Thyroid help! The vet just scared me to death!

bluerexbear

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Blue, my "old man" started with a thyroid problem in December of 2010.  We started him on medication (methimazole) and he wasn't getting much better.  We did more bloodwork this past December and upped the dose. (from 10mg per day to 30 mg per day).  He was doing great, but still not gaining enough weight, so we upped the dose again (under the vet's guidance) to 40 mg per day.  Everything was good, but Blue started slowing down and having trouble jumping up like he used to.  I figured it was just age (he is 15) and ignored it because it was never very severe.  Recenty he took to meowing LOUDLY at night and last time, that was a sign of the thyroid issue.  I called my vet and took him in for a thyroid blood check on Thursday.  Just now,the vet called and frantically told me to cut him down to ONE PILL (he was taking FOUR) a day because his thyroid was dangerously low.  It was a 2 and was supposed to be 15-50.  She said his heart could stop and the level was scary to her!!!  She was obviously concerned and she scared me half to death.  I asked her if I shoud just stop all together, but she said no.  Does anyone have any experience with this??
 

kittylover23

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Oh goodness, I have no experience with this. I just wanted to send some loving vibes out to you and Blue!
My kitty Bobby passed of advanced hyperthyroidism in 2009. I miss him dearly.
 

emilymaywilcha

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It always amazes me that many vets don't automatically try to find a hospital that is allowed to radiate cats. When Emily was diagnosed, I was told to take her somewhere else for radiation and absolutely nothing about alternative treatments. So every time people talk about medication for hyperthyroidism, my first thought is, "Why didn't the vet order I-131?" I read on a website about iodine 131 radiation 95% of patients do not have any problems afterward. Unless there is no hospital near you that is legally permitted to radiate cats, I see no reason to medicate a kitty.
 

catsallaround

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No experience sorry.

Emily-Not everyone has the initial investment to invest.  The cost could be the months rent and then some.
 

kittylover23

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No experience sorry.

Emily-Not everyone has the initial investment to invest.  The cost could be the months rent and then some.
In the case of Bobby, radiation was not mentioned to me, only medication - another reason why I will never go back to that clinic. He passed during surgery. And I agree, some people aren't able to afford radiation treatment.
But if it were an option for poor Bobby, I would have done anything under the sun.
 
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emilymaywilcha

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No experience sorry.

Emily-Not everyone has the initial investment to invest.  The cost could be the months rent and then some.
I know it is very expensive, but nobody mentions their vets suggesting it as a treatment option. If money is the only reason not to do it, the vet obviously talked about that.
 
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emilymaywilcha

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In the case of Bobby, radiation was not mentioned to me, only medication - another reason why I will never go back to that clinic. He passed during surgery. And I agree, some people aren't able to afford radiation treatment. But if it were an option for poor Bobby, I would have done anything under the sun.
Do you think there was just no place in the Toronto area that does it? Not all hospitals are allowed to do it.
 

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Generally with Lucy's thyroid, my vet took it slow when increasing dosages.  And we always followed up with bloodwork a couple of weeks after adjusting dosages.  It takes several weeks for the medications to show up.

You may want to talk to your vet also about checking potassium levels.  Lucy has low potassium and she starts getting cranky when I don't keep up with her supplements.  Potassium will also affect the heart.
 
 

catsallaround

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Where I go I say right off the bat when it looks bad I have less then xyz to spend and they know to order tests one by one to make them count the most.  Hard truth is things cost.  My vet won't talk about things we could do after knowing what I have to work with. But if money never came up that is weird to not say oh here is an option it is pricey/far but would work.

I know my dad had animals insured and it was not mentioned as it was not option at time(cant remember why at moment)
 

AbbysMom

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Generally with Lucy's thyroid, my vet took it slow when increasing dosages.  And we always followed up with bloodwork a couple of weeks after adjusting dosages.  It takes several weeks for the medications to show up.
:yeah: that is how it was done with my Molly and how it is currently being done with my mother's cat, Roxie. In both cases the med was liquid Methimazole. My vet prefers the liquid as she can get more accurate with the dosage.

The radiation was offered as an option to us with Molly and we chose not to do it. Roxie has way too many health issues to even consider it.
 

emilymaywilcha

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That is how it was done with my Molly and how it is currently being done with my mother's cat, Roxie. In both cases the med was liquid Methimazole. My vet prefers the liquid as she can get more accurate with the dosage.
The radiation was offered as an option to us with Molly and we chose not to do it. Roxie has way too many health issues to even consider it.
Why did you choose to not do it for Molly?

When I was told Emily needed the I-131, I was told the treatment itself would cost $850 (not including the mandatory hospital stay). I was able to pay, but decided the day I got her last vet bill (for hospitalization, a blood test, IV fluids, euthanasia, and burial) my next kitten will have VPI.
 

emilymaywilcha

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I have no idea - I hadn't really even heard of radiation until a month after Bobby passed, and I thought "What? Why didn't my vet give me this option?".
Only one person can answer that question: your vet. But I encourage you to do a web search for I-131 veterinary hospitals in Ontario.
 
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bluerexbear

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I live in a rural area and neither of the vets I have seen have offered any kind of radiation treatment.  My cat's thyroid started off HIGH and became too low because of too much medication.  None of the treatment options have anything to do with money at all.  My vet knows I spare little expense when it comes to my cats. 

