Hyperthyroid kitty will remain hyper....

[alfreda89]

It's official -- Merlyn is hyperthyroid, and cannot handle the one med they use for it. It's radioactive isotopes ($$$) or nothing. Considering I have not worked in three years, I am suspicious of using radiation to kill anything, and he's gonna be 15 in August, there will be no killing of thyroid. I just have to feed him to keep up with the burn, and live with him talking constantly. (They call it night yelling. My cat sitters will be thrilled.)

The biggest concern was shortening his life, but he's outlived his brother and older half-brother, so he's doing fine. I think of him as my Dorian Gray kitty. He looks like a teenager cat! Also, this can mask kidney problems. But he may not have kidney problems, just the thyroid problem. I plan to just love him, and not give him any more of the med that made him hurl constantly and me wash the bedding every day for a week.

Comments

[christymarx.livejournal.com]

So he can't handle either Tapazole or Methimazole?

[sheilagh.livejournal.com]

I've had great success with this company's products:
http://www.nativeremedies.com/petalive/thyroid-soothe-treatment-cats-dogs.html

[apricot-tree.livejournal.com]

I totally respect your choice. Why put the kitty through more, if it won't help is quality of life and you can't afford it? But as a side note, I personally have had the radioactive treatment. Yes, they do the same thing for people who have thyroid cancer. And give them the same drugs afterwards. It was something I found highly amusing when I did mine. "Oh, my cat had that..." :)

[treebyleaf.livejournal.com]

Your cat has my condition?!?

SHIT. The poor guy! My friend Blue describes advancing hyperthyroid as being like "a rabid turtle."

Okay, big human problem with hyperthyroidism is the constant diarhea and hyperdefecation flushes all nutrients from the system, including Carnitine, which is the nutrient self-produced by anything made of meat. Go cross-reference "carnitine" and "Graves Disease" and you will find recent human studies showing near-miraculous degrees of symptom relief after taking large doses of carnitine for about three weeks. (I am experiencing this myself right now.) New theory is that most of the big-gun symptoms of hyperthyroidism, including the heart strain, are actually *secondary* symptoms resulting from a nutrient domino-effect that happens once the body's carnitine levels are depleted.

It's very hard for a body to absorb carnitine (because we are not supposed to absorb it, we are supposed to make it.) Aecytl-L-Carnitine is the most easily absorbed form. BestVite has been the most affordable source by a mile.

Is that enough to be worth running by your vet? I hope it is.

[cabin77.livejournal.com]

I can sympathize with you. Sometimes it's not even the money that's the problem - it's the quality of life. Yes, you can extend the life of your fur-baby, but is it a good life if they are feeling crummy all the time and can't keep down their food? That was my dilemma with Garbo. I could have extended her life by giving her sub-q fluids and lots of meds, but that would have stressed her (and me) out greatly. I would rather have had a shorter time with her, and not had her run when she saw me.

You are doing a great job of being kitty-mom. You are making great choices and acting in the best interest of the little guys who you have taken into your life. That's all you can do.

{{{{{{{hug}}}}}}}