Log in

View Full Version : Tiger relapse



Emeraldgreen
12-27-2007, 11:39 PM
Well, we had 5 wonderful months that were symptom free but the tumor in his nasal passage is back. Tiger started breathing with that rumbly sound last week (that was the first indicator last May that something was wrong with him). The last time this happened, it took at least a month to progress from the rumbly sounds to the snuffly gaspy state he was in shortly before we took him in for surgery but this time it's only been a week. When the rumbly sounds started I thought "okay, it's coming back, I have some time to try and figure out what we're going to do" but by yesterday he sounded TERRIBLE!! It hasn't progressed to the worst state that he was in 5 months ago but I'm shocked by how fast it is progressing and I think within another week he may sound as bad as he ever did.
It's so frustrating because his spirit is as playful as ever and he looks great and his appetite is very good. I knew this was not going to go over to well with my husband but after a few days of thinking to myself and trying to plan it all out, I told him that I wanted to have the surgery done again to give us another half year with him. He loves Tiger too but it's the worst time possible because we are about to list our house for sale because of financial issues. But, he loves Tiger and we're going for it.
Also, Catty1, this time around we are going to see if we can have cryosurgery done in conjunction with the tumor removal as you suggested last July. I just didn't think we could afford to do it last time but now that I know that removing the tumor only buys him 5-6 months before it comes back, it makes sense that we do as much as we can because I'm fairly certain this will be the last attempt to help him surgically. It's not fair to him to keep putting him through this and it is fairly expensive. But I must say, he was such a trooper about the surgery last time and within minutes of waking up he could breathe so well and was very happy and frisky when we got home from the clinic.
I'm taking him to the same vet that did the tumor removal surgery the last time. I do the work on their animal hospital website and we now have an arrangement where I receive a staff discount on services instead of being paid for the work. The surgery will be around 800.00 and he still has to get back to me with the cost of the cryosurgery. He doesn't have the equipment to do the cryosurgery but he's going to try and get it from the (human) hospital over the next week or so. Unfortunately, the soonest he can get us in is Jan.14th and I'm praying that Tiger will make it until then. I've got him back on the prednisilone because it helped him breathe the last time around. He's on 2.5mg twice a day and I will continue to up the dose gradually as he needs it.
Could you guys please pray that Tiger will be able to breathe well enough until the 14th? I truly believe in the power of prayer and he needs help. Thank you!!
I'm also worried about my cat Paddington. Why does all this stuff always happen at the same time?!? Last time we were dealing with Tiger, we also found that Charlie had cancer.
Out of nowhere, Paddy now has a small smooth dark brown/black spot (about the size of a sunflower seed, maybe smaller)on an area above his left eye, sort of on his forehead. I'm so worried that it could be some form of cancer but maybe it's just an age spot. Do cat's get these?? I will post a picture of Paddy's strange spot in a separate thread.

Medusa
12-28-2007, 06:57 AM
Oh goodness, I'm so sorry to hear this about Tiger and Paddington, too, yet! PT prayers are powerful and we'll get started on our end right away. Miracles happen every day so we're planning that T and P are at the top of the list. Hugs to you and hubby cuz this has got to be so stressful on top of trying to sell your house. :)

Freedom
12-28-2007, 08:32 AM
Prayers for Tiger, Paddington, and you and hubby!

lvpets2002
12-28-2007, 09:02 AM
:( So Sorry.. Lots Of Prayers & Good Vibes Being Sent..

Randi
12-28-2007, 09:19 AM
Poor Tiger. :( I hope the things you try before he can go to the vet, will help ease his breathing. I'm sending my best thoughts for Tiger, and Fister is keeping his paws crossed. :)

Catty1
12-28-2007, 11:40 AM
Prayers for Tiger and Paddy!

Canadians can also apply to iMom for help with non-routine surgery. Go to www.imom.org. Your vet will have to sign a form that he will work with iMom. But go have a look!

There is also the Care Credit plan...Google that. If you happen to pay it off within 3 months, there is no interest charge...that will buy some time for your house to sell as well!

HUGS!

Emeraldgreen
12-28-2007, 03:35 PM
Hi everyone, thank you so much for the prayers. He needs them. He is doing terribly today and I'm about to call the clinic and see if there is any way I can put Tiger on a plane by himself early next week (since I have to work) and get him in because I just don't see how he is going to make it. He's starting to choke when he drinks and eats and I can't let him go on like this. And he seems to be so uncomfortable just sitting there doing nothing.
I'm wondering if Metacam (meloxicam) would help with decreasing the swelling if there is any. I will ask that when I call in a few minutes.
Catty1, thanks for the ideas with regard to the finances. It looks like we will be able to put a few hundred down on the first day and then make 200.00 payments on our credit card each month until it's paid off so that is a blessing and will make it possible for us to undertake.
I'll post any updates as they happen. Thanks again.

krazyaboutkatz
12-28-2007, 06:39 PM
I'm so sorry to hear that Tiger has relapsed and is having so much trouble breathing.:( My Sky has been having some congestion issues but his come and go and are most likely only allergies.

I also hope that Paddy's dark brown/black spot turns out to nothing. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent their way. Please take care.(((HUGS)))

Emeraldgreen
12-28-2007, 11:39 PM
My vet has agreed to do Tiger's tumor removal the day after tomorrow but he won't be able to get ahold of the cryosurgery equipment by that time. He wants me to send Tiger back to him again on the 14th of January to have the cryosurgery done but doing it separately could be quite costly. But if we don't take this opening on Sunday, he'd have to wait until the 14th for both procedures and he would be in such a terrible state by then, we just can't wait.
I'm driving him to a nearby town a few hours away first thing Sunday morning and putting him on a float plane by himself. I feel so badly about not going with him but I have to work all day. It's only a 20 minute flight though and it's quite a bit cheaper to fly just Tiger instead of the two of us, (about 30.00 each way) and a staff member from the clinic will pick him up at the other end and they will do the surgery at 9:30a.m.
We're praying it will be a straightforward surgery as it was the last time and that it hasn't spread to other areas. They might send him back that same afternoon and my husband will drive down to get him or he might spend the night and come back on the morning flight on Monday and I can go get him.
I'm just so relieved that he will stop suffering and get some help. It's hard to think about anything else when your pet is so uncomfortable. Everything else seems unimportant and trivial.
Thanks again for all the prayers. :)

Catty1
12-28-2007, 11:45 PM
{{{{{hugs}}}}}} Prayers for poor Tiger. I hope the surgery goes well, and the cryogenics will give him a longer and better life.

Maybe - just maybe - with most of the tumour removed with regular surgery, the cryogenic will be able to get 'more' of the stuff.

Thinking of all of you and Tiger boy.

jennielynn1970
12-29-2007, 01:37 AM
Awe... poor Tiger. I hope the surgery goes well. I'll be thinking about him and saying prayers for him. Such a big, fluffy boy! Those paws are just HUGE!!! Please give him some hugs and kisses for me!

Medusa
12-29-2007, 07:27 AM
Hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. PT prayers will keep him safe and sound until he's able to be back in your loving arms again. And we'll keep praying that the cryosurgery will fix him up for good. Hang in there, especially you Tiger. :)

Freedom
12-29-2007, 09:04 AM
I'm just so relieved that he will stop suffering and get some help. It's hard to think about anything else when your pet is so uncomfortable. Everything else seems unimportant and trivial.
Thanks again for all the prayers. :)
I SO know what you mean, having just been worried sick for Sugar and her scare with what turned out to be an infected canine / fang. Everything else seems unimportant and trivial.

PT prayers work, glad to provide what I can to help. What a handsome Maine coon fellow Tiger is! Please Tiger, let's see if we can get you healthy and stop this tumor from returning.

krazyaboutkatz
12-29-2007, 03:10 PM
I sure hope that Tigers surgery will go well and that this will allow him to be a happy and healthy boy for quite a long time. I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers.