Sadie updates

I had been giving updates under the thread Hampton the feral cat returns after 8 months http://www.thecatsite.com/t/295873/hampton-the-feral-cat-returns-after-8-months-of-being-gone

yet have decided to start a fresh thread.  You can read about Sadie's adventures in the thread starting post #10.

Sadie continues to be up and down.  Last Friday she had the best day ever.  She was to the vet for a laser treatment, adequan injection and I gave her a B12 injection that day as well.  She was moving around so well and holding her head up and even playing some.  She ate and ate.  Saturday morning she was once again doing really well.  Then she started to crash.  I had one last anti inflammatory pill left and gave it to her that afternoon.  It seemed to perk her up.  She was good again that evening. 

Sunday morning she was very wobbly.  She didn't eat too well either.  Yet she perked up late morning and played a bit then too.  I did a 30 minute Reiki healing session with her.  She was so relaxed that she was snoring in my lap.  After the treatment she was exhausted.  She slept for hours.  I went to check on her to see if she would eat some more.  She couldn't get up.  I tried to help her, but she just fell.  Her eyes were vacant.  She has been loving my DH and wouldn't perk up for him either.  Later that afternoon, I gave her more pain meds.  She seemed nauseated as she was licking her lips and I found a small pile of liquid vomit.  After the pain meds began to work, I gave her 1/4 of a pepcid to see if it would help her stomach.  It did help and she perked up some and ate a bit before bed.  I decided to get up during the night to give her more pain meds.  She was definitely in pain.  I cried and cried yesterday.  It was pitiful watching her not be able to get up. 

This morning she was walking around just fine.  Happy to see us and purring up a storm.  She ate some.  We go back to the vet this afternoon.  She will have another laser treatment, adequan injection and then who knows what else. 

I am beginning to wonder if her toxoplasmosis is not active and her symptoms are all a result of her injuries.  She has been on the antibiotic for a week now and nothing has changed.  We see moments of change, but nothing consistent.

It sounds as though the general trend with Sadie is slow progress. It's great that she's responding to some of her treatments (even if the antibiotics aren't having the effect you hoped for). I'm still thinking of you both. for the bad days. It's awful to watch and feel so helpless. Come on Sadie. You can get through this.

My vet seems to be running out of ideas.  She wants to refer me to the medical vet clinic here in town.  We take our dog there for cancer treatments.  It costs an arm and a leg.  She would like Sadie to be seen by a neurologist.  Yet I am sure that will mean an MRI and even then if it's nerve damage there is nothing they can do.  It's just wait and see if the nerves can regenerate or heal.  I just want to give her time.  I am wondering about Gabapentin as it might be more appropriate for nerve pain. 

Given that nerve damage isn't treatable, I think the wait and see approach is a valid one - especially as vet visits seem to wear Sadie out. Giving her some more time is a good move, imo. I can't comment on gabapentin as I've no experience with it. You vet seems very approachable. Maybe another conversation with her (possibly without Sadie there) is a good idea.

Random thought - have you ever come across Bowen Therapy? It can really help the healing process. I use it all the time for me, and I've used it for years for my horses too. Even my lab has had a few sessions.

Poor Sadie. She sounds like a fighter. I hope that she will have fewer and fewer "downs." At least she is having some hours of peace and happiness with you and your DH.

We are back from the vet.  The vet was pushing a neurologist again, but I had to tell her no.  It's just not in the budget right now.  She believes Sadie's wobbliness is all the toxo.  Unfortunately there is no way to know how bad it is unless she has an MRI.  So she will continue on the toxo antibiotic.

The vet had more of the anti inflammatory drug so we are doing another 3 days and reassessing on Thursday.  She may go on Gabapentin on Thursday.  She also gave me some anti nauseau meds.  Hopefully they will help and not make her so sleepy. 

Sadie did well at the vet and moved around and wobbled so the vet could see. 

The vet said patience is my friend.  It could be 6 months for her nerves to heal.  I can do my best and try.

Please continue to send Sadie healing energy.  Thanks for keeping her in your thoughts.

You really are Sadie's hero. You couldn't be doing any more for that sweet girl. I'm glad the vet visit went well. As ever, you're both in my thoughts.

Columbine said:

You really are Sadie's hero. You couldn't be doing any more for that sweet girl. I'm glad the vet visit went well. As ever, you're both in my thoughts.

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       Really  hoping for the very best for Sadie.

We have had a few bright spots the past few days.  On Monday her trip to the vet wiped her out.  She would hardly move or eat the rest of the day.  Around 9pm I was desperate for her to eat something.  I decided to try some canned food on a spoon.  She started to eat it!!  She would bite the spoon and try to eat.  It was painstakingly slow, but I allowed her to try for 15 minutes or so.  I decided to just whiz up some canned food and a bit of water; no more bone broth.  She went crazy for it.  I left her some over night and she did eat a tiny bit. 

Tuesday was her best day ever.  She moved around and played and ate more than an entire can of food!!  The medicine was starting to work.  She was swallowing so much better, moving around with her head up and tail moving side to side.  It was so great to see.

