Update on Puddy; she's gone*9/29* see post #421

[Medusa]

Since I had the day off today, I've been coming on here to check for an update about Puddy ever 15 minutes or so it seems. I'm glad she got to come home and that a cause for her acting funny may have been found. Hopefully those meds will help her get over the UTI quickly. It is a good sign that she was ready to eat! We'll hope that the mass is nothing serious and that she'll be with you for awhile longer. It is so hard going through these ups and downs especially when they have serious problems. We're all here for you and for Puddy also!

That's so sweet of you, Moesha, thank you. Puddy seems to be doing somewhat better. She hasn't been sociable at all the last couple of days, wanting to sleep downstairs w/the rest of the Fur Posse instead of w/me as usual and staying in a carrier in the basement all day, too. It's as though she understood what Dr. Feeman had to say (Uh oh! I'd better be more sociable!) and tonight she laid on my chest while I watched TV and she fell asleep. (So did I; stressful day.) Looks like she'll be going to bed w/me because I just tucked everyone in for the night and she's under the dining room table right now. I guess she's waiting for me to go upstairs. I'll know more tomorrow after I talk to Dr. Lee.

[jennielynn1970]

I hope that Dr. Lee will be able to tell you what that "mass" is that was on the xrays. I'd be concerned about that.

I know what you mean about some vets just having better instincts or intuition than some others. The one vet where I go is wonderful with his bedside manner, so to speak, but just seems to be off at times with the diagnosis. The other vet, while she can be brusque, she just seems to know what is up when one of my guys has an issue.

I hope Ms. Puddy will be feeling better and that she'll be more social, and I hope that there will be nothing seriously wrong with her and that no surgery will be required.

Rest up and feel better, Puddy! And hugs to you, Mary!

[RockyRoad]

Prayers are continuing for Puddy and you, hoping that the mass is benign and with meds her UTI will be gone in no time.

[Medusa]

Dr. Lee called this morning and he feels that the mass on Puddy's x-ray is a lipoma, which is fat, but to get a better idea he feels that an ultrasound should be done. See what I mean about him? He has the instincts. I was right there and Dr. Feeman could have suggested that and saved me the time and money and Puddy the stress of another trip there. Here's the bad part, though: she's anemic. He feels that she could benefit from thrice weekly treatments of epogen. It would cost me $600 a month! I just do not have that in my budget, I just don't! I want Puddy to have a good chance but that's a lot of money! If it was a one time thing, I'd do it but every month for who knows how long. Sigh. I told him I'd have to think about it. I told him what Dr. Feeman said about making a list of how Puddy's quality of life has diminished and to think about having her PTS in the not-too-distant future and he was totally silent. Then I said that I feel that Puddy still has a lot of fight left in her and he said "I totally agree w/you. She's been through tougher times than this. I've told you before that this cat astounds me. She's an amazing girl. Her creatinine and BUN levels have actually gone down, so you're doing a good job." I just don't know what I'm going to do. I've been trying to see where I can cut some things out but $600 a month is quite a chunk. So anyhow, that's where we are.

Btw, I don't want to give the impression that I don't like Dr. Feeman or that he isn't a good vet. He absolutely is a good vet but, as I said before, Dr. Lee is the man.

[Grace]

Did he say how long it would take for the epogen to work its magic? Maybe you could try it out for a couple of weeks and see how it goes. And maybe the frequency could be reduced after a month or so - down to twice a week?

[Medusa]

Did he say how long it would take for the epogen to work its magic? Maybe you could try it out for a couple of weeks and see how it goes. And maybe the frequency could be reduced after a month or so - down to twice a week?

She would have to be on the injections for the rest of her life. I thought maybe trying it for a month and see how she does w/it, then go from there. I just don't know. I've got Specs and his heart murmur to check out and if he has something more serious, then I've got to take that into consideration. My Pidge is in early CRF and Boo is healthy now but he's 17 and that's when things start to go wrong. I'm just overwhelmed.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Mary, I hope that Puddy's UTI goes away quickly. I also hope that the mass isn't anything life threatening. I'm so sorry to hear that she's anemic and needs medication that's so expensive. I know that I wouldn't be able to afford something like this either. Do they make a generic version for this that might be more affordable? I'm also sorry to hear that you're so overwhelmed right now. I now that when it rains it pours and I've been there many times. Puddy and the rest of your gang will be in my thoughts and prayers. Please take care of yourself too. (((HUGS)))

[Moesha]

Is there any kind of iron supplements that you could add to her diet and see if that would increase her levels? I'm glad you have found Dr. Lee. He sounds like quite a guy.