Sawyer Update
I asked our mom if I could write our post today. That means we are not doing Friendly Fill-Ins but will include them tomorrow with our Caturday Art. We also will celebrate Dr. Seuss’ Birthday tomorrow.
Even though I am currently taking three medications, I haven’t been doing very well. In the past month I have had several focal seizures of varying lengths and severity. Then on the 20th I had a grand mal seizure, one month after my last one. I was fortunate that it stopped naturally after a few minutes. Then five days later I had another one that wouldn’t stop. Mom and Dad gave me 2 mg. of valium, but that didn’t help. That was the prescribed dose, so they didn’t want to give me more. So you know what came next…back in the car to the emergency vet.
Another 2 mg. of valium stopped the seizure, but my temperature was the highest it has ever been at 106-plus degrees. While I languished in a cage for 12 hours, Mom and Dr. Neel were discussing the situation. Dr. Neel also talked to one of the neurologists at the Virginia Tech vet school. Dr. Neel described my symptoms and history, and this is the probable diagnosis: Feline hippocampal and piriform lobe necrosis (FHN). This is pretty rare, and there is no cure for the disease. Supposedly my prognosis is poor.
I could go to the vet school for an MRI, but the bilateral, brain lesions, characteristic of the disease, often don’t show up in the brain until viewed after death.
If you’d like to read more about this disease, you can find several articles on-line.
Going Forward
I will continue on my Keppra (with my dose being increased again) and on phenobarbital. I am being switched to a chicken- flavored liquid, as I don’t always eat when the crushed pills are in my food. Slowly, I am being weaned off the Zonisamide as we have not seen that it helps me.
As my current meds are not really helping control my seizures Mom and dad have made the decision to try CBD oil. Mom has joined the CBD Oil Users group on Facebook, but so far has not found any helpful information.
This is how we need your help:
- If you have ever had a cat with Feline hippocampal and piriform lobe necrosis (FHN), please let us know the treatment you used and the outcome.
- Please share any experience you’ve had with using CBD oil to help control seizures and whether or not in helped.
- Also, let us know the brand and formulation of CBD oil you used. Mom is looking at CBD treats, as I L-O-V-E treats.
Finally, please don’t feel sorry for me. I do sleep a lot due to my meds, but on a day-to-day basis, I have a terrific life in a loving home. And I know I will have that for whatever time I am here. Of course, I do appreciate any purrs, prayers and POTP you can spare.
I am entering Feline Friday at Comedy Plus. Click on their badge to go there.
With thanks, purrs and paw-pats, Sawyer
Dear Sawyer and Family
No we do not feel sorry for you. Why? Because you have the most wonderful Mum and Dad and they care deeply for you. We all want you to be the best you can – so focus on that. You have immense support from us all and we love you very much.
Mum suggests that you ask your Dad to post your questions on Facebook so we can share them in case we reach any other people who might be outside our usual remit.
Do not give up Sawyer. Never ever give up.
TW is a big believer in CBD oil but we’ve never tried it. It’s a little too expensive for us. Just ask about a reputable brand and I think the one Brian mentioned is one of the best as well as Charlotte’s Web. Healing purrz for Sawyer.
Sawyer, I can’t help but feel sorry for you. This is so unfair. I know you are loved and get the best treatment, but you deserve to be seizure free. I have no experience with CBD oil but have heard good things about it in general. I pray that will be a miracle cure for you. XO
Oh sweet, sweet Sawyer, we heartily hope that the oil will be effective in treating your seizures. Our mom’s friends’ kid had seizures and nothing could cure him. He’s been in and out of the hospital for almost 2 years. Then they tried the “oil” and somehow, thank cod, the seizures stopped and he’s a normal kid again – playing sports, friendly, attending church and happy.
We’re so sorry you’re not doing well, Sawyer. We continue to purr mega purrs for you. We’ve heard that CBD oil can be helpful for seizures…at least for dogs as that’s what the mom has seen mostly in the CBD oil FB group (she’s a member too). The mom has used CBD oil with us with varying results. She tried Charlotte’s Webb and NuLeaf, both very reputable brands. NuLeaf tastes terrible so she gave up on using that one. From what she learned from the CBD oil FB group, CBD oil works best if applied directly to the animal’s gums. But none of us were willing to let the mom do that to us. She tried mixing it in a little baby food but only Zoey would eat it, and not all the time. She now is trying a transdermal version called Myaderm. She just started using it with Zoey so we don’t know about results yet. As far as CBD oil treats, there aren’t a lot of them out there. Treatibles is one brand that we know of.
Oh sweet Sawyer, we can’t offer anything but purrayers and POTP, and the hope that some of the options you have will help.
Ingrid at “The Conscious Cat” blog posts often about something called The Assisi Loop, (which Little Bub also uses) so your folks may want to contact her about that. The acupuncture idea seems like a good one too.
So many purrs for you and your family.
I am sorry you have been given that diagnosis, Sawyer. I have not heard of it before so can’t offer any advice or suggestions.
