us!  

One of us has a special day on Thursday, so please be sure to come back and visit us, okay?  Have a good week, everyone!  

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today!

I had a good week last week.  I didn't have any asthma attacks.  I've been hanging out on the Mom's bed a LOT lately.  I really love the fleece blankets she has on there.  Sometimes I'm even nice enough to let the orange one Carmine lay near me.  

Carmine has been spending a lot of time in the pink cube.  The Mom will call Dr. M tomorrow and chat with her about what to do since he doesn't seem as happy now that they have lowered his Pred dose.  

The Mom let me try a new kind of food the other day.  I'll tell you all about it later this week.  It sure was tasty!  

The Mom is going to a Martin Luther King celebration later that her building hosts every year.  They allow anyone to come and eat a nice meal and listen to music.  She says it's always a lot of fun.  Maybe she'll bring me a little kitty bag this year... 

That is all the news I have to share.  I hope you all have a nice week!

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's me, Milita today!  Did you all have a good Christmas?  We sure hope so!  I will tell you about ours, but first I want to give you a short update on my asthma situation.

Last week, the Mom took me to see the fill-in vet at our clinic, and they took an x-ray of my lungs.  She said there is no evidence of pneumonia there, which the Mom was quite happy about!  She and the Mom had a talk about my attacks and what they look like and how I had not improved on the Terbutaline.  

The vet told the Mom to stop the Terbutaline since it wasn't helping me.  They decided to raise my Prednisolone dose to 7.5mg a day for a couple of weeks to see if that helps me.  The Mom expressed her concerns about how lethargic and sleepy this dose made me before, and she asked the vet if she could split the dose into three to see if that would be better for me.  The vet said that would be fine, so that is what the Mom has been doing.  

I have been getting very suspicious any time the Mom or her friend come near me, and I often dart under the dresser so they can't give me more medicine, MOL!  Splitting the dose into three parts seems to be working fine for me - I am not really lethargic and sleepy the way I was before on the higher dose given twice a day.  

I had a bad attack on Friday, which really scared the Mom (and me too).  I didn't have any attacks on Saturday or Sunday, though!

We got a few prezzies for Christmas.  The Mom got us a little bug that runs around on the floor when you turn it on.  It has a little light on it and moves in random patterns.  The Mom seems rather amused when Carmine or I follow it around or poke at it.  She is easily entertained.  

One of the books the Mom got for Christmas.  She started reading it last night.

We also got some of our favorite ProPlan treats and some catnip mice.  The Mom also got a cat scratcher house.  She knows Carmine will probably be the only one who uses it, but she is going to try to tempt me into it.  She says it is very cool.  Maybe I'll give it a shot.  It is a pretty house!  The Mom hasn't put it together yet, but when she does, we will share photos of it so all of you can see how pretty it is.  

The Mom got a few books for Christmas and her friend got her a cool little thing called a Roku - whatever that is.  In any case, the Mom seems happy with it.  She also got a couple of kitty ornaments for the tree!

Carmine's favorite part of Christmas was that he got to have ham and then some whipped cream!  Personally, I don't like ham, so the Mom's friend got out some chicken for me instead.  

How was your Christmas?

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita again today.

Last week the Mom took me on a trip to see Dr. Stabby again.  Dr. Stabby told the Mom that she wanted to sedate me (with the surgical gas anesthesia) to get a UA and x-rays of my chest.  The Mom did not have a good feeling about that, but she reluctantly agreed.  But the more she thought about it, the more she said she didn't want me going under anesthesia because I am getting older, and it is risky for any kitty, let alone one who has been struggling with asthma.  She and I don't understand why Dr. Stabby seems so scared of me anyway.  I am a good cat!  Just because I scream doesn't mean they should sedate me.  

In any case, they did not sedate me because the Mom told them I have been having daily asthma attacks and she didn't think it was a good idea.  They did not get an x-ray of me or a UA.  They didn't even try.  

