Do you ever feel like you are going to lose it?

[fragrancehound]

Magic is sick and I just feel like I am going to have a nervous breakdown. She is exhibiting many of the symptoms Panther had before he went to rainbow bridge. I just can't go through this again, emotionally or financially.

She has been to the vet literally every week this month. The vet wants to do another full blood count (she just had one 3 months ago), a special blood test that requires a 14 hour fast (pancreatic and small bowel test), x-rays, and an ultrasound. I was just starting to pay off my credit card too! All this testing is easily going to be $500+. It's not even so much about the money as it is about Magic's health and my sanity. I just feel so helpless again. I absolutely hate watching her feel so sick. I wish I could do more. She is vomiting several times a day and has diarrhea again. The vet thinks it could be pancreatitis and IBS but wants to eliminate any other possibilities like cancer. The only highlight is that Magic is not sneezing as much.

How do you deal with the stress?? :confused:

[Catty1]

Would your vet consider a small dose of Prednisone to take down any IBS inflammation if it is that? Don't know if it would help pancreatitis (if it is that).

Just to buy you some time and help Magic feel a bit better. This is so distressing for you.

You might want to PM Jazzcat, Uabassoon, Jenn_Librarian and jenluckenbach.

They have had some pretty sick kitties and might be able to help clarify things for you.

HUGS!

[Freedom]

Oh goodness, prayers for you and for Magic!

Yes, I had a bad month of June with my Ruffles, age 16. We were at the vet 8 times in that month, 3 times in one week. She had the CBC senior (full blood work) at least twice that month. AND xrays. I kept trying this and trying that. The hard part was all her tests came back normal! To this day, we don't know what is wrong with her.

I finally had to make a decision and so I had a talk with the vet. I said look, you want to do an ultrasound. What will it tell us? It will show if she has an abcess or cancer or not. OK, just assume she DOES. Then what? Well, the cancer, we look at surgery and chemo. And abcess, we consider either surgery or antibiotics. Fine. Ruffles is 16. I am NOT going to put her thorugh chemo, surgeries, or even another round of anesthesia for the ultrasound. Give her the antibiotics. That is what we did. She is doing OK. She has been on antibiotics since end of June and will continue on them indefinitely. We have tried to stop them 3 times. By day 4 she is quite ill again and the 3rd time, I had to force feed her to pull her through. SO I talked with the vet again and made it clear I am NOT stopping these meds again; neither Ruffles nor I can go through it!

So for you, I would say have a talk with the vet. What will all these tests tell us? And based on those results, what do we do? Then ask yourself, would you do it? I don't know Magic's age, or anything else which will impact your decision, that is why it is YOUR decision, what makes sense for this kitty. That would be my recommendation as to how to proceed.

It is VERY difficult to set aside your emotions to deal rationally and logically with the medical stuff. But that was the only way I could get through it. Maybe this will help you.

In any case, prayers and best wishes coming your way from RI.

[jennielynn1970]

I've felt that way a few times with my guys. Actually, the sick cats that I've had thus far have been fosters, but it doesn't make it any easier on the heart or emotions. I've dealt with thyroid, liver problems, a cat that was blind, deaf, paralyzed on one side and partially on the other AND he had a brain tumor. All at the same time. That poor poor boy went through hell.

I guess I'd have to say that it came down to quality of life for the guys I had that were really sick. As much as I wanted to do anything to save them, if they still weren't going to have much quality, and they were going to suffer, I couldn't do that to them.

Of course I've had others that have just been sick and needed to be nursed back to health. Not all have been terminally ill. Thankfully. I don't think I could have handled that one. You feel so helpless to begin with when one of your pets are sick and can't figure out what is wrong to make them feel better.

I hope you can figure out what is wrong with Magic... poor girl. You'll both be in my thoughts and prayers.

[fragrancehound]

Would your vet consider a small dose of Prednisone to take down any IBS inflammation if it is that? Don't know if it would help pancreatitis (if it is that).

Just to buy you some time and help Magic feel a bit better. This is so distressing for you.

You might want to PM Jazzcat, Uabassoon, Jenn_Librarian and jenluckenbach.

They have had some pretty sick kitties and might be able to help clarify things for you.

