Cat Chat Feline Forum

Hello! I'm asking for any and all advice or comfort. My 16 year old Jo has had hyperthyroidism for a couple years now. He has been on oral Methimazole until recently. His levels were okay on it and then he got a bad URI and had to go on antibiotics which made him sick and we had to stop. They wanted to do some lab work to make sure there was nothing underlying for the URI and they said his thyroid levels were off the charts high but everything else looked good. So they doubled his methimazole and we came back in three weeks for more labs. Shockingly they told me it's like I'm giving him water because nothing changed, his levels still off the charts at 11 something. They were thinking maybe the medicine had gone bad. I thought so too because normally he did not like the taste, but lately he had hated it and run from me and gagged. So he was switched to transdermal methimazole in the same double dosage as the liquid. It's been 10 days and I don't see any change. I'm new to the transdermal medication so I'm not sure how long it'll take but my vet did tell me to bring him back if he didn't improve within a week to a week and a half. He's still very restless, starving, thirsty, needy and more or less driving me crazy. My veterinarian has given me the option of surgery but his levels have to be down first. Anybody had this issue? I'm trying not to panic but I don't understand why I'm not seeing improvement. I'm definitely calling tomorrow and see if I can talk to them because of my anxiety is going through the roof. But I thought maybe someone here might have a similar experience and could offer any information. Thanks!
Jessica

Quite a few of us on the forum have been through the radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism, is that something that has ever been mentioned to you?

The reason I ask is although it is very, very expensive and only available in specialised clinics (there were 10 in the whole of the UK when we had ours 2 years ago) it is curative.

Has your vet offered you any thoughts as to what they want to do or investigate if there is no change in a week?

If the radio iodine treatment is available where you live and you can afford it I would definitely explore the option - it is not invasive and there is no need to get the thyroid levels down first.

I'm in the USA and they haven't mentioned radioactive treatment. I will ask. He didn't say what he would do if his levels didn't change, adding to my anxiety lol. Thanks for responding so quickly!

Ok don't worry see what happens when you go back in a week. We'll be here to support you through whatever, hopefully his levels will have come down and he will be fine. Worrying isn't going to help either of you and the vet has the situation under control.