The Coaster Heads Downhill

Today and tomorrow are the peak concentration days for the Cytoxan that Mina took on Tuesday and Wednesday. Side effects include the usual vomiting, diarrhea, inappetance, etc., as well as “Cytoxan cystitis,” which is very serious and leads to bleeding. That’s why it’s critical that she drinks lots of water or low-sodium, organic chicken broth, and gets outside to pee frequently.

She didn’t eat much this morning just some vanilla yogurt, a little chicken, and she ignored her Chow Now and sweet potatoes. Auntie Sue suggested making her some hash browns and I make good hash browns so that’s the next plan to entice Mina to eat more.

This morning her Auntie LoLo visited around 8 a.m. and reported that Mina seemed in good spirits but didn’t drink very much and peed but not the usual river. Mina has always self-regulated her water supply during the day so she wouldn’t feel pressed to go outside. My friends and Auntie Sherrie are visiting her every two hours today to make sure she can get out enough, but I’m concerned that she’s not drinking enough.

I’m also worried about her insanely high white cell count and hoping the antibiotics she’s taking will manage whatever’s causing the spike. Overall, she seems tired but in good spirits and we took two walks to the leasing office and back yesterday.

In other news …

Mina’s cousins, Amber and Pearl (who are felines), sent a get-well card today that included their saved-up allowance to be used for Mina’s food supply! They have pretty good handwriting, y’know, for cats.

Auntie Leanne suffered a terrible loss this week. Her cat, Smokey, took off a few mornings ago in search of a fight and yesterday they found his body. It appears he met his end in the mouth of a coyote. Leanne and Dave and Soul Sister and Burton Leopold Blackbottom and Cassidy (Smokey’s feline friend) conducted a ceremony and laid him to rest near an apple tree in their new orchard. Leanne will plant his favorite herb, catmint, nearby.

Smokey

Rest in Peace, Smokey.

s.

 

Three Hours, Two Vets, One Shot

Today at VIMP Mina got her L-Asparaginase shot. She gets it just this one time and it helps prepare her body for the other chemo drugs to come.

Tumor cells, more specifically lymphatic tumor cells, require huge amounts of asparagines to keep up with their rapid, malignant growth. This means they use both asparagine from the diet as well as what they can make themselves (which is limited) to satisfy their large asparagines demand.

L-asparaginase is an enzyme that destroys asparagine external to the cell. Normal cells are able to make all the asparagine they need internally whereas tumor cells become depleted rapidly and die.

While I waited in the lobby for Mina, who was under observation after her shot, I watched the two budgies in the corner having a tiff.

VIMP Budgies

Then I watched Bob and Leo, the native Virginian water turtles, waking up from a nap.

VIMP Turtle

We left and she seems just fine and drove to our regular vet’s office. They were ready for us and got her Tramadol and prednisone. She’ll take the prednisone for seven days and we’re supposed to see an increased appetite and lots and lots of peeing because she’ll be drinking lots of water. This treatment will get her feeling better and eating again so she’s stronger for the Vincristine IV on Thursday, April 30.

Right now, Mina is resting. She ate a little chicken when we got home but not very much. I was given a flyer at our vet’s office about a locally produced raw food diet so I’m going to check out Chow Now.

Thanks for the comments!

s.