A Plea to owners of cats with Interstitial Cystitis

I wanted to make a plea to all owners of cats who suffer from
Interstitial Cystitis.

There are some treatments available to cats, such as Elavil, etc. (the
same meds that are used in humans with the disease, by the way!) which
may help the cats be comfortable.

If, however, no treatment works for your cat, and your cat still
clearly has the symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis, please consider the
difficult choice of putting your cat to sleep rather than letting the
cat suffer.

As a human sufferer of Interstitial Cystitis, who was in considerable
pain and urinating 60-70 times per day/night for three years until
recently finding a treatment that worked and a urologist who did not
tell me just to "live with the symptoms," I can tell you that no
person or animal should be left in that kind of misery. IC pain has
been compared to the pain of end-stage cancer. I can not even find
words to describe how miserable this disease is, if there are no
treatments that work. One of Dr. Kevorkian's "patients" was an IC
sufferer who had reached the end of her rope as far as the suffering
went. I truly believe it is more kind to put an animal to sleep than
to let it suffer the symptoms of IC, if no treatment works.

Thank you,
L.

On 15 Nov 2003 05:15:59 -0800, (IHATESPAM) wrote:

I wanted to make a plea to all owners of cats who suffer from
Interstitial Cystitis.

There are some treatments available to cats, such as Elavil, etc. (the
same meds that are used in humans with the disease, by the way!) which
may help the cats be comfortable.

If, however, no treatment works for your cat, and your cat still
clearly has the symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis, please consider the
difficult choice of putting your cat to sleep rather than letting the
cat suffer.

As a human sufferer of Interstitial Cystitis, who was in considerable
pain and urinating 60-70 times per day/night for three years until
recently finding a treatment that worked and a urologist who did not
tell me just to "live with the symptoms," I can tell you that no
person or animal should be left in that kind of misery. IC pain has
been compared to the pain of end-stage cancer. I can not even find
words to describe how miserable this disease is, if there are no
treatments that work. One of Dr. Kevorkian's "patients" was an IC
sufferer who had reached the end of her rope as far as the suffering
went. I truly believe it is more kind to put an animal to sleep than
to let it suffer the symptoms of IC, if no treatment works.

Thank you,
L.
Why don't you tell us what treatment "finally worked"?

m. L. Briggs wrote in message . ..

No treatments for IC are uniformly effective for all IC patients.
There are a large range of treatments, all of which help some patients
but not others.

For me, Elmiron greatly reduced my symptoms. A recent study showed,
however, that only 27% of patients obtain relief using Elmiron which
supposedly acts to rebuild the GAG layer of the bladder. So I am part
of the lucky 27%.

I have read many stories of IC patients who were driven to surgical
removal of the bladder to obtain relief, following countless failed
therapies. Others find that one therapy or another provides
significant relief, while still others find that they can cope with
the illness by use of narcotic medications for pain.

I am not sure which of these therapies is available for cats, but
would urge owners to try every available therapy.

Thanks, L.

On 15 Nov 2003 05:15:59 -0800, (IHATESPAM)
wrote:

I wanted to make a plea to all owners of cats who suffer from
Interstitial Cystitis.

There are some treatments available to cats, such as Elavil, etc. (the
same meds that are used in humans with the disease, by the way!) which
may help the cats be comfortable.

If, however, no treatment works for your cat, and your cat still
clearly has the symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis, please consider the
difficult choice of putting your cat to sleep rather than letting the
cat suffer.

As a human sufferer of Interstitial Cystitis, who was in considerable
pain and urinating 60-70 times per day/night for three years until
recently finding a treatment that worked and a urologist who did not
tell me just to "live with the symptoms," I can tell you that no
person or animal should be left in that kind of misery. IC pain has
been compared to the pain of end-stage cancer. I can not even find
words to describe how miserable this disease is, if there are no
treatments that work. One of Dr. Kevorkian's "patients" was an IC
sufferer who had reached the end of her rope as far as the suffering
went. I truly believe it is more kind to put an animal to sleep than
to let it suffer the symptoms of IC, if no treatment works.

Thank you,
L.
Why don't you tell us what treatment "finally worked"?

m. L. Briggs wrote in message . ..

