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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / October 2004Update Sammy's TED visit ;-((
I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been made, we'd go ahead and go. The news wasn't exactly good. When TED listened to her chest he said there was fluid on the chest, and a heart murmur. He gave her a shot of furosemide (lasix) and a prednisone shot (probably methylprednisolone). Anyway, the diuretic should take care of the fluid, which should make her feel a lot better. We're going back Tuesday morning, and she'll spend the day getting tests and a chest xray. I wasn't paying to much attention to what he was saying after he mentioned a heart murmur. Don't know why the mention of a murmur affected me so strongly - I know murmurs can be benign and don't necessarily mean anything about quality of life. I have a murmur myself, and have never had any problems, wouldn't even know about it if they hadn't found it when I went into the Army. I should have asked questions, but didn't, not even what medication she was getting. I found that out when I got up front and paid. Don't know how clearly he heard the murmur, what the possible cause might be since he had never heard it on previous visits. I guess it could be heart worms, and know that's one of the tests scheduled for next week. She gets Revolution, which I thought was supposed to protect from heartworms, but I don't use it year round like maybe I should. So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs.  SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > When TED listened to her chest he said there was fluid on the chest, > and a heart murmur. He gave her a shot of furosemide (lasix) and a > prednisone shot (probably methylprednisolone). Anyway, the diuretic > should take care of the fluid, which should make her feel a lot > better. We're going back Tuesday morning, and she'll spend the day > getting tests and a chest xray. Oh, poor Sammy! No wonder she was under the weather. I hope it's something that's easily treated, and that she's feeling better soon. Purrs, Joyce Really glad you took her in though, Steve -- purrs continuing for you both. Please keep us posted. Christine > I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so > much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than > I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. >I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so >much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than >I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. Get better purrs are on the way to Sammy from Tennessee. -- Nan and the furkids A wise man talks because he has something to say; a fool talks because he has to say something. Purrs, purrayers and a recommendation. I'm sure you aren't the first pet slave to be so stunned you didn't take in all the doctor said. Why don't you give him a call tomorrow and ask him to repeat it, along with any other questions you have thought of by then? -- Joy "You can never do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late." - Ralph Waldo Emerson > I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so > much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html > Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > Purrs, purrayers and a recommendation. I'm sure you aren't the first > pet slave to be so stunned you didn't take in all the doctor said. Why [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > "You can never do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it > will be too late." - Ralph Waldo Emerson I agree with Joy, and write down all the questions that come to mind between now and next Tuesday and bring those with you. Hugs, CatNipped > > I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so > > much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html > > Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > Purrs, purrayers and a recommendation. I'm sure you aren't the first > pet slave to be so stunned you didn't take in all the doctor said. Why [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > -- > Joy That's a very good idea, Joy. Get well purrs for Sammy. Lois Signaturehttp://zeotropeburmese.kiwiwebhost.net.nz -- Burmese are like potato chips, you can't just have one. > I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so > much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than > I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. > I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so > much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html > Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html I know exactly how you feel I found out I needed a lithotripsy right after I scheduled Sammy's spay and I didn't even think about that, I was just worried about Sammy - well, their our babies, after all, so it's natural to worry. I've heard of other cats with heart murmurs and it didn't seem to affect them adversely. We're sending purrs that everything will be just fine. Hugs, CatNipped Purrs on the way. fuga >I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so >much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >better. We're going back Tuesday morning, and she'll spend the day >getting tests and a chest xray. So sorry the news was worrying. Heart purrs for Sammy. Theresa Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com >I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so >much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been >made, we'd go ahead and go. The news wasn't exactly good. ---------------------<snip>---------------------- I'm so sorry to hear that. If love from her human companion and the power of the purr count for anything she'll probably have many happy years ahead of her. Here's hoping that the follow-up tests come out OK. Regards and Purrs, O J > I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so > much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than > I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. Oh mega Purrs Steve. Don't despair. Whatever it is, you seem to have gotten to it rather quickly.Please keep us posted and just give her lots o' lovin'. Many purrs coming up for Sammy. I don't think a hear murmur is necessarily that bad. I have one too but was told that 95% of the population has it. I wonder how he could even hear it with the fluid in her chest? SignatureBritta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so > much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than > I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. > I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so > much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than > I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. Purrs continuing for Sammy - one to another. Sam > So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than > I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. I'm so sorry to read this, Steve. It's understandable that you got a shock from hearing there might be something wrong with your Sammy. Next time you take her in, you will be more prepared and better able to listen to what the vet tells you. Maybe write down some of the questions you have so you don't forget to ask them. Many, many purrs coming over for both Sammy and you. SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki > I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so > much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been > made, we'd go ahead and go. The news wasn't exactly good. OH NO!! Sweet little Miss Sammy isn't doing well. Purrs and healthy thoughts for her as well as comforting purrs and thoughts for her worried family. Pam, Rob, and the Fayetteville Seven I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been made, we'd go ahead and go. The news wasn't exactly good. When TED listened to her chest he said there was fluid on the chest, and a heart murmur. He gave her a shot of furosemide (lasix) and a prednisone shot (probably methylprednisolone). Anyway, the diuretic should take care of the fluid, which should make her feel a lot better. We're going back Tuesday morning, and she'll spend the day getting tests and a chest xray. > Hi Steve, A friend of mine's older cat, Brat, (she is 9 ish), had the same thing as Sammy. Lethargy, no appetite, etc. He took her to the vet, and she also had fluid in her chest and a heart murmur. The vet seem to think that it was caused by a virus, and that she would be ok. She is perfectly fine now! I hope Sammy recovers as fast as Brat did! Purrs to you and Sammy! Patti Oh, Steve, I'm so sorry. I wish I had some magic words for you. All I can think of is my old childhood Doxie who had a heart murmur her whole life and lived to be 14. Purrs for Sammy. Please keep us posted. Sherry Lots of purrs for treatment to make her totally well again. Tweed >I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so > much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than > I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. > I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so > much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > better. We're going back Tuesday morning, and she'll spend the day > getting tests and a chest xray. I'm a little puzzled why he gave a corticosteroid like methylprednisolone if she had enough fluids to need a potent diuretic, as corticosteroids cause fluid retention. It's not uncommon, when a corticosteroid is definitely needed, to accompany it with a diuretic, but it sounds like things were the other way around. > I wasn't paying to much attention to what he was saying after he > mentioned a heart murmur. Don't know why the mention of a murmur > affected me so strongly - I know murmurs can be benign and don't > necessarily mean anything about quality of life. I have a murmur > myself, and have never had any problems, wouldn't even know about it > if they hadn't found it when I went into the Army. As you probably know, most murmurs are associated with a heart valve not being precisely seated. Yes, they are often benign. Certainly in young humans and presumably cats, they also can disappear over time -- I had one found when I was six or eight, but it wasn't noticeable by the time I was in high school. This was long enough ago that no cardiac ultrasound was available at the time. Ultrasound (echocardiography) is pretty much today's standard for evaluating valve problems. I happen to be in a clinical research program where I've had numerous advanced echocardiograms, and there is no trace of anything that would have caused a childhood murmur. >I should have asked > questions, but didn't, not even what medication she was getting. I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > which I thought was supposed to protect from heartworms, but I don't > use it year round like maybe I should. As I've mentioned, most murmurs are associated with valves. You can picture a heart valve as a gate having two or three leaves that snap together. Sometimes, the leaves don't quite mate, just because the way they have grown. It's living tissue, so it may self-correct. In humans, the most common valve problem, mitral prolapse, rarely causes problems beside an occasionsl "funny feeling in the chest". Valves can also fail to seal when they are partially covered with foreign objects, such as bacteria -- the general term is "vegetation". Presumably, if the valve isn't closing due to heartworms and the worms can be eliminated, the murmur may go away. > So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than > I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. Multiple purrs from Mr. Clark, Rhonda, and Ding. >So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than >I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. Sure thing - we have plenty of purrs for Sammy, and for you too. I'm sorry to hear she has this affliction but glad she saw the vet in time. As to the heart murmur, I've had one all my life and wouldn't even know it had the doctors not told me. And our Speckles cat was found to have a murmur last year at 15 years old - it hasn't slowed down her bouncy ways. In fact, sometimes I think *I'll* get the heart attack watching her run at breakneck speed through the house!! Jeanne > So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than > I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. Purrs and gentle headbutts on the way for Sammy and you, also, Steve. Hopefully in the final diagnosis it will be something easily treated and Sammy will be feeling much better right away. Julie, Hobbes, Selena, Lacey and Sam >So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than >I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. Purrs that Sammy's problems are all treatable. Suz Macmoosette Thank Heavens There's Only One =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= =^..