Osiris with HCM

[OsirisBubs342]

Hello all. I haven’t posted in years. My baby is Osiris. We just found out this year that he has HCM and congestive heart failure. He never showed any signs of it until he had a short syncope episode. We took him to the vet right away and they didn’t think he had any signs until the did some blood work and recommended an echocardiogram. The heart vet said he has severe HCM. It broke my heart. He’s not even 5 and he showed no signs. He had a 3 night stay at the ER in March after his diagnosis to get him the oxygen he needs. Since then he’s been stable (since it can’t get better) and we continue to give him all the proper meds and keeping a very close eye as well as check his pulse ox levels and such.
How does anyone cope with their baby being sick? He’s my whole world.
I remembered how much I loved this community and just want to show my support to the rest of the parents of not so furry babies.

 

[Yoda mom]

@OsirisBubs342 , hugs, I am so sorry for Osiris' HCM/CHF diagnosis. you are not alone. we are here for you.

I have been on the journey 4 times, a bengal many many years ago and three sphynx.

Most recently My Tobylove . You ask how how we cope with our babies being sick. it's a gut punch I know too well.

I took deep breaths when Tobylove was diagnosed. His only sign was a two second cough. In my gut I knew and took to vet asap where it was confirmed he had severe HCM, CHF,a gallop heart rhythm, ckd, and on top of it a tiny lump below his ear that turned out to be cancer.
When first arrived at vet I wanted a check of his heart and lump. chest xrays confirmed and sent to cardiologist for a read of the xray. My vet consulted with cardiologist and got meds on board and lived every moment to the fullest with love.

** Our babies have no idea what reports say. Osiris only knows your love.

I gave Tobylove a big head smooch, I told him we got this and promised him quality vs quantity and to be there for him when he needed me most.

I got in a routine of his meds, what medications is Osiris taking? my boy with severe HCM was put on Furosemide, benazepril, spironolactone, clopidogrel and 4 months later added vetmedin.

I learned to count respiration rate. He had no idea he was sick.

He played, ate, did all the things he loved like his cat wheel too. for his cat wheel I told him go slow and he learned to take slow brief strolls instead of the Go Fast I would tell him before diagnosis. I told my vet I would let him do what he loved best. She said she does the same with hers.

He taught me to live in the moment as they do. Every moment filled with love and powered on together.

I updated vet with any breathing rate changes and she again consulted with cardiologist (that is far away) and adjusted his furosomide and added vetmedin which helped. I got a dry erase board to write down his meds I wore a little headlamp for pill time to easily see where I was placing pill and recheck that he swallowed them one at a time. He took his pills like a champ as if he knew. I told him they were his "strong boy pills". he had a follow up bloodwork to check kidneys after he started meds. for him he was put on wet/dry k/d food. I also got him lower sodium wet food. I showed my vet the can of weruva press your lunch. I mixed with a little water and made mooshy.

** I coped by knowing at the end of the day I did the best I could, that he only knew my love and had no idea what reports said, and carried on together , every moment a gift.

please know your lair family is here for you. Stay strong Team Osiris. sending much love, hugs and positive vibe head smooches. following for updates. thank you for your love care and support for our nakids and furbabies.

pm me anytime for an ear to listen, hug. we gotcha

 

[nudebea]

I am really sorry you have had to hear this news, like many members on SL , I know only too well how it feels and the fear that it can bring. My Wilson was diagnosed when he was 7 yrs old , no signs before he suddenly lost consciousness briefly one day while laying next to me on the sofa. Things did change for us from that day with trips to the vet/ cardiologist getting a balance of the right meds along with administering them( we eventually found our "right" way dividing up pills with a little pill guillotine, using a little pill popper, a kind of needle-less syringe with a silicone nozzle etc plus some "junk food" ie like-lix as he liked that (he wasn't allowed junk food before) Once we got into the routine and knew that his meds were "going down" it did help reduce the stress. We also let him play as he would normally, he was very active up until the day we had to say goodbye, and loved life . You eventually learn to live day by day and in the moment . Try not to let "what if" thoughts invade and just be with your precious Osiris enjoying the gift of his company.
You're not alone, sending you and Osiris hugs and positive vibes x

 

[OsirisBubs342]

@OsirisBubs342 , hugs, I am so sorry for Osiris' HCM/CHF diagnosis. you are not alone. we are here for you.

