5/8 | Jude: AMPS 94; +2 106; +10 144; PMPS 172

Mary & Jude

Mary & Jude

Active member
yesterday's condo

Hi everyone! Jude's numbers were unusually high yesterday, and he almost went into the yellows at his PMPS. His urine culture came back negative for bacteria, so we think we're dealing with Feline Interstitial Cystitis, and I'm trying to learn about it. I'm glad to see his numbers back down this morning (a green preshot!). I've no idea what's happening with him and these fluctuating numbers, but now that I'm learning about FIC, I'm wondering if his pain is increasing, and that is driving up his numbers. I don't know. In typical Jude fashion, he is showing no symptoms. I'm contacting the vet today to ask about pain relievers. I've ordered some Cosequin and have upped the water volume in his food.

I'm also getting a new vial of insulin tomorrow. We've been two months on the current vial, and I'm just trying to eliminate anything that might be causing his numbers to go up.

@Bandit's Mom, what do you think right now? Do I need to give him an increase or wait?

Wishing everyone a good day and the sugar babies good surfs!
 
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If he has no symptoms, why are you thinking he could have FIC? I'm going to tag @Angela & Cleo because she has experience with FIC and can tell you what episodes of FIC can look like.

I think you can monitor more closely from tonight, right? Then you can try an increase.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
If he has no symptoms, why are you thinking he could have FIC? I'm going to tag @Angela & Cleo because she has experience with FIC and can tell you what episodes of FIC can look like.

I think you can monitor more closely from tonight, right? Then you can try an increase.
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He has blood/protein in his urine, but no bacteria, so the doctor thinks he has FIC (I wrote about this in yesterday's condo).

Also, Angela offered a lot of helpful advice in yesterday's condo.
 
Mary & Jude said:
He has blood/protein in his urine, but no bacteria, so the doctor thinks he has FIC (I wrote about this in yesterday's condo).

Also, Angela offered a lot of helpful advice in yesterday's condo.
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Have you had a chance to look at the feline PainScale from FDMB?
 
Regarding the FIC: I sent an email to Jude's vet today and told him that I would like to get Jude set up on medications that: 1) help with pain management; 2) help with relaxation; 3) help with inflammation. I suggested the drugs and supplements (and mentioned the other advice too--Feliways, etc.) that Wendy and Angela mentioned. Here is his response:

"I believe the best bet to start with would be a buprenorphine transdermal gel and adding in a transdermal fluoxetine [Prozac] or amytryptoline."

He also said we will probably need to adjust treatment based on Jude's response.

Thoughts/advice? What about the choice between Prozac or amitriptyline?

I also suggested an anti-spasmodic (prazosin) and the Cerenia (for anti-inflammatory properties), but he didn't comment on either. Should I press for these? As I'm reading, I do see the need for an anti-inflammatory.

I have ordered Cystease, which contains Glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, and l-tryptophan (the latter for relaxation); Jude already takes d-Mannose, and I have Cornsilk extract, but it's a no-go when I mix it into his food, so that might be something I'll put to the curb.

Also, perhaps I should ask the vet this: I have little Hazel, too. She and Jude pretty much eat out of the same bowls, etc. I wonder if it's okay if she gets these supplements. I don't think I can separate them as they both are grazers. I might need to find some way to get the Cystease and other supplements into Jude with a pre-meal LC snack that he'll gobble down before Hazel can get to it.

@Wendy&Neko (I know you don't like to be tagged, but I would very much like your feedback, please.)
@Angela & Cleo
 
Hi Mary, when Cleo got her FIC dx, my Vet preferred that we start with a more natural approach. He did prescribe pain meds and an anti inflammatory (Cerenia) but held off prescribing other medications unless and until it became a chronic condition. Sorry if I couldn't be more help.
 
Angela & Cleo said:
Hi Mary, when Cleo got her FIC dx, my Vet preferred that we start with a more natural approach. He did prescribe pain meds and an anti inflammatory (Cerenia) but held off prescribing other medications unless and until it became a chronic condition. Sorry if I couldn't be more help.
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Would you mind telling me which pain meds? So nothing for "relaxation"?

I think I will ask him again about the Cerenia.
 
He prescribed gabapentin which was compounded as a soft chew chicken flavor. He said if that didn't work, then bupe was next but gabapentin has sedation and Cleo relaxed quite a bit on it so we never went for the bupe.
 
Angela & Cleo said:
He prescribed gabapentin which was compounded as a soft chew chicken flavor. He said if that didn't work, then bupe was next but gabapentin has sedation and Cleo relaxed quite a bit on it so we never went for the bupe.
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Thanks! I've read that gaba doesn't always work--completely--to relieve pain, without something else alongside it (the "relaxation" drug). Perhaps it depends on the level of pain the cat is experiencing. I've looked at those pain charts, and I don't think Jude appears to be in much pain (I hope I'm right about that), and I don't want to dope the little guy into oblivion. I'll talk to the vet about this.
 
Bupe was my go to, vets seem to prescribe gaba more now. Though I do have a bupe vial around for emergencies (pancreatitis) from my vet. It's liquid, I've never given transdermal.

I did give civvie with FIC Prazocin a couple more serious episodes. I also gave one and only one dose of Prozac to him. I didn't like how loopy it made him. Never used amitriptyline so can't comment on it.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Bupe was my go to, vets seem to prescribe gaba more now. Though I do have a bupe vial around for emergencies (pancreatitis) from my vet. It's liquid, I've never given transdermal.

I did give civvie with FIC Prazocin a couple more serious episodes. I also gave one and only one dose of Prozac to him. I didn't like how loopy it made him. Never used amitriptyline so can't comment on it.
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Hi Wendy, do you know how long the liquid bupe lasts (to save for an emergency and keep on hand? Many vets won’t prescribe this medication unless the pet is having an immediate problem).

I’ve heard a few months, but curious what your experience has been. Thank you 😊
 
I've mostly used compounded bupe, which lasts 3 months. But that could be the compounding. My vet gave me a vial of "expired" regular bupe but it seemed to still work.
 
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