Hi Christine, I think you should stop Googling, your making your worry worse. Drug companies put all sorts of warnings on their products just to cover themselves. Vets like doctors have the bigger picture and they often okay two different types of medicines that are fine to take together.
Trust your vet, they are the people that know best and you should listen to what the vet is saying and not Google.
Like Tina, I wish I knew what to do about your neighbour apart from ignoring him.
Get yourself a drink, sit in the garden with Porsch and stop Googling.
Sending big hug, I wish I could do more for you.
Love Debbie xx
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Hello all.
Just spoken at length with my therapist who is a real brain box and clued up on all medical stuff and he has made sense of what I have told him which is
- Taking Porsch to the vet over a year ago treated her symptoms then and she improved and so cannot have had hyperthyroid or kidney disease then. She returned to a normal weight with wees and poos.
- The treatment for her bladder infection is unlikely to have caused the kidney damage but rather exposed it in the urine sample test. I know she has been using puppy training pads for a while now (because shed miss her tray) but never weed like she does recently. So the kidney failure is recent and sudden.
- Her hyperthyroid medication will bring down her heart rate and even out her thyroid function and give some relief to the kidneys because they wonāt have to work as hard (like an engine that has been revved up and then returned to normal).
- Regular blood tests will monitor thyroid levels and the filtration of toxins.
- The symptoms of her being āoldā (sleeping, a bit wobbly, being less active, less interested in things, eating less) are not necessarily āend stageā and not to overreact the way that I have been.
- This is the start of her treatment and may need tweaking to see improvement but she is already loving her new food as part of the ongoing care plan. āEnd stageā cannot be determined by a vet unless in a really chronic condition and sheās not there yet.
- I need to stop reacting to the news and focus on the next appointment for new information.
- Cats can live for a number of years with good care but any number of other conditions can become chronic in an elderly cat.
So I have to stop focusing on her actual death and this condition being a death sentence. Feel more hopeful now that Porsch still has a life to live and not have to say goodbye just yet.
Thankyou all x You have helped me get through this weekend and I feel ready now to tackle my trip to the vet on Monday. Feel absolutely exhausted and will sleep tonight knowing she isnāt at deaths door just yet. She even came in looking for me earlier for some food.
Have a shopping delivery later so hoping I got something to tempt me to eat but I have no clue what I ordered apart from her litter and training pads!
Tons of love xxx
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Hi Christine
Glad you are feeling a little stronger now. Have something nice to eat, have a rest and a brew and forty winks if you need it. Goodness me youāve earned it and your entitled to it.
Speak again (make sure you rest!)
Xx
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Hi Christine,
Iām glad you had support from your therapist and you seem much calmer now.
As Tina said find something special to eat and have a good rest.
Speak to you again later.
Love Debbie xx
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Hi Christine, I hope you have had a better evening and feel more settled. Did you have lots of goodies in your shop that were good to eat. Thought I would have a quick check in as Iām going to bed shortly, work again tomorrow.
Itās certainly been very hot and muggy today. But it has turned a bit cooler this evening thank goodness, better for sleeping. I hope you have a better nightās sleep tonight.
I havenāt done much today, we had a faith lunch at church which made a pleasant change.
Love and hugs to you and Porsch and Iāll be thinking of you tomorrow morning when you see the vet again. Deep breaths you will be fine.
Love Debbie xx
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Hi Tina,
Now that Iāve had time to reflect Iāve accepted the new situation with Porsch and will just have to go with the flow of regular trips to the vet and try to coax her into eating. Sheāll lap up the gravy. Loves it. But not much meat being eaten. And of course Iām having to sit with her to tempt her to eat, holding the plate up to her chin. Sure sheās playing games with me. Sheās always been a very fussy eater.
Feel really exhausted. Just had a cheese egg scramble. Itās all I could manage. No appetite. But lots of drinks. Sorted my shop (no litter for Porsch but I already have 2 bags). I canāt seem to put my mind to anything, even tv. Just waiting now for tomorrow to see what else can be done. Hope she can have steroids to boost the appetite.
Thank you Tina for keep popping in and checking on me. I feel so vulnerable without mam and the pressure to do the right thing is immense. No big decisions yet. And I donāt think the person who phoned me had much sympathy for Porsch. Sheās on the rug at the front door where she often goes to cool down.
Tried watching a bit of Glastonbury and realised I didnāt know many of the tunes so gave up. Sign of being middle aged! Does 50ās still count or am I past that as well? Was most upset when I didnāt qualify for the 18 to 30ās holiday, not that Iāve ever done that. Sitting by the open windows at the back overlooking the garden. Very peaceful for a change. Blasting music all of last night.
Hope youāve survived the heat of today. 30 degrees but I didnāt check my thermometer. Been a very surreal weekend.
Lots of love xxx
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Hi Debbie,
I was just saying to Tina itās been a very surreal weekend. I feel so exhausted now I can barely stay awake. Managed a scramble egg and cheese but no appetite. Have a sense of calm now after all the stress. I always overreact to news, thinking the worst and reacting to it as if it is happening now. But I will manage Porsch however she needs me to and can only trust that the vet has done the best for her, although I will ask about the warning for the kidneys with her thyroid medication.
Sitting peacefully by the open windows, candles and fairy lights on in the shrine. Feels like there might be a storm. Hope so. I did laugh imagining you hiding under the stairs. I think itās exciting, the bigger the better.
Glad your church lunch was nice. It must be reassuring and comforting to be part of something like that. I feel so isolated living here and not speaking to anyone, and the only interaction is of hostility.
I noticed my big irises have been trampled on and broken. Assuming itās the fox but itās never happened before. I had done a little weeding in that area so maybeās it encouraged it to make a bed there. My first thought was a neighbour getting in my garden and doing it out of spite but thereās a lot more could have been done. My fairy lights on the pergola have been snapped too. Think the squirrel has been after the hanging bird seeds and itās broken the lights as itās fallen. Quite upset as they were my last xmas pressie from her.
Not looking forward to tomorrow but not absolutely dreading it either. My therapist is great at giving me perspective about this being the beginning of Porschaās treatment and to not focus on her death. Sheās in her fur nest now. Will try to get some pics.
Thank you for keep popping in. Makes me feel loved!
Lots of love xxx
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Hi Christine
No worries. Iāll pop in anytime.
Glad youāve had a bit of an opportunity to gather your thoughts. I can understand it being surreal for you.
It was shockingly warm last night but itās rained all day and brought the temperature down so thatās a huge relief.
Sorry to hear about the fairy lights. Some of these little creatures can be so heavy footed despite their size. Youāll have to treat yourself to a nice replacement string of lights when you feel up to it. They make a garden donāt they
Get a good nightās sleep if you can and hope itās a peaceful one
Much love to you both.
xx
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Glad youāre feeling a little calmer Christine and I hope you manage to get some sleep tonight. Porsch has you and youāre all she needs. Let us know how tomorrow goes.
Lots of love
Nic xxx
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Good morning
Just wishing you both all the best for Porschās appointment today.
Let us know when you can how you both are.
Much love
xx
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Hi Christine
Just popping in to say Iām thinking of you both and sending lots of love. Sorry I havenāt been about much as I have been suffering from a very bad cold and cough over the weekend and been catching up with sleep during the daytime!
