Jack Is Ill: He is going to the bridge...(Update)

[CultureJunky]

Okay, as you know around three weeks ago Jack had his right thyroid gland removed due to having being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.
He's been recoving well and gaining weight.
However the past two days he's been breathing very fast and his heartbeat has been extremely fast (you can feel it by putting your hand on his side)
So I took him back to the vets, the head nurse examined him, and said he should see the surgeon.
So the surgeon saw him, he examined him, looked in his eyes to see if the pupils dilated which they didn't. Now I'm assuming after having his thyroid problem that he has hypertension (high blood pressure) which can be caused by having a thyroid problem.
But the surgeon, asked if he'd been outside and hit by a car or something, he checked his claws etc, and I was like well no he's been inside since his operation?
He then said he thought he had neurological damage and that was why he was breathing funny and had a fast heartbeat. I don't understand why he's saying this, he thinks that he has had a blunt trauma to the head. I said well isn't it linked to his thyroid? and he said it wasn't.
But I am sure it is linked and he just needs to be treated for high blood pressure.
He gave him a 25mg atenolol, which he has to have a quarter of every day. Now I looked hypertension up and researched it on the net and it says that the symptoms of it are rapid heart rate or murmour and no response to light when shined in the eyes, which is exactly what happend with Jack.
I just don't understand why the vet has not noticed this and seen a link?
I am positive he has hypertension.

Basically he said to me, that I should bring him back today and think about having him put to sleep? I was like, I don't think so. Naturally I went to pieces and cried my eyes out. He even said don't be surprised if you get up in the morning and he's already gone.
But he is fine in himself, still washing, still using his scratching post and drinking, he's eaten but not a lot, but certainly not as if there is neurological damage?! He's not in any pain, though the vet said he may feel discomfort with his breathing, but if he's not in pain then I'm NOT putting him to sleep for god's sake.
He's lying on the sofa at the moment asleep, other than his fast breathing, he's fine all other ways.

So this morning I tried to ring another vets, not a charity one like I use, they basically said they can't see him without his medical history records, and the vet won't see him without these, I tried to explain to the receptionist about his condition, but she cut me off and just said 'I have a lot to do today we are fully booked and I can't talk to you about this now'
So basically I think they were saying as they knew I'd used the PDSA I wasn't very well off and probably wouldn't be able to afford to use them anyway. She said phone back on Monday and make an appointment with us.
I won't be doing that.

So I'm not taking Jack in today to see the emergency vet (as it's the weekend) as the surgeon said he'd leave a note, and if the note is to say to put him down, I am not doing that.
I will ring first thing Monday morning to get another appointment to see another vet and explain I want him looked at for hypertension, as it must be related to his hyperthyroidism.
I have to explore all options surely?
Do you think I'm being naive by trying to get him looked at regarding hypertension?
I think it was a complete mis diagnosis by the surgeon, he doesn't have neurological damage, has NOT had anything hit him in the head, and it must be to do with his thryoid. I don't understand why he didn't see this?
The main reason he said brain damage is because his pupils didn't respond to anything, but this IS one of the sypmtoms of hypertension.
I am going to print off all the stuff I've found on the internet and take it with me to show who I see, I have to have a second option surely?

I am emotionally ragged again, and my head is spinning.

I didn't mean to go on so long.

I would reallly like people's opinions on this as you are all experienced cat owners who may have had the same thing.

Kate

[Laura's Babies]

Your baby is sick and you are worried silly, no need to apoligize to anyone here for a long post about how worried you are. My vet knows me and a lot of times, I am the one he treats, not the baby I take in (usually Amy) and I always left feeling better after assurances from him that they are OK. I hope things get better, I am sure you will find a better vet that will reslove this and help him. Take a deep breath and hang in there! ((((HUGS)))))

[Freedom]

Kate, I am so sorry to read of the time you are having!

I looked up 'atenolol,' as I am not familiar with it. That IS prescribed for hypertention. So maybe the doc DID listen to you? It will be interesting to see if Jack responds to it over these few days of treatment.

Prayers for Jack, {{hugs}} for you.

[Medusa]

A second opinion is always a good idea anyhow for something so serious, so I wouldn't waste any time finding another vet. In the meantime, continue w/his medication and we'll do our part by praying that Jack responds to it. This is so scary and frustrating, I know. Our furkids can't talk and tell us what's wrong or what hurts and sometimes we have to trust our instincts. Hang in there and please keep us posted.

[CultureJunky]

Thank you folks for your comforting words. I know I am doing the right thing for Jack, and it's only natural I'm going to do my best for him to get him better. I will not let him go from me until I have exhausted all options, I just wouldn't. Naturally if he was in pain or in any kind of stress that I couldn't stand to see him in I would let him go. But he honestly isn't. He's been lying on the sofa asleep next to me, and I've been smoothing him, he's purring away, apart from breathing very shallow and a bit fast.
I will give him more of his tablet with some tuna later on. I really do think I am on the right track, I know I'm not a vet, but I know Jack and have been as careful and tried to find out as much about hyperthyroidism as soon as I knew he had it, so I would be able to take care of him the best I could. I feel I am doing that, by trying to find other options.
I really do believe he needs a course of these or similar medication to take his heart rate back down again to normal levels.
I'm not just going to put him to sleep until I know I have done everything I could possibly do for him.

Thanks for your prayes, and please pray as hard as you can for him

[Catty1]

Sounds like those are the right meds for hypertension...I hope they kick in soon!

I'm not a vet, but I can't see either why neurological damage would be at all suspected...unless something happened during surgery. But all went well, and this started just lately.

I feel in my gut that what Jack has is treatable. {{{{hugs}}}} and I hope you find a vet who knows about hypertension.

