Howdy gang, thanks for coming by on Mancat Monday, I hope all is okay in your neck of the woods. Today I’m going to give everyone an update on the history of my battles during the Pee Wars. Those of you who have been with us for a long time already know the history, but I’ve had so many new followers since then and several of you, after my post last week, wanted to know what meds I was on and why. So, here goes.
Back in 2010 the Pee Demons launched a surprise attack. All of a sudden I felt like I had to pee and off to the litter box I went. They attacked again and to the litter box I went. I couldn’t stop going to the litter box. Hardly anything was coming out. To the Vet we went. I was diagnosed with a Urinary Tract Infection and given antibiotics.
All was okay for a little while then the Pee Demons attacked again. To the Vet we went, UTI again, meds again. After a small amount of time another attack came. We went to a different Vet, no, she said I didn’t have a UTI, I had cystitis. Different meds. Same result. More attacks. Oh, I forgot to mention that there were also trips to the Emergency Vet when the attacks came after hours.
This went on for months, but you probably get the picture, it was wearing me down, I could hardly leave the litter box. On one of those late night visits to the Emergency Vets we found Dr. E. and he was a good one. He said he wasn’t going to discharge me until he had better answers for me. He said I had Idiopathic Cystitis, which basically means due to an internal irritation/inflammation, I thought I had to pee all of the time.
Dr. E. communicated immediately with Emergency Vets across the country and that’s how he came up with the drug cocktail to help me. I was taking Amitriptyline due to its anti-inflammatory properties in cats, a liquid pain med called Buprenorphine (an opioid) and Prazosin, which is a urethra relaxer. I was taking these 2 times a day, so basically I’ve been stoned since 2010, but the thinking I needed to pee issues ceased and I declared victory over the Pee Demons. During this time we changed Vets 4 times and that’s how we ended up with our wonderful Vet and the Cat Clinic, which is a cat only Vet place.
Then, last year when I got sick I was referred to our wonderful Internal Medicine Vet (Dr. V.) because of the concern that I might have lymphoma. Y’all probably know that story, after a biopsy I was diagnosed with IBS. Dr. V., as a part of my overall treatment, wanted to get me off of those heavy-duty meds. She said that a lot of times as kitties age they actually outgrow the “Idiopathic” part of the cystitis thing and she thought I’d do fine without those meds. So, we started the long process of weaning me off of those meds. She was right, I feel much better and I’m doing great. I was really surprised and not overly happy to learn there was another male cat living here, his name is Simon, who knew?!?! I do tolerate him though MOL!
They ya go, the Pee Wars history. I hope you all have a fabulous Monday and a wonderful week. Remember, adopt cats, we deserve it!!!!! More Forever Homes More Often! Purrrrr! Zip! Later!
we are so happy that you are doing great… hugs and all crossed paws that this year brings only good news for all of us…
I am so glad that Dr. V was able to help you out, Brian. Nothing else matters. Thank you for sharing your pee wars story with us.
We are glad you have been able to get off some of your medication. Thanks for the update Brian.
We’re glad that after all that, Brian, you found really good vet care and have not been doing well.
The biped isn’t too thrilled with the vet care there, and there are no cat-only clinics (too small a region). They do their best, but there is a heavy bias toward dogs, and of course cats can be especially difficult to diagnose and treat. Anyway, we hope you never have to battle the Pee Demons again, Brian!
That is a lot of different vets to go through, but if it gets you to the right one, it is what needs to be done. So glad things are so much better for you.
Well Brian you certainly have had quite a time with the pee wars and getting off those heavy drugs but just look at you now….loving life and not peeing (or thinking you have to) all the time OR on medication that didn’t let you enjoy life much. Times have changed – we’re just happy as heck for you!
Hugs, Teddy
Brian I remember this very sharply, as mom and I worried ourselves about you every day. We happen to be very very fond of you…but I think you know that. XXXX
We are so happy the Pee Wars are over!! We remember when you had to go through all of that.
Brian,
It’s amazing how things clear up when you’re not stoned all the time, huh? I’m so happy you’re doing better, my furriend. Having to skirt off to the bathroom to do practically nothing is frustrating and still leaves you uncomfortable, a feeling we all have experienced at one point. Here’s hoping 2022 is a healthy one for you, your furblings, mom, and dad!
We are so glad you are off those meds and enjoying life to the full again, Brian!
Purrs,
Tama and Benny
So happy you finally found a vet that knew how to help Brian.
You have been through the wringer, Brian, and we are so happy that the meds have helped you. We hope you never have to deal with this again!
I am so glad you shared your story, I am one of the fairly newcomers to your blog and wondered about the details. so very happy for you that age now has something good for you… I am so glad you are no longer stoned and have reconized Simon is in the house. ha ha… can you send me those meds, I might need them for myself. do they work on humans? ha ha
Thanks for the history lesson, Brian. We’re glad to hear you are doing well after weaning off those medications and hope you continue to feel well.
Brian, we can tell that your humans and doctors did everything that they could for you, for all of these years.
Guess you’ll have to deal with Simon on your own, however…play with him, and show him the ropes.
Brian O M C x 100 what a saga you and Dad went thru. Dad’s determination brought you to the other side the pee wars.
Good to know you and Simon are co existing. Discovering you have a brudder was A Ok after all your years of battling pee wars.
Hugs Cecilia
What a wonderful trip off those meds. I’m so happy you found the right doctor and things are better. I did laugh about your mention of Simon.
Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week. Scritches all around and my best to your wonderful peeps. ♥
You’ve been through a long tough time, Brian! I’m so glad you are doing better now!
Thank you for your kind words and visiting me after I ran off to the bridge. You are a dear friend. Your kindness helped the folks here.
