Concern over snoring.

[cat pal]

I am confused about how you dose the Azithromax, which I asume is azithromycin. It is quite common to give this drug for six weeks or more at a time for conditions like chronic rhinitis, that's what worked for Willis - until it didn't.  What has the vet instructed you to do with the "next run" ? Before Atopica, the internal med specialist who did all of his CT scan, biopsy, etc. had me try Zyrtec with Willis, which is an OTC human antihistamine. No effect. There are human products that people use on cats, nasal decongestants included, but I would never try this without the recommendation of a highly qualified vet. My primary vet is at a point where she doesn't make a move with Willis without the recommendation of the specialist, because these treatments and doses he has been trying are out of her league.  Pain killers are a good example of what can go very wrong, cats can't tolerate most pain meds which makes it very tricky to address their pain.

 

[ginny]

Gracie had an initial 5 days of Azithromycin, then every 3rd day for a month.  I just finished up the 2nd month this week and now going on 3rd month, every 3rd day.  I still think that, given that she got better after that 5th dose - she had no symptoms for almost 2 whole days, she didn't get enough of the drug.  But the vet says they only give the drug for 5 days then every 3rd day and so if that didn't take care of it, then all it treated was a secondary infection and that the primary infection is still there.  

I don't get it.  Maybe I'm dense or something, but it seems to me that if the drug made her symptoms go away, and then the symptoms started coming back once the drug dose was lessened to every 3rd day, that tells me that she didn't get that drug LONG enough to kill all the bacteria. So my question is: if the primary infection is viral, which can't be treated or eliminated, where was that virus and it's symptoms during that 2 days when she had none???   Superbugs abound these days and medicine is far from perfect, but that's why doctors and vets need to listen to their patients when they tell them what works and what doesn't!  

Stephanie recommended I ask for a culture.  I did!  Several times, with several different vets.  They all said the same thing.  It wouldn't help.

I'm out of money or else I'd go to another vet.  God I hate feeling like Gracie could be helped if only I had more money.  

 

[ginny]

Let me clarify (I'm tired, just got home from work, can't think).  Gracie started Azithromycin in May.  She initially got a daily dose (around 50mg) for 5 days in a row, then started every 3rd day, same dose.  And it's been the same dose since May, every 3rd day. 

 

[cat pal]

http://todaysveterinarypractice.epubxp.com/i/107844-jan-feb-2013/9

My cat Willis took Azithromycin every day for 6 weeks, per internal med specialist who did his CT, rhinoscopy, biopsy, flush...

My experience with this specialist is that she will try things the primary vet might not think of or dare, primary vets are sometimes reading the same internet literature that you are for med and dosing info.

Willis had also been on doxycycline, and this vet also mentioned doxycycline - used in similar cases to azithromycin - because of its anti-inflammatory as well as antibiotic properties.

The issue with doxy is that you have to make sure you chase it with water b/c it can damage the esophagus if it gets stuck on the way down, and it can cause stomach upset.

The internal med specialist I saw asked me before she did any procedures with Willis if I needed a payment plan, that might work for you.

I hated to go the specialist route, and didn't until I felt I had no other option, but the primary vet was out of ideas, and actually pushed me quite hard in that direction.

Seems to me that continuing to give the same med at the same dose for three months when it has no effect is counter productive.

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"

That said, I agree that you shouldn't make an executive decision on your own to change dosing.

Willis got minor relief this winter when I took him in the bathroom while I showered and he got a steam treatment.

 

[ginny]

Every day for six weeks?  And that still didn't help him?  I agree that doing the same thing expecting different results is insanity.  The problem is I'm at the end of my money.  I'm having to raise money just for her CT which will likely help as much as it did your kitty.  I can't even do that right now.  So I asked the internal med vet for medical options.  He suggested exactly what I'm doing now per her regular vet which is low-dosing the drug that initially helped.  At this point the only option I have is to take her back to that same specialist and give him the article you sent.  It might insult him but he might be willing to increase the dose and length per these recommendations.  Of course I would be nicer to him in person than I'm being here, but here I am just venting.  The other thing is this:  even if I did all that you've done, would she be on the road to recovery?  It seems not from what you're telling me.  This is so frustrating.  And of course it comes at a time when I have little energy due to depression.  

 

[ginny]

Thanks for the link.  I copied it so I could speak to the Internal med Vet on Monday.  He saw her last.  Since her regular vet dosed her, I wonder if the Internal med guy knows she didn't get a proper loading dose?  I calculated that she got 40mg daily for 5 days, then 40mg every 3rd day.  Yet based on your article Dr. Sharp would have given her 15mg/kg/24hr (or 75mg!) followed by every 48 hour dosing (i'm guessing at a lower dose.)  Gracie got only half that.  Anyway, I'm still not sure how long she would have relief at that dose, according to how you say things have gone with Willis.    

Any luck with L-lysine?  Any tips there?  I've heard you can't give it mixed in with other proteins.  

 

[ginny]

I left for work this morning and Gracie was fine, I mean just about as good as she has been these past few weeks.  She ate breakfast and then went to her spot to sit down.  I put a bowl of water and a bowl of chicken broth nearby.  But tonight I came home and she was hiding in her cozy.  When I got her to come out her eyes were completely black, she looked scared and confused, looking up into the air like there was something there.  She wouldn't eat, but did drink some chicken broth and water.  She is snorty but no more so than usual and had some dried drainage I had to clean off her nose. 

I would ask for prayers but I'm not sure if there is a God, let alone one who does miracles.  If you are so inclined, tell him I really need $2000 to magically appear in my bank acct. so Gracie can be diagnosed, or to just make Gracie's illness, whatever it is, magically disappear.  That would be easier.  

I've just spoken with Dr. Helms assistant who said she thinks it sounds neurological, which doesn't sound good.  She mentioned that dr. Helms had said something about a bulla in her left ear.  Does that mean a polyp?  I didn't ask her.  Dr. Helms couldn't see into her left ear due to inflammation - that was when he first saw her at her first appt with him weeks ago in June.  

Right now she is meowing like either she's in pain or just confused about where she is.  I don't know.  Please go ahead and pray.  What can it hurt?  I only had 3 hours sleep last night and I can tell I'm not going to get any sleep tonight either.