Excellent!
When a part of the digestive tract gets sick, you can consider any or all other parts to be sick as well. This is why vets want to continue monitoring through blood work. The liver can be affected, the immune system, etc.
A. I am just trying to understand what might be going on other than pancreatitis.
B. How long does it typically take for a cat to recover from a bout of pancreatitis? Obi seems to have recovered quickly, NOT COMPLAINING AT ALL ABOUT THIS!
C. Will I need to keep him on pred and reglan (1.5 TID) for the rest of his life, or will the vomiting/pancreatitis return?
I know you are not a vet.
I'm sorry that Obi is hiding under the bed. I definitely understand your concern. That is not a normal thing for any of my cats, either, so I would also be concerned. When do you give Obi his medications? Before or after he eats?
A. I am just trying to understand what might be going on other than pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis is frustrating because no one seems to know exactly what causes it, and if there is a specific cause, it could vary significantly with each case. It could be a by-product of something like IBD or it can be caused by drugs and vaccines or a myriad of other reasons. Pancreatitis can occur concurrently with other conditions, be a result of some issue that occurred first, and/or cause complications with surrounding organs (liver, gallbladder, stomach, common bile duct, etc.). I went through the same thing wracking my brain over what could have caused Sebastian's pancreatitis. In the end, the vets don't know and I'll never know. I opted to focus on his GI health and keep the inflammation under control.
B. How long does it typically take for a cat to recover from a bout of pancreatitis? Obi seems to have recovered quickly, NOT COMPLAINING AT ALL ABOUT THIS!
There have been cases of acute pancreatitis, which can occur just one time. Acute pancreatitis is usually very severe, may require hospitalization, and could take weeks to recover. Some cats never get it again. Sometimes acute pancreatitis can turn into chronic pancreatitis. I believe this is what happened to Sebastian. There are also cats who have chronic pancreatitis that manifests as kind of a low-level pancreatitis, but there's a risk of it blowing up into something bigger. Sebastian's chronic pancreatitis varies in severity. He's had mild, moderate, and severe flares.
C. Will I need to keep him on pred and reglan (1.5 TID) for the rest of his life, or will the vomiting/pancreatitis return?
It may be a juggling act for you and your vet for awhile to figure out what keeps Obi happy and healthy. As I mentioned previously, it took us six months to really get a grip on Sebastian's issues. In that timeframe, there was a lot of adjusting, trying different things, and pulling back when something didn't go well. But we always went VERY slow.
I know you are not a vet.
http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/famotidine/566
Its my understanding that reglan and pepcid need to be given 2 hours apart; and that Pred works best overnight...I will try to get this confirmed and post.
I know exactly what test that is because Sebastian had it, and they aren't cheap.
The chat with the vet: she recommended the full GI panel, you know, the one that tests for the B12 and folate levels, and also says how effected the pancreas is. Damn test has to be shipped to Texas (overnight). She kind of hung tough with that test; she said otherwise we are guessing at what Obi needs. Sigh. These tests are not cheap.
Obi's behavior continues to puzzle/disturb me. When i come home, or if its meal time, he is out and about, vocalizing. He eats really well. He stays out and about for a bit; then he goes under the bed. I dont know how to interpret this; typically a cat hides when he is not feeling well, but as near as I can tell, he is not uncomfortable. Maybe he thinks I am going to come after him with a syringe full of medication?
In the meantime, my other cat is off her food today - and its the NV rabbit. I just caved and gave her something else. She ate some, not much. I think she is used to two meals a day, not three, and is having trouble adjusting.
Did Sebastian retreat after eating? Obi WANTS to eat, he is totally interested in his food...
I know exactly what test that is because Sebastian had it, and they aren't cheap.Maybe Obi doesn't know what he wants, maybe he's avoiding his medication, maybe he's not feeling 100% after he eats and retreats there. It's difficult to decipher. I hope the test gives you some more information.
Sebastian had trouble eating when he was flaring because he was nauseous. He would be up and about, but once he heard me start to prepare their meal, he'd run upstairs and sit in the corner of the room. Eating made him nauseous, and so therefore he started avoiding mealtimes. Or, if he felt a little better, he would try. He'd take a sniff or a couple licks and walk away, which is also nausea. So the fact that Obi IS eating is a good sign that he's probably not feeling too bad.
Did Sebastian retreat after eating?