I have been on the journey 4 times, a bengal many many years ago and three sphynx.

Most recently My Tobylove . You ask how how we cope with our babies being sick. it's a gut punch I know too well.

I took deep breaths when Tobylove was diagnosed. His only sign was a two second cough. In my gut I knew and took to vet asap where it was confirmed he had severe HCM, CHF,a gallop heart rhythm, ckd, and on top of it a tiny lump below his ear that turned out to be cancer.
When first arrived at vet I wanted a check of his heart and lump. chest xrays confirmed and sent to cardiologist for a read of the xray. My vet consulted with cardiologist and got meds on board and lived every moment to the fullest with love.

** Our babies have no idea what reports say. Osiris only knows your love.

I gave Tobylove a big head smooch, I told him we got this and promised him quality vs quantity and to be there for him when he needed me most.

I got in a routine of his meds, what medications is Osiris taking? my boy with severe HCM was put on Furosemide, benazepril, spironolactone, clopidogrel and 4 months later added vetmedin.

I learned to count respiration rate. He had no idea he was sick.

He played, ate, did all the things he loved like his cat wheel too. for his cat wheel I told him go slow and he learned to take slow brief strolls instead of the Go Fast I would tell him before diagnosis. I told my vet I would let him do what he loved best. She said she does the same with hers.

He taught me to live in the moment as they do. Every moment filled with love and powered on together.

I updated vet with any breathing rate changes and she again consulted with cardiologist (that is far away) and adjusted his furosomide and added vetmedin which helped. I got a dry erase board to write down his meds I wore a little headlamp for pill time to easily see where I was placing pill and recheck that he swallowed them one at a time. He took his pills like a champ as if he knew. I told him they were his "strong boy pills". he had a follow up bloodwork to check kidneys after he started meds. for him he was put on wet/dry k/d food. I also got him lower sodium wet food. I showed my vet the can of weruva press your lunch. I mixed with a little water and made mooshy.

** I coped by knowing at the end of the day I did the best I could, that he only knew my love and had no idea what reports said, and carried on together , every moment a gift.

please know your lair family is here for you. Stay strong Team Osiris. sending much love, hugs and positive vibe head smooches. following for updates. thank you for your love care and support for our nakids and furbabies.

pm me anytime for an ear to listen, hug. we gotcha

Thank you so much for the kind words and support. He currently takes a large does of furosemide and a small does of diltiazem. We got both of the meds in liquid form because he is really smart and will hide the pill in his mouth and spit it out later. It’s a little less stressful this way but he hates his meds. We do it during feeding times so he gets a reward. He unfortunately is allergic to chicken so we are really limited to his food and treats

I will keep up with posts. He’s the sweetest boy and we try to not think about what will happen without him. He was a sick too young kitten when we got him and I will forever take care of him

 

[OsirisBubs342]

I am really sorry you have had to hear this news, like many members on SL , I know only too well how it feels and the fear that it can bring. My Wilson was diagnosed when he was 7 yrs old , no signs before he suddenly lost consciousness briefly one day while laying next to me on the sofa. Things did change for us from that day with trips to the vet/ cardiologist getting a balance of the right meds along with administering them( we eventually found our "right" way dividing up pills with a little pill guillotine, using a little pill popper, a kind of needle-less syringe with a silicone nozzle etc plus some "junk food" ie like-lix as he liked that (he wasn't allowed junk food before) Once we got into the routine and knew that his meds were "going down" it did help reduce the stress. We also let him play as he would normally, he was very active up until the day we had to say goodbye, and loved life . You eventually learn to live day by day and in the moment . Try not to let "what if" thoughts invade and just be with your precious Osiris enjoying the gift of his company.
You're not alone, sending you and Osiris hugs and positive vibes x

Thank you so much for the support and love. Maybe we will try some “junk food” treats a little more often with his meds because he hates them so much. He’s so strong for being so small. You’re right about not getting into the what ifs. Living day by day is the only way I will keep sane. Thank you for the support