It's been a long time, I know......Update #23; 9/18

[Medusa]

Even The Boy asked me why I haven't posted on Facebook, etc. So it isn't that I'm ignoring PT. It's just life, y'know? Anyhow, I'm going to be selfish and ask for prayers for my CH girl Creamsicle.

The Boy and I will be leaving on Sunday for a two week vacation in Italy. I took Creamy and Coco in for their allergy shots so that my catsitter won't have to give them meds. I asked Dr. Lee to check Creamy's leg b/c she's been limping for months. I took her in right away, as soon as I noticed it a few months ago, and Dr. Lee checked her out and said that he thought she may have some arthritis. Today he showed me her xrays and her rear legs have degenerative arthritis. I can handle that; I'll just give her meds or glucosamine or whatever makes her comfortable. However, that isn't what has me worried.

He took an xray of her chest (Dr. Lee and his instincts again); he showed them to me and her lungs are filled w/white spots. He said that they should look black and he pointed out so many spots that we lost count. He told me that it could be bacterial or cancer. He said that he just doesn't like how the xrays looked, so he sent them to a radiologist. He'll call me probably tomorrow to tell me what the radiologist said. If he has to take a biopsy, I'll ask him if I would be doing her any harm if it could wait until we get back from Italy. We bought the insurance just in case something like this would arise and we'd have to cancel our trip. We'd lose our deposit but so be it. If it's urgent that the biopsy be done right now, I'll cancel the trip b/c I want to be w/her every second. As you may recall, she's also deaf and partially blind so she's really been dealt a raw hand. But she's 13 now and I guess I can expect more of this type of event as time goes on. But she's eating, drinking, using the litter box and seems as happy as can be except for her arthritis.

So I'm asking for PT prayers that 1) the biopsy can wait and 2) that the spots are not cancer. Creamy is the sweetest and most lovable cat. Everyone loves her. I hope that you can forgive me for not posting for quite some time. Several jaw surgeries over the last 1 1/2 years and The Boy w/back issues that landed him in the hospital for a brief stay are just a couple of the things that have kept me up at night. Add to the mix the problems that my friends have come to me for guidance and advice and time just got away from me.

I will update as soon as I hear anything. I'm trying to get everything done that I can so that I can get packed and pick up The Boy at the airport. Boy, this is going to put a damper on the trip if we do go. I was nervous about it anyhow b/c I've never left The Fur Posse for such a long time. I so love that little girl and it makes my heart sore to think that she could be gone from me.

[Queen of Poop]

Sending prayers for Creamsicle!! Along with love and healing energies. Cali and Diego send purrrs.

[Karen]

Prayers on the way for Creamsicle girl! We miss you - do update us as soon as you know anything!

[Catty1]

Prayers for sweet Creamsicle and for you!

[phesina]

We are sending prayers and healing energies and warm thoughts and love to you all.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[Anikaca77]

Prayers coming your way.

[Freedom]

Good to hear from you, Mary! And a 2 week trip to Italy is so exciting!

One more thing to ask the vet. If the biopsy comes back positive (or bad), then what? This may also help you decide if the biopsy can wait.

Prayers from RI for sweet Creamsicle, she has done well with you. And she will continue to do well, you always look out for her. I was surprised to learn she is 13 years of age. I do see that no matter what, this will be on your mind on the trip (assuming you do go). I'm sorry about that.

[Pinot's Mom]

Prayers for Creamsicle! :love:

[mon]

Lots of prayers and loving thoughts for Creamsicle!

[Medusa]

Dr. Lee called me early this morning and I began an update but somehow it disappeared. The radiologist told him that it could be a number of things (as Dr. Lee also said) but that it's more than likely cancer. I was ready to break the news to The Boy that I was cancelling the Italy trip but Dr. Lee said not to. He said "She'll be fine while you're gone. You weren't concerned about her other than the limp so that means she was acting just fine. You brought her in for an allergy shot!" So I talked it over w/my cat sitter (who has 12 cats of her own) and she lives only 5 minutes away. Plus her mother lives across the street from me and her daughter and husband all love cats and come w/her when she takes care of the Fur Posse. So I feel better about leaving but it's still going to weigh heavily on my mind.

Since Dr. Lee said that it possibly could be bacterial, I'm going to hold that thought and hope that it isn't cancer. He told me to call him when I return and we'll make the decision regarding the biopsy dependent on how she's doing but he said again that she's going to be fine. He said "You want me to give you a guarantee and you know I can't do that" but he's confident that she'll be fine for the next two weeks.

So there you have it. I still feel like the wind has been knocked out of me and I can't even fathom how this house would feel w/o my little purr machine. Never has my tag line from the Bible rung so true.

