I mentioned a couple of days ago that I needed to take Teddi back for another blood test. Well, the vet phoned last night with some mixed news. The GOOD news is that his hyperthyroidism is under control now. A normal thyroid reading should be between 19 and 51. His was 320!! After a month on meds, it has dropped to only 34 - a tenth of what it was previously, and well within the acceptable range. That's a big relief, as hyperthyroidism can eventually put strain on a cat's heart and kidneys.
The not so good news is that his kidneys do seem to have deteriorated a little bit. A normal kidney reading is between 10 and 50; Teddi's was 55, which is not too bad yet, and now, a month later, it's 62 - which is a sign that his kidney function is slowly deteriorating. However, it's what they call kidney "insufficiency" and not yet what they'd classify as kidney "failure." With his thyroid under control, he could happily live several more years before showing any symptoms of kidney disease. The vet says he really appears outwardly normal, healthy and alert. (Tamba too was fine until the last few days of vomiting, and then it went very fast at the end when her kidneys really failed.)
So I guess I've got my boy at least for a bit more time. I'm not in favour of prolonging the agony if an animal is really ill, but I couldn't bring myself to think of ending his life when he was outwardly so normal and friendly.. and apparently healthy. At least I know now that he can live a bit longer with the thyroid pills, and I trust I'll be able to tell when his time is up and it's kinder to say goodbye. For now, he's just his normal self, so it's a relief to hear that the meds have worked for him.