I really need advice based on the situation we are currently in...if anyone has btdt.  Did lowering the dose bring the thyroid back up?  Why would the vet not want me to just stop all medicine for now?
 

katachtig

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I live in a rural area and neither of the vets I have seen have offered any kind of radiation treatment.  My cat's thyroid started off HIGH and became too low because of too much medication.  None of the treatment options have anything to do with money at all.  My vet knows I spare little expense when it comes to my cats. 

I really need advice based on the situation we are currently in...if anyone has btdt.  Did lowering the dose bring the thyroid back up?  Why would the vet not want me to just stop all medicine for now?
The situation started out with hyperthyroidism and with too much medication, Blue ended up with severe hypothyroidism.  Keeping Blue on medication will help control the hyperthyroidism while evaluating the situation.  Hyperthyroidism can be hard on the heart and so to have him back where he started would be hard on him also.
 

orientalslave

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He has an overactive thyroid, and if you cut back the medication his blood levels should come back to an acceptable range fairly quickly.  Stopping it could lead to him rapidly swinging from one to the other.

Your vet should be blood testing him a couple of weeks after each change of dose, and on an ongoing basis for at least a few months.

The iodine treatment is usually very effective, but it needs specialised facilities, is expensive, and not all cats are suitable candidates.  The cat has to be in isolation for a period of time after the radioactive iodine is given, and that is too stressful for some cats. 

You might find this useful:

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/hyperthyroidism/info.html
 
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bluerexbear

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He has an overactive thyroid, and if you cut back the medication his blood levels should come back to an acceptable range fairly quickly.  Stopping it could lead to him rapidly swinging from one to the other.

Your vet should be blood testing him a couple of weeks after each change of dose, and on an ongoing basis for at least a few months.

The iodine treatment is usually very effective, but it needs specialised facilities, is expensive, and not all cats are suitable candidates.  The cat has to be in isolation for a period of time after the radioactive iodine is given, and that is too stressful for some cats. 

You might find this useful:

http://www.fabcats.org/owners/hyperthyroidism/info.html
Blue is 15 and he is a wonderful cat at home.  If I take him to the vet, he gets so stressed that he drools, growls, cries, and gets completely lethargic in my arms.  I can carry him in like a baby because he won't move once we are in the office!  I think trying to do the iodine treatment would probably send him over the edge tbh.  Maybe that is why the vet never mentioned it?  Is the iodine for hyper or hypo, btw?

The vet wants to recheck him in 3 weeks.

Beause the are no great vets close to me, I use two vets that are an hour drive away.  One is an hour drive in one direction, the other is an hour drive in the other direction.  One vet ordered the upped dose, the other one drew the bloodwork last week.  Today, I called both vets and had them exchange records.  I wish there was a better way, but unfortunately, because of where I live, there isn't.  Sometimes I am able to go one way easier than the other depending on my plans for the week. 
 
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emilymaywilcha

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Blue is 15 and he is a wonderful cat at home.  If I take him to the vet, he gets so stressed that he drools, growls, cries, and gets completely lethargic in my arms.  I can carry him in like a baby because he won't move once we are in the office!  I think trying to do the iodine treatment would probably send him over the edge tbh.  Maybe that is why the vet never mentioned it?  Is the iodine for hyper or hypo, btw?
Iodiine radiation is for hyperthyroidism. It takes one dose to cure the disease in 95% of feline patients. That is why I think every eligible patient should be able to get it. I can't say why your vet never recommended it, but your location probably has something to do with that.
 

cinderflower

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Blue, my "old man" started with a thyroid problem in December of 2010.  We started him on medication (methimazole) and he wasn't getting much better.  We did more bloodwork this past December and upped the dose. (from 10mg per day to 30 mg per day).  He was doing great, but still not gaining enough weight, so we upped the dose again (under the vet's guidance) to 40 mg per day.  Everything was good, but Blue started slowing down and having trouble jumping up like he used to.  I figured it was just age (he is 15) and ignored it because it was never very severe.  Recenty he took to meowing LOUDLY at night and last time, that was a sign of the thyroid issue.  I called my vet and took him in for a thyroid blood check on Thursday.  Just now,the vet called and frantically told me to cut him down to ONE PILL (he was taking FOUR) a day because his thyroid was dangerously low.  It was a 2 and was supposed to be 15-50.  She said his heart could stop and the level was scary to her!!!  She was obviously concerned and she scared me half to death.  I asked her if I shoud just stop all together, but she said no.  Does anyone have any experience with this??
i have a 15 y.o. female and she's had hyperthyroidism for 18 months.  diotima has been taking methimazole transdermal gel in her ears and it works fine, otherwise i would consider the radioactive iodine implant.  my vet offered me all three options: surgery (not usually a good idea for an older cat), methimazole gel ($34 a month) or radioactive iodine, and the inital cost for it is $1300, and follow-up labs push it closer to $1500.  it's the gold standard of hyperthyroidism treatment, but that's a lot of money.

um, i'm confused about the t-4 level.  my vet and other sources i've read say it should be between .8 and 4.  diotima went from 13.2 to 2.6 in one month on the gel, and 13 was dangerously high.  i also had her tested for liver and/or kidney damage, and she's fine.  how often do you have bloodwork done to see the level?
 
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