Topic: Vibes needed please - all 3 poorly - RIP Sam :( (Read 65845 times)

JackSpratt · « **Reply #174 on:** March 11, 2010, 12:44:01 PM »

Brilliant news, Desley.

clarenmax · « **Reply #173 on:** March 11, 2010, 12:36:13 PM »

Very pleased to hear this

Janeyk · « **Reply #172 on:** March 11, 2010, 08:18:37 AM »

Yay!! that's great news, give Sam a big cuddle from me

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #171 on:** March 11, 2010, 07:35:02 AM »

Thanks everyone.

GOOD NEWS!!!! Sam saw the vet last night, who couldnt find any sign of a tumour, his mouth is incredibly red and inflamed, but he is confident it is just 'calici mouth' - although said not to give him antibiotics, which sounds odd to me!! Overall, the vet is very happy with him, he has put weight on, his heart rate is normal, his heart murmur isn't overly worrying. He wants to keep him on the same dose of medication, rather than increasing it, and see him again in a month for more bloods - there is a chance that as his mouth was so bad on Fri that his thyroid levels weren't accurate, as the calici could have suppressed it. HE isn't pushing for the op at the moment, as he has never been overly hyper-t, and his weight has always been relatively stable - still not convinced, but that is something for a different time. HE wasn't overly concerned about his liver values either, although until his thyroid levels are down more, we wont know if they are causing the liver issues, or he has a slight underlying liver problem. Oh, and he has earmites too!!

I was soo relieved, I had really been dreading going to the vets last night, but soo glad I did.

Janeyk · « **Reply #170 on:** March 09, 2010, 09:59:27 AM »

Clare's right and it's never easy Desley, I was saying the other day I'm just going to foster oldies rather than adopt - but it would still be long term because I couldn't give them up and so it wouldn't be any different to what I do now. I'm with you though, it can mean alot of heartache but they need someone

clarenmax · « **Reply #169 on:** March 09, 2010, 09:44:39 AM »

You do an amazing thing for all the oldies you ever take in Desley, you give them a life they wouldn't necessarily have the chance to live elsewhere, give them all the treatments they need where they are tolerated, and allow them the dignity to leave when they have had enough. They could not ask for any more

I'm the same with the FIV babies, I can't see that I'll ever have a home without them

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #168 on:** March 09, 2010, 08:10:30 AM »

Sam's bloods came back yesterday - his thyroid level is now down to 53 from 83, but the vet wants them down more - she did suggest putting his dosage up to 7.5mg (5am, 2.5pm) - but he isn't interested in anything first thing - all he wants is to go out, and will then stay out till I go to work, especially now it is getting warmer. So ironic that we finally have his levels under control when we can't do the op. She said that it was going to be a very fine balancing act to keep all his different conditions under control, as she would be dubious with steroids due to his high liver values, and if we do go down the steroid route, we cant give him Metacam if his mouth bothers him, and the obvious problem of medicating a cat with a sore mouth, although that isn't that big a deal at the moment, as he doesn't notice what you put in Primula, as long as he gets it daily!! Her advice (without seeing him) was not to put him through much and just accept he wont have as long.

I found some inner strength last night though - while I dont think any of them will see the year out, it is never about quantity here, only ever quality, and when I think about what the alternative was for the three of them, it does help - Molly would have only had weeks at the rescue, she has had just over 4 years here - and that is why losing these three wont stop me continuing to help oldies, I think it would be an insult to these three to not be able to help the next Molly. They do say everything happens for a reason, although I have no idea what that reason could be at the moment.

pappilon · « **Reply #167 on:** March 07, 2010, 17:40:17 PM »

Sending loads of

for you Desley.
I do hope Sam's mouth gets better.x

Mark · « **Reply #166 on:** March 07, 2010, 08:16:59 AM »

Sorry Des - I don't know what to say, except I hope Sam's mouth can be sorted. Goos luck

CarolM (Wendolene) · « **Reply #165 on:** March 06, 2010, 19:06:29 PM »

Nothing helpful to say I'm afraid other than

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #164 on:** March 06, 2010, 15:55:05 PM »

Thanks everyone, I am completely thrown by this, I knew this year wasn't going to be good, but this is just unbelievable, it is only 2 weeks since I found out Molly has cancer - one of my friends said maybe it is a sign I need to have a break - am sure losing all 3 of my cats in a short space of time isn't the best way to achieve that!! Just hope we can buy them all some time, or that the VN was wrong and it is just a really bad ulcer, although she said it didn't look infected. Unless the vet is very persuasive, I wont be having a biopsy done, as there is his heart murmur, raised liver enzymes, mouth ulcers, possible calici and hyper-t to take into account - I always knew he wouldnt have a long life, we have had 15 months, and he shows no signs of it bothering him, although this does explain why he stopped eating certain kinds of food - ironically, softer foods like Natures Menu.

I have no idea how I am going to cope with potentially losing all 3 in a short space of time.

