Hyperthyroidism

So the vet got more blood tests results back for Tulip and her thyroid levels are really high (160 when they should be between 10 and 60). So we're pretty sure it's hyperthyroidism that's been causing her breathing problems. I've been reading a bit about it online and I'm not sure why the vet didn't think of it in the first place (originally he said it could be asthma, heart problems or a respiratory infection). It could be because she's only 7 and it sounds like hyperthyroidism is rare in cats that age.

Anyway, I have to take her in again this morning to give another blood sample so they can check to see if she's developed any heart problems. Then we'll start her on the medication for the high thyroid. I'm really praying that the medication will make her feel better (though she's already made a significant improvement) even though we're going to have to give it to her for the rest of her life. I'm a little concerned now that she may have a weakened heart because of it but hopefully that will get better on it's own when we treat the hyperthyroidism.

The only thing that's worrying me now is taking her to the vet this morning. She gets so stressed out going there and the stress makes her breathing worse. But I guess there's no way around it, hopefully it'll be a quick trip.

I guess I should be relieved (and I am) since last Friday I thought for sure she wasn't going to make it through the weekend...

My Lucy was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism also at the age of 7 so she's had it for the last year. I take her in every six months and have her levels and blood pressure checked. This last visit, her blood pressure was high though her thyroid levels were just within the upper "normal" range. Because of this, my vet upped her dosage and within a week, her blood pressure was much better.

I hope that they are able to bring Tulip's levels down quickly and that there hasn't been any permanent damage. Hopefully getting her symptoms under control will help her stress levels also. Lucy does better when hers are.

Sorry to hear Tulip's got hyperthyroidism. Dorothy has it too, which we found out when we took her for her first check-up a few days after adopting her. I knew something was up when she meowed ALL NIGHT and drank a ton. I mentioned it to the vet, they did the blood tests, and yep. HT. Her levels weren't too too high though, which makes us think we caught it pretty early. I'm glad for that, as who knows how long she'd have gone untreated if we didn't adopt her? Anyway, after just 1 day on the pills, she stopped meowing all night. Still drinks a lot, but her kidneys are still good and her last tests in August were great. BP is good too.

Hyperthyroidism does typically happen in older cats, which is why the vet changed her age from 5 (shelter estimate) to 9 after getting the results. Hard to believe she's that old though, she plays like a kitten! So yes, it kind of sucks to have to give her a pill every 12 hours, but we work around it. Sometimes we talk about finding out more about the radioactive iodine treatment, but really I'm not sure we could put her through that.

I hope Tulip isn't too too stressed out for her vet appointment. Since it makes her breathing worse, could you maybe ask you vet if there's any sort of mild sedative type thing you could give her before having to shove her in the carrier to go to the vet? I don't know, just a thought. I feel very lucky that my cats are fine with trips to the vet (knock on wood).

Best of luck to you and Tulip!!!

Be sure and join this Yahoo group for people with HyperT cats - http://pets.dir.groups.yahoo.com/gro...sec=dir&slk=11

MANY vets start the cat on too high a dose and the cat goes HYPO! My cat did and we had to take her off the Methimazole for a couple of weeks and restart at 1/4 the dose! If I would have known about the group, that would never have happened!

Check it out!

Unfortunately, the stress was too much for Tulip and she didn't make it.

I will close this thread and you can visit her memorial thread here.