I did look into CBD oil for myself but my oncologist advised against it as it could interfere with my medication.
I think that it is okay to take as long as you leave about 3 hours after regular medication but one of the many online forums were be able to advise about that.
The only thing I can do is offer my love and best wishes to you. Your mum and dad will take the very best care of you.
Love you, Sawyer, and know that your pawrents are doing all that can be done for you. And I’m going to feel sorry for you, ’cause I know what it’s like to love someone but be almost powerless to do anything to help them get better.
dood….st francis’ blessings to you; tell your mom ta chex her e mail ♥♥♥
Thank you for joining the Feline Friday Blog Hop.
Have a purrfect Feline Friday and weekend. My best to your peeps. ♥
Dear Sawyer, Mom and I hadn’t heard of that disease until now. It must be scary having seizures. The white kitty Mom had years ago got them, too, but she says they were from “his progressive kidney disease.” I cross my paws that the oil starts working wonders, so you can be with your fursibs and family for many more years to come. Has your V-E-T offered some herbal remedy options? Mom suggests acupuncture therapy. Hugs.
I have no knowledge of this issue, but you’re in my thoughts and prayers, Sawyer. You are ever so precious to not only your peeps, but to me too.
Have a purrfect day and weekend, Sawyer. My best to your wonderful peeps. ♥
hi Sawyer! Thanks for the update. We have no experience with CBD but wish you all the best!!
Sawyer, Daisy Mae and I are sorry to hear this. I pray nightly for my blogging friends, furfriends and pets. We hope you get better real soon. Glad you have a loving humans and furever home. Stay warm.
Sawyer, we hate reading this news. But we know you are in good hands because you have the best parents in the world, and they are going to everything they can for you! We don’t know anything about the diagnosis or CBD oil, so we can’t be of any help. We hope someone else can be though and that you are able to find some relief. Sending lots of love to you, Mom Janet, and Dad Tom.
Sampy sends 2039487520934875 kisses to Astrid, with some head butts to you, dear Sawyer.
Oh Sawyer, we sure hope you get some relief soon my sweet friend, we feel so bad that you’re going through this. The Dad is a member of that group too and it is confusing but in there somewhere he has seen some posts related to kitty seizures, positive ones. I use CBD Oil as a part of my treatment for the pain with my idiopatic cystitis and it helps. Dosing amount is important and should only be given 2 hours after other medications. You might post your specific question in the group and see who responds, just tell them your new and couldn’t find any specific posts related to your question.
I forgot to say, we uses Lazarus Naturals.
I’m so sorry that you’re going through this, little Sawyer. Heartfelt prayers for you and your mom and dad. I don’t have any information or knowledge about CBD but hope someone does and that it will help you with this rare condition. Hugs and pawkisses 😽😻
Even though we knew all of this, it still makes us leaky eyed to read it again. We think you should just ask about CBD and seizures in the group since the diagnosis is probably confusing folks since it’s so rare. Noelle is sending soft headbonks and paw pats to you and Allie is sending loads of smoochies and love to Mau.
The Florida Furkids
Sawyer, POTP to you! I am sorry you are going through such a tough time, but glad you are in the most caring home you could be in. Purrs and pawyers to you. Sorry no experience with CBD Oil, but I hope you find a solution.
Mom and Dad, absolutely all that we can do to purr and pray for Sawyer will be done.
Dear Sawyer, we are sorry you are going through this.
We will send you healing purrs and vibes.
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
Oh Sawyer, we’re all thinking of you.
Have oyu check out Lil Bub, on social media. She uses CBD oil all the time and quite often posts about it. 🙂
So much to deal with, for such a little guy! I’m sorry, I don’t have any experiences to share – but you’re in our hearts, handsome!
Oh sweet Sawyer…..you are and always will be my “little brother of the heart” and it makes me and my Mom so sad that you have these seizures at all – big or small ones. You are so brave and your Mom and Dad are so wonderful to help you as much as possible to live a life that’s as full as it can be with your diagnosis. I hope your Mom and Dad can find out about CBD oil for seizures from someone who has used it – all we know is that it helps a lot of animals with various problems. I know your parents will try anything they can to help you. I’m sending prayers and hugs – I wish I could do more.
Love, Teddy
Sawyer, I’m so sorry you are dealing with this, and that there is no real help to cure your seizures. Boodie uses CBD oil, but for her arthritis, so I’m afraid we aren’t much help here. I do want to say it helps her lots. I’m sending lots of purrs to you and your humans.
Sweet Sawyer, we are so glad your humans adopted you because we know they will do everything they can to see that you are happy and comfortable and get all medical care possible in the face of this rare condition. We are sending you and them love and purrs.
We don’t have any knowledge or experience with that diagnosis, and we have no experience with CBD oil. Though we have heard about the multitude of its benefits.
We send huge purrs and pawyers for sweet Sawyer.
We don’t have any knowledge or experience with that diagnosis, and we of course have no experience with CBD oil. Though we have heard about the multitude of its benefits.
We send huge purrs and pawyers for sweet Sawyer.