No treatments for IC are uniformly effective for all IC patients.
There are a large range of treatments, all of which help some patients
but not others.

For me, Elmiron greatly reduced my symptoms. A recent study showed,
however, that only 27% of patients obtain relief using Elmiron which
supposedly acts to rebuild the GAG layer of the bladder. So I am part
of the lucky 27%.

I have read many stories of IC patients who were driven to surgical
removal of the bladder to obtain relief, following countless failed
therapies. Others find that one therapy or another provides
significant relief, while still others find that they can cope with
the illness by use of narcotic medications for pain.

I am not sure which of these therapies is available for cats, but
would urge owners to try every available therapy.

Thanks, L.

On 15 Nov 2003 05:15:59 -0800, (IHATESPAM)
wrote:

I wanted to make a plea to all owners of cats who suffer from
Interstitial Cystitis.

There are some treatments available to cats, such as Elavil, etc. (the
same meds that are used in humans with the disease, by the way!) which
may help the cats be comfortable.

If, however, no treatment works for your cat, and your cat still
clearly has the symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis, please consider the
difficult choice of putting your cat to sleep rather than letting the
cat suffer.

As a human sufferer of Interstitial Cystitis, who was in considerable
pain and urinating 60-70 times per day/night for three years until
recently finding a treatment that worked and a urologist who did not
tell me just to "live with the symptoms," I can tell you that no
person or animal should be left in that kind of misery. IC pain has
been compared to the pain of end-stage cancer. I can not even find
words to describe how miserable this disease is, if there are no
treatments that work. One of Dr. Kevorkian's "patients" was an IC
sufferer who had reached the end of her rope as far as the suffering
went. I truly believe it is more kind to put an animal to sleep than
to let it suffer the symptoms of IC, if no treatment works.

Thank you,
L.
Why don't you tell us what treatment "finally worked"?

m. L. Briggs wrote in message . ..

No treatments for IC are uniformly effective for all IC patients.
There are a large range of treatments, all of which help some patients
but not others.

For me, Elmiron greatly reduced my symptoms. A recent study showed,
however, that only 27% of patients obtain relief using Elmiron which
supposedly acts to rebuild the GAG layer of the bladder. So I am part
of the lucky 27%.

I have read many stories of IC patients who were driven to surgical
removal of the bladder to obtain relief, following countless failed
therapies. Others find that one therapy or another provides
significant relief, while still others find that they can cope with
the illness by use of narcotic medications for pain.

I am not sure which of these therapies is available for cats, but
would urge owners to try every available therapy.

Thanks, L.

On 15 Nov 2003 05:15:59 -0800, (IHATESPAM)
wrote:

I wanted to make a plea to all owners of cats who suffer from
Interstitial Cystitis.

There are some treatments available to cats, such as Elavil, etc. (the
same meds that are used in humans with the disease, by the way!) which
may help the cats be comfortable.

If, however, no treatment works for your cat, and your cat still
clearly has the symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis, please consider the
difficult choice of putting your cat to sleep rather than letting the
cat suffer.

As a human sufferer of Interstitial Cystitis, who was in considerable
pain and urinating 60-70 times per day/night for three years until
recently finding a treatment that worked and a urologist who did not
tell me just to "live with the symptoms," I can tell you that no
person or animal should be left in that kind of misery. IC pain has
been compared to the pain of end-stage cancer. I can not even find
words to describe how miserable this disease is, if there are no
treatments that work. One of Dr. Kevorkian's "patients" was an IC
sufferer who had reached the end of her rope as far as the suffering
went. I truly believe it is more kind to put an animal to sleep than
to let it suffer the symptoms of IC, if no treatment works.

Thank you,
L.
Why don't you tell us what treatment "finally worked"?

On 15 Nov 2003 05:15:59 -0800, (IHATESPAM) wrote:

I wanted to make a plea to all owners of cats who suffer from
Interstitial Cystitis.

There are some treatments available to cats, such as Elavil, etc. (the
same meds that are used in humans with the disease, by the way!) which
may help the cats be comfortable.

If, however, no treatment works for your cat, and your cat still
clearly has the symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis, please consider the
difficult choice of putting your cat to sleep rather than letting the
cat suffer.