Wednesday she ate well in the morning and then the nauseau set in and then the nauseau meds made her sleepy.  She ate well, but was very wobbly all day.  By evening she was tired and very wobbly.  At bedtime, I placed her on a soft towel and she went to sleep.  Unfortunately she rolled onto her right side and could not get herself up.  She was up against a pillow and just could not get up. 

This morning she was so stiff.  It took me working her muscles and helping her move around.  This took over 30 minutes.  Yet she was bright eyed.  She couldn't get up and move around at night so I am hoping the rest really helped her.  She ate well this morning ( over 1/2 can) and is moving around ok now.  I assume that the nauseau will set in soon then the pill will make her tired. 

We go back to the vet today.  She will have another laser treatment, adequan injection and refills on medication.  I will give her a B12 injection too. 

I am hopeful that the toxo meds are starting to work.  Also the anti inflammatory is certainly helping.  Now to figure out how to maintain her feeling so good when we have to reduce the anti inflammatory meds.

I'm glad to hear she's having a few good days. It seems like it's going to be a long journey with lots of ups and downs before she's fully recovered. She's so lucky you found her.

How are you doing? You must be exhausted. And how are all the boy cats?

Much love to you and Sadie.

It's good that Sadie's having good days, and that she's responding well to the meds. Fantastic to hear that shes eating better too. hope you're holding up ok

With the anti inflammatories - it might be worth discussing whether a turmeric or devil's claw supplement could be of use to Sadie. They're both proven herbal alternatives for treating certain types of inflammation, and might be a gentler or safer way to boost the effect of her meds.

Still thinking of you both

Norachan said:

 
I'm glad to hear she's having a few good days. It seems like it's going to be a long journey with lots of ups and downs before she's fully recovered. She's so lucky you found her.

How are you doing? You must be exhausted. And how are all the boy cats?

Much love to you and Sadie.

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I am so fortunate to work from home and have my own business which allows me so much time to be with her.  Yet I am exhausted.  The syringe feedings take a lot of my time.  Also I want to spend time with her getting her up and moving.  My DH helps out, but I can tell it's wearing on him as it seems our life revolves around Sadie.  Yet she so needs me and I have started to see a spark so I keep pushing forward.

My boy cats are all great.  I thank all of the crew each day for being patient and not causing issues.  They all take turns sitting outside of Sadie's room.  They know she is not well.

Outside boys are great.  They don't get much of my time either, but I do sneak in time each day.

It seems, hopefully, that Sadie's challenges are being met, slowly but surely.  These things are alwasy one step forward, two steps back - so frustrating until its one forward, only one back.  Patience is your friend and I really admire you for all you're doing.  All of your cats are lucky to have found you!

I'm so glad to hear that Sadie is progressing. YAY Sadie! She's so lucky that she found someone who would stick by her through all of this. You 2 will certainly be BFF's after this ordeal is over. Much love and hugs go out to you, Sadie and to the boys as well for their patience with their new sister's illness. Tons of good vibes out to Sadie. I hope she continues to progress towards a full recovery! 

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I'm happy to hear she's having good days where she can enjoy her new home and experience having loving human parents. I know how exhausting caring for a sick or injured cat is, and it's true that our lives revolve around them sometimes. She's going to be your loving little princess cat in no time. Glad for the update. 

Sadie had 3 really good days in a row.  Now she is in bad shape again.  It started yesterday around noon.  She has not been able to stand up and walk since.  If she tries, she collapses and fall on her right side and then cannot even roll herself up.  I am heart broken.  She was walking around Wed and Thursday with head held high, tail moving about an playing with a feather wand.  She was acting so much like a normal cat.  She was eating up a storm.  Now she cannot move and will not eat.  I assume she did too much.  My vet thinks it's a bulging disc pressing on her nerve.  Now it is inflamed again.  No amount of pain meds is touching this. 

My vet opens soon and I am going to call and see what I should do since it's a long weekend.  She has so much medicine to take, but needs food in her body to take it.  I am going to try bone broth again, but I bet she will refuse. 

Please send healing vibes to Sadie.  I know she has it in her to heal and be a normal cat.  Most likely we are looking at taking her for an ortho or neurology consult.  Ugh.  We just don't want to let her go. 

Sending tons of healing vibes. Poor Sadie.

Poor little girl. Hope you're holding up ok too

Come on Sadie. You can get through this

Yes, Sadie.  We are all sending you vibes and prayers.  You can do this, sweeheart.

Ann, prayers and vibes coming your way, too.

It's heartbreaking to read about how much she is struggling. Can the vet take an x ray to see if the disk is pressing on the nerve?  Let us know how the vet visit goes today.

Yes, I am including her in my prayers and am saying a novena for her and my injured feral, Muffin, every day. There are some wonderful Franciscan prayers I found online for sick and injured animals, they really emphasize God's love for these creatures and His closeness to them. I'm also using an Eastern Orthodox prayer rope made by monks on Mt. Athos that my priest gave me to say the Jesus Prayer and using it to pray for mercy for these animals. It's not a magical formula or anything, but just a means to get into closer contact with God's healing. I also trust that God will send financial blessing your way because I know how expensive all of Sadie's treatment must be and what a sacrifice you are making. If ever a cat deserved to recover and live a happy, long life it is Sadie. Waves of love to you, Sadie.