So how is our little diva?
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So how is our little diva?
Molly is...you know..molly. :)
She is doing okay. Loves that the weather is nice. I have to really watch her with the luxating patella though, as she can lose her balance easily. The other day she just went over and rolled onto her back (she was on the grass and playing with a fur friend) and she just lay there legs in the air with a what the heck look on her face. I picked her up, set her to rights, brushed her off and she didn't miss a beat, off to play some more, but this time on the sidewalk, where she has more stability. That girl!! She has a spirit that just won't quit.
I'll be signing the release tomorrow for the pharmacy I am switching too and around the third week of april I hope to have things in place to increase her dosage and start the cycle of testing all over again. We have to get her to a good place so the other things are easier to control.
I'm still fighting sinus problems left over from the whole bronchitis thing in February. Now on some different meds. Man this thing sucks, it's not in my lungs any more, just my head. (well they always say it's just in your head right. hahahahah)
We're swamped literally with wedding and family stuff. Family starts arriving this friday and the wedding isn't till the 11th, so I know I've been scarce around here, but bear with me awhile longer.
Work too takes a lot of time and energy as things have changed and I've picked up even more daily jobs, which just leaves me wanting a nap most days. I crash when I am home. LOL Not as young as I use to be obviously. Not even sure when that happened.
LOL
hugs all!
hi Sharlene,
Seems you are having as hectic a time as we...
I hope all goes well w Molly. Seems like she is a little trooper.
Your energy and optimism is refreshing and strengthening . I wish I could be as so.
No ,matter what tomorrow brings for us, I wish you both good outcomes and more happy times.
Sorry to hear you're feeling under the weather, especially with everything that you have going on. Fingers crossed that everything goes well for Miss Molly when you increase the dose - I'll be thinking of her even if I don't get a chance to drop by.
Well the wedding is over and I am trying to get back into the swing of normal after wedding life again. :) At least until the honeymoon in a couple weeks when we'll be taking care of two cats. LOL
The wedding was beautiful, bride gorgeous and groom handsome, it all went off perfectly, but oh my gosh, exhausting! I think we all slept our way through sunday evening and monday, as much as possible at least between ferrying people to the airport at various times.
Molly is home, yay! I hate when she is away but as much as we loved the wedding, she would have hated it. It took her awhile to get settled this time when she got home. She would be up and down, and not really rest for quite a while, moving from spot to spot. She wouldn't let me out of her sight either, just wanted to be where ever I was. Not her normal thing after being boarded, and I wonder if maybe it is that so many of the staff have changed and not as many of her normal regular people any more. She is much more comfortable it now seems going to the vet hospital where her specialist are and seeing the regular vet techs there. Even though it is huge and she shakes on the way and when we first get there, she always comes out happy as a clam and settled with her regular vet techs who take care of her and do the blood draws and blood pressure. She loves those people. Normally that is how she is after boarding but not this time.
We'll be raising her trilostane dose soon. I have them already from the new pharmacy I'm using.
Well back to sleep. I am trying to catch up on the forum as much as possible. I'm sorry for those I have missed, as I am sure there must be more than a few.
hugs all
Molly will be going back to the specialist for ACTH/UPC this thursday. We increased the dosage of trilostane to 15mg tuesday, 2 weeks ago so it's time to check again.
I've noticed a couple things lately. Eye sight, even though the vet said she her cataracts remain small, she had a couple more retinal bleeds that have now likely scared over as she has real difficulties at night seeing or in low light and shadows become threats and make her very skittish for night walks. She also hasn't walked around the pool outside once since we opened it this year. She just seems to not feel comfortable exploring all the way around. Hopefully as she is out more, she will get more comfortable with her territory and feel safe to explore and enjoy her yard again.
Kidneys, I'm noticing that she has to go out more lately. No accidents, but definitely wants out more often, and gets the tremors in the morning until she can get outside. So we are trying to get her out earlier now. I don't know if that is a sign of the protein loss and kidney issues or not or if she has something else going on. She will have a urinalyis when they do the UPC Thursday so if something is going on, I hope it shows up so we can address it.
Luxating patellas are definitely worse. She wants to walk on the grass but sometimes it is almost impossible for her to remain stable. She doesn't appear to be in any pain, but I keep the halter tight enough that if she loses balance I can support her till she gets back on the sidewalk. The hardest thing is that today, we have a cushy mat in front of the kitchen sink and I saw her hind quarters just drop when she was walking on it at one point this evening. I think it was the leg, but definitely a symptom of worsening, and I hope it isn't anything else. I haven't seen her do it since, so don't think it is a return of the back issue.
It is hard to see their bodies failing them and try to remain positive. Some days it's harder than others I guess.
Over all though, she is still happy, I think. Wants attention, not really playing with her toys as much but sometimes, that comes and goes. She will lay on her back and kick and play with us when we tickle or kiss her tummy. She is always available for treats. :)
hugs all
Sharlene--sure do hope Molly's cortisol and UPC numbers come down! Curious how often you are checking her potassium levels ...
We hadn't done them for awhile prior to the increase in the benazepril and then we did a full renal panel.
So I don't check them every time, but if I see something trending upwards, then I tend to start checking it more often.
I agree. It is very hard to watch their little bodies get more frail. I'm experiencing that with my Molly. Cuddling is fine. It's other activities that are difficult. Some days are better than others. I know there will come a day when we need to decide how her quality of life is. I dread the day. She will be 14 in September. The IMS commented on Thursday how cute they are in the kennel together. She said Kaibo was wrapped right around Molly as if to be protecting her and comforting her. Ummm. Excuse me!? I said I need a picture of that! Then, as if on cue, as I put them both down on the floor, Molly barked at him and told him right off. Omg.
So for the first time in forever, molly's cortisol levels are controlled.
7 May, 2015
pre 44nmol (1.59ug)
post 103nmol (3.8ug)
This is after an increase to 15mg trilostane from 11mg trilostane. 2 weeks, so I expect it will go down more, but hopefully not too much. She will be retested the end of june to make sure. I can't do anything sooner as I can't miss work, we are all on no time off orders starting beginning of june to mid june. It did drop over 200 points though, so I will watch her closely.
Her kidney levels are all within range and she is concentrating urine still
Even potassium is down to 5.1, and within range.
Her UPC remains at 2.7 and we're just going to monitor that.
Her ALT is raised to 224 from 163 in Sept, 2014
Her ALKP is raised 1742 from 1400 in Sept, 2014
I don't have the ranges as I got this all over the phone from the IMS and she'll be emailing me copies of the reports later.
Ultrasound shows no major changes. Adrenals still bilaterally enlarged, no change in the nodule, liver shows normal expectations of high cortisol.
So, it's a good report. I just have to watch for any adverse reactions that might indicate she has gone too low on the trilostane. If she does we'll have to back off to 14mg.
hugs