Hugs to Jack for me!

[jennielynn1970]

Both my father and myself take Atenolol for high blood pressure. I sure hope it works for Jack. I'd be so ticked with that other vet that said they were booked and couldn't talk with you right now.

I hope you can get him in to see another vet at a different office. I'd be worried sick AND furious!

[Catlady711]

I just now saw this thread. Poor Jack, I hope the ER vet gets him to feeling better. I know how frustrating it is and the worry over our kittes when they don't feel good. I really hope they get Jack breathing better and he can come home soon.


In reading the first post of the thread, I wanted to make a comment on this part....

So this morning I tried to ring another vets, not a charity one like I use, they basically said they can't see him without his medical history records, and the vet won't see him without these, I tried to explain to the receptionist about his condition, but she cut me off and just said 'I have a lot to do today we are fully booked and I can't talk to you about this now'
Kate

Most vets want records when the animal has already been seen somewhere for the same problem. This has nothing to do with what type of clinic you've been going to. If the vet doesn't have previous records they may have to repeat lab work, xrays etc that have already been done. This is a waste of your money and their time. Also records contain information about previous medications that did and did not work. Without that info the vet may end up prescribing something that has already been tried and didn't work.

A vet cannot rely entirely on the statements of the client for the medical history of previous visits. A client may remember something important incorrectly. It puts the vet out there for liability and possiblity of losing their license should something go wrong and they based their treatment upon verbal recommendation from a client not licensed in veterinary care. The AVMA would frown on a vet practicing medicine that way.

If the vet practice you called was very busy and you were protesting bringing in records, they probably thought that either you didn't follow the previous vets recommendations and now have a mess (I've seen this WAY too many times) or you hadn't had your pet to the vet in years and now have a mess (also seen this one WAY too many times). Obviously in your case niether is what has happened but a new vet has no way of knowing that.

Just wanted to help you clarify why that probably happened to you when you called the other vet. I know it doens't fix anything, but it may help you to at least understand them better.

[Taz_Zoee]

I will be thinking of Jack until I hear some good news.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I sure hope that the new vet will be able to help Jack and find out what's wrong with him. Lots more prayers and positive thoughts are being sent his way.

[CultureJunky]

A new update, we picked up Jack this morning from the emergency vets .
He had a stable night, but they couldn't give him the atenolol injection as he got too stressed when they went near his cubicle, he hissed and spat whenever anybody walked past. This is completely out of character for Jack as he is the softest cat you could ever hope to meet, so he was obviously not feeling good at all.
We then drove the the Cardiff cat clinic. We said we were with PDSA (the charity vet) but that he needs help and we'd like him to be transferred here. The vet did say he'd need his records, but phoned then and asked for them to be faxed to him, he also had the emergency vets record faxed through also.
He examined him and said the outlook is not good. His heartbeat is extreme and his breathing is also terrible.
He also said his other thyroid gland is huge and is a goitre(?) so would need to be taken out as it's gone haywire like his other one did.
So he is suffering still from hyperthyroidism and that the gland is probably leaking the toxic fluid into his blood causing his heart rate.
However he said he may have irepairable damage to his heart and he will need oto X-ray it to see if it is enlarged.
As he is gravely ill, the main thing to do is to try and lower his heart rate so he has been put on oxygen for a few hours to try and calm it down.
However he said he is extremely weak and could very likely collapse at any time.
If he can't get his heart rate down with oxygen, then he said he would certainly not survive an aneasthetic for an X-ray or anything else and there would be nothing he could do.
He said he doesn't want to handle him too much either as the slightest physical movement and stress could kill him.

He said the prognosis is extremely poor. I wanted to give him the best chance possible so opted for him to be treated with oxygen for a few hours to see if it works and lowers his heart. If it doesn't, then it will be time to let him go.

I cannot describe how I am feeling right now, my heart is broken, and I feel dead inside, and just want to lie down and sob. My heart is breaking into pieces and the thought of having to let him go is just too much for me to take.

I feel partly responsible in taking him to the PDSA (the PDSA is for people on low incomes who recieve housing or tax benefits) and not to a better vet practice who could've spotted the trouble and removed both thyroids, I have no doubt he would've had better treatment. It's only now going to these private vets that I can see the difference in the way they treat the animals and the level of care they give. Jack didn't have any aftercare after his operation to remove his thyroid, no medication, nothing.
If he had been at another vets I think he wouldn't be the way he is now.
I know deep down it's not my fault as I didn't know, and knew nothing about hyperthyroidism., but if only I had taken him sooner, it may have helped, I just thought he was losing weight from excercise, I did'nt know there was anything wrong with him. How could I have been so blind to the fact he was ill?
I feel that it could've been so different if I'd only taken him to a private vets instead of using PDSA, they obviously only offer basics, but I just didn't know or realise that, I just didn't know.

So that is the update, I am waiting for a phone call this afternoon to let me know if he has repsonded to the oxygen treatment. I am praying that he has

My heart is broken, and it will never ever heal.

[Killearn Kitties]

I'm so sorry to hear that you are having such a terrible time. My thoughts will be with Jack over the next few hours. I desperately hope that he responds to the oxygen treatment.

Please take care of yourself today.

[jenluckenbach]

{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I am so sorry that Jack is so sick. I will pray that he can rebound. I am heart broken with you.

[Freedom]

Hugs to all of you, Kate.

You are trying to do what is best for Jack and you have to remember that. What a difficult situation. I am praying for all of you.

[Scooter's Mom]

I have not posted here before now. I am so very sorry to hear the latest news. Jack knows you have done everything you could, and he loves you very much. My sincere condolences go out to you.

Sending prayers,