Gaga Very Ill

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

I keep checking, hoping for an update with good news. Praying for Gaga.

brianj12 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 18, 2015 4:02 am

Thanks for the kind wishes everyone, that means a lot.

I went to see her during lunch, and was very surprised to see her sitting up, ears perked up, surveying the room, with no IV in her. She was very happy to see me, giving me head-butts and kneading with her paws. She was able to stand up, but not really walk. She was too wobbly for that. But all this was definitely great news. The specialist vet was out to lunch, so I didn't get a chance to speak to him, but the vet tech said she didn't think Gaga had any seizures today. I left feeling very positive, but also a bit puzzled, and also very frustrated and annoyed that they didn't think enough of me to talk to me. They promised the specialist would call me this afternoon (and he hasn't). I visited again after work, and again the specialist wasn't there. Gaga was about the same, very pleased to see me, and vocal. I smuggled her in some roasted turkey (her favorite) and she wolfed that down. Looking back, I think the reason she seemed so messed up last night was probably because she was so drugged up.

Anyway, I'm a lot more optimistic about things now, and I'm going to keep calling until they talk to me tomorrow. And I've even put some effort tonight into preparing the guest bedroom in anticipation of her coming home. :smile:

Tabitha · **Joined:** Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:11 pm **Posts:** 1196

So so pleased for you! Hopefully the vet will speak to you soon and shed some light on what happened and let you know when Gaga can go home.

Such a stressful time for you all, looking forward to more positive news soon! Xx

spitspot · **Joined:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:26 pm **Posts:** 734

Wonderful news! I know she is not out of the woods yet but just to see her more like her old self must have been incredible. I signed on with such trepidation in case she was not improved. I will now have a smile on my face today! Keep going Gaga and show everyone that Bengal spirit! It does puzzle me though why no one has been able to explain what has gone on or theorise what might have gone on with Gaga???

cranberry · **Joined:** Wed Aug 28, 2013 7:42 pm **Posts:** 641

Good news to start the day with.

I hope that Gaga keeps wolfing down the roast turkey and carries on recovering.

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

Brian, I am SO happy to hear some positive news about Gaga. For as much money as this specialist is getting, you should be called frequently with updates! So thrilled Gaga is doing better, but I just hope they can give you some hint of what happened and how to prevent this from happening ever again. Fingers crossed she gets to come home soon. I know this has run you ragged! {{{HUGS}}}

Donna741 · **Joined:** Wed Feb 05, 2014 9:03 pm **Posts:** 1048

Great news! :thumbup:

I sure hope the specialist has some answers for you and she can come home soon.

It's so frustrating when they don't make it a priority to talk to you :rolleyes:

CMYKjill · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:38 pm **Posts:** 1838

I hope you get to talk to the specialist vet today. I mean I would be climbing the walls wondering if it was a one time thing (head trauma, ingesting something bad accidentally) or if she has something that needs long term treatment. I hope the vet has some answers, and you can bring her home soon. Good luck with everything, we're all rooting for her.

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

I'm hoping this was just a one-time thing. Gaga got into something and had a reaction and this is something that won't happen again. I have had a cat in the past who had seizures and, thankfully, our vet is just a couple of minutes away. They didn't happen frequently, but she had a lot of health problems that probably contributed to them. Hoping Gaga has a great day!

bkilgore · **Joined:** Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:19 pm **Posts:** 3302

I am so sorry you all are having to go through this! I will keep all of you in my prayers and hope for the best. Am I remembering correctly but didn't she have a seizure a while back too?

Luc · **Joined:** Fri Jun 05, 2015 5:20 pm **Posts:** 15

Glad she seems to be improving. Hope it continues.

wildlifereflections · **Joined:** Wed Oct 23, 2013 2:34 am **Posts:** 350

Heart hurting for you.

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

I kept checking last night for an update! I hope Gaga is back home with you, Brian, and she's doing well.

Lealea · **Joined:** Thu Jun 18, 2015 10:15 am **Posts:** 1

Hi there, I'm new here, but I hope you don't mind me making a comment on her recent problems.
I'm a nurse and have seen these types of symptoms with electrolyte imbalances, which can cause lethargy, seizures, twitching and general malaise. I also rescue lizards and have had the same symptoms present alone with an electrolyte imbalance, so it's not species specific.

I wonder if poor Gaga has had a recent illness, not obvious to us humans, which has caused her to have an imbalance. Since she responded poorly at first to the anti seizure medication, it seems there may have been a metabolic or electrolyte issue going on, rather than a particular pathology.
I hope this helps a little.

Sending my best kitty wishes from Down Under to up your darling girl.

brianj12 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 19, 2015 3:57 pm

Gaga is back home now. I (finally!) got to talk with the specialist, who confirmed she has epilepsy (which I already suspected). Here is actually a bit of the history:

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=18291&hilit=seizure

She's been having seizures for the last couple of years, every few months. But this one was obviously much more severe. The doctor prescribed her Phenobarbitol, which seems to be a very commonly prescribed medicine for seizures. So I will now have to pill her twice a day. I rushed Gaga into the guest bedroom after getting home, keeping her away from the other two cats. It was a rough night though. Apparently some side effects of the drug are thirst, hunger, and nervous energy, and all three proved to be true. Gaga ate ravenously, then slurped down an entire bowl of water. Then all night she was wandering around, meowing. I would hold her for awhile (meowing all the while), then she would be off again. I'm quite sure that she didn't get a single minute of sleep last night. And the tough thing is that she still doesn't have full strength in her legs yet. So she is able to jump and pull herself up onto the bed about one time in two, but when she "misses" she ends up doing a face plant on the carpet. And getting down from the bed is even thougher, because she inevitable "crash lands" on the floor. So I'm going to have to get her some kind of cage, so that she has enough room for her bed, food, water, litterbox, and a bit of room to wander, but safely. These symptoms are supposed to lesson after awhile, but until then it's too dangerous for her to wander the house, or even be in a guest bedroom with nothing other than a bed in the room.

The specialist wants me to come back in two weeks for blood work etc., but I've booked an appointment for tomorrow with our "regular" vet. I've about had it with the specialist (after blowing me off for two days, now he's even not cooperating with filling out the insurance paperwork), and I've since heard some other really bad things about him, so hopefully my regular vet will be up to continuing with her treatment.

Gaga Very Ill

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