As a human sufferer of Interstitial Cystitis, who was in considerable
pain and urinating 60-70 times per day/night for three years until
recently finding a treatment that worked and a urologist who did not
tell me just to "live with the symptoms," I can tell you that no
person or animal should be left in that kind of misery. IC pain has
been compared to the pain of end-stage cancer. I can not even find
words to describe how miserable this disease is, if there are no
treatments that work. One of Dr. Kevorkian's "patients" was an IC
sufferer who had reached the end of her rope as far as the suffering
went. I truly believe it is more kind to put an animal to sleep than
to let it suffer the symptoms of IC, if no treatment works.

Thank you,
L.
Why don't you tell us what treatment "finally worked"?

On 15 Nov 2003 05:15:59 -0800, (IHATESPAM) wrote:

I wanted to make a plea to all owners of cats who suffer from
Interstitial Cystitis.

There are some treatments available to cats, such as Elavil, etc. (the
same meds that are used in humans with the disease, by the way!) which
may help the cats be comfortable.

If, however, no treatment works for your cat, and your cat still
clearly has the symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis, please consider the
difficult choice of putting your cat to sleep rather than letting the
cat suffer.

As a human sufferer of Interstitial Cystitis, who was in considerable
pain and urinating 60-70 times per day/night for three years until
recently finding a treatment that worked and a urologist who did not
tell me just to "live with the symptoms," I can tell you that no
person or animal should be left in that kind of misery. IC pain has
been compared to the pain of end-stage cancer. I can not even find
words to describe how miserable this disease is, if there are no
treatments that work. One of Dr. Kevorkian's "patients" was an IC
sufferer who had reached the end of her rope as far as the suffering
went. I truly believe it is more kind to put an animal to sleep than
to let it suffer the symptoms of IC, if no treatment works.

Thank you,
L.
Why don't you tell us what treatment "finally worked"?

I wanted to make a plea to all owners of
cats who suffer from Interstitial
Cystitis.
There are some treatments available to
cats, such as Elavil, etc. (the same
meds that are used in humans with the
disease, by the way!) which may help the
cats be comfortable.
If, however, no treatment works for your
cat, and your cat still clearly has the
symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis,
please consider the difficult choice of
putting your cat to sleep rather than
letting the cat suffer.

I'm not sure why you've come here to tell people to put their cats to
sleep, but it is really unnecessary and unconscionable for you to do so.
There are effective treatments for dealing with IC in cats and there is
absolutely NO reason that a cat should have to be euthanized just
because it has IC. I have not one, but TWO cats with IC and they have
been treated successfully with diet, Cosequin, and keeping their lives
as stress free as possible. One recently had a flare-up, his first in
over a year, and I put him back on Amitriptyline short term which did
the trick. This worst case scenario you present below is blowing things
way out of proportion WRT cats.

As a human sufferer of Interstitial
Cystitis, who was in considerable pain
and urinating 60-70 times per day/night
for three years until recently finding a
treatment that worked and a urologist
who did not tell me just to "live with
the symptoms," I can tell you that no
person or animal should be left in that
kind of misery. IC pain has been
compared to the pain of end-stage
cancer. I can not even find words to
describe how miserable this disease is,
if there are no treatments that work.

You are relating your personal experience, which has no bearing on how
cats generally experience IC.

One of Dr. Kevorkian's "patients" was an
IC sufferer who had reached the end of
her rope as far as the suffering went. I
truly believe it is more kind to put an
animal to sleep than to let it suffer
the symptoms of IC, if no treatment
works.

Since treatment does work, and since your human experience cannot be
compared to what a cat might experience since they can't tell us what
that is your point is, well, pointless and alarmist and frankly I don't
appreciate your blowing this issue out of proportion.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray

I am so glad that your kitties are doing well and that there are
effective treatments for cats with IC! I have two kitties I love very
much and when I learned that cats also suffer IC sometimes I was
devastated by the thought of any kitties suffering the way I did.

I will change my plea in light of this new knowledge - do everything
possible, try every treatment out there, to help your cat with IC. Do
not leave a cat with IC untreated. Try everything until you find
something that works.