Sending love and best wishes
Neil x
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Hi Tina,
Iām so pleased to see you! You are such a loving friend. All set. Just waiting for the school run to get over so I can leave and not get caught up in it. Porsch has had her tablet and breakfast and is sitting out with no clue of what is to come. But she did enjoy her journey last time so shouldnāt be too stressful for her. Creep is lurking as usual. I always here his door when I let the bath water out and open the window. He is beyond creepy! Hope he doesnāt follow me. His white van is now in a sea of white vans unlike his orange one he crashed. I hate this waiting but it gives me a chance to settle my thoughts. I realised that having hyperthyroid is like anxiety with everything revved up. I can see now her breathing and heart is fast so the meds should bring that back down to normal. Yesterday I heard something said to the creep about a compromise and he said he didnāt care. Hope he doesnāt chop everything down on his side of the fence and destroy the garden I have created. He has the self assurance that would knock the skin off a rhino! Very quiet out there. Never a good sign.
Will let you know what is happening when I get back.
Lots of love xxx
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Hi Neil,
So lovely of you to be here! After the initial shock and then grieving like she had already died, imagining my life without her, Iām calm now and prepared to take each bit of her new condition as it arrives. So today wonāt be pleasant but weāll get through it and hopefully I will have a better understanding of her situation. I will question her thyroid medication regarding her kidneys and see if regular blood tests will monitor her progress. Sheās had her tablet and a breakfast, though she doesnāt eat much and the cost of the packets is outrageous! (Ā£26 for 18 little pouches with a lot of it thrown away). Might take Suzanne up on her offer of discount!
Hope you are over the worst of your cold. Summer colds always take me by surprise. Hope itās not covid.
Will let you know how we got on when I get back.
Lots of love Neil xxx
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Hi Christine
Hope Porsche isnāt too stressed on her journey today (and yourself of course).
Iāll drop by later if youāve not been on but in the meantime Iāll give you a bit of space to get straight after your trip out. It can be fraught getting pets to and from appointments canāt it.
Much love and take care xx
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Sorry Christine Iāve just seen your posts and so sorry I couldnāt get an answer for you sooner as I donāt get notifications when someone posts here anymore x
So you have popped up a lot of info there so can you just clarify what it is you want me specifically ask and see if can put your mind at ease a little?
Iām not at work today but can send them a message 
x
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Hi @christine51 just dropping by to offer some love and support.
If there is one thing I have learned after fostering over 340 ill, injured or abused cats is the one solid thing we can offer them is love, and you are doing that for Porscha in bucketloads.
I already worry for my two and they are only coming up 6. With many cats we donāt know their history or lineage, especially your average moggie but I do see cats living a lot longer than they used to and like us all as they get older different parts of their system start to deteriorate and its not unless for that to have a knock on effect so please donāt beat yourself up that by treating her for one issue that has started another, it wonāt have.
Be careful of falling down the Dr Google hole, i know that is easier said than done! So many symptoms can overlap. The vet will guide you.
Nearly all my cats over the last 10 years have developed thyroid issues, simply as they have gotten older than they would have in the past. I almost take it as a given, a bit like us humans getting achy knees.
You are doing well, I feel for you so much as I know that pain only too well sadly. You have so much love to give, it is your natural setting - look what you do for us and how you bring us together.
much love, Beki x
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Hi Tina,
Have been back a little while and 2 coffees later Iām feeling ok if a little exhausted! Porsch was great on the journey. She enjoys going in the car and watches out the open window in her basket. She had a once over and she has arthritis in her back legs (to be expected at her age - about 17. She had a steroid injection to boost her appetite (which I asked for) and am waiting to collect tablets to boost her appetite as part of her regime. I explained about her just picking at the actual meat pieces and wasting such a lot of it (so expensive - Ā£26 for 18 little sachets) and I was advised to try a paste. Iāve found a great online vet place and have ordered her a paste batch. Iāll mix it with her food. So hopefully the thyroid medication, appetite boost, anti biotics to clear her bladder infection will establish a balance where she can start eating again and put on more weight as she has lost more again when weighed today but the vet was not concerned (must have seen the horror on my face). Have to book an appointment in 2 weeks to check her thyroid meds are working. So I have a bit more peace of mind today after that horrific phone call Friday where I thought it was a death sentence. My therapist has called me back too after ringing him earlier to check Iām ok and to see what the course of action is. He knows how distraught Iāve been. Between you all here and him I feel like Iām not on my own. Texted my niece earlier about Porsch but no reply.
