Tortie Tuesday

It's Tortie Tuesday and although it's my favorite day of the week, I almost didn't do a post. I've been having asthma issues lately. I had three attacks last night just before I had Mommy take this pic...

I had another three attacks as I was dictating this post. I don't know what's changed because I had been doing well, having no attacks, with one Flovent treatment a night. Last Thursday I had five attacks in a short amount of time so Mommy gave me a treatment mid-day. That helped slow them down to one every so often until last night's round of six attacks. I wish I knew what's happening. I don't like having attacks at all. They're scary.

Daddy picked up my Flovent prescription last night and it was $272! Mommy asked if I was worth it. Is that not the dumbest question ever? 

Hope you're having a good Tortie Tuesday!

Isabella

Tortie Tuesday

I know it's Tortie Tuesday and I should say something wise and profound but I'm taking it easy today...

For the first time in a long while I had a lot of asthma attacks yesterday. Mommy was gone several hours but after she heard the fifth one she gave me my Flovent inhaler. I usually get a treatment just once every evening and seldom have any attacks so she got worried especially not knowing if I had others when she was gone. She's a worry wart. Anyway, the treatment worked but the previous attacks and her making me stand up during each one pooped me out...

I was so tired I wasn't even able to stay awake and watch football with Daddy last night. I did hold him down so he could watch it though. What can I say, I'm Daddy's Girl!

Have you or any kitties you know been experiencing increased allergies or asthma symptoms? We're wondering if my attacks were because we've had windows open all the time lately.

Hope you enjoy your Tortie Tuesday!

Isabella

One Trip Down...

I made it through my trip to the vet yesterday. Barely. It was dark and dreary out which seemed fitting...

I was almost there when I got car sick. Mommy gave me Rescue Remedy several times through the day but I just can't help it. When I go for car rides my whole body shakes and I get all worked up even though I hide my eyes a lot of the time...

I made it though. At the vet I got a cortisone shot in my right thigh and was told it might start hurting but so far it hasn't stopped me from napping on that thigh. I was a lot more subdued on the way home though and didn't even want to get out of my PTU but who could blame me with a greeting committee like I had...

I knew what was coming. It was only a matter of time.

HISSSS

Yep. I knew it. Thankfully she got it out of her system with that one hiss and didn't do it again. She's probably saving up for next week. *sigh*

I started antibiotics last night and am getting my inhaler twice a day so that combined with the cortisone shot should prevent any asthma attacks during my surgery next week. I'll be so glad when this is all over!

Thanks for the purrs and prayers! I appreciate them and so does Mommy and Daddy!

Isabella

Tortie Tuesday and An Update

It's Tortie Tuesday and the first day of September. I'm ready to watch falling leaves and also watch football with my Daddy...

I'm a Daddy's girl, what can I say?

I realized that it's been awhile since I've had an update on my asthma so I'll do that today. I'm still on Flovent HFA 110mcg and am getting it via the AeroKat once every evening. I'm still having one or two attacks a week but that's much better than the 6-8 attacks I was having daily while just on prednisolone and not on the Flovent. My attacks are considerably less intense than before too. I do have more energy than I used to but I'm back to sleeping more during the day. A Tortie needs her beauty sleep right? Anyway, just wanted to update my progress with asthma since I feel so much better!

Are you ready for some football or just falling leaves?

Hope you have a great Tortie Tuesday!

Isabella

Update on my Kitty Asthma

We interrupt this rainy day Tortie nap for a rather lengthy update...

As a recap, four months ago we went to a new vet (Dr. T) because our old vet (Dr. H) was dealing with kitty asthma by just giving me prednisolone.  Since it's not good for my svelte figure or my health to be on that medication over time, Dr. T put me on the inhaler Flovent 110mcg once a day.  It worked to cut my 5-6 severe asthma attacks a day down to 1 or 2 mild attacks.  It also made me more alert which is something I'm still getting used to...