[katladyd]

Mary, prayers are going up for Creamsicle. as well as a lot of good thoughts. Give Coco some chin scritchies, will you? Both your kitties are darlings.:love::love:

[Catty1]

Mary, is there anything that Creamsicle could be given as a med or something while you are away? Even a shot of Convenia in case it is bacterial?

I know you trust Dr. Lee - I just wondered if you would worry less if she was on something.

HUGS to you and Lou, and special scritchies to Creamsicle.:love::love:

[Medusa]

Candace, he probably could have but he didn't mention it and I trust his instincts. I probably should've asked but, honestly, I'd had the wind knocked out of me. I went there thinking I was helping out my cat sitter by getting Creamy's depo shot so Suzie wouldn't have to give her pills while I was gone. Dr. Lee is on alert and he trusts me to pay him when I return, so if Creamy looks or acts any differently, Suzie knows to take her in right away. Gracie has been staying really close to me. I'll ask her if she wants up on my lap and she doesn't jump up; she just sits by me. I guess she knows I'm worried. Creamy is acting like she always does: purrs and walks at the same time. My li'l purr machine.

[Catty1]

Candace, he probably could have but he didn't mention it and I trust his instincts. I probably should've asked but, honestly, I'd had the wind knocked out of me. I went there thinking I was helping out my cat sitter by getting Creamy's depo shot so Suzie wouldn't have to give her pills while I was gone. Dr. Lee is on alert and he trusts me to pay him when I return, so if Creamy looks or acts any differently, Suzie knows to take her in right away. Gracie has been staying really close to me. I'll ask her if she wants up on my lap and she doesn't jump up; she just sits by me. I guess she knows I'm worried. Creamy is acting like she always does: purrs and walks at the same time. My li'l purr machine.

Awwww....purring and walking! :D:love: She ain't worried! ;)

[Medusa]

I've hardly been thinking of anything else but Creamsicle and so I've decided to forgo the biopsy. If it is cancer, I won't put her through chemo, which would be the next step according to Dr. Lee. I have friends who couldn't stand chemo and stopped it, so I can't do that to my sweet little cat. If it isn't cancer, then I'd be doing the biopsy for nothing. She's still acting as she always does. Her appetite is great, she uses the litter box fine, no digestion problems. So to put her through such an invasive procedure w/o having her undergo chemo is pointless if not cruel. I know there will be some who believe I'll be selling Creamy short, especially after the lengths I went to w/Puddy but hers was a different situation altogether. I want Creamy's life to be a quality one, not one sick from chemo and scared all the time b/c she doesn't understand why we're doing all those things to her and she's deaf so won't be able to hear them comfort her. I've left a message for Dr. Lee to call me on Monday, so I'm not sure how he'll react but it's my decision and my cat and my conscience.

[pomtzu]

I admire your decision, Mary. I would do the same thing, if I was faced with that choice. It's really cruel to put the animal thru all of that, when the outcome could be very poor. I think people are more concerned with their own feelings, and not that of their pet. When the pet's quality of life declines and it is a struggle to live, then we as pet parents need to step in and end the suffering. But as long as our furkids are comfortable, then let them go on with life as usual for as long as they can. I'm hoping that Creamy still has a lot more living to do.

{{{Hugs}}}, my friend. :love:

[phesina]

Sending many prayers and love and warm energies to dear Creamsicle and you, Mary.

Pat and cats :love::love::love::love::love:

[Karen]

We completely understand. Prayers for more pain-free days.

[Queen of Poop]

Fully support your decision. Praying that you and Creamy have many more days, weeks and years together.

[Catty1]

While Creamsicle is still happy and eating and everything, your decision is perfect. Why make her feel sick when she feels so well?

I wish you and Creamy many many happy and healthy days, weeks and months! :):love::love:

[Freedom]

That is what I did with my dog, Sugar, when she was diagnosed with cancer. The biopsy was noninvasive, so I went ahead with that; we had 4 possibilities, only 1 was cancer. Each of the other 3 would have been relative easy to deal with. I knew I would not put her through chemo. The biopsy came back as cancer. :( So I just enjoyed my time with her, and we (vet and I) did what we could to keep her comfortable.

Similar with Creamsicle, Mary. You are very in tune with your pets; you will know when something is bothering her. Then if it is a matter of comfort, you can address that and she will continue to lead her happy life. Considering her special needs is very important; I'm glad you are factoring this in to your decision.

