Insulinoma :( Low Blood Sugar?

[wemple2]

Tink the kitty sitter...I can just see it! Your vet clinic really sounds awesome, so caring. Good to hear she had her labs redone...hoping for some answers for you guys. Winston and I send our love!!!

[Tink04]

I received Tink's results from her lab bloodwork, which appears "unsure"... This is likely because she could not be fasted the required 12 hours, only about 4.
But, my vet says that putting her on the enzymes will not hurt anything.
They said she shows the symptoms for a small intestine issue - which they are saying I need to give her a B12 shot (Procalamine) - and that she can show me how. They also mentioned a very low fat diet, which would mean no chicken or yummies, only a canned food. My vet said she thought this would not go over well with Tinky, and I agreed - the chicken is what encourages her to eat every 4 hours. I know she will not want dog food every 4 hours.
She mentioned the Pancreatic Enzymes are all back-ordered, so she mentioned "Enzyme Diane" - Enzyme Diane - - who has good prices, and it vet approved.
I so hope these things will help little Tinky - I'm sure at least one of the two things will help her. Thank you for your Tink prayers and thoughts!

[wemple2]

I sure hope the enzymes do the trick. I had wondered if the test couldn't be "done" because she couldn't fast the entire time, if the enzymes would do any harm. It's good to hear that they won't hurt her and it's definitely worth a try. Has she by any chance been checked for Pernicious Anemia? The B-12 injections will treat that. Will she get them monthly? When you feed chicken is it all white meat? I agree with you and the vet, if it's chicken she wants...it's chicken she gets, if that's what gets her to eat. Maybe less of it? I don't know if I'd be willing to take that away from her...I sure wouldn't want her to not want to eat as often as she needs to eat. Much love, many thoughts and prayers continue for you both. Keep us updated, how's she been feeling lately?

[Tink04]

Originally Posted by wemple2

I sure hope the enzymes do the trick. I had wondered if the test couldn't be "done" because she couldn't fast the entire time, if the enzymes would do any harm. It's good to hear that they won't hurt her and it's definitely worth a try. Has she by any chance been checked for Pernicious Anemia? The B-12 injections will treat that. Will she get them monthly? When you feed chicken is it all white meat? I agree with you and the vet, if it's chicken she wants...it's chicken she gets, if that's what gets her to eat. Maybe less of it? I don't know if I'd be willing to take that away from her...I sure wouldn't want her to not want to eat as often as she needs to eat. Much love, many thoughts and prayers continue for you both. Keep us updated, how's she been feeling lately?

I think that her results weren't exactly clear due to her unable to fast as well. My vet says the enzymes will not hurt her, and I know people who test negative for the disease still give enzymes, and often it helps the issue. I'm not positive if shes been tested for Pernicious Anemia - I'm wondering if that would show up on her full panel bloodwork she gets every few months. I forgot how often she will get the B12 shots - I know she is going to show me how to do it. Actually, my mom - Tink's "Grammy" is the one who does the "mean" things to her like poking her to do her blood sugar. But then "Grammy" brings Tink chicken to suck up to her on days when she doesn't have to be "mean" For her chicken, I cook chicken breasts (the frozen kind you get in a 3lb bag). Honestly, without the chicken, she could care less about eating - or her cottage cheese. She was acting a bit off this morning, turned down her chicken, but when I put some cottage cheese on her tongue it got her to eat. I think she's been having very mild tummy upsets, but hopefully the antibiotic I gave her this morning will get rid of some of bacteria in her belly that is causing the upset.

I raelized something yesterday that I'm not too happy about, however. When I called Walgreens to fill her Prednisone, the confirmation said "5 mg" - but I have been splitting the 5mg into 1/4 because that was printed on the label. I thought I was getting 20mg, then 1/4 them for the 5mg. Instead, she's only been getting 1.25 a day! It was a mistake by the vet tech. Even though I know it was a mistake, it's rather aggravating, because I have been very stressed because her sugar has been getting lower - due to the fact her pred is much less than before. Not happy... but maybe it happened for a reason, I know the pred is hard on them.
So we are going up to 2.5 and seeing how her sugar does.
Thank you for thinking and praying for Miss Tink - I am going to have to meet with my vet to make sure I understand where we are with her EPI symptoms
Love to Winston!

[wemple2]

Wow, yeah I can understand your frustration about the error with her Prednisone. I hope the slight increase will keep her sugar up and have less other side effects, it could be a win-win situation. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you both. But if it doesn't, then at least you'll know why. I doubt the routine blood work would include testing for Pernicious Anemia. But I wonder if your vet has checked it, which is why they are suggesting B-12 injections...due to mal-absorption. I don't know, just guessing. Did you order the Enzymes yet? I can't wait to see if it helps...hoping, praying. Winston sends hugs and kisses !!!

[Tink04]

Miss Tink has been doing well minus some tummy upsets. She didn't want to eat on Thursday, so off to the vet we went. Her blood work and fecal all looked good, so the vet put her on Mirtazapine for a few days. I plan on starting her pancreatic enzymes tomorrow evening - so I hope that all goes well.
I'm wondering if she should be on Mirtazapine long-term. It's an appetite stimulant, plus anti depressant. I've noticed Miss Tink has been much happier and has been more like her Tink-self since her diagnosis. I hate to put her on another medication, but if it will help her want to eat every 4 hours, it may be a good option. Has anyone had experience with Mirtazapine in the long-term?