HUGS!

The vet did give her a low dose of Prednisone which did help temporarily. However, the vet did not want to continue with any further steroid treatment because Magic has a cold or virus and she was afraid it would further comprise her health. Also, since she doesn't know what is wrong with Magic she doesn't want to continue on with the Prednisone until she has a better idea of what is making Magic so ill.

Magic is 10 yrs old, the exact same age Panther was when he had all the health issues. :( I just don't want to go down this path again. It is too painful.

[Catty1]

Maybe antibiotics, like with Ruffles...

I PM'd some other folks to give you a hand here....HUGS

[Craftlady]

I will keep good thoughts and prayers for Magic.
It's a hard decision to make when it comes to our fur babies health and well being. Quality of life etc.
You will know in our heart when enough is enough. It sucks bigtime when that realization hits ya square in the face. Been there just did that with Thumper.

One thing, have you considered getting a second opinion from another vet?

[jazzcat]

I'm so sorry to hear about Magic. Please forgive me but I don't remember what happened to Panther. Did your vet give a diagnosis? Do they think it is the same thing with Magic?

I do understand how you feel about the endless testing that often doesn't lead to any results. I'm thankful that I have a vet who doesn't like to rush into too many tests at once.

What you are describing reminds me of a very bad time Ripley suffered about 5 years ago. We had just brought Jazz in as a kitten and she had a very bad URI. Ripley caught it and ended up in at the vet for three days on IV antibiotic and fluids. He came home on Saturday and by late Sunday night he began throwing up and having uncontrollable diarrhea to the point that everything coming out was bloody. We rushed him to the vet and it was touch and go for a couple of days. After many tests and x-rays the vet decided it was a secondary infection of the blood stream that was triggered by the few days of antibiotics to treat the URI. Even after he came home I had to take him back every day for a week for an antibiotic injection.

Now we are dealing with Ripley's kidney failure and on his last visit to the vet there were some signs of a possible liver tumor but after talking to the vet we are just waiting to see if anything changes because for the moment he is maintaining.

I'm not sure if telling you Ripley's story will help you at all but I wanted you to know that I understand how you feel. Prayers and positive thoughts for Magic and you.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry that you're having to go through this and that Magic is so sick.:( I remember your thread about Panther and I felt so bad for both of you.:( If I were you I'd also consider getting a second opinion. I had to do this with Starr and now I've changed vets. Starr's now seeing my new vet and a holistic vet and he's doing so much better these days. I sure hope that Magic will be able to be diagnosed and treated easily. I'll keep her in my thoughts and prayers. Please take care.

[G535]

Whatever you decide to do please remember that your cat's quality of life is the most important thing to consider. I know how hard it is, I lost my 14 year old cat in March to liver disease. A second vet's opinion would be good too.
Hope things do work out well for Magic and you.

[jenluckenbach]

Not that this helps much, but I know EXACTLY what you feel like. At this moment Jasper is suffering with diarrhea. He is pooping on the bed, it's pudding consistancy, no meds have helped him so far, we've done tests......and this is exactly what happened with Lucas before he was found to have cancer and had to be PTS. I am certain more tests will follow. :(

But, I have one distinct difference....my vet isn't a fan of unnecessary tests. She is known to attempt a medication that could help before knowing the specific cause. Her idea is....."If the medication works = GREAT, if not, we know it is not that particular problem". Then we move on to another idea.

There is no magic potion to handling the stress. I WILL be hard. And when episodes come close together, it is even harder. So just focus on the cat's well being. Take into consideration the cat's age, prognosis for a good quality of life, and YES, your monetary situation. You will know the right thing to do if you have faith in your feelings.

[sasvermont]

I know exactly what you are going through. I just made one of the most difficult decisions in my life, and had a dear, dear kitty of mine, PTS. I couldn't do it anymore. I know she went peacefully - purred her way to the Rainbow Bridge. She is no longer suffering. She was ill, was tested, treated and then some, and she wasn't improving. I made a difficult call, but now, know it was the right one. It took me years. Yes, years. But I knew when it was time to let her go.

Good luck with your decision. Only you know the answer to the difficult question.

[fragrancehound]

Thank you so much for the support! I really do appreciate it.