When we arrived back the creep was cavorting about with no top! (hideous site!!!) and I had to sit in the car (wasnāt getting out with him there) until he went inside. He must be in no doubt how much I loathe him! But on the up side I got straight in my parking bay.
Looks like itās going to rain so we are enjoying sitting out until it does. Just ordered a scrapbook and glue to make a start on sorting my folders of collected magazine cuttings for my textiles. Means I can sit with Porsh to do it over the summer. She came looking for me when I went in to make coffee so she must be feeling a bit fragile. Not surprising. Sheās done so well today.
Thanks again Tina to checking on me! Means everything!!!
Lots of love xxx
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Hi Suzanne,
Iāve calmed down now to the absolute state I was in over the weekend. The phonecall Friday sent me into blind panic thinking Porsch was at deaths door but after my appointment today I am hopeful that her thyroid medication combined with an appetite stimulant (injection today and waiting for the tablets to come in) will create a stable thyroid again or at least manage it with her rapid heartrate. I was advised that a paste would be good so I googled and found this
PURINA PRO PLAN VETERINARY DIETS NF Renal Function Advanced Care Mousse Cat Food
Great reviews and on offer ( 24 x 195g Tins for Ā£42.98) at www.petdrugsonline.co.uk.
So just to outline her medication. She is taking Thiafeline 2.5 mg twice a day. The vet reassured me that all thyroid meds refer to being cautious with the kidney / renal situation (kidney failure) but the aim is to stabalise the condition and that in turn will put less pressure on the kidneys. She has anti biotics too to clear up her bladder infection. Hoping that she will have put weight on by her next check up in 2 weeks (will have been on her meds for 1 month by then). I was shocked that sheās lost more weight (2.7) but the vet said she isnāt skeletal and should gain her appetite back again and improve.
I am more hopeful and after the initial shock know that with care she will have the best possible quality of life. I just wish that I had been more attentive with getting her better food instead of the supermarket brands (whislas, felix). Sheās always been a fussy eater but loved her treats (which she canāt have now).
I feel really exhausted. Weāre sitting in the garden at the mo waiting for the rain. Very pleasant after being in the hot car and waiting around for ages.
You are so kind offering me your discount. When I find what works for her I might take you up on your lovely offer. Is the site I found a good one? In a panic googling paste renal products as I couldnāt find them on Amazon.
If your vets have any advise at all it is greatly received. Iāll try anything to keep her thriving. Only went in to get her claws clipped and this is the result. But at least I know. Feel so very sorry for her. Didnāt know she was ill. Iām always keeping myself busy but extra after mam so I wasnāt just sitting crying. Now I have Porsch to worry about Iāll be less busy and sit with her more. Have ordered some scrapbooks for the hoards of magazine collections I have to create visual diaries for my textiles. Something to do while Iām sitting with her over the summer.
I dread the end and if I think too far ahead I start crying again.
Thank you Suzanne. I was saying to Tina I really donāt know how I would have coped without you all being there for me. My therapist checked in on me too. Feeling less stressed and alone. But dreading my next appointment.
Lots of love xxx
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Hi Christine 
Yes that website has a good reputation and Iāll ask the vet nurses for any tips on how to get her to put on weight etc x
Nothing wrong with supermarket brands as half the time itās the big brands that make them and just repackage them cause of some slight imperfectionā¦by that I mean kibble could be wrong shape etc yet the nutritional value remains the same but Hills, RC, ProPlanā¦all good reputable makes of vet diets. Let me know what she settles in and Iāll see if I can help as I know how expensive it can be x
Iām pleased the info you were given today seems to be less of a scarefest than Fridaysā¦that vet needs to reconsider her empathy however one of our vets has autism and whilst a good vet her manner with clients leaves a lot to be desired x
Away to get off the train so will pop back later xx
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