^= Waiting for inspiration. Please hold while I contemplate my navel. |\__/| (=':'=) (")_(") <SNIP> > So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than > I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. Sending extra get well purrs for Sammy. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. Threefold purrs that little Sammy's condition is minor & treatable, or even that it can be banished completely. All our very best wishes Gordon & the TT SignatureFeline family viewable at: http://community.webshots.com/user/exocat > When TED listened to her chest he said there was fluid on the chest, > and a heart murmur. > So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than > I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. Purrs in six-part harmony from my household. --Fil > I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so > much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > better. We're going back Tuesday morning, and she'll spend the day > getting tests and a chest xray. Awwww, we're purring hard for little Sammy and her worried daddy. Lots of heart murmurs are harmless; we're purring that this is one of those. ------ Krista >> I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so >> much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >> better. We're going back Tuesday morning, and she'll spend the day >> getting tests and a chest xray. Purrs from our mob for Sammy. Hope she feels better soon. Tish Hey, sending purrs to Sammy that she feels better. Don't know how clearly he > heard the murmur, what the possible cause might be since he had never > heard it on previous visits. Bear in mind, murmurs could be caused by something that's wrong with the heart valves. And a bunch of things could cause that. Also, we were taught in school that murmurs are graded on a scale of 1-6 with 1 being very very soft, and 6 so loud that you can hear it with the stethoscope just hovering abover the chest. I've been told they've can get that loud. We got to practice on this Great Dane in class. He had a really loud heart beat, but if you listenly carefully, you could hear "Lub-dub, lub dub (swish) lub-dub lub dub (swish)" I called it a grade 4, but my teacher said she would have called it a 3 and that there are ones even louder. Don't mean to scare you or anything, because that was on a BIG dog with a big heart. I don't know how loud it would be on a cat, but you might want to ask what grade Sammy's murmur is, or just ask how loud is it. Also, you ought to ask which part of the heart is being affected. Vets listen to the chest in about 4 places, to each of the 4 heart valves. That helps narrow down where the problem is. Purrs to Sammy. She'll have to get blood drawn for tests and have to hold still for chest x-rays. Hopefully she won't take it too badly. Stay strong, Kristi >Hey, sending purrs to Sammy that she feels better. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >the stethoscope just hovering abover the chest. I've been told >they've can get that loud. <snip> >with a big heart. I don't know how loud it would be on a cat, but you >might want to ask what grade Sammy's murmur is, or just ask how loud [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Purrs to Sammy. She'll have to get blood drawn for tests and have to >hold still for chest x-rays. Hopefully she won't take it too badly. Thanks for the info. I don't think it could have been too loud. Before TED came in the assistant had checked Sammy over, and she didn't hear anything. Once TED came in he caught it right away, and told the assistant where to hold the stethoscope so she could hear it. They told me that the reason Sammy is going to stay all day is so that they can let her calm down between tests, so that they won't have to sedate her. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html >I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so >much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >So we still need purrs here for Sammy - I'm even more worried now than >I was earlier in the week when she just seemed to has the blahs. Purrs for Sammy. If it helps any, my Cosmo has a heart murmur, too, diagnosed 4-1/2 or 5-1/2 years ago; it's a level 1-2, I believe, although it did cause fluid build-up in his chest, and he has been on Lasix to take care of that problem for a couple of years now. And he is still very much with us (just yesterday, he was playing "chase me" with Arthur!). Purrs that Sammy's condition be controlled and she be fine for many years to come. Ginger-lyn Lots and lots of healing purrs heading your way, for both Sammy and yourself. SignatureVictor Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com Lots of purrs and best wishes for Sammy's problem to be solved easily and soon, SignaturePolonca & Soncek > I almost didn't take her in, because she seems to me to be doing so > much better. But, I figured since the appointment had already been > made, we'd go ahead and go. The news wasn't exactly good. > > When TED listened to her chest he said there was fluid on the chest, > and a heart murmur. <snip |
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