I did call the vet today and I am bringing Magic in for some testing including x-rays. She also has to have some test that requires 14 hours of fasting. It is called FTLI/FPLI/FOLATE/COBALMINE . I guess this is some sort of specialized test?? I won't get the results for 2 weeks.

In the meantime I am trying to Magic as comfortable as possible. I do love her!

[Catty1]

How old is Magic?

Would your vet consider putting her on an antibiotic while you wait for the test results?

Just want Magic to be as comfy as possible, and her mommy to not be so scared! :)

[AvaJoy]

I would seek a second opinion from a vet that specializes in feline medicine. Maybe there is a specialist vet clinic near you that has someone on board who could give you a more precise diagnosis and treatment plan. Don't give up on Magic based solely on one vet's opinion.

In the meantime, I feel for what you are going through and hope all works out for the best for you and Magic.

[fragrancehound]

What a day we had yesterday!!! I dropped Magic off at the vet for some more testing and when I got home I found that Shadow, my other cat, was vomiting too! What a freakin mess. I had to take him to the vet as well.

Magic had some x-rays taken as well as multiple blood tests. I won't get the results of all the blood tests for another 2 weeks but I think the other blood test results should be in tomorrow. Her chest x-rays were good and other x-rays showed some gas and her small intestine a little enlarged but nothing too serious. Both Magic and Shadow had several injections to help sooth and coat their stomach/intestines as well receiving some fluids to help with dehydration.

The vet thinks there are several things going here. First, she believes that they both have some sort of virus or bacterial thing which was causing the vomiting. I am not really sure where they caught it but I suspect it could be the food I was feeding them. I'm wondering if I got a bad batch?? I was feeding them Eagle Pack Holistic Sardine, Anchovy formula. They were on this food for about 1.5 weeks. I did call the company and am going to send them a sample of the food so they can test it. Other than that I really have no idea what could have caused both of them to become so ill. They are strictly indoor cats and are not exposed to any other animals. They do not have any blockages. I don't even have any plants or flowers in the house so I am stumped. :confused:

Secondly, she is not really sure what started Magic's onset of diarrhea. It could be IBS but again nothing is conclusive. I am hoping once the blood test results come in we can at least eliminate some things. She also thinks that the cold might have been brought on by stress and the pred. shot.

24 hours later things are somewhat improving. Neither Magic or Shadow has vomited since yesterday and they are able to keep their food down in small amounts. Right now I am temporarily feeding them both baby food since it is gentle enough on their systems. Magic is still sneezing but is overall doing much better! She is more vocal and playful which is really nice to see. Shadow on the other hand is not as playful or vocal as he normally acts. I can tell he doesn't feel good. I am watching him closely to see if I need to take him back to the vet. I am also monitoring their liter box movements but since they have not eaten too much (they were on a 14 hour fast yesterday for the blood test) they really haven't pooped today. So that is where things are now.

The grand total for my vet trip yesterday....$600. :( As much as I complain about these prices I really do like the vet I use. She is very thorough. She is one of 3 vets that work at the cat clinic. They only specialize in treating cats. She is not the owner and therefore does not dictate price. But I will say this clinic is more expensive than some other vets in the area. I've thought about going elsewhere but when I did that in the past I really didn't find anyone I liked as much.

[fragrancehound]

What a day we had yesterday!!! I dropped Magic off at the vet for some more testing and when I got home I found that Shadow, my other cat, was vomiting too! What a freakin mess. I had to take him to the vet as well.

Magic had some x-rays taken as well as multiple blood tests. I won't get the results of all the blood tests for another 2 weeks but I think the other blood test results should be in tomorrow. Her chest x-rays were good and other x-rays showed some gas and her small intestine a little enlarged but nothing too serious. Both Magic and Shadow had several injections to help sooth and coat their stomach/intestines as well receiving some fluids to help with dehydration.

