Her Heart is Hurting

March 6, 2008

I’m not sure where to start, but at this point I’m just going to spit it out.

Celeste is very sick and has been on oxygen in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) since last night. When we arrived home on Tuesday afternoon from Austin (more on that later), I noticed she was very listless, but she seemed okay overall. Yesterday, she stopped eating and wouldn’t move from our bed and that’s when I knew something was seriously wrong.

I made an appointment at her veterinarian for today at 2 PM, but last night when I woke up around 2 AM, I found that she was breathing really hard and hadn’t moved all night. So, Kevin and I took her in last night, because her animal hospital is a 24 hour emergency facility.

Basically, the veterinarian thinks she has heart disease. She’s had x-rays, blood work and a urinalysis, but only the results of the x-rays are back and they showed fluid on her lungs. Her blood work results will be available either late tonight or early tomorrow, so we won’t know until then if she does, in fact, have heart disease.

The fluid in her lungs is blocking a clear sightline for her heart, so they have given her a diuretic to assist in clearing out the fluid so they can take another x-ray to get a good look at her heart. She’s also on intravenous antibiotics to help with any underlying infections she might have.

I’ve been calling every few hours to get updates on her and she’s already had three “episodes” as the vet called them. Apparently, too much fluid collects on her lungs too fast and she literally stops breathing, so when that happens they have to intubate (stick a tube down through her throat into her lungs) so she can breathe.

The veterinarian made the initial diagnosis, without confirmation of blood work, of heart disease, because of all her symptoms. Though, another very minute possibility is a fungal lung infection. Either diagnosis is manageable with medication (and diet, if it is heart disease), but the heart disease is much more serious, obviously.

Here’s where it’s just killing me. They want to keep her in the ICU overnight again. When I worked at the cat clinic, only the very sickest of kitties stayed in the ICU cage overnight. The ones that were “guarded” or terminal. Knowing that my Celeste is that kitty right now is just breaking my heart.

Kevin and I are going to visit her tonight after dinner, but being away from her for this long is really making me sad. Please keep positive thoughts coming her way. She’s such a good kitty and doesn’t deserve any of this.

Of course, I’ll update here again when I know more.

{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

katelin March 6, 2008 at 5:58 pm

Aw I hope she’s okay.

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Miz UV March 6, 2008 at 6:51 pm

Oh, poor kitty! I hope she gets better ASAP. Fingers X’d.

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Sara March 6, 2008 at 9:10 pm

Oh hon, I can’t even begin to imagine what you are going through right now. The boys and I are sending nothing but good thoughts and vibes Celeste’s way. We’re pulling for her to get better quickly. Please keep us updated.

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George Leger III March 7, 2008 at 2:28 am

Hi Chandra….

I found out a while ago that Celeste has gone to kitty heaven. I am sending my love and support to you and Kevin, and your other lovely kittys.

If you need anything, just let me or your mom know. Our thoughts are with you…

Love George
Step dad #1 😉

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Jenn March 7, 2008 at 7:16 am

I’m sorry 🙁 I know this isn’t easy. I’m sending you, Kevin and Celeste good vibes.

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Jamie March 7, 2008 at 9:11 am

I’m so sorry. I hope she gets better.

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Natural Woman March 8, 2008 at 5:54 pm

Sorry to hear of this.

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