Isis

So, a couple of years ago, our "teenager", Isis, was diagnosed with hyperthyroid.  We were fortunate to take notice of the change in her behavior and get her to the doctor for tests.  Since that time, we have been giving her a daily dose of meds to bring her numbers in line.  At the time of her first labs, we were told her liver numbers were elevated and that they would be monitored along with her thyroid each time.  Isis has been a little trooper when it comes to taking her meds, even tho we know she isn't a fan.  (Sometimes, but not always, she even gets a treat for being such a brave girl!!)

Isis had labs again recently and the vet informed us that while her thyroid numbers were good, her liver numbers have been slowly creeping higher, which is a direct result of the meds.  Sooo...we were given 2 options: change her food to a special one or take her for a costly (yet one-time deal) radioactive iodine treatment.  We opted for changing her food....initially.

When I called the vet on Saturday to let her know we would go with changing her diet, she informed me that we would have to ensure that Isis NEVER ate any other type of food in her life.  She said it would be less of a risk for Luna to eat Isis's food than for Isis to eat Luna's.  This would mean feeding them at specific times, making Isis eat the new food exclusively (and this feline is finicky!!) and removing all food bowls until the next feeding time.  Well, we still thought, let's give this a try and the vets office was able to find us a Hill's freebie for the Y/D food with both dry and canned and a dry food container.  Chris planned to pick it up on Monday.  We were going to add a few pieces to her regular food to see if she would even like it.

But, the more we mulled it over, the more clear it became that we would need to do the radioactive iodine treatment.  This entails taking her to Purdue University (an hour and a half away, and an hour ahead of us) for an initial visit & taking her back/picking her up for the actual treatment.  We will have to leave our little girl for an indeterminate number of days (hopefully 3, but no more than 5) after she receives the injection so that the radioactivity leaves her system.  Following the treatment, I believe we will have to wear gloves when scooping litter and Isis isn't supposed to cuddle with us.  Having another cat in the mix, I don't know if that means they will keep her any longer or if they will expect us to get a 2nd litter box (but who can control which litter box their cat(s) use anyway!).  The good news: Isis will no longer have to take meds!  (And, of course, we just bought her a 90-day supply!  Fortunately, a pharmacist friend gives us an amazing deal!)   

And my baby is going to be so lonely and, maybe, sad ~ most likely, a bit pissed off, too.  We will send with her several towels, so she has our smell with her (the vet hospital will not return them, however, b/c they will have become biohazards).  Isis has never been away from her home.  When we travel, we always have someone come to our home to care for our cats.  I will miss her terribly!  She turns 14 this July, so she is a regular part of everyday life for us!!  Luna is gonna be lonely during the day without her big sister, too.  (For the first time this weekend, that we have seen, Isis was licking Luna's head, which is something she & Caesar would do.  It both touched and broke my heart!)

So, Isis's first appointment at Purdue is this Monday at 1PM (noon our time).  Chris and I will take the day off and the 3 of us will head down there about 10.  She is going to hate the drive and will, for sure, be telling us just that for the first several minutes. 

UPDATE:  Received a call from the Purdue Vet this morning.  Since we weren't informed by our vet to stop giving Isis her thyroid med, she can't be seen until Monday, March 25th, as she must be off it for 7 days.  Also, it seems that when we take her she will remain there for the treatment....AND she could be there 7-14 days, rather than 3-5.  OMGoddess!!!  Two weeks?!?  That is far, far too long to be without our baby and far, far, far too long for her to be without any of us.  My girl will be in isolation that whole time!  I pray that the staff will not only be observing her and giving her food & water, but they will also give her some time & attention, some much needed petting.  She has become a cuddler recently (which was always Caesar, so we have missed it) and I know she is going to just shove herself in the corner, her usual response when in her carrier for the vet visits.  I know this is what we have to do, but I can't help feeling sorry for my baby.