[Medusa]

Well, I'm a complete hypocrite. I relented and allowed the biopsy since it was a needle biopsy and the chest cavity needn't be opened. Dr. Lee called me the second he was finished and said that Creamy came through just fine but the x-ray showed that whatever is in her lungs has already spread; it has doubled in the amount of lung tissue affected. I'll wait until the results come back from the lab in a few days but Dr. Lee said that if it is cancer, it's grave. I asked him for a prognosis and he said that he doesn't do that any more b/c he's always gone by the book and the book is always wrong. "It's grave" is all he would say for now. He also did the heartworm test and he said that it's possible that's what it could be but it's doubtful. If it is cancer then b/c it's in her lungs, she'll eventually have difficulty breathing. He would put her on Prednisolone to shrink the tumors somewhat and thereby give her some breathing relief. I'm rather numb right now. If I hadn't taken her in for her allergy shot and had Dr. Lee check her limp w/x-rays, I never would have known about all this until Creamy couldn't breathe. I'm to pick her up at 3:30 today. I feel like I've been punched in the stomach.

[Catty1]

Oh no I PRAY it is something else! Anything else, something treatable! Hugs to you Mary, and every PT prayer I can manage is going to you and dearest Creamy. :love::love::love:

[Freedom]

Oh my. Well, any information is good information is one way: let's you know what you are dealing with, so you are not caught totally off guard. Which is what would have happened if you hadn't gone in for that initial visit.

Just keep doing what you do, Mary. Love her, let her be Creamsicle, be attentive as you are naturally with your pets.

[Cataholic]

As I posted on FB, I am so sorry, so sad. Cruel and unkind is the understatement.

With Tenny, I knew it would eventually travel to his lungs, hampering his ability to breathe. I didn't wait for that day, and while I never, ever know how short I cut his life, I know he never struggled to breathe. No decision is the right decision, all decisions are hard decisions. Let love lead your actions, as I know you will.

I spent those last days breathing into Tenny, letting him know and feel my love. :(

[Medusa]

As it is right now, Creamy is 100% herself. No breathing difficulty at all. She was energetic and anxious to get out of the carrier and she has been sitting next to me on the sofa since we came home. If she were having difficulty breathing or she was sick, I'd say that it's probably cancer but she is just fine. At least she appears to be, which is why I still can't believe that it is cancer. I keep praying that it will prove to be something else. I won't let her get to the point where she can't breathe, however. So as soon as I know more, I'll post it. Thanx for your prayers, everyone. I'm so grateful.

[Medusa]

Just got off the phone w/Dr. Lee. First the good news, there is no cancer in Creamy's liver. The bad news is that she has feline hepatic lipidosis. Also, the pathologist recommended an exploratory surgery to see what exactly is in her lungs even though they suspect that it is cancer. I said that I will not put Creamy through such an invasive procedure. I then asked what the course is that I should follow. He said that w/o chemo, radiation or the exploratory, I should continue w/the Prednisolone. It will help shrink tumors, if indeed that's what is in her lungs, and it will also keep her eating b/c w/lipidosis the appetite diminishes to the point where she'd stop eating altogether. So. If I see her appetite diminishing and/or her breathing becoming labored or if she's coughing a lot, then I'll know her time is getting near. Dr. Lee did say that he has had cat patients that have lived for years w/lipidosis while on Prednisolone but b/c her lungs are also affected, he can't make any prognosis. As it is, there is no definite diagnosis for the lungs. Not exactly the best news but not the worst either. Creamy is fine right now, still her sweet, purring little self and I'm just going to let her enjoy life and I'll enjoy it right along w/her.

Thanx for your prayers, friends. It means so much.

[Catty1]

May Creamy continue to be the sweet purring girl she is for a long long time yet. :love::love:

[jenluckenbach]

sending prayers and wishing the best of luck with Creamsicle. Let her time with you be happy and comfortable.

[Asiel]

Read the whole thread--- sounds like all ended well. I hope Creamy will have many more pain free yrs ahead-- Just for the record I would make the same decision you did about the chemo--- I will never ever put any of my fur friends through chemo no matter what--- witnessed too many human friends go through that and I could never do it to any animal.

[katladyd]

Not that I am second-guessing your decision, Mary, I would never do that, but chemo does not effect cats like it does humans. I knew a person whose cat had cancer of the bone in one of his legs. the vets amputated the leg and followed that with chemo. I asked why the cat was not tired or sick and he told me that his vet said that animals do NOT get sick from chemo like humans do. They feel next to nothing while on it. In fact, his cat did just fine with eating, drinking, and playing. Just something to think about.

[phesina]

Love and prayers for Creamy and you, Mary. :love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[mrspunkysmom]

Hugs and prayers for Creamy and you :love: