Tuesday, October 31, 2017

How we spend Halloween...

...until the door bell rings!

My ma said she read that Halloween started as a festival called Samhain. It was part of an ancient Celtic religion in parts of Europe. As you all know, when the end of harvest came, the darkest season started, but the Celtics believed the barrier between our world and the ghostly spirits' world got really thin during this time of year.  After the festival ended, November 01 marked a new year.  

Happy Halloween and Happy New Year, Readers! 


Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Spironolactone

I went to the doctor on Saturday.   I had blood drawn, my blood pressure taken (it's fine!), and an x-ray (fluid has once again accumulated in my chest cavity). 

I am now 16.03 pounds. I am losing weight and I don't wanto. 

Today, my doctor called with my blood test results and they came back free of concerns.

She shared the test results with my cardiologist to see if I can up my Lasix dosage, since Saturday's x-rays showed fluid build up (they were not expecting to see so much fluid build up in two weeks). 

Instead of upping Lasix, they prescribed 
a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) which will prevent my body from absorbing too much sodium and will keep my potassium levels from going lower than we want.  Spironolactone is the name of the new drug I am taking, and it is for people and cats like me with congestive heart failure.

The pharmacist compounded it into liquid for me and asked ma if I wanted beef or chicken flavor. We selected chicken.

Here's hoping this works. 

We are happy the blood results came back positively, with no negative impact on my kidneys so that I can try another diuretic.  


I am tired a lot, breathing heavier than normal, but I still purr, and am happy being loved. 


Thank you for reading my update and for your continued prayers and thoughts.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Upcoming Status Check

In a couple of days, I am going back to the vet.

They will check my blood again to see how my kidneys and other organs are handling all of the medications. They will also take x-rays and my blood pressure.

I am feeling okay, relaxing, and getting as much meditation time in as well as all the affection from mamma as I can get!
 It is fall, the air is crisp, I long to be outside.  Mamma brings flowers in to taunt us.
Please keep your prayers coming. I appreciate them so.

Here is the latest video ma took of my little sister: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2vJsHswnak

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Test Results & Weight Update


On Monday, my ma dropped me off at the animal hospital on her way to work.
She left me there all day while she was at her office.
At the animal hospital, they completed an ultrasound, and I was examined by a cardiologist.
The cardiologist drained 200 milliliters (0.0528344 US liquid gallon) of fluid out of my chest cavity.

They received my blood work & thyroid test results from Saturday.  My body is handling the medicines I am on and I do not have any issue with my kidneys.  The doctor increased my dosage of the diuretic I am on. 

I will be reexamined in three weeks: x-rays, blood pressure test, blood work.

My medicines are now: Morning = .625 mg Pimobendin (CHF medicine to strengthen muscular contractions of the heart & dilate blood vessels)

                                                         2.50 mg Enacard (CHF & blood pressure medicine)
                                                         20    mg Lasix (diuretic)
                                       Mid-day = 10    mg Lasix

                                       Evening = 10     mg Lasix
                                                         .625  mg Pimobendin

                                                         1.25  mg Enacard

My weight history since diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure: 

DATE:       WEIGHT:
March 19, 2016            21.70
April 08, 2016              20.50
Aug 01, 2016               19.11
Aug 16, 2016               19.04
 Jan 24, 2017                19.04
  March 27, 2017            19.06
 May 14, 2017               18.50
 Aug 10, 2017               17.90
 Aug 23, 2017               17.80
 Sept 30, 2017              16.80

I feel okay, tired mostly, trying not to be sad. 

My sister was mean to me until Thursday - hating my scent upon returning from the animal hospital.
Your continued prayers and good thoughts are a blessing to me. Thank you for them.


Sunday, October 1, 2017

Status on Living with Congestive Heart Failure

Yesterday, my ma took me for my bi-annual routine blood work to determine what impact all these medicines are having on my organs. Specifically, my kidneys, since I am on a diuretic, Lasix.
The doctor asked my ma if I always breathe so heavy.
I usually don't at home, she tells the doctor - and explains that my breathing heavy is due in part to all the dogs barking and being at the animal hospital which causes anxiety.
The doctor did not buy it and asked permission to do X-Rays.
Ma agreed.

To our sadness, there appears to be a lot more fluid on my lungs when the X-Rays are compared to the ones taken in January.

The doctor suggests draining it with a small needle, to help me feel more comfortable. She did not think that Lasix alone would help my heavy breathing.  And we can't up the dosage without first getting the blood test results.

Sadly, they could not do the drainage at that time and asked us to return to the animal hospital in four hours.

Interesting to note - that during the time spent at home relaxing, my breathing returned to completely normal and was no longer labored.

Regardless, we went back to the doctor's at the scheduled time. Ma waited for 30 minutes while two different doctors attempted to drain out the water.

First they shaved one side of me, stuck me with a needle - failed, and then shaved the other side of me, to stick me on that side with a needed - and that too failed.

They asked us to come back first thing Monday morning so I could be seen by a cardiologist and have an ultrasound done. The X-Rays show the fluid - assuming it is around the lungs and my heart - but there was too much blockage to get it out, so a cardiologist would be better able to tell how to drain it with an ultrasound completed.

I am very sad. I am tired of going to the doctors. My ma is sad, too, she doesn't want me being pricked and prodded at ... it sucks.

Please pray for me. Thank you.