Anyway, Mommy has been talking to Nicki from Fuzzy Tales' mom since he's also on an inhaler.  She told us that 110mcg is the minimum here in the US and since I am still having attacks, I could have that upped to 220mcg.  When I needed a new inhaler, Daddy called Dr. T* and asked for a higher dose but instead she wanted to put me on an antibiotic, a wormer and hairball medicine* - all decided without even seeing me or doing any tests!  Daddy let her know in no uncertain terms what he thought of her using me as an experiment!  He then called Dr. H again and talked to her.  He relayed what we'd learned from Nicki's mom and Dr. H researched more before my appointment this week.  She saw my x-ray and test results and agreed that Dr. T had no basis to put me on the antibiotic, wormer or hairball stuff* but she also wouldn't increase my dosage to 220mcg.  She wants me to have 110mcg twice a day instead of once for a total of at least 7 breaths.  She was surprised when Daddy told her that I take 25 breaths because I fall asleep during my treatment!  Hopefully twice a day treatment will help me finally stop having attacks.  The prescription now costs $200.36 for 60 days worth but I'm worth it!  It's been frustrating for Mommy and Daddy and I certainly don't like having attacks even if they aren't as severe or long lasting.  I do sorta kinda like being awake more and I do enjoy playing with my sisfur Angel.  She's a lot faster than me but I'm a master at the sneak attack! 

We all have to be proactive about what's going on with us because as we're finding out firstpaw, even vets don't know about everything!  

Hope you have a healthy day!

Isabella

Notes from Mommy:

*Isabella has never had a hairball and the now old new vet (Dr. T) couldn't believe that.  The now new again old vet (Dr. H) has a 7 year old kitty who's never had a hairball either so she believes us.

*I don't do well with vets which is why Isabella's Daddy took care of all this.  I did go to her appointment with Dr. T because I had no experience in that place.  I cannot go back to see Dr. H because that's where my cat Panther and also Sadie went to the Bridge.  I start crying in the parking lot so I'm useless there.

*Despite being off prednisolone, being much more active and not eating a lot, Isabella lost no weight.  Once we get the asthma taken care of we'll figure out if something is causing her to not lose weight.  

Tortie Tuesday

It's Tortie Tuesday so I thought I'd take this chance to update you on how I've been doing with the AeroKat inhaler thingy for my asthma.  I still have mild attacks now and then but I feel so much better.  In fact, I almost fall asleep while Mommy is counting my breaths of the medicine every night.  She ends up stopping once she gets to 20 or 25 but I could go much longer.  It's really nice being able to breathe better so I play a lot more with my little sisfur and I nap less which is unbelievable right?  Anyway, since I'm more alert I've taken over some of the duties my little sisfur always did such as warming Mommy's chair when she's making beady goodies...

I also help hold down the table while she and Grandma from Vegas have beady stuff everywhere...

Of course it's really important to make sure no beady goodies get loose and fall on the floor...

This feeling better stuff is exhausting since everywhere I look there's something to do...

It's a tough job beading but somekitty's got to do it!

Hope you're feeling great this Tortie Tuesday!

Isabella

Kitty Nurses

Mommy started feeling icky last night so decided we're not working on tax returns today and she missed her first exercise class in 3.5 weeks.  Instead, we're on duty to nurse her back to health!  I'm tap, tap, tapping on her forehead every half hour to make sure she doesn't have a fever.  In between this health check, I'm keeping a close eye on her...

Isabella is working hard as the holder downer...

It's a tough job being a nurse but somekitty's got to do it!

We'll post and comment when we're able to.

Hope you're feeling well today!

Angel

PeeS:  Last night, Isabella had her first big asthma attack since last Friday night after starting the inhaler.  Mommy was pretty out of it due to her cold meds but it was bad enough to wake her up.  We're hoping they don't start up again since she has had a few smaller attacks too. She is much more alert and is even awake more often than she has been so we can tell she's feeling better.

Weekend Wrap Up

Phew!  What a weekend!  It started off cold and rainy but turned warm and sunny so of course we enjoyed the sunpuddles...

But, it wasn't all relaxing.  Mommy got motivated to finally make new jewelry in order to prepare for a craft show so we helped her make a pair of earrings and five memory bracelets.  Can you tell we inspired her?

All five bracelets sold already so thank Cod the craft show isn't until December!  We'll be helping her make more so keep an eye out for them!

