How to cope with the stress: cat's mild kidney/heart inflammation?

[marissam16]

I made my first thread a couple days ago about my cat getting diagnosed with a UTI. I felt extremely relieved when I got his culture results back the other day and they were sterile! I had a couple days of feeling less stressed until the radiologists looked at his x-rays today. They said there is "mild kidney & heart inflammation" and I am suddenly beside myself again. My cat had a clean bill of health besides having a UTI.. no kidney stones and all his bloodwork came back great. The vet said his UTI could be a cause of the mild inflammation. He's occasionally shakes for about a second or two probably due to the pain or discomfort of his inflammed kidney. He got on me this morning to sleep and he was shaking for a few seconds.. that's what made me spiral again. Other than that, he eats fine and seems normal. The next step would be to get x-rays of his kidney & heart and go to a specialist who deals with that but they have a current 3-4 month wait.. I think it'd be extremely expensive as well on top of my massive vet bill making sure he is okay.

The vet said to just stick to his antibiotics and finish them and keep him on his diet and see how he does. As long as he acts normal, eats, drinks, goes to the bathroom, he is fine. I, however, cannot relax and I am beside myself again. I've been making trips back and forth with the vet for almost a month now and it is extremely stressful on me and my cat. I have lost sleep, neglected self care, not eating as much, etc. because I am so so worried for my cat. I am so anxious that I lost sight on the reality of his condition.. I just amplify everything in my head and assume the absolute worst. He had great results and a sterile culture result but this "mildly inflammed kidneys & heart" has me beyond stressed again. I had to leave work early because I felt sick hearing that. I try to google things and of course, the worst case scenarios pop up everywhere and it makes me freak out even more.

Has anyone else had similar experiences? Any advice? It makes me feel so much better to hear other people's stories or if people are like me.. I feel so alone whenever I am this stressed and just want to hear from people who felt the way I do about their babies.. My cat is my world and he has been my everything for almost 10 years. I am making myself sick and have spent every second of every day this month beside myself and watching everything my cat does. I can barely make it through work now and I don't want my stress to change that. I find it very hard to not worry and bring myself down from my anxious thoughts and stress.

TL;DR Any advice on how to stop assuming worst case scenarios and stop stressing every second of every day? Has anyone's cats experienced mildly inflammed kidneys and heart with a UTI?

Thanks to anyone who reads this and replies. I hope to get some good night sleep if I can calm myself down.

Sorry that I make the most lengthy posts. Once I talk about it, I can't stop. I've thought about this every second for almost a month straight and I could spill my thoughts and concerns forever.

MOD NOTE: Thread about kitty's UTI is here.

 

[marissam16]

Here is a picture I took of him a couple hours ago.

 

[di and bob]

Yes, it is VERY possible any kind of infection can cause both of those conditions. It can also cause elevations in liver values. Stress is another BIG factor. I have had several cats that have had all of those and when they got through the antibiotics and got over the infection, the values returned to normal. Try NOT to stress yourself, your cat will pick up on it, just love him and make sure he drinks a lot of water and eats well. As long as a cat is eating, drinking, using the litter box, and not hiding, everything is well! He is absolutely gorgeous by the way!

 

[kittyprincesss]

Oh friend, never apologize here for showing concern for your darling little lion! Yes, just like the wise di and bob says, I too have had similar results due to infections and things like antibiotics helped always. My first angel, she had an inflamed kidney too, it was a dud of a kidney, but you know something amazing? Her other kidney pulled the weight of TWO kidneys for nearly THREE years. So my friend, remember, our furrbabies are resilient and they are strong. He is beautiful and of healthy weight, he will be around to bug you and cuddle you for very long. Your worries are valid, but please do not make yourself sick. For he is bright, eating, and chipper! He is saying, "I can do this" and you are saying "I will help you always." We understand, he is recieving the care he needs by both his vet and you. When you feel worried, sick, anxious, look at him and remember he needs you to be strong too, for him. It will be okay. He will pick up on your stress and anxieties, just know that he is in high spirits and doing well besides those inflamed pesky organs. Here is to hoping his vet regimen helps knock it all back to normal.

 

[MoochNNoodles]

All I can tell you is what helped me. And that is being very intentional about choosing my thoughts. That takes practice and is easy to slip out of when you are in the middle of a situation. Sometimes I have had to talk myself down. I suppose its like a muscle; you start slow and build up and it becomes easier. But you still have to maintain the habit.

I do not “Dr Google” things. For pets or people! It rarely helps. Especially without definitive diagnosis’. And even then I get my information first from the dr/vet and then here. I need a balance between sound information and not overloading with every variable. I find ways to mentally step back. Reading, playing short word games, watching a funny sitcom…anything to distract yourself for a few minutes can help.

I was pretty devastated when my cat Noodles went into heart failure on me. She lived over 5 years after that! I could have let worry steal the joy of whatever time we had; long or short. It ended up being long and I’m so grateful. Worrying wouldn’t have changed it. We both would have suffered needlessly. Once the shock wore off and she stabilized the thoughts were easier to manage. I knew it was eventually fatal. And when that time came yes I grieved! But I also had peace knowing it was her time and we lived a good life together; enjoying each other for what we were.