Becca, I do remember Ollie, you threw me with a different user name!! I will pm you.

tab · « **Reply #163 on:** March 06, 2010, 10:14:42 AM »

from me too.
love
Tab

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #162 on:** March 06, 2010, 02:45:12 AM »

Quote from: Tiggerman on March 05, 2010, 19:32:17 PM

Sorry to hear this.

I just dont know how you can cope - I really dont.

me too, I would be so heartbroken with all the probs, I dont think I could cope......a sick Franta totally exhausts me and that includes the injection giving. I was better at it last time but still exhausted.

Sending loads of these

Beccles · « **Reply #161 on:** March 06, 2010, 01:11:00 AM »

Strewth Des, you seem to have hit the anti-jackpot.

I am feeling very flush cos I just got a big wodge of backdated DLA money... would you let me buy your babies some Applaws? I don't know if you remember when I had Ollie... he had a brain tumour and I provided palliative care for almost a full year before he reached the point where I knew I couldn't do anything to keep him comfortable.

Some things that really helped:
Applaws Kitten soft food. Soft and squishy and apparently delicious
Learning to do sub-cutaneous steroid jabs at home as Ollie hated his cat box with a passion and being carted off to the vet every few weeks was making him miserable... and violent

Accepting that some things that may have made his life longer (pills) were not making it better - he got really distressed being pilled and must have been a real bruiser in his youth as he was incredibly efficient at applying claws and teeth to soft delicate people-skin when the mood took him
Accepting that everything I did needed to be for his benefit, not mine.
Remembering that cats hide pain well so by the time they let on that something hurts they may have been putting up with it for days/weeks
Boiled eggs! Mash, add cheese and/or a little bit of chicken or turkey mince. Nice and soft for the sore of mouth and loads of lovely protein
oh yes, and have some of these:

bunglycat · « **Reply #160 on:** March 05, 2010, 22:27:21 PM »

Hope it doesn''t turn out to be cancerous.

JackSpratt · « **Reply #159 on:** March 05, 2010, 20:51:53 PM »

There are no words....

Millys Mum · « **Reply #158 on:** March 05, 2010, 20:07:23 PM »

Sorry Des

Also can add a happier note, simons squiffy mouth bits also werent cancerous

Tiggerman · « **Reply #157 on:** March 05, 2010, 19:32:17 PM »

Sorry to hear this.

I just dont know how you can cope - I really dont.

Janeyk · « **Reply #156 on:** March 05, 2010, 19:25:45 PM »

Oh dear poor Sam, will be keeping fingers crossed it doesn't turn out to be serious xx

Gillian Harvey · « **Reply #155 on:** March 05, 2010, 19:15:31 PM »

Sorry Des

- mind you, BB had a lump removed from under her tongue when she went in for a routine dental, she's not suffered any probs since - and it turned out not to be cancerous thankfully.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #154 on:** March 05, 2010, 18:29:02 PM »

More bad news unfortunately - Sam went for his repeat bloods today, and he got some blood near his mouth, so we checked it hadn't come from there, and the vet nurse noticed a tumour near his tongue - apparently the majority of tumours in that location are cancerous, and even if it is benign, it isn't an easy place to deal with. We are going to see the vet on Wed to see what his views are, and hopefully he can have steroids, but it looks like it is just a case of keeping him comfortable till it gets worse. His bloods will be back on Mon, but we didn't bother weighing him. So technically, all 3 are terminally ill, I just can't believe this.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #153 on:** February 28, 2010, 10:43:13 AM »

Molly had a check up on Wed, she has put weight on, but felt a bit more bloated, so he wasn't sure if it was the bloating putting the weight on. She is eating very well though (although that is probably the steroids) and is getting two plates of chicken on top of her cat food. She was enjoying playing yesterday too, and seems very happy and content in herself, although we had a bad day on Thurs, which I suspect was the after effect of going to the vet. He said to take her back in 3 weeks unless there was any symptoms, but she hates going, and there isn't really anything he is going to do, so will put that off as long as possible.
Still having this dilemma with Zi, I feel awful at her reaction to being medicated, but know it is the only thing giving her quality of life. Her mouth is quite smelly, and I can't get Antirobe into her, so will see about getting her in for a Convenia jab, even though i am not convinced it did any good last time. I wont be able to see the nice vet this week though, so not sure whether to risk the vet i dont like - who might not agree to give the jab - or hold on another week and see the nice vet.
Sam is also due his repeat bloods, but I need to speak to the receptionist first, as I need a way of the permanent vet at the other branch getting the results, rather than the locum at my branch, as she is only there for another 5 weeks.
I just hope that our permanent vet is nice, it is awful being in a situation with such poorly cats and not having a decent vet who you can trust.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #152 on:** February 21, 2010, 10:54:38 AM »

Thanks - tried crushing her steroids into her wet food this morning, she is being a bit fussy about eating now!! But she does have an odd appetite, she is the only cat who doesn't demand I get up at a reasonable time, and wasn't bothered by being starved for her tests. She seems happy enough in herself though, which is the main thing, and spent most of the night on my pillow curled round my head - we actually started off sleeping with noses touching!!

