hyperthyroidism

All posts tagged hyperthyroidism

Screening went well, though under pressure

Posted by Photonstopper on May 12, 2012
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Photo: Tasha the cat looking through a screen. Photo by James Guilford.

Hole? What hole in the screen?

Tasha and I went to visit Dr. G Wednesday morning to get a followup blood test for her thyroid condition and her annual checkup. She did excellently well in most regards. She was an agitated patient but, when screening results came in the following day, everything looked good. Dr. G told me every tested factor in her blood panel returned “normal” results including (of course) the thyroid. Tasha had gained .7 lbs. since her last visit and Dr. G thought that was so good she drew a little smiley face next to the number on the patient report! The only concern was blood pressure. Tasha’s BP was high during the thyroid episode, a result of the hyperthroidism itself. It has persisted, however, and in the absence of other causes such as kidney trouble, her hypertension is considered a geriatric condition. It may also have already damaged the retina of one of her eyes. Tasha (about 65 in “human years”) now takes human blood pressure medication! So we’re back to giving pills again {ugh!}. I’m hoping to order up tiny tablets from a compounding pharmacy as the worst part of preparing the once-a-day dose of Amlodipine Besylate is cutting an already small tablet into quarters — they always seem to crush or break. We go back to see Dr. G for a followup BP measurement in two weeks though I may see if I can borrow a blood pressure cuff … the “white coat” syndrome may be a considerable factor in driving Tasha’s pressure high.

Tasha’s hunky-dory

Posted by Photonstopper on October 26, 2011
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Photo: Tasha resting on a sunlit chair. Photo by James Guilford.

Enjoying a sunny afternoon on her favorite chair.

Just a quick post to record the results of Tasha’s exam and blood test from last Friday. The test was the final post-procedure followup for Tasha regarding her Iodine-131 treatment for hyperthyroidism. Our cat weighed in at a healthy 8.4 pounds, her longstanding tummy troubles (once diagnosed as inflammatory bowel disease) seem to have ended, her oral health appears better, and her coat is full and thick as it once was. Her thyroid hormone level tested at 2.7 with the normal range being 1.9 to 4.8 — excellent! Dr. B., phoning us with the blood results, said “Tasha’s hunky-dory!” We agree.

Photo: Tasha the cat from low angle.

"I may be hunky-dory, but I don't like cameras!"

Hyper Cat no longer

Posted by Photonstopper on July 29, 2011
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Photo: Tasha the cat. By James Guilford

Tasha relaxes after her followup visit to the doctor.

Tasha visited Dr. B today for her 30-day, post Iodine-131 exam and blood test. She weighed in at a healthy 7.4 pounds (just before treatment she’d dipped to a scary 5.8 lbs.) and her “Doctor’s Office” heart rate was about 120 which was way down for the 200+ BPM prior to her thyroid treatment. She’s eating well and much calmer these days. In fact, we may need to start watching her food intake since she could be in danger of becoming fat! It will be a few days before all of the blood work is back but it looks like kitty has a new lease on life and we’re glad to have her with us, “Hyper Cat” no longer.

UPDATE: Blood work came in and Tasha’s thyroid level is 1.7 (normal is 1.9 to 4.8). Her white cell count is a bit low but likely to rebound, says Dr. B. — Aug. 1.

Oh, it’s so good to be home!

Posted by Photonstopper on June 30, 2011
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Photo: Cat sleeping on bed. Photo by James Guilford.

Visiting can be good, but it is always great to be back home!

Tasha came home from Iodine 131 treatment today as expected. She is said to have been a fine little patient, eating and drinking (and pooping and peeing) well to keep up her strength and help eliminate the Iodine from her system. She did lose a slight amount of weight (now just under six pounds) but that’s due to the still-hyperactive thyroid. She surprised us by also not being shy towards her caretaker, showing no signs of withdrawal or aggression. The Iodine 131 treatment is a cure but her hyperthyroidism won’t be fully resolved for a while and we need to be careful about handling her for the next couple of weeks: she and her eliminations are mildly radioactive! So there will be no lap-sitting or snuggling for more than 15 minutes, hand washing is required after petting sessions, and no sleeping on the bed when people are in it! When she got home she went on an inspection tour of the place, sniffing here, rubbing there, sampling the food, and purring loudly all the while. Reassured, she began to relax and found her old sleeping spot at the foot of our bed. They treated her well at The Cat Company, but oh, it’s so good to be home!

