Monday, January 11, 2010

Kismet Update

Hi everybody - Kismet is back at the vet in the oxygen tent tonight. I made him an appointment for the heart ultrasound but I couldn't get him in until the 22nd. I called my vet, who said he'd like to try to start Kismet on a small dosage of heart medicine in the meantime. I gave him one of the pills when I got home today and two hours later he was crashing again. Not as bad as last time - in that he is alert and lucid - but he was panting and couldn't breathe (and was drooling. Lots of drool). I called my vet, and he opened up the clinic for us, gave Kismet a diuretic shot and put him back on oxygen.

I am less panicky this time because it was a little more expected, and also because although he couldn't breathe, Kismet was more alert. I asked my vet if I need to consider putting him down because I can't keep doing this to him, I can't keep watching him suffer, and my vet said we should wait and see how he is in the morning. He also said that it's not uncommon for people with heart conditions to be hospitalized a few times before they get their meds right, so we shouldn't jump to conclusions with Kismet. He also said that if we need to give him a daily dosage of the diuretic until he's stabilized, we can.

The night vet tech will be checking on him at 10 and they'll call me if there's a problem. Otherwise, I'm supposed to call tomorrow. Please keep purring and praying for Kismet. I am calmer, but I am also terrified that my phone is going to ring at 10 pm.

Also - thank you so, so much for all of your donations. Almost half of Kismet's bills will be paid off because of your generosity. People who donated will be receiving better thank-yous in the mail, but in the meantime I wanted you all to know that it hasn't gone unnoticed. And neither has the support you've shown me and Kismet.

Please keep thinking of him tonight.

30 comments:

Just Ducky said...

Hey Kismet and your LadyPerson. Big purrs to you, thinking of you everyday and sending healing purrs.

Rosemary B❤️ said...

Get better Kismet. Get some pills and just get better.
I will purrr all night for you, mom.

We are pulling for you, Kismet.
headbonks

Amy & the house of cats said...

We are sending lots of purrs and prayers for Kismet. And the vet was not kidding - I know someone who was on heart medicine and had to be hospitalized a couple times while figuring it out, but then once they got it right it went very well. Hopefully they can get his worked out quickly so he doesn't have to keep going though this and can just be ok.

Gemini and Ichiro said...

We will keep Kismet in our thoughts. I hope that he is okay. Purrs.

Mr. R.W. Emerson said...

Mommie and I are pulling for you, Kismet. I need you as my mancat role model.

~Emerson

ButterBean said...

Kismet and LadyPerson - we are in Virginia like you and we are close only about 2.5 hours from Harrisonburg - We is between Roanoke and Blacksburg - so we is close! There are 9 of us and all of us are sending BIG PURRS your way. WE have been thinking about you and hope you get better soon. Ladyperson if you need someone to talk to feel free to send an e-mail to fatcatbean@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Giving Kismet lots of good thoughts and purrayers... keep fighting, Man Cat.

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

Oh Kismet, we are purrin for you to breath easier.
And Kismet's Mewmie, we know you are so worried and he is constantly on your mind, wishing for him to pull through this crisis. We are holding you in our arms, across the miles, giving you a shoulder to rest on.

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

If you were going to take Kismet to CVCA (Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates), they have 4 locations in VA-Leesburg, Vienna, Springfield and Richmond. I would hope one of them could get Kismet in sooner than the 22nd.

www.cvcavets.com

Or what about the Vet School at VTech in Blacksburg? Call our mewmie if you want to talk more.

Rosie & Cheeto said...

We have Kismet in owr thawts and purrs! Hang in thare lil....errrr, BIG MANCAT buddy! We love yoo!

Rosie and Cheeto

PeeEss: Owr lady said to tell yer lady that she has yoo and Kismet in hur prayers!

Honey P. Sunshine said...

oh kismet, purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....mraw mraw mraw mraw mraw mraw mraw mraw

Max said...

Ya know what? The Cat Who Came Before Me had problems that sound a lot like Kismet's. She had the breathing problems and stuff, and it turned out to be a heart problem. BUT...once they got her on the right meds--Lasix to keep the fluid under control and a heart medication to make her heart beat better--she did REALLY good.

Paws are crossed for Kismet...tons and tons of paws.

Madness, Trouble, Squish and Milkbone said...

Oh, we hope the Bid ManCat will feel better soon. Huggs and Purrs.

Ikaika said...

We are sending big purrs to you, Kismet, to help in your recovery. And to Kismet's person, big hugs. This sounds very stressful for both of you. We are purring and praying that Kismet will adjust to the right combination of meds soon. Teri at Furrydance sounds like she would be a great source of support and information for you during this time.

Purrs and hugs,

'Kaika and his mom

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

We are sending lots more purrs for you Kismet. We hope you can soon get the right dosage of meds so you start to feel better.

Daisy said...

I'm sorry you can't get in any sooner for the heart ultrasound. Before you make any decisions, I hope you can wait until then, so you can see exactly what type of problem Kismet has and how severe or advanced it might be. When we lived in VA for a year and a half, we took Pixie to CVCA and they were really great; it was the only place where we got to be in the room while they did the ultrasound.

Harley and I are sending our very strongest purrs for Kismet.

Rusty said...

Hi, this is Rusty's Mom here. The Wildcatwoods cats told me about Kismet's plight. Rusty is also going through some breathing problems, but his is more like wheezing and whistling. He's scheduled this morning for x-rays so I'm hoping for the best. It's absolutely terrifying when a he appears to not be able to breath and a big relief when he just seems to settle back down on his own. I'm sending lots of healing prayers that Kismet improves.

Rusty's World.

LZ said...

Aww keep on hanging in there!! So wonderful you have a great VET, it makes all the difference in the world! Kisment obviously is a fighter and you are too, we know you will get it figured out!

Chase

Robyn and The (Mostly) Badass Cat said...

Get better Kismet. We's sendin yoo lotsa healin purrs!
PURRRRRRRRRRRRRS,
Alla Us Hotties

midnightsdeer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pip said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pip said...

We are purring fur you Kismet.
Furver Mom sends some green papers for us so your LadyPerson not has to worry wile her heart is hurting.
T & S

The Meezers or Billy said...

oh no, we are purrring hard for Kismet to be better.

Jans Funny Farm said...

We're glad to not see an update about a 10 pm call. We hope he is doing much better today. Purrs and tail wags.

Tiki, Kirby, and StanLee said...

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Louche Tabby said...

.....MRAW!!!.....keep well Kiz....

The Island Cats said...

We're purring really hard for Kismet and we hope that they can get his meds right and he will start to do better....

We're purring for you too, 'cuz we know how stressful this can all be...

LZ said...

OK, you aren't going to believe this but the Woman SWEARS Kismet's cousin is in the backyard of her office right now. Same looks & attitude. We hope it is a good sign!

Chase

Toffee K. Ripple Fuzzypants & Feline American Angels said...

Kismet ... We're purrin' an' purrayin' for you as much an' as loudly as we can (can you hear us at the v-e-t?). Please feel better, okay?
DMM

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

Purring loudly for you Kismet.. Sending hugs.. GJ xx