Dr. Stabby decided to add Terbutaline to my Prednisolone twice a day for my asthma, but I am still having asthma attacks every day.

The fill-in vet will be in this week, and the Mom says she will try to get an appointment with her.  The fill-in vet has a much calmer energy and I don't scream with her.  The Mom says she thinks I need to have a chest x-ray done to make sure I am not having pneumonia again because I acted similarly when I had that.  

Carmine came with us to Dr. Stabby's again to get weighed.  He lost an ounce.  The Mom doesn't understand why he is not gaining weight when she is mixing a/d into his noms.  Dr. Stabby told the Mom to put him on Cerenia every other day for three times, then every three days for three times, etc. so we can find the lowest most effective dose of it for him.  He will go back to see Dr. Stabby after the New Year for another check up.  They are hoping to start lowering his Prednisolone dose some at the next visit.  

I keep telling him he should eat more like me, but he just doesn't.  I don't know why.  Food is SO GOOD!!  He is still pretty fussy picky choosy about what he will eat, but he is eating more in general than he was before his diagnosis.  

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today.  

Last week the Mom took me to Dr. Stabby to make sure the Coccidia was gone.  Remember in one of my last posts when I asked when three weeks was?  Cathy Keisha said, "Three weeks is too short, that's how long it is."  She was right - it was too short!!

I was pretty quiet on the way to Dr. Stabby's, but I sure made my displeasure known when I was taken out of my carrier!  I hissed and growled, but they took another fecal sample anyway.  How dare the Mom allow them to do that!  

It turns out the Coccidia is all gone, though, so no more icky pills (of that kind at least) for me or Carmine.  

It was also discovered that I lost 5 ounces.  The vet tech was pleased by that, but the Mom doesn't know how to feel about it because she hasn't changed my diet any.  She has noticed, though, that I am eating fewer kibbles, and maybe this is why I lost some weight.  

The Mom also brought Carmine to Dr. Stabby's just to weigh him.  He only gained an ounce or two.  The Mom was disappointed that he did not gain more since she is feeding him some a/d mixed into every wet meal and snack he has, but she is very thankful that he did not lose any weight.  He has been eating pretty well for the most part.  Sometimes he needs a bit of convincing, but many times these days, he demands to be fed.  Maybe I've taught that orange one something after all.  

We have been getting Christmas cards from a lot of our friends.  Thank you all for the beautiful cards - we just love getting them and putting them on our wall!

The Mom wants to give you a quick update about that orange one, so I guess I'll be going for now.  

The Mom here: The vet and I had a conversation about Carmine's treatment.  She wants to begin to taper Carmine down on the Prednisolone, but she wants me to talk to the specialist first and make sure she is fine with me and the primary vet tapering the dose to the lowest most effective one.  I am nervous about tapering again as the last time we did Carmine crashed so hard.

We also talked about Cerenia, and she is not familiar with the protocols for it.  So she is going to talk to the specialist about what to do regarding that.  A lot of people use it for 5 days and then take a 2 day break and repeat that cycle over and over.  Carmine certainly seems to benefit from it.

Hopefully the specialist will call this week so we can move forward with Carmine's treatment plan.  He has been off the Cerenia for about five days now.  I've been giving him Slippery Elm Bark for nausea (like we did with Jewel).

I will continue to keep you posted.  Have a great week, everyone!

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today.

Last week, I was forced to go see Dr. Stabby with Carmine.  I was crying when coming out of the litter box, and the Mom thought I was having a cystitis flare, so she booked an appointment for me to see Dr. Stabby when Carmine went to get his bloods and urine stolen.

Imagine my surprise when I was grabbed and shoved into a carrier!

At Dr. Stabby's they weighed Carmine first.  He has lost 2.5 more ounces - down to 9 pounds, 10 ounces now.  The Mom was sad about this, especially because she has been giving him appetite stimulants pretty regularly now.  Then they took him away and stole his bloods and urine and expressed his anal glands.