JackSpratt · « **Reply #151 on:** February 21, 2010, 10:10:30 AM »

I've only just read this, Desley. I'm so sorry about Mollys results.

Hope the treatment they give her helps and sending you big hugs.

Bazsmum · « **Reply #150 on:** February 20, 2010, 22:28:54 PM »

So sorry to hear that Molly is terminal also Des, hope you are able to get the meds into her with the least fuss!

Positive vibes for Sam also!

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #149 on:** February 20, 2010, 19:55:04 PM »

YEah, as she is on the cat metacam, it is 2.5 on the syringe.

Fingers crossed you can get Pep's Vidalta into him.

Janeyk · « **Reply #148 on:** February 20, 2010, 19:40:55 PM »

Oh right, she has quite a few drops then.

I can sympathise with getting the tablets down, Pepper's Vidalta has done the rounds with 4 different meals today and still not accepted - even just tried Salmon - but it's still there, I sometimes have days like this!

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #147 on:** February 20, 2010, 19:20:17 PM »

She is very picky with her food, so woudlnt be able to guarantee she would get enough. Hadn't thought of using the TEmpations, although it does seem like a lot of liquid.

Haven't been able to get Molly's tablet into her today - she doens't like primula, ate round the piece in her plate of fish, and is refusing her AGAIL with medication but happy eating chicken!! I did tell the vet tableting wouldn't be possible.

Janeyk · « **Reply #146 on:** February 19, 2010, 20:03:28 PM »

Can't you give her the Metacam on food or even on her Temptations?

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #145 on:** February 19, 2010, 19:58:41 PM »

I am glad she is eating too. I have just given Zi some Metacam, but her reaction was the main reason for trying to reduce it - as soon as she saw the syringe, she immediately backed away from me and tried to hide, even the thought of Temptations after isn't enough to stop her hating it - I know I only have two options though, have her hate me every night or let her go, as she has proved what happens when she doesn't have Metacam, and that impacts on her quality of life - but how much does hating being medicated impact? She looks really thin on her back end tonight.

Janeyk · « **Reply #144 on:** February 19, 2010, 19:40:02 PM »

Glad to hear Molly has eaten well, Schui was like that though infact he would eat much more if I spoon fed him! poor Zia - sounds like she needs some pain relief.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #143 on:** February 19, 2010, 19:32:45 PM »

Thanks, Molly has eaten well since coming home from the vet, even if she has been spoiled by having the plate held to the hole to her den!! Zia hasn't eaten much today though, I thought I would try to reduce the Metacam yesterday, clearly not a good idea!!

Janeyk · « **Reply #142 on:** February 19, 2010, 17:43:56 PM »

Poor Molly hope that the meds help her lots xx

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #141 on:** February 19, 2010, 16:19:10 PM »

Thanks, it probably is, although tehy aren't recommending any treatment other than steroids. They haven't mentioned a special diet, even though that is what Mabel had, so must ask when I pick her up.

Daisymac · « **Reply #140 on:** February 19, 2010, 16:16:09 PM »

Think of you and yours Desley, sending good vibes x

moira · « **Reply #139 on:** February 19, 2010, 16:14:32 PM »

Just caught this thread. So sorry, Desley, thinking of you and your little ones.

Re: Tableting. when Truman wasn't eating I ground up his Fortekor tablet with water and syringed it into him.

pappilon · « **Reply #138 on:** February 19, 2010, 16:08:21 PM »

Oh Desley, i am so sorry about Molly. Boy was diagnosed with Lympoma , but he also had a mass in his pancreas

I dont know if you remember or not but Boy was refered to RVC and i was told it was important that he was fed solely on Hills D/D venison tinned diet. Well he was fine taking it for a short time and then just refused to eat it

I still have some left would you like me to send them to try for Molly or do you prefer to discuss it with your vet first? Let me know .
Sending you all lots of

and lots of good vibes for Molly and Zia.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #137 on:** February 19, 2010, 15:43:33 PM »

Thanks TAb - seems unlikely knowing Molly though. Might be coincidence, but I had Ginger for 4 years and 1 month, who was my longest owned cat until Molly, I have had her for 4 years and 2 months, and it did briefly pop into my head when it was her 4th anniversary how much she would beat Ginger by.

tab · « **Reply #136 on:** February 19, 2010, 15:40:26 PM »

Im sorry about that Desley. I hope she accepts the tablets and doesnt fight too much

love
Tab

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #135 on:** February 19, 2010, 15:30:27 PM »

Not good news for Molly unfortunately, the scan showed a 3-4inch piece of thickened intestine, and she has also lost some more weight, so the likely diagnosis is lymphoma. She is going to have a short steroid jab today and sent home with tablets - have never had to tablet her, and she does hiss at me when I approach her, so not sure how that will go down!! She is back Tues/Wed and if I can't get tabs down her, then she will have steroid jabs. Fingers crossed these help reduce the inflammation and give her a decent amount of quality time.

So, both my girls are terminal, and it remains to be seen what will happen with Sam.

Author Topic: Vibes needed please - all 3 poorly - RIP Sam :( (Read 65845 times)