L.

wrote in message ...
I wanted to make a plea to all owners of
cats who suffer from Interstitial
Cystitis.
There are some treatments available to
cats, such as Elavil, etc. (the same
meds that are used in humans with the
disease, by the way!) which may help the
cats be comfortable.
If, however, no treatment works for your
cat, and your cat still clearly has the
symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis,
please consider the difficult choice of
putting your cat to sleep rather than
letting the cat suffer.

I'm not sure why you've come here to tell people to put their cats to
sleep, but it is really unnecessary and unconscionable for you to do so.
There are effective treatments for dealing with IC in cats and there is
absolutely NO reason that a cat should have to be euthanized just
because it has IC. I have not one, but TWO cats with IC and they have
been treated successfully with diet, Cosequin, and keeping their lives
as stress free as possible. One recently had a flare-up, his first in
over a year, and I put him back on Amitriptyline short term which did
the trick. This worst case scenario you present below is blowing things
way out of proportion WRT cats.

As a human sufferer of Interstitial
Cystitis, who was in considerable pain
and urinating 60-70 times per day/night
for three years until recently finding a
treatment that worked and a urologist
who did not tell me just to "live with
the symptoms," I can tell you that no
person or animal should be left in that
kind of misery. IC pain has been
compared to the pain of end-stage
cancer. I can not even find words to
describe how miserable this disease is,
if there are no treatments that work.

You are relating your personal experience, which has no bearing on how
cats generally experience IC.

One of Dr. Kevorkian's "patients" was an
IC sufferer who had reached the end of
her rope as far as the suffering went. I
truly believe it is more kind to put an
animal to sleep than to let it suffer
the symptoms of IC, if no treatment
works.

Since treatment does work, and since your human experience cannot be
compared to what a cat might experience since they can't tell us what
that is your point is, well, pointless and alarmist and frankly I don't
appreciate your blowing this issue out of proportion.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray

wrote in message ...

I'm not sure why you've come here to tell people to put their cats to
sleep, but it is really unnecessary and unconscionable for you to do so.

I recommend that ONLY in cases where every treatment has failed. You
seem to think that I am recommending that as a first solution - I most
certainly am not. I love cats and I am writing because I feel it
would be unconscionable of me NOT to do everything I can to tell
people what a miserable disease this is - that it's not just "no big
deal." I want people to understand how much suffering this causes
because cats can't post for themselves in newsgroups like this one.


You are relating your personal experience, which has no bearing on
how
cats generally experience IC.

So you are saying that cats do not suffer from this disease the same
way humans do? I hope very much that you are right, because it
horrifies me to think of cats going through the same amount of
suffering I have gone through in recent years. Many human sufferers
of IC commit suicide to escape the pain - the suicide rate is 3-4
times the national average. Cats don't even have THAT option of
escaping the pain.

I hope that cats do not suffer nearly as much with this disease as
humans do. I hope that there is a higher success rate with treatments
for cats than there is for humans.

I hope that you are right, that cats do not go through what I have
gone through.

From my point of view, I am not alarmist. I worry that cats
experience the suffering I experienced, and if they DO then I am most
certainly NOT blowing this way out of proportion.

But maybe you are right - are there studies that point out that cats
do not suffer to the same extent with this disease that humans do,
that they are better able to tolerate it? I know that cats do heal up
from injuries, etc. much faster and better than humans do (my vet told
me that once) so maybe they don't have as hard a time with IC as we
humans do.

Put aside the boxing gloves for a minute and try to consider my point
of view - I am someone who loves cats very much and was horrified to
think that they might be suffering as I suffered, and I felt I had to
speak up to try to get people to understand that this disease is NOT
just a "no big deal" disease.

This is my last post to you - I don't feel like getting involved in
further arguments because, like you said, stress isn't good for people
or cats with IC.

You can assume the worst of me if you wish, assume I am a person who
hates cats who is trying to get people to kill their cats left and
right.

L.



Since treatment does work, and since your human experience cannot be
compared to what a cat might experience since they can't tell us what
that is your point is, well, pointless and alarmist and frankly I don't
appreciate your blowing this issue out of proportion.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray