What would you do? (**Update 6-18-09 - need your prayers)

[Moesha]

I have no experience with thyroid problems in kitties, or humans for that matter. But I just wanted to say hello and am so glad to get an update on Sydney. I've wondered often how she is doing. That's great news about the cancer. Hopefully you will be able to treat the thyroid issues as well. Please keep in touch with us.

[lvpets2002]

Oh wow that is a tough decision to make.. I agree with the others on getting second advise from a diff Vet.. Sending Lots of Prayers & Huggss.. keep us posted ok..

[carole]

I really feel for you, what a difficult situation to be in, you are really caught between a rock and hard place, you can only do your best for you sweet Sydney and it is obvious you are doing that, and that you love your kitty with all your heart, bless you, and dear Sydney , i can only hope you can find a solution that you are comfortable with and keep you in my thoughts and hope for a good outcome that will benefit Sydney, thinking of you and HUGS , i Know how hard this is for you, keep doing your research and maybe the second opinion would be a good idea.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so glad to hear that Sydney's cancer is still in remission. I'm sorry to hear that she now has hyperthyroidism. Hopefully whichever method that you choose to treat her hyperthyroidism will do the trick without causing her stress or any other side effects. I'd probably try using the pill method first to see how that goes. Good luck.

[Kater]

If Sydney were my cat, I'd choose the Methimazole. I think the fact that she is already good about taking pills is important. It'll be the most stress-free option for her.

She is obviously very loved and a very lucky cat! I wish her continued quality time with you and your family.

[jennielynn1970]

I had a foster with thyroid issues, and he was on a high dose of meds for a while when I first got him. After a while, the thyroid started to get under control, and the medicine amount got lower and lower. Within time, it was so minimal, he was almost totally controlled, and on 1/4 of a pill once a day. It wasn't that expensive of a medicine either, and you may be able to get it at a Walmart cheaper than at the vet office. I'd check there or a Walgreens if you have them (they get the $4 Rxs, so maybe since it's an older drug, they may have it??).

I will keep Sydney in my thoughts and prayers and hope that she will be ok and that whatever you choose to do, she will continue to thrive and be a healthy girl!

[Catty1]

I know when I had temporary hyper-thyroid, I was told that meds could actually correct it after a while. That seems to match what Jenn is saying.

My vote, personally, is for the meds, as they are inexpensive and the dose might decrease over time. With the surgery and iodine, Sydney might have to be on meds to keep her level UP if "too much" if the gland's effects are removed.

Seems to me the med can be compounded into a cream that's applied on the ears.

What does your vet think?

HUGS! to you and dear Sydney.

[Lizzie]

I'm another who has gone through several routes with different cats, including transdermal. The radioactive iodine treatment worked very well on Nougat, who was perfectly awful to pill, and she lived another three happy years before dying of rapid onset renal failure. The Tapezol pills have worked very well on three other cats whose age and/or other medical issues made them a poor subject for the iodine treatment. Alexander has been on the meds for 18 months now, and my Ginger was on them for 5 years (she was 17 when diagnosed and so considered too old for the radio-iodine treatment). They have/had no problem at all with digestive upsets, diarrhoea, etc. I think the transdermal does work, but it is not as effective, at least that was my experience.

I must admit that in your place I wouldn't want to risk the gift you've both been given of extra time for Sydney by having her go through the radio-iodine treatment. It is stressful for the cat, no doubt about that. And, unless the protocol has been changed, even when she is back home you won't be able to spend more than an hour a day with her for a week.

[kittykatharine]

So after talking to my vet and the specialist - we have come to a plan of action. Sydney is been started on the Tapezol for the time being. I wanted to see how she handles the medication, plus I wanted to make sure the hyperthyroidism hasn't been masking any other issues, such as kidney or heart disease. Once she has been cleared of all problems, then I am going to re-evaluate and see if we should just keep her on the medicine or just get the radioactive iodine therapy. I am having to leave Sydney with my mom, while I go off to school in the fall (thought it would be too traumatic to move her to a new house with out her companion Charlie), so the contiunuous pill administration will be determined by her ability to remeber to medicate Sydney. I am going to call everyday to remind her, plus I will make frequent trips home. I have a 3 week break in December, so if she is needing the radioactive iodine treatment, I could do it then. In the meantime, Sydney will be receiving monthly bloodtests to determine how she is doing with the medicine. Hopefully, she will keep on the upward trend and continue to do well. Right now my major concern is getting her to gain some weight. More poor little mama is 7lbs and 3 oz - which is the lightest she has ever been. Before this whole thing she was 13 lbs. I have stocked on Nuvo wet food and hopefully her eating will improve. Thank you again for all your advice and stories - they helped a great deal in my decision making. Thanks!