The vet thinks there are several things going here. First, she believes that they both have some sort of virus or bacterial thing which was causing the vomiting. I am not really sure where they caught it but I suspect it could be the food I was feeding them. I'm wondering if I got a bad batch?? I was feeding them Eagle Pack Holistic Sardine, Anchovy formula. They were on this food for about 1.5 weeks. I did call the company and am going to send them a sample of the food so they can test it. Other than that I really have no idea what could have caused both of them to become so ill. They are strictly indoor cats and are not exposed to any other animals. They do not have any blockages. I don't even have any plants or flowers in the house so I am stumped. :confused:

Secondly, she is not really sure what started Magic's onset of diarrhea. It could be IBS but again nothing is conclusive. I am hoping once the blood test results come in we can at least eliminate some things. She also thinks that the cold might have been brought on by stress and the pred. shot.

24 hours later things are somewhat improving. Neither Magic or Shadow has vomited since yesterday and they are able to keep their food down in small amounts. Right now I am temporarily feeding them both baby food since it is gentle enough on their systems. Magic is still sneezing but is overall doing much better! She is more vocal and playful which is really nice to see. Shadow on the other hand is not as playful or vocal as he normally acts. I can tell he doesn't feel good. I am watching him closely to see if I need to take him back to the vet. I am also monitoring their liter box movements but since they have not eaten too much (they were on a 14 hour fast yesterday for the blood test) they really haven't pooped today. So that is where things are now.

The grand total for my vet trip yesterday....$600. :( As much as I complain about these prices I really do like the vet I use. She is very thorough. She is one of 3 vets that work at the cat clinic. They only specialize in treating cats. She is not the owner and therefore does not dictate price. But I will say this clinic is more expensive than some other vets in the area. I've thought about going elsewhere but when I did that in the past I really didn't find anyone I liked as much.

Sorry for the lengthy post but it has been one hell of a week so far!

[Catty1]

Glad there is some improvement!

If there IS something in the food, hopefully the manufacturer will help with the vet bills! :)

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm glad that Magic is starting to feel better.:) I hope that Shadow will also start feeling better soon. I'll continue to keep both of them in my thoughts and prayers.

[TopCat3]

I'm so sorry that you're having to go through this and that Magic is so sick.:( I remember your thread about Panther and I felt so bad for both of you.:( If I were you I'd also consider getting a second opinion. I had to do this with Starr and now I've changed vets. Starr's now seeing my new vet and a holistic vet and he's doing so much better these days. I sure hope that Magic will be able to be diagnosed and treated easily. I'll keep her in my thoughts and prayers. Please take care.


I echo what KAK says about holistic vets. They look at the cat and its symptoms rather than looking for a diagnosis they can label then treat the label. That is not to say they don't use bloodwork and Xrays etc but they look at the whole picture and can often start to give your cat relief from its symptoms before they even know fully what the condition is they are treating. Acupuncture to bring the system back into balance, chiropractic to make sure the nerves are supplying all the organs and body systems correctly, maybe some Chinese herbs or a special dietary mix to support the digestive tract whatever may be wrong. I am glad Starr is much better because he is one of my favourite pt cats. I hope Magic and Shadow will recover soon. It is so important to feel trust and a comfortable rapport with your vet and it sounds like you have that. Good luck. - The TopCats.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Poor pusscats and poor you. Hope everyone starts to feel better soon.

All I can say is that I know how you feel - my RB CallyPuss had daily injections for about a month before she had to be PTS. One morning I saw a woodpecker as we were driving through the park and it was after I mentioned it to the vet that he said he would only charge me for drugs used not for any consultation time!!! Guess he could tell I was slightly stressed ;)

[Medusa]

I'm w/ya on the stress; I think all PTers are, actually. There were days when I felt like I was being ganged up on by the Universe. Nearly every vet bill I've had is in the 3 digits and when surgery was involved, it was usually 4 digits because several of my cats are special needs cats. For ex.: my Yodie's ear polyp surgery started at $2000 and follow up care went from there. :eek: I have so much money into my heart kitty Puddy that I could probably pay cash for a brand new car. But in the grand scheme of things, when I look back on it, it was worth every penny. I guess that's how we have to look at it. My vet's office is more expensive than others but boy, does he ever have the instinct! He cuts right to the chase and knows exactly what to do and I love that! No guess work! So if you're happy w/your vet, even though s/he's expensive, consider sticking w/him or her because you'll end up stressing yourself even more trying to find someone else that you can trust. Bottom line, Magic is doing better and that's wonderful! :)