I thought I would share this information as it comes to hand as it may be useful to someone if they are ever in the same situation. As some of you know Lillie was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (I have started a thread on this and will add to it as I learn more). Her blood test showed that she could have diabetes so they retested back to 3 weeks ago and it was clear. I took a urine sample in today to check for kidney disease as the type of treatment we were looking at having (radioactive iodine treatment) would be harmful if she had this. The results have come in and fortunately kidneys are okay but her glucose levels were high and they now think she has diabetes and needs to be treated for it. The vet and specialist are perplexed with this result and think that the cortisone injection she had the other week for eczemz may have had something to do with it as it wasn´t in her blood 3 weeks ago. They have described her as "diagnostically challenging!" The good side is that it has been caught really early and there should be a good chance that she will go into remission with treatment, the bad news is we can´t go ahead with RIT so have to start medication. The only signs she is showing is being hungry all the time (but she has been like that pretty much since we got her) and I´ve noticed a bit of dandruff on her fur but she´s not drinking lots of water, losing weight or any other obvious symptoms. Thanks to all for your support and marcatmm I will ask about the laser surgery when I see the vet tomorrow

Poor Lillie!! She´s really having a rough go of it. All the trips to the vet and the tests must be stressing her.

In the interim, I hope you find the HyperT meds as effective for her as they have been for Sunny and also that the result of the diabetes test is a false positive caused by the cortisone shot. Please keep us updated. Good thoughts and prayers are with lovely Lillie through this difficult time!!

Thanks marcatmm

So the saga continues! I thought i would write here so all Lillie´s buddies know as it is hard for me to write to everyone (she is so popular!). Lillie has been on insulin for her diabetes and tablets for her hyperthyroidism the last couple of weeks. In the last few days we have noticed that she is off her food (Lillie LOVES her food) and she smells so we took her to the vet yesterday and she had another blood test. The results show that her hyperthyroidism is good with a reading of 12 (is was 193 when first tested and should be no higher than 48 so great result!). Apparently her glucose is down to 3 which rules out diabetes BUT now her liver count is 2000 and the norm is 80 so we are still not in the clear. Advice is to stop the insulin, reduce the thyroid tablets to half and let her eat whatever she wants (they put her on a diet - WHAT THE??? - Mugger will understand this!).

Tonight she is running around playing kiss chasey with Cleo, climbing the scratching pole and a bit more perky but she goes to her food bowl enthusiastically and although we have put out a smorgasboard (the vet said this is okay) she has a mouthful and walks away

I am busy watching over Lillie so not on UC as much but thank you to all the lovely people who have posted their kind wishes. I told Lillie that we will get through this and she has a long life here with us!

Will keep you posted

No diabetes - no more insulin - hooray!! So good to hear this news, maobrien!!

Did the vet tell you why her liver count is so high? Hopefully her appetite will pick up and she´ll be back to eating as she normally does.

Good thoughts and prayers are with Lillie and looking forward hearing news of her.

oh Lillie that is sad but it looks like she is doing better so that is a bit of good news....we hope you will feel better soon Lillie all our paws are crossed and hoping you will get better (Mambo´s too cause he´s here now so that´s double the paws, double the hopes!)

Lillie had better be doing better - Mugger keeps nagging me for updates on her. It´s great to hear that she´s off the insulin - could being on the insulin have affected her liver counts?

As for her being on a diet, Lillie has Mugger´s deepest sympathies. He´s grudgingly gotten used to being on a diet, and by "grudgingly" I mean that at least once a week he screams at me about how he´s being starved to death.

We can´t be sure wolfie but I reckon that Lillie didn´t have diabetes and the insulin may have been a bad thing but then again I am not a vet and I have the utmost respect for them (they are Gods) because they have to diagnose without any feedback from their patient but diagnostic results.

Lillie is only having very small amounts of biscuits at a time but she is drinking water and tonight has bounced around with party streamers and string so we are very optimistic

Of course, Mugger being concerned makes her feel very special

maobrien, my dog Ben had epilepsy and he had a low glucose level. So much so they thought he would have diabetes too. Turned out he just had a naturally low glucose level. He was abnormal in that way. Could well be his epilepsy affected this level. Could well be that Lillie is similar.

Small amounts often is probably better for her that lots two or three times a day.

So happy to hear she is bouncing around. Nothing sweeter then when they start bouncing after being off colour.

OOHHH Poor Lillie! In my thoughts and Tegan is doing cat cartwheels! We hope she is better SOON!!!

Love Ruth-Anne and Tegan xx

loving thoughts and prayers and warm nuzzles from all of us

---tootsie, bootsie, missy and mom

Wow, poor Lillie has been through the mill. Hopefully she keeps on improving. You´re so right about the diagnostic thing - it´s hard enough for doctors to sort out what´s wrong with people. Being a vet must be very challenging in cases like this. Stay well Lillie!

Mugger will always be concerned with anything that affects Lillie. She is such a sweet and special cat (and one who put him right in his place, too, good for her!).

Being a vet must be tough because, you´re right, they don´t get verbal feedback other than a hiss or a growl, which isn´t the same as a person saying "I´m dizzy" or "My stomach hurts." I´ve always respected vets (even though Mugger doesn´t) and have always felt that if I have a sudden health emergency, I´d be comfortable if the only doctor around was a vet. After all, we humans are animals, too!

--Wolfie

P.S. But if the vet wants to take my temperature, he can put the thermometer IN MY MOUTH, please.

I agree Mugger. I think my mum loves the vet more than me (although she swears it´s not because he is good looking!). I have picked up and am back on my food and mum knew I was my old self when I started banging my head on her bedroom door at 5 in the morning looking for food although I´m still not out of the clear and have to have another one of those nasty blood tests next week to check my cranky liver. BTW mum says no more gifts of champagne thanks as this does not help the old liver!! Maybe they can come up with some kind of detox gift

Hey Mugger, when I´m better maybe we can go on a mission to steal all of the thermometers around the world???

Lillie, I would love a mission to steal all the thermometers! I HATE having my temp taken!!!!! Last time, I tried to crawl inside my Mom by going through Her armpit!

--Mugger