[wemple2]

I have no experience with Mirtazapine, maybe someone else knows more about it. Let me know how she does on the enzymes...sure hope you find something to keep her tummy issues at bay.

[Tink04]

I started Miss Tink on her Pancreatic Enzymes this morning. I hope there are no adverse reactions and that she only experiences GOOD things in her little belly. She has been eating plants... which is hard to determine if she doesn't feel good, or if she just simply wants to eat plants (she has done this randomly for many years) No, Tink - you can not eat plants in the yard. She willingly ate her food this morning with the enzymes added thankfully - she is "on" to me a lot because most of the time her meals include some form of medication. Tink is an expert "pill-spitter-outter". I called her specialist to consult about the Mirtazapine - which they said, go for it. An anti depressant, plus an appetite stimulant - I think will make both of our lives easier and she has been doing well on it since last Thursday. Tink has quite a cabinet full of medications...
Daily:
Prednisone
Tylosin (antibiotic)
Forti-Flora (pro biotic)
Mirtazapine (appetite stimulant)(
Others:
Palladia every 3rd day
Cerenia when needed
B-12 shot every Saturday

Thank you all for thinking and praying for Miss Tink - hopefully between her enzymes, B12 shot, and Mirtazapine we can combat these pesky tummy issues.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Tink04

Miss Tink has been doing well minus some tummy upsets. She didn't want to eat on Thursday, so off to the vet we went. Her blood work and fecal all looked good, so the vet put her on Mirtazapine for a few days. I plan on starting her pancreatic enzymes tomorrow evening - so I hope that all goes well.
I'm wondering if she should be on Mirtazapine long-term. It's an appetite stimulant, plus anti depressant. I've noticed Miss Tink has been much happier and has been more like her Tink-self since her diagnosis. I hate to put her on another medication, but if it will help her want to eat every 4 hours, it may be a good option. Has anyone had experience with Mirtazapine in the long-term?

I have used Mirtazapine short term only ... it works well for some and not so well for others. When it does work, it is amazing!

[wemple2]

Hope all goes well for Tink, keeping my fingers crossed.

[Tink04]

Well Tink had been doing well... minus the setback this morning. She ate her piece of chicken with her Prednisone in it just fine, but vomited it about 20 minutes later. I usually feed her her meal with the Pred, but I forgot her enzymes need to sit on her food for 20 minutes before she can eat it. So my mom took her to the vet for me this morning... 2 vet trips in 2 weeks. I'm starting to feel very defeated. It seems that no matter what medications she is on, she always gets these times when she throws up, and doesn't feel good. But I guess it just may be the cancer causing it all... I feel terrible. All I do is wake her up to eat, force medications on her, then make her go to the vet constantly. I am in constant worry that the vomiting will appear out of nowhere. I just hope they can make her feel better at the vet...
Cancer sucks....

[wemple2]

I'm so sad to hear Tink is having another episode. I sure hope the vet can get her tummy feeling better so that the enzymes have a chance to help her. I know all you want is for her to be happy and comfortable, I pray she is. Please let me know how she's doing tonight...

[Tink04]

Originally Posted by wemple2

I'm so sad to hear Tink is having another episode. I sure hope the vet can get her tummy feeling better so that the enzymes have a chance to help her. I know all you want is for her to be happy and comfortable, I pray she is. Please let me know how she's doing tonight...

She has eaten for me a few hours ago, so that is promising. She once again, has clostridium overgrowth - the technician said there were some "very large" spores in her fecal. So we have a round of Biomox antibiotic, and we will continue her Mirtazapine. In the past, this usually will control it for some time. I also always have Cerenia on hand. She will get her next B12 shot on Saturday, which I was told a low B12 level could turn into SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth) - so I just really hope between the B12 shot and her enzymes, something will help her poor little tummy. She did eat for me, but I can tell she doesn't feel that good. Hopefully after her nap she starts feeling better. Thank you for thinking and praying for Miss Tink

[wemple2]

Thanks for the update and know you are both in my constant thoughts and prayers. I wish there was an easy answer to her issues...maybe the B-12 combined with the enzymes are it. Feel better sweet Tink...I want nothing more than to hear "it's working...Tink is happy and comfortable"!!!

[Tink04]

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
I thought we were getting better... but this morning Tink didn't want to eat again. I had to force feed her, then dilute her many medications in order to get her to take them. I just hope that the medications make it to where she feels better when I go home for lunch. If she doesn't eat at lunch, I don't know what I'm going to do... the vet has already given me any medication they would give her. I suppose I will just have to force feed her and as long as she keeps it down... I really really worried we have gotten to the point where the bad days outnumber the good. The vet mentioned to possibly to another ultrasound to see the status of the tumor. Honestly, I don't want to know because it really wouldn't change anything as far as treatment or medications goes. I don't know, it may just be me, but there are things I just don't want to know. I don't want to know if the tumor is growing....
All I really want is for her to be comfortable and happy