Hyper Cat!

Posted by Photonstopper on June 27, 2011
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Photo: Tasha the cat peering from the window of her "house". Photo by James Guilford.

Tasha (aka Hyper Cat) peering from the window of her climbing tree "house."

Our cat Tasha was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism a couple of months ago. She’d probably had it for quite some time before diagnosis but we’ll likely never know that for sure. At any rate we tried the usual medical treatment –methimazole– with some success but giving two tablets a day to a cat isn’t fun for anyone. So we tried a trans-dermal gel compound which, while effective, may or may not have led to a sudden case of vestibular “dizzy cat” syndrome. So we switched back to tablets. Soon after switching back to tablets poor Tasha’s irritable stomach began acting up and she couldn’t keep food down. What to do? Dr. B. recommended treatment with Iodine 131 and referred us to The Cat Company — a place where staff have the training and confinement facilities to deal with radioactive isotope treatment. Tasha was admitted for treatment today, in good health but for her hyperthyroidism starting to show up again: racing heart, increased appetite, weight loss, hyperactivity. Dr. Mann, there, said she’s a pretty typical case and, as he observed her behavior in the examination room, thought she had a “very good attitude.” She’ll have received her single small dose of radioiodine by now and should be resting in interesting, soothing surroundings where she’ll spend the next few days. We may well miss Tasha more than she misses us. She is now, also, radioactive! I suppose we shouldn’t expect her to emerge from treatment with super-powers, like a spider-bitten Peter Parker, or a radiation-exposed lizard from one of those ’50s monster movies. Given feline habits, armament, and inclinations, it’s probably best Tasha not have super-powers. So we eagerly await the return of our mildly-radioactive kitty and look forward to her being cured of hyperthyroidism — no pills, no gels needed. Super-powers aside, perhaps we’ll nickname her Hyper Cat!

Life and death, death and life

Posted by Photonstopper on June 21, 2011
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Photo: Great Blue Heron catches a fish. Photo by James Guilford.

A Great Blue Heron with a fish it has speared with its lower beak.

I’d taken the day off in order to deliver Tasha to animal hospital for iodine 131 treatment … a cure for hyperthyroidism. Yesterday I received a call from the hospital informing me of their need to postpone admission. It seems there is a shortage of iodine 131. Without the treatment, and because of her apparent sensitivity to methimazole, Tasha would remain untreated until the rescheduled date for the procedure; her thyroid levels might return to their formerly dangerous highs. So I decided to take advantage of my scheduled day off. I would pick up a prescription of methimazole gel for trans-dermal dosing (less trouble for Tasha) at the compounding pharmacy which has very limited mid-afternoon hours. My morning was open so I headed to Hinckley Lake for the first time this season or even this year. It was a comfortable but hazy morning with thin to moderate overcast as I began my little hike along the lake. On the walk “out” I saw no large wading birds at all –unusual, I think– but was content to look around at the quiet beauty of the area. Low rumbles of thunder began but seemed to be to the north and west of me. As the skies darkened I felt I’d better turn around and so began a somewhat faster walk back around the lake. As I approached one of my favorite spots for finding herons I did, indeed, spy one. It was wading slowly through the shallows, apparently looking to spook a fish and find a meal; that’s just what happened. The Great Blue Heron struck lightning-fast and hauled a writhing fish from the muddy waters. The big bird had speared the fish with its lower beak. It held its prey aloft for a bit, lowered it into the water briefly, and repositioned the fish so it was head-first in its mouth. Then it lifted its head high and in a few gulps swallowed the fish. In less than a minute it was all over. The fish was gone and the heron was again wading slowly through the muddy waters, seeking another meal. It’s the way of nature: life and death, death and life.