[Moesha]

Thank you so much for the update on Sydney. I was actually just thinking of her earlier today. I sure hope that the medications work well for her. I am so sad to hear that you and she will be separated this fall. I understand the decision and know that you always put her best interests first when making them. But I also know how much you love your little one and that it will be a difficult transition for both of you. Please continue to keep us posted on her condition. I love hearing about Sydney!!

[kittykatharine]

Thank you so much for the update on Sydney. I was actually just thinking of her earlier today. I sure hope that the medications work well for her. I am so sad to hear that you and she will be separated this fall. I understand the decision and know that you always put her best interests first when making them. But I also know how much you love your little one and that it will be a difficult transition for both of you. Please continue to keep us posted on her condition. I love hearing about Sydney!!

Thanks so much Moesha - the decision to leave her with my parents was a very hard one - however, that has been her home for most of her life and I felt it would be really selfish of me to move her. I am actually trying to transition her to spending more time with my mom, by having my mom constantly reward her with treats, plus I have been trying to train both my mom and sister how to "pill" her. I am going to miss her soooooooooooo much. I have had her by my side for what seems like forever. We even have this routine in the morning where she follows me around the house like my little mascot and she always sleeps at the end of my bed. I know this is going to sound dumb, but I am setting up a video cam so I can at least video see her while away. Luckily I will only be about 3 hours away, so I can come home pretty often. I just hope my mom can keep up with her strenuous medical schedules. I am thinking about buying a big calendar and writing out everything that is needed up till December. Hopefully it shall work - and I will definitley keep everyone posted. This thread has become a very important place for us

[Medusa]

Setting up the video cam is no dumber than my kissing my RB Puddy's pic every night that I have on my phone. It makes us feel better. You've been an exceptionally good cat mom, Katherine, and I'm sure you're going to be worried about Sydney while you're away at school. So do what you must to put your mind and heart at ease.

[kittykatharine]

Sydney has been doing very poorly these past few days - so badly that my mom turned to me yesterday and said she didnt think Sydney was going to be with us much longer. This of course broke my heart into a thousand pieces. Here is the problem - I can't get her to eat and she is rapidly diminshing into skin and bones. I think she looks very very thin. I have changed foods a million times, tried every flavor and brand of food in my area (dry and wet), have tried cans of tuna, fresh chichen breast, whatever I am eating i try to give her with the hope she will get something in her stomach. I have been able to get her to eat some treats, however these have no nutritional value. Of course I have been working with the vet and she says the Tapazole may have upset Sydney's GI track and to decrease the amount to a 1/4 of a tablet twice a day. I am hoping this will work really soon because she is not doing well. I also purchased some appetite stimulant, which the vet has asked me to use if the reduction of the medicine doesnt work within the next 3-4 days. Please send your thoughts and prayers her way, she needs it really badly. I am going to the store tonight to try and purchase some baby food. Hopefully she will eat this.

[Moesha]

I sure hope things improve for Sydney. You're doing all you can for her and she knows it and so we all of us. Have you tried NutriCal? It comes in a tube like hairball medicine. I'm sure you can get some at your vet's office. It is superloaded with nutrients. If you could get her to lick some of that, she could get some much needed nutrition. Good girl going to try the baby food. You're remembering many of the tips that others have posted around here. Please keep us in the loop. And give Sydney a little kiss on that sweet head of hers for me if she'll let you.

[kittykatharine]

I sure hope things improve for Sydney. You're doing all you can for her and she knows it and so we all of us. Have you tried NutriCal? It comes in a tube like hairball medicine. I'm sure you can get some at your vet's office. It is superloaded with nutrients. If you could get her to lick some of that, she could get some much needed nutrition. Good girl going to try the baby food. You're remembering many of the tips that others have posted around here. Please keep us in the loop. And give Sydney a little kiss on that sweet head of hers for me if she'll let you.

I have tried the Nutrical, but Sydney will not have anything to do with it. I was thinking I would try mixing some in with the baby food, if I can get her to eat some of it. I just need to get her to eat something, anything at this point. I will definitley give Sydney a kiss for you - one thing she loves is kisses :-)