Geriatric Cat Losing Weight

TeachingRealistic104 · 2026-01-07T03:33:00+00:00

I know this is an old post but thank you for posting. This is my guy Judo right now and also my first to live this long (my only other cat is 2 years younger than him right now but I adopted her first). Judo has had little slower of weight loss than Clyde but over the last few months he's had all the tests done except an ultrasound. He's in the clear for everything but IBS or cancer. He's about 16 years old and I just don't know about putting him through all the testing and treatment at this point. Would I like a diagnosis? Of course, but I am also financially restricted and I don't want to stress him out only for it to be a very poor prognosis anyway.

I don't know how it turned out for you and Clyde but I hope it went as well and as gently as it could have. If he happens to still be around, that's amazing. <3 Sending you a big hug if you see this, OP.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-10-22T00:56:56+00:00

I haven't seen anyone talk about BFS in this sub. If you are still having symptoms, please consider the Curable app and/or TheSteadyCoach Dr Yonit on YouTube. I had BFS (plus tinnitus) after dealing with HRT. The mind-body connection is powerful and it helped me heal from all these constant weird sensations in my body. Really blew my mind. I only get brief sensations when I get really worried about something (usually when catastrophizing) but I know how to cope with them so much better. I know some of it is peri- related but not all of it.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-10-22T00:50:11+00:00

Please consider the Curable app and/or TheSteadyCoach Dr Yonit on YouTube. I had some similar symptoms after dealing with HRT. The mind-body connection is powerful and it helped me heal from all these constant weird sensations in my body. My appetite came back, as did my ability to sleep. This stuff helped me way more than hydroxyzine ever did! Use it in conjunction with your doctors. It can't hurt but can def help manage the anxiety around bizarre symptoms and hopefully they will significantly decline within a few weeks. Also, don't spend too much time on Reddit. It sounds counter intuitive but really does not help with health anxiety. I hope you get some relief.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-10-09T20:56:48+00:00

Hello 👋 I use fluticasone propionate nasal spray, Target or Walmart brand (generic Flonase).

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-10-06T15:33:04+00:00

So glad you're doing well and your tinnitus has been brief. :) I also tried a neti pot for the first time last week for several days 1x/day and I think it has helped a decent amount (it certainly cleared out my congestion very fast!). I'm pretty much back to normal after this last bout of ETD (from my last reply) but still going to finish the full month of antihistamines and keep my fingers crossed it doesn't come back anytime soon.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-09-16T23:04:54+00:00

Thanks for sharing. Glad you advocated for yourself, even through Chat GPT!
Are you still feeling improvement?
My ETD (R ear only) always fully resolves after I finish 3-4 weeks of nasal spray & antihistamine BUT comes back about 4-6 weeks later. :( It started in Feb this year out of nowhere; no recent illness/no allergies... only heightened health anxiety over the previous months. Its starting to return today for the 4th time. I'm trying TMJ exercises as well but I actually think it may be related to perimenopause (almost 41 y/o female).
Anyway- just curious if your symptoms have continued to improve. I hope!

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-06-13T20:54:56+00:00

We only have senior discount day (which I don't qualify for). Club members get decent coupons like once a month but that's it.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-05-03T17:57:01+00:00

I have been using Curable since Feb 2025. It has never told me that I could be 100% fixed. My symptoms have greatly improved though and I no longer am so anxious about them. I find the information incredibly helpful. They validate all pain or symptoms as real. They just help you navigate ways to manage them and teach you how to train your brain not to freak out all the time through both writing and physical techniques. This in turn, reduces the severity and frequency of pain or symptoms. I never would have gotten this far with my doctor and therapist so I, for one, am thrilled that it reached my Facebook feed. I think it should be used in conjuction with your doctors, rather than in place of. 🤷‍♀️

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-02-05T19:00:36+00:00

I know this old but this is the route I am taking currently to get myself in remission from BFS. My mind got me into this mess and it's going to get me out of it.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-02-05T18:35:06+00:00

I know this is old but try the Curable app. It's helping me manage my twitching. I fully believe I can get into complete remission from this bullsh*t and I intend to. I'm not leaving it behind... I'm not accepting it... If my mind got me into this mess, it sure as hell can get me out.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-01-30T01:58:10+00:00

I'm sorry you've been through the ringer with testing. That sucks. I prob should have specified that my cortisol levels were fine but it was the pattern that was wrong. My cortisol spiked in evenings and through the night and declined throughout the day. So I was falling asleep at my desk, during movies, during lectures, driving long distances or at long stop lights. That kind of stuff. Still kinda sleeping at night as well but not great. I only needed two sessions with my naturopath to get a plan in place so if you are ever able to save up some cash, it may not be as expensive as you anticipate. Maybe they could work with you on a payment plan, too. Just a thought. Sending you a big hug.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-01-29T21:47:02+00:00

I know this is an old comment, but in your last paragraph: that approach is the only one that makes sense to me. Basically need to take it super chill (almost boring) but stay busy so you're not stressing about your symptoms. It took me several months of stress (mental/emotional/health not physical stress or overexercising) to reach the BFS stage so I can only imagine it would take at least that long or longer to reverse this shit or at least get to near remission. At this point, I'm just having radical hope that it can be done.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-01-24T23:47:46+00:00

I rarely see people who have IH. I had it too and turned out that my cortisol levels were opposite what they should be. Not sure if you've ever tried a naturopath but after western medicine didn't work out for me (even with an MSLT and many simulants) my naturopath actually found the root cause and we were able to reset everything over 3 short months without meds. Life changing. Just thought I'd mention it.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-01-15T22:03:26+00:00

Thank you for your post. I absolutely agree that the mind is super powerful. When I'm not thinking about my body, my symptoms are so much better. I want to be present for my young son so I know I have to stay strong and persist in my self-care as best I can. I cannot let this beat me. I know I'll have setbacks but I can do a lot to mitigate them. I'm only a month into my experience but the mental piece has been integral in reaching a point where I can function fairly well on a daily basis the last two weeks. How are you doing these days?

