Artie and his Issues

[artiemom]

Hi everyone! I am back... sorry, I needed a break. My emotions took complete control of me. I was not able to reply back to all the suggestions and helpful comments. It was just too overwhelming.

Thank you to Margret for updating this for me.
Thank you to Mamanyt1953 for being there, when I needed a shoulder

Artie was starving himself, rather than eating the RC Fiber Response food. NVet was out of suggestions. He wanted to try to break him of his behavioral response and just deal with a medical issue. But Artie won out. We could not break him. We were breaking my heart instead. Artie was down to 9.6 lbs. He was not acting sick, just starving himself, and getting skinnier and skinner, all skin and bones.. I could see the outline of his leg bones when he was lying on his side. It was heartbreaking. I was going by the NVet's orders because I have that much respect for him and his knowledge. I trust him.

The only thing NVet could think of was trying him on then Science Diet W/D food, which is his 'go to' food for GI issues. We started that Friday afternoon...It comes in both wet and dry food. I got both, just in case.

Fingers crossed, Artie is eating it. I had to get a few more cans yesterday. I am not ordering a case. I am going to make repeated trips to my RVet for the food. I can always return any uneaten food and get a refund from them. I did that with the bag of RC food.

Friday night, Artie did not seem to care for the dry food; however, he ate it last night.

I was giving him his appetite med, Friday and Saturday. He ate 2 cans of food yesterday and 1/4 cup of dry during the night. He was actually yelling for the canned food!! Yes, circling around me and yelling at me!!

This morning, it is only 1/2 can at 11AM. He just refused another serving of the food. I did not give him an appetite pill today. I want to see how he does without it.

As soon as he began eating, I discontinued the Cerenia (nausea) pill.

Artie is alert, has always been; follows me around the apartment, still cuddles...

As far as poops... He pooped a small amount on Thursday. Yesterday, nothing .. at 4pm, I decided to give him a good dose of lactulose, just in case he was stuck. I gave him 4.5 cc of it. As soon as he had that, he went into the litter box, deposited a 4 inch soft serve patty.
Later another 3 x 1/2 soft serve length.

Woke up to several tiny clumps in the box, dried poop on the laminate floor, in several spots. He also made a 3 x 1/2 inch very soft length of poop.

Artie just refused a serving of the W/D food, which he was begging for. I picked up the food, put it back in the can, where it is waiting to be served at a later time.

He is looking out the balcony door now, watching a fly?

I am going to try to not free feed, entirely. I am going to try to give him food when he is hungry.. every 3 hours or so...

I want to thank you all for being such interest, prayers, well wishes for us. I sincerely appreciate it.

Sometimes, I can get overwhelmed. My nerves were shot.. I appreciate all your kindness, and advice and tips on things to try.. sometimes, these things just get to be too much. I have tried everything under the sun to get him to eat.. everything.. and thinking of trying new suggestions, well, honestly, it gets me more anxious..
and seeing people who do not really understand the extend of Artie diseases, and feeling things are going to be ok, when they are not, gets me more anxious.... I hope you understand.. I do not mean to hurt anyone's feelings.. I do not want to do that. The support I have gotten here has been unbelievable: Artie's Army!! a group of wonderful, loving people.

Also, as Margret mentioned: Artie will never improve. He has a couple of chronic, severe
diseases. We are just trying to make him comfortable.. trying to treat the symptoms, and not cure. He will never be cured.

He is pretty much at the end of his medical treatment. We are at the max dose of his medicines. He cannot have any increases without risking life threatening side effects....
Late last week, we increased the dose of his Cisapride (increases muscular contractions to his bowels), by just 0.10 of a cc. If increased anymore, we run the risk of heart rhythm issues.. Yes, things are that serious.

Last week, I was so down and upset, that I even made a paw print in putty;which is almost dry.

Thank you all ARTIE'S ARMY members

 

[verna davies]

Hi and its good to read your post. It's often good to just take time out and clear the brain. I'm glad Artie is eating again and of course pooping. Artie's Army is back on the march.

 

[maggiedemi]

I didn't know megacolon was incurable. That is so sad. Well if we can't hope for him to be cured, I guess we can hope for him to be comfortable, like you said. And we can keep praying for poop. Love you Artie.

 

[artiemom]

I didn't know megacolon was incurable. That is so sad. Well if we can't hope for him to be cured, I guess we can hope for him to be comfortable, like you said. And we can keep praying for poop. Love you Artie.

If interested, you should read up on Megacolon... and IBD.. Artie has both of them, that is what is making things very tuff.....