Dr. Stabby's staff said they forgot to send Carmine's bloods off to the lab, so there will be no results until Tuesday (we were supposed to have them on Friday).

Then it was my turn.  They put me on the scale and I weigh 14 pounds, 1 ounce.  I love my food!  That isn't so terrible, is it?

Then the Mom and Dr. Stabby talked about how I have been crying after using my box and also about how I've had some ::whispers:: diarrhea.  

Dr. Stabby decided to steal some of my urine.  Then she took a fecal sample from me!  I screamed and screamed and screamed, but they took it anyway.  I do not like being restrained!

They looked at my urine and fecal sample and then came back and told the Mom that I have a urinary tract infection and Coccidia.  Dr. Stabby and the Mom decided it was best to treat Carmine for Coccidia preemptively so we won't pass it back and forth.

I am now on Baytril and pain medication for my infection.  The Mom says the pain medication makes me a very mellow kitty!  I purr more and louder than I usually do, too.  Carmine and I are taking this stuff called Albon for the Coccidia.

Dr. Stabby and the Mom agreed it is time to try and lower my Prednisolone dose to 2.5mg (from 5mg).  They are hoping this will be okay for my asthma and want to get me on the lowest most effective dose of medicine.

Dr. Stabby told the Mom she wants me back in three weeks to make sure the Coccidia is gone.  Does anyone know how long that is so I can hide from her when the time comes??

I'm sure the Mom and Carmine will give you all an update regarding his test results later this week.  The Mom is quite worried about him.

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's me, Milita, today!  That orange one Carmine has been hogging the blog lately because he's not been feeling so well.  But I finally get a turn.

I've been hanging out in my tree a lot lately.  Every night, I curl up in it for hours and nap.  Carmine has been isolating himself less and has been hanging out in his box bed a lot over the past few days.  That makes the Mom happy.

Milita's Monday

Hi everyone, it's Milita today.  I know it's supposed to be the orange one's turn to post, but we decided to trade weeks because I had a scary experience over the weekend.

Let me start off by saying that I am okay now.

On Thursday night, the Mom noticed I was having a bit of....(whispers) diarrhea.  She thought that was a little odd since I don't have any digestive problems like Carmine does.  She said she'd keep an eye on me.

Then Friday, I vomited three times before the Mom went to the heart doctor.  The Mom didn't want to leave me alone at home, but she had waited two months to see the heart doctor, so she went to her appointment as planned.

When she came back, she saw I was doing very poorly.  She had called the vet while she was out to see what she could do for me over the weekend, and they told her to not let me have any noms for 12 hours.  She said she felt bad about that, but I really didn't mind.  I was refusing to eat anything anyway, which you all know is very unlike me.

I stayed curled up on the Mom's bed all night.  I didn't even come out when it was her dinnertime like I usually do.  The Mom tried to give me some slippery elm bark for nausea in a little wet food, but I wouldn't eat it.  Then she tried putting it in tuna water, and I wouldn't even touch that!  Finally she had to have her friend D syringe me some Pepcid, which I did not appreciate.

The Mom kept poking at me, which was annoying, but she said I looked like I was at death's door.  I sure felt like it, too!  The Mom said she was afraid to go to sleep.

The next day when the Mom woke up, D told her I was running around demanding food again!  I still wasn't 100% on Saturday, but now I am back to normal.  The Mom still has no idea why my tummy was so upset, but I sure am glad to be feeling better!

I also have an update about Popsicle for those who aren't on our Facebook page.  The Mom went to the shelter again on Saturday to check on Popsicle, and she said she held him for almost another hour.  She says Popsicle wasn't as curious this time around - he seemed pretty sleepy.  She said that the vet tech told her Popsicle has been eating prescription a/d food (a high-calorie food) and that it felt like he might have put on a few ounces.

Please continue to purr and pray for our little friend.  We appreciate it very much!