Milita's Ultrasound Results

Hi everyone, the Mom here with an update on Lita.

First let me say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has given to Milita's fundraiser so far!!  I plan to write everyone individually.  Please just be patient with me.  In the past week, we had a huge scare with Lita and my stepmom passed away, so it's been a bit chaotic.  Just know that I haven't forgotten about you, and I appreciate everyone who has given in any way more than words can ever express.

Yesterday we headed to VRCC for Milita's ultrasound.  To be honest, I was rather nervous when the vet tech told me we were probably going to see a resident!  It turned out to be a great experience, though, and I'm glad that he had the opportunity to learn with Lita.

We discussed the sedation technique for Lita - I made sure they weren't gassing her with her asthma being so bad.  They gave her "kitty valium" in an injection instead.  Does that stuff ever make her a happy cat!

After we discussed Lita's medical history, the resident and the doctor overseeing everything took Lita back for her ultrasound.  It all took about a half an hour before they came back.

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!

Thankful Thursday (Carmine Update)

Hi everyone, it's mes, Carmine!  Yous gets to hear from mes twice this week.

Today mes and the Mom and Lita are very thankful.  

On Tuesday mes had my ultrasound.  My friends who said it wouldn't hurt were right!  But theys did shave my tummy.  Now my tummy is naked!

We were supposed to see Dr. W for the ultrasound, but hims broke hims foot, so wes saw Dr. T instead.  

When wes gotted into the exam room, Dr. T's assistant gotted my weight.  Mes lost 7 ounces in the past two weeks, so nows mes weighs 9 pounds 3 ounces.  That really upset the Mom.  

The nice lady said mes is very handsome and a good boy!  Mes knew that, of course, but it is nice to hear.  Hers took my file with all the notes and blood work Dr. Stabby sent over for Dr. T to look at.  

Whiles wes waited, mes shook very hard cause mes was SO scared!  The Mom remembered that once they took my blood pressure at Dr. Stabby's and mes kept trying to crawl under the towel theys had put on the table for mes.  So the Mom finally got the brilliant idea of putting a towel over mes.  Hers covered mes all the way up so mes couldn't even see out, MOL.  Hers kept hers hand on mes so mes would know hers was still there.  After a few minutes, mes calmed down and stopped shaking.  The Mom says hers is glad that hers knows how to help mes stay calm at the vet nows.

Dr. T came in and asked the Mom a bunch of questions.  Hers also said mes is very handsome and good kitty!  Hers purritoed mes up and took mes to the back to has my ultrasound where theys shaved my tummy.

When mes came back, Dr. T immediately told the Mom there is NO indication of cancer in my tummy!  The Mom was VERY HAPPY about that!!

Nows I will let the Mom tell you about the results.  Thank yous all for all the continued purrs and prayers.  Mes loves yous all!

The Mom here: I am thrilled  that Carmine does not have cancer - that was my biggest fear going into this.

The vet said she thinks Carmine has chronic pancreatitis.  She said the only way to know for certain is to do a biopsy on Carmine, but neither the vets nor I want Carmine to endure that.  So we are taking the "practical" approach and treating it as chronic pancreatitis.  She also said Carmine's bile duct is dilated, but I'm not sure what that means exactly in regards to clinical significance.

She told me to stop Carmine's Budesonide and restart his Prednislone.  We had a long discussion about Carmine's history with Prednisolone and how I think that lowering it to 2.5mg a day is what made everything crash.  We are trying him at 10mg a day for a week and going from there.

We also talked about Carmine's eating habits.  Carmine gets very excited about his wet food dinner and breakfast, but when it's put down for him, he either sniffs it and walks away or takes a few bites and walks away - even food he usually loves.  The vet thinks that nausea may be a factor here, and I agree.  So we are trying him on Cerenia for that.  It is also an anti-inflammatory and works to reduce GI pain.

She suggested we switch Carmine from Cyproheptadine to Mirtazapine for his appetite, but when we told her how Carmine reacted to the Mirtazapine, she agreed that staying on the Cypro was the best thing to do for him.

VRCC had a tree in their waiting room.

Dr. T is going to check in with us in a week.  She was VERY helpful, kind, and patient.  She listened to all of our concerns and answered all of our questions.

I seriously hope this new course of treatment works for Carmine.  Of course we want him on as little Prednisolone as possible, but for now, we need to get him stable and put weight back on him.  He has had two doses of Cerenia so far, but he is still eating very little.  I'm hoping it just takes a few days to kick in.

I called our regular vet to ask her if a/d would be appropriate right now for Carmine so we can get some weight on him.  We will see what she says.  I am incredibly concerned about how much weight he's lost.

Thank you again to all who have donated to Carmine's tests - this would not have been possible without you!  Thank you to all who are purring and praying and sending good thoughts to Carmine as well.  We love you all and are very lucky to have you in our lives!

Mancat Monday

Hi everyone, it's mes, Carmine!

The Mom put an update about mes on Facebook, but mes knows not everyone is on Facebook, so mes will tell you what is going on.  

Last week, my blood test results came back.  I will let the Mom explain those because mes doesn't understand them (and neither does hers, MOL).  The fill-in vet (our vet was on vacation again) told the Mom that it is time to get mes an ultrasound.  The Mom says that it won't hurt - hers has had thems before on hers kidneys and wrist - but mes still doesn't like the sound of this.  

Hopefully this ultrasound thingie will tell the humans whatever it is they wants to know because mes is tired of going to the Stabby Place.  

In other news, do you know what mes gotted to nom over the weekend?  WHIPPED CREAM!!!  Mes LOVES whipped cream!  Mes heard a rumor there is still some in the freezer, so maybe the Mom will give mes some more.

Mes will let the Mom explain the test results nows. 

The Mom here: Carmine is right - the fill-in vet said it is time for him to have an ultrasound.

She called me last week with the results of Carmine blood tests, and unfortunately, they weren't all so great.

Carmine's phosphorus level was a little low, but I'm not sure what that means.  His pancreatitis level came back at 3.6 (with the high end of normal being 3.5).  The fill-in vet said that when she sees cats with pancreatitis, their levels are usually 7-10, and his was barely elevated.

The one that is very concerning to everyone is Carmine's ALT level, which came back at 201 (with the high end of normal being 158).  She said vets worry about this level a lot when it is elevated, and that is why he needs the ultrasound.  She said Carmine has liver damage and that it could be caused by inflammation, hepatitis, or a liver tumor.

I will admit, it is very difficult not to let my mind go to the worst case scenario and worry about it.  I've been trying to stay positive and strong for my baby.

Appetite-wise, Carmine hasn't been eating a whole lot.  He did enjoy quite a bit of his Natural Balance Chicken and Green Pea for Thanksgiving, though (the silly mancat didn't want to eat turkey).  I've been keeping detailed notes about his socialization and eating behaviors for the vet to help her with her diagnosis and treatment process.

I want to thank everyone so very, very much again who donated to Carmine's blood tests and/or ultrasound!!!  Without your donations, we wouldn't have been able to get him either of these tests, and who knows how much more damage his liver would have suffered in the meantime.  I am beyond thankful to have so many wonderful friends who care about me and precious Carmine.  We will continue to keep you all updated on his diagnosis.

Please continue sending Carmine your purrs and prayers.  Please pray that whatever he has is manageable or easily treated.  I cannot even begin to imagine a life without my little soul kitty in it.

If you would like to donate to Carmine's care, please go HERE.  Thank you, Dad Terry, from Brian's Home for setting up this fundraiser for us!