As for how my sisfur Isabella is doing, well, she was actually awake more this weekend but I'll let Mommy fill you in on her...

Mommy here:  We started Isabella on her inhaler Friday evening since her asthma attacks happen mainly at night.  Her daddy held her while I tried to figure out the AeroKat.  I had washed it and the little flap that shows her breaths wasn't quite dry so she was patient while I got it dry enough to work.  When the puff happened on the inhaler she jerked her head back and her nose came out of the cup at the end of the AeroKat but it was put back on quickly.  She took 10 breaths of the inhaler, however, that night she had three attacks and one was a lot worse than usual.  Saturday evening's dose went better and we were prepared for her jerking her head back so it never came off her nose.  She again got 10 breaths and although she seemed more active afterward, she had two short attacks within an hour.  Unless she actually got off the bed, we didn't hear any attacks at all Saturday night and none all day yesterday.  We're hoping this is a sign it's working and the attacks will be gone soon.  We're very thankful she's so mellow and we're hoping she continues to cooperate.  We thank everyone for the purrs!  They are working!

Hope you have a uneventful, lazy Monday!

Finally Friday

This has been quite a week and I'm glad it's over!  Well, at least I think I'm glad it's over.  We got a delivery yesterday...

I'm pretty sure I'm not going to like whatever it is!  Mommy keeps saying I'd better because it cost so much.  She was warned it'd be expensive but had NO idea just how expensive!  The AeroKat was $54 and the inhaler thingy that goes with it cost $194 from the pharmacy!

WHAT?  You spent how much of our treat money on HER!

This thing isn't even made of tuna!

Mommy asked Daddy if I was worth it - dumb question huh?  They both know I am!  The real question is if I'm going to allow it anywhere near my Tortie face...

We shall see.

Hope you have a better Friday than it appears I will!

Isabella

PeeS:  Mommy here, we were shocked at the price but there's 120 dosages and she's to get one a day so it's 4 months worth or $1.60 a dose.  It is a lot of money but if it helps, it'll be worth it to get her off the pred to avoid future health issues which could include diabetes.  At least that's what I told myself when the pharmacy told us the cost!

Tortieness Update

I wanted to update everyone about what we found out from the new v-e-t but I'll let Mommy explain since she let me sleep in (again)...

Mommy here:  The vet said that Isabella does have a lower respiratory infection like bronchitis or asthma.  Her bloodwork came back good and no signs of diabetes but the vet wants her off prednisolone because it's causing her to gain weight and she said in time Isabella WILL have diabetes as a result of the meds.  She recommended an inhaler (AeroKat) so we ordered one and hope Isabella will let us give it to her.  She is extremely tolerate except she doesn't care for having her face touched, especially around her mouth.   The vet seems to think that when Bella figures out it's helping her breathe she won't mind it.  Time will tell but we wish we had done more to get her off the meds before now but we weren't told any different at the old vet.  An inhaler was mentioned but kind of as a last resort thing whereas it should've been the other way around - the meds are last resort!  

Isabella thanks everybody for the purrs and well wishes!  She's making sure she's taking it easy and getting plenty of rest!

Do you have any tips on using inhalers on cats or any experience with asthma?

Tortie Tuesday

It's Tortie Tuesday!  Yesterday my little sisfur gave her version of her weekend wrap up and today I'm gonna give you mine.  She thinks she's the only one around here who works but that's so not true.  I had to snoopervise the landscapers to make sure they didn't cut the power on Birdie TV...

I also had to make sure the pizza was thin crust...

On Saturday I had to go to the evil v-e-t because I keep coughing and it sounds like I'm coughing up a hairball but I've never had a hairball. Ever. Sparkle's human had told Mommy that it could be asthma but when I last went to the v-e-t, she didn't think so.  Finally she does so I'm now on prednisone.  I'm still coughing but not near as much so hopefully it'll help.  Nothing helped keep my little sisfur from following me around when I got home, sniffing me and hissing...

By Sunday evening though she was cold so she came up and plopped her floofy white body against me...  

It's a tough job being a snuggle bunny but someTortie's gotta do it!

Do you have any experience/advice about kitty asthma?

Hope you have a snuggly Tortie Tuesday!

Isabella