 

[LotsOfFur]

Cindy, glad you've posted. I'm starting to suspect that my constipated kitty is probably moving towards, if not already, megacolon. I've used your information with Artie to help navigate this and for helpful info when I'm too stressed to remember what meds and tests, etc are used in treating suspected megacolon and obstipation. Unfortunately I don't have any specialist vets that are closer than a 5 hour trip so I typically have to bring up treatments and meds with my vet and we go from there. I just wanted you to know that you are a helpful source of info and the realities we face with our cat companions while managing health conditions. Big hugs to you and kitty kisses to Artie

P.S. *request actually (feel free to say no)

I know you've said it multiple times already but would you mind telling Artie's adoption story? I love hearing how cats come into our lives!
~Tina

 

[artiemom]

LotsOfFur ((hugs)) to you... good luck with your love...

Artie: This is a long story.. everything I write is long..

Prelude: I am an only child. My dad lived with me. He was cognizant up until 1.5 days before he passed. He lived with me. He went into the hospital 2 days before he passed; even though he was under hospice care, I was not able to adequately take care of him alone, any longer.. I needed help, and my dad really needed help and comfort..I had to convinced, strongly that I was doing the right thing.. I swear the hospice nurse was a real life Angel...she was so understanding..

I am grateful that I had an opportunity to know my dad as a 'person', not just as my father. We talked a ton about everything. My dad died on Jan 3, 2012. I still miss him a lot.

I brought up the idea of adopting a cat with my dad, around September, in 2011. My dad told me to wait until after he was gone. He said he was afraid of a cat and his walker. That is where the idea came into my head.

Early March of 2012, I felt I was ready and really needed company. I needed a cat in my life. I contacted the humane society, on a Saturday evening. I left a VM message. A woman returned my call a couple hours later. Sunday at 11am I went to meet a cat whom she felt was 'perfect' for me in my position. I wanted a cat around 5 years old.. someone trained..

When I met Artie, he was in a foster home, down the cellar. Yes, cellar, in a cage. There were other cats in the house also.

I was kind of shocked to hear his story: Artie was owned by an elderly couple. The husband passed around November. The Wife passed around December. An adult daughter took Artie in; actually snuck him into her apartment. She already had a cat and a dog, so Artie was really illegal. Her landlord found out, and told her she had to get rid of one of her pets. She was heartbroken. She had to give Artie up. He was the youngest of the bunch, 8 years old.

She felt so bad about this. She even brought in some food for Artie, a clean litter box for his new owner, an old baby blanket which was his, and made the foster mom promise that he would go to a 'good' home.

My heart melted when I heard this story.. and the similarities to mine with my dad.

When I saw Artie, My heart skipped a few beats.. Artie was Orange!! My last cat, was an orange female... I honestly felt it was a match made in heaven; with divine intervention.
He was a lot older than what I wanted, but his story tugged at me....

No, Artie did not jump into my lap or even notice me; but I knew it was meant to be.

I agreed to the adoption, ran over to PetSmart to pick up the necessities and to set up my apartment.
At 3pm, I signed the papers. Artie was mine!!

I let him lose in the apartment, showing him where everything was located. I had a dinner plan with my cousin. I left Artie alone in my apartment, to get used to it. He had free reign.

I cut my dinner plans short. Artie was hiding in my dad's room, which I made into his play room.

That night, still grieving for my dad; I was lying on the coach covered with a quilt.
Artie came right over, jumped on top of me, sniffed, started kneading, purring... and I melted into tears...
That was it.....5 years ago...

 

[maggiedemi]

I didn't realize that Artie was 13 years old. He looks younger.

 

[verna davies]

Artiemom. That was a lovely story. Obviously Artie was meant to be yours and vice versa. I always think that things happen for a reason and in this a case Artie needed someone to look after and take care of him.YOU.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

So that's how he came to you. I just knew the very basics of it all. It's a beautiful story. Thank you for blessing us with it.

Artie, my little furry friend, I love you, all sight unseen, with all my heart.

 

[artiemom]

This is Artie, curled up on my pillow, smelling fresh air for the first time, in my apartment. I had opened the bedroom window, and I was making my bed with fresh sheets... circa 2012

 

[Mamanyt1953]

My heart just melted and my soul is doing a backstroke through the puddle!

 

[neely]

So glad to see you were able to post today. We completely understood you needing to take a break from the forum. Continued good thoughts and prayers from one of Artie's Army members. Plus an enormous thank you for the dear pic of Artie.

 

[artiemom]

Yes, pray tell, curious minds want to know.

t

See above posts

 

[neely]

See above posts

Thanks, Cindy, I just saw them and edited my reply. For some odd reason the recent posts didn't load on my computer.

 

[zed xyzed]

LotsOfFur ((hugs)) to you... good luck with your love...

Artie: This is a long story.. everything I write is long..

Prelude: I am an only child. My dad lived with me. He was cognizant up until 1.5 days before he passed. He lived with me. He went into the hospital 2 days before he passed; even though he was under hospice care, I was not able to adequately take care of him alone, any longer.. I needed help, and my dad really needed help and comfort..I had to convinced, strongly that I was doing the right thing.. I swear the hospice nurse was a real life Angel...she was so understanding..

I am grateful that I had an opportunity to know my dad as a 'person', not just as my father. We talked a ton about everything. My dad died on Jan 3, 2012. I still miss him a lot.

I brought up the idea of adopting a cat with my dad, around September, in 2011. My dad told me to wait until after he was gone. He said he was afraid of a cat and his walker. That is where the idea came into my head.

Early March of 2012, I felt I was ready and really needed company. I needed a cat in my life. I contacted the humane society, on a Saturday evening. I left a VM message. A woman returned my call a couple hours later. Sunday at 11am I went to meet a cat whom she felt was 'perfect' for me in my position. I wanted a cat around 5 years old.. someone trained..

When I met Artie, he was in a foster home, down the cellar. Yes, cellar, in a cage. There were other cats in the house also.

I was kind of shocked to hear his story: Artie was owned by an elderly couple. The husband passed around November. The Wife passed around December. An adult daughter took Artie in; actually snuck him into her apartment. She already had a cat and a dog, so Artie was really illegal. Her landlord found out, and told her she had to get rid of one of her pets. She was heartbroken. She had to give Artie up. He was the youngest of the bunch, 8 years old.

She felt so bad about this. She even brought in some food for Artie, a clean litter box for his new owner, an old baby blanket which was his, and made the foster mom promise that he would go to a 'good' home.

My heart melted when I heard this story.. and the similarities to mine with my dad.

When I saw Artie, My heart skipped a few beats.. Artie was Orange!! My last cat, was an orange female... I honestly felt it was a match made in heaven; with divine intervention.
He was a lot older than what I wanted, but his story tugged at me....

No, Artie did not jump into my lap or even notice me; but I knew it was meant to be.

I agreed to the adoption, ran over to PetSmart to pick up the necessities and to set up my apartment.
At 3pm, I signed the papers. Artie was mine!!

I let him lose in the apartment, showing him where everything was located. I had a dinner plan with my cousin. I left Artie alone in my apartment, to get used to it. He had free reign.

I cut my dinner plans short. Artie was hiding in my dad's room, which I made into his play room.

That night, still grieving for my dad; I was lying on the coach covered with a quilt.
Artie came right over, jumped on top of me, sniffed, started kneading, purring... and I melted into tears...
That was it.....5 years ago...

what a beautiful story, thank you for sharing it with us.

 

[Margret]

Thanks, Cindy, I just saw them and edited my reply. For some odd reason the recent posts didn't load on my computer.

Since the move to a new site, new posts in a thread don't seem to show up until you either click on an email link, click on a notification (top right corner of the screen), or go to Unread Watched Threads (https://thecatsite.com/watched/threads, which should show a different page for each user, and you may want to bookmark it), and click on a link there.

Margret

 

[Antonio65]

Since the move to a new site, new posts in a thread don't seem to show up until you either click on an email link

I am not receiving alerts for Artie's thread anymore, so I have to check the thread for updates.

 

[Antonio65]

H

As soon as he began eating, I discontinued the Cerenia (nausea) pill.

I wonder whether injections of Cerenia might be better than pills. Pills can be heavy on the stomach of a cat with IBD.
My cat Pallina, with IBD as well, takes Cerenia every now and then, but my vet prefers to give her injections.
The vet hands me four syringes of injectable Cerenia, then I give Pallina an injection every night when needed, the other syringes stay in the fridge.

I know and fully understand how hard is to deal with a cat with diseases that can't be cured. Sometimes the sense of desperation is overwhelming, sometimes I felt like I was going to give up everything, sometimes I felt like I was doing wrong.
When you try everything and don't see the results you were expecting then your heart feels like it's bursting.
If I think what I did for Lola and how I felt on those days, my heart still aches...

Be strong for Artiie, he has only you, he trusts you!

Hugs to you both!

 

[valentine319]

Hi Cindy, i completely understand just managing illnesses. I totally understand trying to change food and your cat going on a hunger strike. I'm so glad Artie is eating. I completely get the anxiety and emotional toll. We totally understand. When my guys IBD got horrid I was exhausted. I would break down here of there. It's completely normal.

Thank you for the lovely story.

Now the great part is you've got all of us if you need to vent or just need cheerleaders.

 

[dustydiamond1]

View attachment 190232

This is Artie, curled up on my pillow, smelling fresh air for the first time, in my apartment. I had opened the bedroom window, and I was making my bed with fresh sheets... circa 2012

Hi, I kinda followed maggiedemi over to your lovely thread and wanted to let you know how much you and Artie touched my heart. I can't really offer any advice, but I sure can offer prayers and moral support. Count me, Gypsy & Scott as new recruits in Arties Army.