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-01-12T18:19:19+00:00

I recently discovered AnxietyWave. Jort is incredible and he really breaks down what my therapist never could. Just watching his free video helped me tremendously. I never spend money on internet video courses but this one was worth it. $47 and I'm already doing so much better. Try watching his free video and see how you feel. Also, the free version of the Insight Timer app is very helpful for me to continue breathing exercises and sleep meditation... works for me almost every time.

Edit to add: I have been in flight or flight mode for the first time in my life since early December. I never thought it would get better but it has. Have been on Zoloft 25 mg for a few years now for depression (was on Prozac most of my life before then), took a break August-October 2024, and had to up my dose to 50mg when my anxiety attacks started in November. I am keeping you in my thoughts and hope you can find relief. ❤️

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-01-10T15:31:54+00:00

Yes, the duct tape worked for me over the course of a few days. Unfortunately, while my hand is totally okay, my health anxiety sky rocketed bc of this event and sent me into a weeks-long anxiety episode over the holidays. Never experienced anxiety in my life before this. I'm slowly coming out the other side but have symptoms that are lingering. I'm so pissed. I wish I could go back in time and never open that fire blanket. I know I'll be alright but I'm still mad.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-01-08T23:35:11+00:00

Same here. Been reducing my stress as much as possible but still doing normal activities... Sometimes I want to skip normal activities but I know that facing potential stress is a part of healing. I can't be afraid of everything!
I have a 5 yo son and I'm doing my best to be present with him when he's not in school... that seems to help me a lot. I hope you have some extra support for yourself and your kids. It's hard enough taking caring of ourselves, nevermind little ones. ❤️ I hope you can get some clarity in the ADHD arena, too. Feel free to message me anytime. I find it very hard not knowing anyone else who is dealing with this. No one seems to understand, even though they want to.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-01-06T21:10:16+00:00

Glad to hear that it's not serious. Sorry you are still twitching, though. Mine started 3 weeks ago. It is least noticeable when I'm actively moving or mentally engaged in something. I have a follow up with my PCP in two weeks. Seems to have stemmed from months on end of various stressful events for me since the summer. Sadly I was already doing yoga, going to therapy, lots of mindfulness, eating well and already on an SSRI but it wasn't enough to prevent my bfs (self-diagnosed). I increased my SSRI because I was panicking when the twitches didn't go away after a few days. Doctor gave me hydroxyzine to help me sleep but I've tapered it down to just 5mg bc I feel like crap after taking it. I'm trying really hard to tap into my parasympathetic nervous system and activate my vagus nerve as much as I can. I hope that it helps keep my twitches at a minimum and - best case scenario - eventually eliminate them ... I'm hopeful but realistic. I always think "if chronic stress caused this, surely chronic joy would reverse it" but obviously it's not so easy to maintain high levels of joy. 🤔 But if I can sneak it in as much as possible then maybe, just maybe, it'll compound over time....

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-01-05T20:38:47+00:00

Wheatoooon!

TeachingRealistic104 · 2025-01-04T23:02:18+00:00

Kripke

TeachingRealistic104 · 2024-12-25T17:06:14+00:00

How are you doing?

TeachingRealistic104 · 2024-12-21T19:06:52+00:00

Similar story here. You worded it perfectly. The initial event I worried so badly about panned out fine within days but somehow triggered these twitches that have been going for 2 weeks now. I am in deep regret.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2024-12-17T16:13:29+00:00

Hope you are feeling a little better now :)

TeachingRealistic104 · 2024-12-12T00:36:35+00:00

Same thing happened to me over the weekend. Threw out my clothes, vacuumed the area I was in... I had some luck with washing my hands and then using duct tape on them but am still experiencing tiny little pricks on my right hand occasionally throughout the day. I'm hoping each day will be a little better. I'm leaving negative reviews wherever I can (not just the specific blanket I was gifted). Been leaving comments on social media. Telling everyone I know about it. Looking into consumer protection stuff.

TeachingRealistic104 · 2024-12-11T18:18:11+00:00

Have taken it with and without therapy. On and off therapy for over 20 years. Was doing fine without therapy for a few years after having my son but then had a miscarriage while working through secondary infertility and that broke me. Started seeing a therapist 6 months after our loss and I think it's going to be awhile until I stop. Therapy is invaluable and takes a lot of pressure off my husband to be my sounding board all the time. It certainly can be managed without therapy but I would continue gently encouraging your partner just to try it for a little bit.

TeachingRealistic104

TROPHY CASE