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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / June 2005Diagnosis re Omar - at least we have one now
Hi all - An update re Omar: I just got another call from my vet and they had the lab recheck and redo the ACTH bloodtest result and it does indicate Addison's disease, which I understand means his body isn't producing enough corticosteriods and we'll have to put him on both a corticosteroid (prednisone) and a mineralcosteroid (spelling?). And we're going to have to get bloodwork from him weekly re his electrolytes till we can get his system stabilized. She is going to call and consult with an endocrinologist on Friday to get ideas re this and also his concurrent IBD. She also said she's never had a cat with Addisons before. So, I'm relieved to at least know what I'm dealing with; it's the not knowing that's been hard. -- Now if I can just continue to encourage Omar to keep eating enough. (I'm having to go through some song and dance stuff to try and get him to eat enough, which includes putting pieces of Feline Evo dry in his canned food.) Thanks, Victor, for the info on the other scale but it had sold by the time I saw and followed your link. Guess that's it for now -- I'll keep ya'll updated. Thank you all for help, support, and purrs -- they're very much appreciated. Christine > Hi all - An update re Omar: > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > mineralcosteroid > (spelling?). This may be Too Much Information, but when we talk about corticosteroids, we really mean two effects. One is the glucocorticosteroid effect, which is anti-inflammatory but also important in stress reactions. The other is the mineralocorticoid effect, which, among other things, causes sodium retention. That's not desirable in many conditions, but it's necessary in Addison's syndrome. Addison's is a disease of adrenal hormone underproduction, while Cushing's is a disease of overproduction. In a way, this would be good news for a human, because once you have the diagnosis, it's manageable--the best known example being John F. Kennedy, maintained with far poorer techniques and drugs than we have today. If Omar wears a collar, it might be good to put the equivalent of a Medic-Alert tag on it, in the hopefully never-occurring event he is injured or needs surgery when you aren't around. Anyone (four-legs or two-legs on long-term corticosteroids) MUST get supplemental corticosteroids when dealing with the stress of injury. >And we're going to have to get bloodwork from him weekly re > his electrolytes till we can get his system stabilized. She is going to > call and consult with an endocrinologist on Friday to get ideas re this > and > also his concurrent IBD. There's a good chance the corticosteroid will help IBD. > She also said she's never had a cat with > Addisons [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Evo > dry in his canned food.) Again, corticosteroids tend to be appetite stimulants. > Thanks, Victor, for the info on the other scale but it had sold by the > time [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > appreciated. > Christine I suspect he will do fine! Purrs and hugs! Thanks for the input, Howard; I like lots of info! Some Good News -- I'm almost afraid to jinx anything but my vet called me this early this a.m. and asked me if I'd be willing to try giving him the Fludrosone acetate (the mineralocorticoid you explained) via an intra-muscular injection that would last for a month rather than try and give him yet another med orally (which we were going to order from the online pet pharmacy I've used before). I thought I'd give it a try to see about getting the med into his system asap because he was seeming to get worse daily. Anyway, since this morning's injection he seems much more alert, much hungrier, and much more himself; I am amazed if this is truly a fast response to the medicine! (Plus everyone's purr power!) Will be talking to my vet again tomorrow. Christine > > Hi all - An update re Omar: > > [quoted text clipped - 62 lines] > > Purrs and hugs! That sounds so promising Christine. We'll keep sending purrs his way! Susan M Otis and Chester > Anyway, since this morning's injection he seems much more alert, much > hungrier, and much more himself; I am amazed if this is truly a fast > response to the medicine! (Plus everyone's purr power!) Will be talking to > my vet again tomorrow. > Christine > Thanks for the input, Howard; I like lots of info! > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > my vet again tomorrow. > Christine I can believe that. In asthma, for example, corticosteroid injections don't act much faster than oral drugs -- but you typically start seeing significant results in about 8 hours. It can be faster when used on rashes and such. From personal experience, I can only speak of prednisone and dexamethasone, but they were extremely bitter. Luckily, I was much better on taking pills than the average cat, so if you can get a long-acting injection, all the better. > So, I'm relieved to at least know what I'm dealing with; it's the not > knowing that's been hard. -- Now if I can just continue to encourage Omar to I'm glad to hear you got a diagnosis, and a treatable disease. > Thanks, Victor, for the info on the other scale but it had sold by the time > I saw and followed your link. That same vendor might have more, you could email him/her.  SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com > > So, I'm relieved to at least know what I'm dealing with; it's the not > > knowing that's been hard. -- Now if I can just continue to encourage Omar to [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > That same vendor might have more, you could email him/her. There are lots more from the same vendor up for sale now. The $19.99 flat shipping rate turns out to be just a few dollars over basic shipping via UPS, so it is not a bad deal. > > > So, I'm relieved to at least know what I'm dealing with; it's the not > > > knowing that's been hard. -- Now if I can just continue to encourage [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > shipping rate turns out to be just a few dollars over basic shipping via > UPS, so it is not a bad deal. Thanks -- I've gone back and looked and if I can figure out if bank wire transfer will be quick enough (Paypal made it sound like it takes 3-4 days for a transfer to clear; I also tried to ebay-mail (?) the vendor to see if they would take a credit card but I haven't heard back from them yet. I've never bought anything on ebay before. Christine Christine, I'm glad that you have a diagnosis and that there is treatment for it. Purrs that Omar's health improves. Suz&Spicey > Hi all - An update re Omar: > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > Thank you all for help, support, and purrs -- they're very much appreciated. > Christine I'm sorry it is not better news, but you can at least work at a regime now. Many purrs a and hugs. > Thank you all for help, support, and purrs -- they're very much appreciated. The purrs will continue for Omar. When Nikki was put on prednisone, it seemed to stimulate her appetite (not that it needed stimulating). Hoping it will eventually have that effect on Omar. SignatureMarina, Frank and Miranda. In loving memory of 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 > So, I'm relieved to at least know what I'm dealing with; it's the not > knowing that's been hard. -- Now if I can just continue to encourage Omar to > keep eating enough. (I'm having to go through some song and dance stuff to > try and get him to eat enough, which includes putting pieces of Feline Evo > dry in his canned food.) Christine, I will be praying for Omar and you. Have you ever tried cyproheptadine (periactin) tabs as an appetite stimulant? It doesn't have bad side effects generally. It is an antihistamine but it acts as an appettie stimulant for cats. I have Abbey on it now and it worked. I was getting nervous because she wasn't eating since her last chest tap. My late cat, Cory, used it off and on for the last few years of his life. Whenever he would seem as though his appetite was bad, I would give him just 1/4 of a tablet and that would jumpstart him. The effects seemed to last well over a day and often it only took the one dose to get him eating regularly again. The only thing I noticed with him was it would make him a little restless, he wouldn't sleep much. That's why I only gave him 1/4 pill when the dose was actually one whole one. Last night I gave Abbey 1/4 pill and, within an hour, she was eating. Today she is still eating although I will probably give her another one tonight. Ask your vet. My regular vet recommended it to me but the vet I have been going to for Abbey didn't know about it until I told him (strange). He did recommend one of the benzodiazipines, though, and would have prescribed that if I wanted. I believe oxazepam was the one he suggested. Candace Thank you for the update Christine. I'm glad to hear you have a definitie diagnosis and that you'll be able to treat it. I'm encouraged also by Howard's summary of the situation. Lots of purrs and healthy wishes continue to be sent by our crew here and please keep us updated. Susan M Otis and chester > Hi all - An update re Omar: > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Addisons > before. Christine, I am glad you finally have a diagnosis. Rusty is sending purrs and asking Omar to eat, eat, eat. How much does Omar weigh? Winnie > Hi all - An update re Omar: > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > appreciated. > Christine > Hi all - An update re Omar: > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Thank you all for help, support, and purrs -- they're very much > appreciated. Christine Purrs that now you know, Omar will soon be feeling a lot better. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. I am not familiar with the condition but many purrs in support non the less. Cat. > Hi all - An update re Omar: > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > appreciated. > Christine > So, I'm relieved to at least know what I'm dealing with; it's the > not knowing that's been hard. -- Now if I can just continue to > encourage Omar to keep eating enough. (I'm having to go through some > song and dance stuff to try and get him to eat enough, which > includes putting pieces of Feline Evo dry in his canned food.) I'm glad you at least have a name for his problem. Purrs for you and him. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca aw, poor Omar. More purrs and prayers going both your way. Jazz & his mama SignatureIrulan from the stars we come to the stars we return from now until the end of time > Hi all - An update re Omar: > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > appreciated. > Christine >Hi all - An update re Omar: > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >Thank you all for help, support, and purrs -- they're very much appreciated. >Christine Christine, I wish it was something simpler, but I'm glad you at least know what it is now and it is treatable. Purrs for Omar's appetite to be good in the future. Ginger-lyn Home Pages: http://www.spiritrealm.com/summer/ http://www.angelfire.com/folk/glsummer (homepage & cats) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~summer/index.htm (genealogy) http://www.movieanimals.bravehost.com/ (The Violence Against Animals in Movies Website) |
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