I am watching over things now and will pray that you will be feeling better now and each feel better than the day before.
That was very interesting it was good you found a much more knowledgeable vet to sort you out, but glad now your much better and gradually coming off those wretched meds heheh!
Have a peelesstasticx Monday 👍
I am so glad that your pee issues are under control now. Nothing like feeling the need to go and you can’t. Happens to us humans also, usually caused from an infection. But you are good now and that is great. Hoping you take it easy on Simon, he knows hes been there all this time, and all that time he knew you so he is not understanding your change. I know mom and dad do a great job on giving you all the right amount of attention. They are the best humans.
wow you have had quite the experience- over 10 years- yikes. Glad to hear you are doing lots better! HUGS!
Thank you so much for sharing this for newcomers. 😀 This is both great news and good information.
Be well, handsome!
I am glad you are so much better without those heavy duty meds, Brian. Soon after I was told the cancer had metastasized I was unable to sleep. Not surprising really when you have just been told it is incurable. My doctor put me on Amitriptyline to help me sleep. It didn’t work but made me so confused I couldn’t string a sentence together, and then I started hallucinating. I had enough so flushed them down the toilet. It wasn’t good stopping suddenly but I had no intention of taking any more. If they were doing that to me I… Read more »
Yeah. The pee wars sure is no fun. We’ve known about them about you for a while. Never knew about IBS. Been there here with that too though. Hopefully you stay on the up and up and watch those male kitties lol
dood…..we iz glad ewe winned de battle oh de pee warz and we hope thoz bass terdz never show
up in yur feeld, nayborhood, or town….ever again….. 🙂 ♥♥
We are all so happy that you’re happy Brian and getting off those meds made such a life difference for you. WE pray for no more PEE WARS!
We’re glad you found a great vet who helped you get off the meds. We’re so happy you’re feeling so good ! Purrs
Good heavens! What a long and uncomfortable process for you Brian – I am sorry you had so many issues. BUT, I am now extra happy to know you have the right diagnosis for your age and are off those heavy meds. Good story to tell, it could help someone else with the same issues. Bravo!
Brian, we wholeheartedly declare you the Victor of the Pee Wars. Great persistence and determination of the part of your peeps.
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
It was good to hear the backstory. And always good to know that you are well and not living in the litter box.
It’s wonderful that your humans kept on trying to help and found a vet who figured it all out. Sometimes it takes a new vet to get the diagnosis right. Teddy sometimes had problems in the pee department. The vet he had at the time gave meds that seemed to help for a while. Then one day he couldn’t pee at all! I took him to a new vet and she did an x-ray and found his bladder was full of stones! She gave him some meds and a prescription for special food. That was several years ago and as… Read more »
OMC! An opiate! So glad you are off those things and still doing great.
It’s been quite a few years for you, Brian! We’re so glad you’re doing better now.
Brian, I’m glad you’re doing much better these days and not having anymore pee wars. ~Ernie
I wondered why you were on those meds too! I’m so glad that’s all behind you, sweetie.
I am glad you won the war and don’t have to be stoned anymore. 🙂 XO
We chuckled at your being stoned since 2010! Poor guy–we’re sorry it took so long to get to this point but we’re glad your pee-er is not broken anymore.
Your vet was very smart to know that sometimes these problems end, and the meds are no longer needed.
A friend of mine had a cat with chronic UTIs and cystitis until the day the cat got on the supper table while no one was watching and ate a whole platter of asparagus.. There’s something in asparagus that is very healthy for the urinary tract, and that cat never had another bout of anything urinary again after that.
Uy me alegro Mancat este mejor es terrible cuando un mascota se enferma y mas con eso tan grave. Te mando un beso .
Just wanted to stop by and say Thank You for your kind words about Max. He’s been gone a week now and things just aren’t the same anymore around our home. But I know he’s with his sister, Amber, again and no longer in pain and that helps a lot.
Hugs..
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Hi Brian! We are glad they have you off that cocktail! We knew about the UTI wars and we noticed you were pretty subdued, but did not realize how heavy duty the cocktail was. And you know what…Kozmo and I get along really well – now. It took about a year but now we even play together!
We are very much behind, so we are just starting over…we read through all the missed posts…
We sure hope that pee monster has left the building forever…or in your case the Body of Brian.
Glad you now have a vet who knows what /how to help you.
You’re still standing and that means you are the winner
I am happy to hear that you are off those meds and enjoying life to the full again.
Happy Tuesday!
I’m glad that idiotic idiopathic problem has gone away, and you can be off the meds, Brian. My human says idiopathic is a complicated word for WTF, because it means the vets don’t know where the problem is coming from. In any case, it sounds like the meds did good by you until they didn’t. And now they’re gone.
That was a long road, Brian, and we’re so happy that you beated the pee-war, maybe we can do a raindance now😸Pawkisses for a Happy Day to all of you🐾😽💞
so glad you are doing well ~ Xo
Wishing you a happy day,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
About 100 years ago (cat years) our Wonderpurr Gang leader Hwermie was treated for chronic pee pee issues. The vet put him finally on Amitriptyline. It made him so wonky on his foots that Momma ended up demanding another medicine because Hwermie nearly fell down the stairs. Now Fwank has pee pee issues. In fact he got his manhood taken away when he almost died from being blocked 3 times in one year. Dwink lots of cwanberrie jooce, I tell them, but they iz men and they don’t listen to us wimmen. Love, Dori
Glad you are doing good now 😀
Wow, all those battles, and then you finally won that Pee War. We are so glad for you, Brian! XO
It is important that people know the Pee Wars story. It will give others with worries hope too.
Thanks for this.
I love a cat story with a happy ending! ❤️ Brian.
xxoo