Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Elaine on July 12, 2011, 19:49:59 PM

Title: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Elaine on July 12, 2011, 19:49:59 PM
Hi every one, I dont post here often at all but some of you may remember me.
I just popped on to let you know that my dear sweet Bernie has just been diagnosed with lymphocitic Leukemia.  It goes without saying that I am devastated by this news.
Took him to the vet last week for some bloods as I thought all was not well.  He hasnt been poorly, but he has gradually been losing some weight and muscle tone.  I was thinking it may have been early indication of an over active thyroid or early CRF, these wouldnt have been great but I do have a fair amount of knowledge on these and know they are managable.
All his blood work was within normal range, apart from his globuline, normal range 28-51 and Bernie is 63.  We took a urine sample and all was fine with that.
My vet and I thought this very unusual, so we decided to take more bloods and send them to the lab for more tests but my vet did an xray today and found a mass in his upper abdomen.
The prognosis is not good, either with or without treatment.  We have decided on this occasion, we will not be going down the route of treating him.  For now he is not in any pain or discomfort, vet reckons that this may be short lived and at best Bernie may have another 3 months or so. :'(
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: cazzer on July 12, 2011, 19:56:58 PM
so sorry to hear your news about Bernie.     Hoping you will have longer with him than your vet thinks.    {One of mine was diagnosed with lymphoma in January and is still with me, despite only being given a month or so}.        Sending you both  :hug:  :hug: x
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Jiji on July 12, 2011, 19:59:31 PM
So sorry to hear about Bernie  :hug:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Liz on July 12, 2011, 20:14:07 PM
Oh Elaine so sorry for this terrible diagnosis for you and Darling Bernie :hug:

For those of you who don't know Bernie came from Diddydawns and we helped bring him from Wales to the North East of Scotland in October 2005 and ended up moving up here 8 months later = his full story can be found at the Hovel
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on July 12, 2011, 20:50:29 PM
Very sorry to hear this  :hug: I know it's devastating for you but please try and treasure the time you have left together  :hug: Give Bernie a gentle head kiss from me and my boys :care:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Elaine on July 12, 2011, 21:03:38 PM
Thankyou all for your kind words.
Here is my hansome sweet boy.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a398/ElainePirie/DSC00121.jpg)
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: cazzer on July 12, 2011, 21:07:39 PM
gosh he is handsome  :Luv2:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on July 12, 2011, 21:23:57 PM
So sorry to hear this sad news  :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on July 12, 2011, 21:46:37 PM
What a gorgeous boy  :Luv:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Mark on July 12, 2011, 23:31:58 PM
Hi Elaine,

I don't post on here any more but just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear about Bernie. He is a handsome boy  :Luv2: - he is the spit of our new boy Lazarus. Having lost Clapton and Willow to CRF last year I can only imagine how you feel.

 Take care and say Hi to Dawn for me xxx


(http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn224/MarkB_014/IMG_3599-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Tigerlily (Allison) on July 13, 2011, 08:01:39 AM
Elaine, I'm so sorry to hear about Bernie  :hug:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Elaine on July 13, 2011, 08:17:00 AM
Thanx again. xxx
Mark, Lazarus is gorgeous, I hope you have many happy years together.  I will pass on your regards to Dawn when I talk to her later today, couldnt talk to anyone yesterday.
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: JackSpratt on July 13, 2011, 09:38:01 AM
I think Lazarus is lovely and Bernie is stunning. I'm so sorry about your news, Elaine. :care:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: clarenmax on July 13, 2011, 14:05:51 PM
So sorry to hear your news Elaine, I truly hope you have plenty of quality time left together, he is gorgeous.
  :hug: :hug:

As is Lazarus  :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Gillian Harvey on July 15, 2011, 00:23:55 AM
Sorry to hear this  :hug: he is gorgeous  :Luv2:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Elaine on July 15, 2011, 18:01:56 PM
Thankyou all.  Spoke with my vet again this morning as he wanted to know if I had a chance to talk everything over with  my O/H and what we had decided.  I told him that we would do nothing but enjoy what quality time we have left.  I was a little concerned as Bernie had bloody diarrhoea this morning, he has been fine the rest of the day so we are feeding chicken for now but he may need a some A/B's.
There is a specialist from the Royal Dick coming up in a few weeks who could do an ultrasound but I just know that he will also want Bernie to go back to Edinburgh with him and I dont want that so have declined an appointment with him.  I lost Eva the Diva last year down at the Royal Dick, not that they did anything wrong, far from it, they were excellent.  But when we took her there we didnt know what was all wrong with her other than the cholangiohepatitis.  I dont want to lose Bernie away from home as I lost Eva, and we pretty much know that there isnt a hell of a lot they will be able to do for Bernie.  My vet agree's that I am doing the right thing and said he would do the same as me.
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on July 19, 2011, 23:52:13 PM
Sending lots of cuddles and hope you have a lot of good time together  :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: lau200 on July 20, 2011, 14:32:33 PM
 :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: sheryl on July 20, 2011, 18:16:27 PM
So sorry to hear your sad news Elaine  :hug:

Thinking of you and gorgeous Bernie xxx  cherish every moment together xxx
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Elaine on November 27, 2011, 20:05:07 PM
Hi again every one, just thought I'd pop in and update you on Bernie.  Yes my dear boy is still here and is as happy and cuddly as he always has been.  He has lost muscle tone around his chest and his breast bone is very prominant now.  It is thought that there may well be a secondary lymphoma which has caused this but again we are not going to put him under any undue stress.
My vet thinks he is a unique case and cannt understand why this isnt or hasnt progressed as fast as he initially thought, I am just always happy and thankful he is still around and looking very handsome and healthy apart from the muscle wastage.
He has reiki once a month and the woman who does it for us also does distance healing and prayers twice a day for him.  He loves his reiki, just lies very still, contented and purrs like a tractor.
He is eating well and toileting, infact he had gained a little weight on his last check up and I think he has gained a little more since, so I am not overly concerned at this stage, as always it's a waiting game and we are forever grateful to have him with us.
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on November 27, 2011, 20:55:44 PM
Glad he still seems to be enjoying life, I guess while us humans have the 'benefit' of being able to speak and discussing prognosis etc Bernie will just carry on being Bernie without any of the worry and upset that you're feeling  :hug:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on November 28, 2011, 17:02:44 PM
Loads of cuddles to Bernie  :hug: :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Dawn F on November 28, 2011, 18:03:18 PM
 :hug:
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: cazzer on November 28, 2011, 19:00:40 PM
Glad to hear that Bernie is still with you and enjoying life.     Its remarkable how some cats manage to fight on with there illness.      My Ginger diagnosed with lymphoma in January [and given weeks] is still with me seems healthy and enjoying himself.   
Title: Re: Mt dear sweet Bernie
Post by: Elaine on November 28, 2011, 19:09:50 PM
They are indeed incredible animals xxx
Thankyou for your replies.