UPdate on Ellie-mae...

[carole]

Many of you will remember my little calico Ellie who has a bad mouth condition and now has developed a mammary tumour.

We have been in two minds as what to do for the best for her, as she is on permanent steroids her immunity is also very low,and the surgery was a risk, however the decision has been taken out of our hands,in a way, because her eating became much worse, so i took her in to get another convenia injection ,which usually helps her temporarily,we had decided against surgery for the tumour because of so many complications etc etc,too detailed to go in to it all,believe me was the hardest decision i have ever had to make, and it was not sitting well with me really to be quite honest.

Anyhow to cut a long story short, we discovered she has a hole in her tooth and needs another extraction,so we cannot possibly leave her like that, and we have to take the risk for another dental,i also discussed the option of surgery for the mammary tumor at the same time,at this stage we are thinking we will do both together, less risk, and there is a small chance it might be benign, as even though it has been six months, it has not grown very much, and it is a particularly aggressive cancer, so we are hoping that we might be lucky there, however if it is cancer it will be removed, and we just have to hope for the best possible outcome.

Because of her long term steroid medication, there is a risk the wound won't heal as well and get infection, which scares me a bit, the good news is ellie won't need a collar, will have dissolving stitches, as she is a highly stressed cat, and would completely freak having to wear one, she also will be given a morphine patch which works really well for pain and will decrease her anxiety levels, and she will not have chemo afterwards,if it is cancer, and this is good because we have tried chemo drugs for her mouth and she was violently ill with them, so not an option at all.

Also happy that the vet we always see and knows her well wants to do the operation and was even going to try and fit it in, so he could do it, anyhow turns out next Tuesday which is surgery day, he is on anyhow and will be doing it.

The big blow is the financial cost, it is something we don't have, $430 which is not a lot to some people but to us, is a great deal to find, however i just cannot sit by and let ellie go, she is a fiesty wee girl and i have confidence she will pull through it all, i am hoping she won't get cat flu on top of it all , like last time after her dental, she is a carrier, and is vaccinated, but stress can often bring it on,fingers and all paws crossed, as that is not nice for her.

It is going to be a big ordeal for her and mostly me, you would think it was me going in for the surgery,but i am a big worrier and fret for my cats, but then a lot of us do don't we?

Just wanted to fill you all in and asking for many prayers and good thoughts that my little girl will pull through ok and recover well.

See my sweet girl in my siggy.

[Pinot's Mom]

Ellie Mae, bestest luck on your surgeries, honey, our prayers are with you!

[moosmom]

Oh Carole,

You will be in my thoughts and prayers, girl. Ellie-mae looks just like Shortie Girl. I'd do the same thing you are doing. Whatever is best for her. Please keep us posted on her progress.

and hugs,

Donna and fur crew

[carole]

Thanks both of you, yes donna she is a quite like your shortie girl, just has slight different markings on her mouth,oh donna i can tell you i am so anxious about all of this, i still don't know if i am doing the right thing, but i felt that way when i had decided to not opt for surgery, but since we have to do the dental,and my vet has recommended we go ahead with the other,it seems the right thing to do, but it does seem major, but having being told all the other details about the patch and no collar, ease's my mind a great deal, as ellie is such a easily stressed out cat, it took her two days to trust us again after taking her on saturday.

Surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday, monday where you are,so be praying hard please, my lil girl needs all she can get, and so does her meowmie, who will be beside herself with worry.

And a HUGE THANK YOU to the most wonderful PTer, and you know who you are, my ellie-mae's guardian Angel,that's who.

These pics are for you, ellie-mae before she got sick, she is a lot thinner now unfortunately, but the good news i have managed to get her to maintain her weight, which is always a good sign.

[moosmom]

Carole,

You ARE doing the right thing!! Just make sure they don't use Medicam as an anesthetic. It's dangerous to cats and alot of vets are still using it rather than gas, which is alot safer.

She is a beautiful little girl and is very lucky to have you watching out for her!!!

and hugs,

Donna and fur crew

[phesina]

We are sending many prayers and good wishes to your beloved Ellie-mae, and we will be thinking of her and you and sending you both healing energies on Monday.

[Medusa]

Gotta love Calico girls! Ellie-mae has lots of prayers headed her way. And you, too, Carole. Keep the faythe.

[Freedom]

Prayers for Ellie Mae!

Bit confused w/ time zone changes, the surgery may already have happened.

My Lacey had a mammary gland tumor and it was removed, she is fine now. I pray all goes well for Ellie Mae the same, even w/ all her other issues.

I know what you mean about being so nervous, Carole, I think I drove my friends crazy the days leading up to the surgery!

[carole]

thanks donna, they do use gas, don't worry they are excellent vets, been with them for well over ten years now, and i have 100 per cent faith in my vet who is doing the surgery,he is very kind and caring as well.

No freedom surgery is scheduled for next tuesday, monday your time in the US,just as well kitty does not know yet, i am more nervous than she is, but she does get extremely stressed even going for her check up, she just sits on the vets table and trembles.

I have never had a cat so easily stressed as ellie is,so it is going to be hard on her.

I sure hope you are right Donna that i am indeed doing the right thing, i have my reservations.

I did not want to put her through such an ordeal in the first place, it is just having to the dental, that the opportunity to nip out the tumour has arisen,so it seems the best thing to do.

I tell you i have had many sleepless nights, wondering if i had made the right decision before, and now i feel exactly the same, however if she goes through this op well and she recovers well,then i will be confident that i did indeed do the right thing by her.

Please keep those prayers and good thoughts coming, they mean the world to me,and we need them, thanks my friends.

[Catty1]

All prayers and good wishes going out to you and to Elllie-Mae. That is a lot of money...hopefully your vet is ok with payment plans.

Can they do anything in the way of dental treatment that might help dear Ellie's sore mouth?

Again, praying that all goes wonderfully and that you and Ellie-Mae are all right very soon.

[carole]

candace they will be taking out two teeth, and i guess clean them, it will help her not to be in pain from that, but she will still have the ongoing mouth condition,which frankly is really hard on her despite her medication, she is on a very high dosage of steriods, which of course will have long term side effects, the vet feels we may well be able to reduce her medication after the dental if it is successful, so that is all we can really hope for, i have been told that i probably will loose her because of it, but so far she has had it for over two years,she has good and bad days, that was one of the reasons i opted not for surgery with the tumour in the beginning, however i guess things have changed slightly and we just have to do what we can.

Yes it is a heck of a lot of money, we are far from rich, however i have plans to raise some through a prize i won online, hoping it sells, had a little saved for special occasion,and i will use our daughers board money this week, instead of putting it towards groceries, and with a very kind donation from a very special lady here on PT, i think we can just about do it.

It is a struggle but she is well worth it, i took her on six years ago, rescuing her from that awful woman and she has brought me nothing but joy,she is an awesome little girl, very different to any cat i have ever had,she is a fighter and i owe it to her to at least give her this chance,now that it has presented itself, but i am extremely nervous and worried about the procedure despite all the re-assurance given here and from my vet,fingers and all paws crossed my baby will be ok and sail through this nicely.

Thanks everyone for your ongoing support.

[cassiesmom]

Ellie Mae, bestest luck on your surgeries, honey, our prayers are with you!

Me too, me too!


Elyse --- And Cassie's paws crossed too

[carole]

Thanks everyone,much appreciated.,will keep you all up to date when it is over and her progress.

[jennielynn1970]

HUGS for you, and well wishes for Ellie-mae. May she come through with flying colors and heal up quickly and easily.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent Ellie-mae's way. Please take care. (((HUGS)))