Re: [Felvtalk] ot-next problem (Tonya)
Hey Tonya, Glad you guys are getting some type of routine down. It's funny how hard that can be sometimes, especially with all that you also have going on personally. Keep us posted on Shaft. I hope when he goes for his testing his numbers are in the normal range, and not still hyperT or hypoT. :) Wendy "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world - indeed it is the only thing that ever has!" ~~~ Margaret Meade ~~~ - Original Message From: catatonya <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 2:47:00 AM Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] ot-next problem (Tonya) Thanks Wendy, I 'think' we are getting a medication routine going. It's hard to tell if he's eating because he won't eat in front of me. But he feels like he's gaining weight. He's still interested in treats. We're retesting in a couple of weeks, and unless things look good I'm going to go to the ear gel. Shaft is 18 years old, so I don't think he's a good candidate for the surgery. :( tonya wendy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hey Tonya, I lost my 18 yr. old Julie to hyperT/kidney failure in December. Instead of trying to chase Shaft for oral meds, I would suggest trying the transdermal Tapazole/Methimazole. I ordered Julie's through Pet Health Pharmacy online; they are very reasonable compared to my vet/other pharmacies price-wise and have great service and customer service. The transdermal can be rubbed into the tip of Shaft's ear, which is SOO much easier than trying to pill! You will probably have to adjust and readjust dosing, as the hyperT is never completely cured. The meds just regulate the progression of the disease, slowing it down. I belonged to the hyperT group for two+ years and learned a lot there. One of the problems with the meds is often overdosing of meds. Many vets prescribe 5 mg 2x daily when starting doses should only be 1.25 to 2.5 mg 2x daily. The meds have to be given every 12 hours because they are out of the system after about 12 hours. The other thing you can consider is the radioactive iodine (I-131) treatment. It's expensive; anywhere from $800 to $2000 depending on what part of the U.S. you have the treatment done in. It's a cure, when it works, which is often. It kills the bad cells in the thyroid and leaves the good cells alone. Had I had the money and had Julie not had kidney issues as well and had she been younger, I would have most assuredly gone with this treatment. Hyper T often masks kidney disease, so often people find they are dealing with CRF as well as hyperT once the hyperT is regulated, and if this is the case, you often have to balance to two with the meds, meaning you can't fully treat the hyperT, as the kidney's act up. If Shaft does have CRF after you get him regulated (you'll need to have his bloodwork done 4-6 hours after dosing with Tapazole/Methamizole to check both kidneys and T4 level, about 2 weeks after meds have been started), then subQ fluids are a must. The hyperT Yahoo group is great. Also, heart murmur is often caused by overworking thyroid, so that can disappear/improve after hyperT is regulated with meds. Hope this helps Shaft! :) Wendy "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world - indeed it is the only thing that ever has!" ~~~ Margaret Meade ~~~ - Original Message From: catatonya <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "felvtalk@felineleukemia.org" Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 10:26:08 AM Subject: [Felvtalk] ot-next problem My cat Shaft has lost nearly half his body weight. Everyone here has been so sick I just didn't realize it until a few weeks ago (a few days before I was leaving for a week's vacation). I got him into the vet suspecting hyper-t as soon as I got back. That's what it was. The vet detected a heart murmer as well. He is an estimated 18 years old. He had a fever and the vet put him on some amoxy for that, as well as the tapazole, of course. Problem. He now hides and I have to chase him around to get any med.s down him. I've given up on everything except the tapazole and he still hides. Should I stress him out with the chase down? Crate him for a while? He doesn't seem to be gaining ANY weight, and I have an appt. with vet again on Monday. We were supposed to wait a month, but he's getting worse, not better. Does anyone have the link to join the hyper-t group or any other advice? I am quickly losing my mind. la la la la. t ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] ot-next problem (Tonya)
Thanks Wendy, I 'think' we are getting a medication routine going. It's hard to tell if he's eating because he won't eat in front of me. But he feels like he's gaining weight. He's still interested in treats. We're retesting in a couple of weeks, and unless things look good I'm going to go to the ear gel. Shaft is 18 years old, so I don't think he's a good candidate for the surgery. :( tonya wendy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hey Tonya, I lost my 18 yr. old Julie to hyperT/kidney failure in December. Instead of trying to chase Shaft for oral meds, I would suggest trying the transdermal Tapazole/Methimazole. I ordered Julie's through Pet Health Pharmacy online; they are very reasonable compared to my vet/other pharmacies price-wise and have great service and customer service. The transdermal can be rubbed into the tip of Shaft's ear, which is SOO much easier than trying to pill! You will probably have to adjust and readjust dosing, as the hyperT is never completely cured. The meds just regulate the progression of the disease, slowing it down. I belonged to the hyperT group for two+ years and learned a lot there. One of the problems with the meds is often overdosing of meds. Many vets prescribe 5 mg 2x daily when starting doses should only be 1.25 to 2.5 mg 2x daily. The meds have to be given every 12 hours because they are out of the system after about 12 hours. The other thing you can consider is the radioactive iodine (I-131) treatment. It's expensive; anywhere from $800 to $2000 depending on what part of the U.S. you have the treatment done in. It's a cure, when it works, which is often. It kills the bad cells in the thyroid and leaves the good cells alone. Had I had the money and had Julie not had kidney issues as well and had she been younger, I would have most assuredly gone with this treatment. Hyper T often masks kidney disease, so often people find they are dealing with CRF as well as hyperT once the hyperT is regulated, and if this is the case, you often have to balance to two with the meds, meaning you can't fully treat the hyperT, as the kidney's act up. If Shaft does have CRF after you get him regulated (you'll need to have his bloodwork done 4-6 hours after dosing with Tapazole/Methamizole to check both kidneys and T4 level, about 2 weeks after meds have been started), then subQ fluids are a must. The hyperT Yahoo group is great. Also, heart murmur is often caused by overworking thyroid, so that can disappear/improve after hyperT is regulated with meds. Hope this helps Shaft! :) Wendy "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world - indeed it is the only thing that ever has!" ~~~ Margaret Meade ~~~ - Original Message From: catatonya <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "felvtalk@felineleukemia.org" Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 10:26:08 AM Subject: [Felvtalk] ot-next problem My cat Shaft has lost nearly half his body weight. Everyone here has been so sick I just didn't realize it until a few weeks ago (a few days before I was leaving for a week's vacation). I got him into the vet suspecting hyper-t as soon as I got back. That's what it was. The vet detected a heart murmer as well. He is an estimated 18 years old. He had a fever and the vet put him on some amoxy for that, as well as the tapazole, of course. Problem. He now hides and I have to chase him around to get any med.s down him. I've given up on everything except the tapazole and he still hides. Should I stress him out with the chase down? Crate him for a while? He doesn't seem to be gaining ANY weight, and I have an appt. with vet again on Monday. We were supposed to wait a month, but he's getting worse, not better. Does anyone have the link to join the hyper-t group or any other advice? I am quickly losing my mind. la la la la. t ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] ot-next problem (Tonya)
Hey Tonya, I lost my 18 yr. old Julie to hyperT/kidney failure in December. Instead of trying to chase Shaft for oral meds, I would suggest trying the transdermal Tapazole/Methimazole. I ordered Julie's through Pet Health Pharmacy online; they are very reasonable compared to my vet/other pharmacies price-wise and have great service and customer service. The transdermal can be rubbed into the tip of Shaft's ear, which is SOO much easier than trying to pill! You will probably have to adjust and readjust dosing, as the hyperT is never completely cured. The meds just regulate the progression of the disease, slowing it down. I belonged to the hyperT group for two+ years and learned a lot there. One of the problems with the meds is often overdosing of meds. Many vets prescribe 5 mg 2x daily when starting doses should only be 1.25 to 2.5 mg 2x daily. The meds have to be given every 12 hours because they are out of the system after about 12 hours. The other thing you can consider is the radioactive iodine (I-131) treatment. It's expensive; anywhere from $800 to $2000 depending on what part of the U.S. you have the treatment done in. It's a cure, when it works, which is often. It kills the bad cells in the thyroid and leaves the good cells alone. Had I had the money and had Julie not had kidney issues as well and had she been younger, I would have most assuredly gone with this treatment. Hyper T often masks kidney disease, so often people find they are dealing with CRF as well as hyperT once the hyperT is regulated, and if this is the case, you often have to balance to two with the meds, meaning you can't fully treat the hyperT, as the kidney's act up. If Shaft does have CRF after you get him regulated (you'll need to have his bloodwork done 4-6 hours after dosing with Tapazole/Methamizole to check both kidneys and T4 level, about 2 weeks after meds have been started), then subQ fluids are a must. The hyperT Yahoo group is great. Also, heart murmur is often caused by overworking thyroid, so that can disappear/improve after hyperT is regulated with meds. Hope this helps Shaft! :) Wendy "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world - indeed it is the only thing that ever has!" ~~~ Margaret Meade ~~~ - Original Message From: catatonya <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "felvtalk@felineleukemia.org" Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 10:26:08 AM Subject: [Felvtalk] ot-next problem My cat Shaft has lost nearly half his body weight. Everyone here has been so sick I just didn't realize it until a few weeks ago (a few days before I was leaving for a week's vacation). I got him into the vet suspecting hyper-t as soon as I got back. That's what it was. The vet detected a heart murmer as well. He is an estimated 18 years old. He had a fever and the vet put him on some amoxy for that, as well as the tapazole, of course. Problem. He now hides and I have to chase him around to get any med.s down him. I've given up on everything except the tapazole and he still hides. Should I stress him out with the chase down? Crate him for a while? He doesn't seem to be gaining ANY weight, and I have an appt. with vet again on Monday. We were supposed to wait a month, but he's getting worse, not better. Does anyone have the link to join the hyper-t group or any other advice? I am quickly losing my mind. la la la la. t ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org