Prayers for my Pidgelet, please! *Update 11/23*; she's losing weight; post #285

[Medusa]

Just got home. Dr. Butera did another chest x-ray and Pidge's lungs were beginning to fill w/fluid. She feels that Pidge has cardiomyopathy but couldn't do an ultrasound because her heart rate was at 360, triple what it should be, so it would be too difficult to do and to read. I asked her point blank how long Pidge could live and she said that she knows of a cat who has lived w/it for 6 years but Pidge is 18 1/2. She could just die suddenly or throw a blood clot and become paralyzed at which point I would have her PTS. She sent me home w/Lasix for her as a diuretic, Azithromycin which is another antibiotic to layer on top of the Convenia shot she had yesterday and Enalapril which is a heart medication. She's to go back in on Monday for a recheck and blood work to check her thyroid. Dr. B gave me her cell phone number in case Pidge has any problems between now and Monday, which I think is incredibly nice of her.

I'm furious w/Dr. Lee's office. I called there crying, saying that Pidge is getting worse and that I was really scared. I was told that Dr. Lee is out and Dr. Feeman couldn't come to the phone. I said "Well, I need to talk to someone. She's really in distress! She's crying and her tongue is hanging out." She said "I'll try to find a tech for you". I waited and finally hung up and called Dr. B. I realize that I'm not their only client but on occasion Dr. Lee has taken a call when he was examining one of my cats, so if they could hear how frantic I was, then they just didn't care. I intend to call Dr. Lee first thing Monday morning and let him know that I didn't appreciate the treatment that I got. No one called me back last night and I was put off today. I'm not an alarmist who calls about every little thing but when I'm crying and saying that I'm scared, that should've alerted them that it was a desperate call.

Pidge seems to be comfortable right now. She's not a vocal cat, she never cries, so when I heard her cry, I knew right away she was in trouble. I heard her cry more in these last two hours than I have in the last 16 years. I'm sorry if my post doesn't make much sense. I'm still very angry and upset at the treatment that my Pidgie Pie got.

[Catty1]

Good to hear that Pidge is more comfy now. I am sure the meds will help a bit.

I hope by Monday you have calmed down to put your energy into healing energy for Pidge, and to just leave Dr Lee's office alone. I am sure he will hear about the call. I know you are upset and angry so soon after losing Puddy, but don't waste energy you don't have. JMO - it will only increase bad energy all around.

You do have another vet to go to. Just gently suggesting you focus on Puddy for now.

How is her tongue? Maybe more B vitamins after her checkup will help. Is her Boo man with her?

{{{{hugs}}}}

[Medusa]

Good to hear that Pidge is more comfy now. I am sure the meds will help a bit.

I hope by Monday you have calmed down to put your energy into healing energy for Pidge, and to just leave Dr Lee's office alone. I am sure he will hear about the call. I know you are upset and angry so soon after losing Puddy, but don't waste energy you don't have. JMO - it will only increase bad energy all around.

You do have another vet to go to. Just gently suggesting you focus on Puddy for now.

How is her tongue? Maybe more B vitamins after her checkup will help. Is her Boo man with her?

{{{{hugs}}}}

Dr. Feeman just now called me and he was shocked when I told him what Pidge's heart rate was. He said "Wow! How did she even get a reading?!" I said "Now can you see why I was so upset? I didn't have any time to waste." He said that I made the right decision in going to Dr. B. but he feels that I should have the ultrasound done on Monday and Dr. Lee can read it. Dr. B. told me that she isn't an expert at reading it. So now I don't know what to do. I need to calm down for sure. I know that Saturdays are difficult for vet clinics but, as I said, I'm not an alarmist and one of the front desk women had just called to ask how Pidge is doing and I told her that she hasn't improved and that I'm worried. It wasn't 30 minutes later that I called them back w/my frantic call. I see your point, Candace, truly, and it isn't my style to go on the attack. But when it comes to my cats, since they have no voice, I have to speak for them and if that means yelling to make myself heard, then I'll yell.

Dr. B. feels that Pidge's tongue was hanging out because she was having a hard time breathing and that could be the case but I know my cats and I know when they're distressed and I'm not talking about a cute little tip of the tongue sticking out; I'm talking about it all the way out. It just isn't normal. I was told not to give the B vitamins by both vets until she gets the ultrasound and blood work done.

[Catty1]

I'm glad Dr Freeman called.

Is her tongue ok now?

So, did Dr Freeman mean to have the ultrasound done there - or done by Dr B and she can send it there somehow?

{{{{hugs}}}} to your pretty girl.

[Medusa]

I'm glad Dr Freeman called.

Is her tongue ok now?

So, did Dr Freeman mean to have the ultrasound done there - or done by Dr B and she can send it there somehow?

{{{{hugs}}}} to your pretty girl.

No, he meant for me to bring her in to Dr. Lee and have the ultrasound done there. May as well since Dr. B told me that she can't read them, so it would just be a longer wait. I don't want to hurt Dr. B's feelings in any way. She's been incredibly thoughtful and helpful to me both w/Puddy and Pidge but I have to do what's best for Pidge and not waste time. As it is, I'm afraid that she doesn't have much time left. She's developing congestive heart failure and given her age, it probably isn't good but I want to keep her as comfortable as I can. I'm just so upset. I thought I was out of tears when Puddy died and now this.

Her tongue is back in her mouth right now, thank goodness.

[Catty1]

Well, I hope Pidge has a guardian angel in Puddy.

She may pull through fine...if she never has been really sick, her system might be a little stronger.

Though we cat people wouldn't have it any other way, we take loving and good care of our babies, and they live to ripe old ages. And the more that happens, the more chance there is that something will just wear out after a long life.

It isn't fair at all. We never have enough time with them.

{{{{hugs}}}}

[pomtzu]

After reading your earlier post, all I could think was "Good Lord - NO - why are you putting Mary thru this? Enough is enough!!"
I hope Pidge is stabalized for now and the meds will soon kick in. Maybe if you don't let her lay around too much and make her move around some, that it will help along with the Lasix to keep more fluid out of her lungs.
I know you must be caught between a rock and a hard place concerning both vets. It just sounds to me -IMO- that Dr. Lee's practice is maybe too big to give the personal attention that Dr. B can. It seems like it's his staff and not him, but unfortunately there's no way to get around dealing with them first before you can get thru to him or another vet. It must be totally frustrating for you.
Of course you know that the poochies and I are sending well wishes and prayers for Pidge, and you also.

[Medusa]

After reading your earlier post, all I could think was "Good Lord - NO - why are you putting Mary thru this? Enough is enough!!"
I hope Pidge is stabalized for now and the meds will soon kick in. Maybe if you don't let her lay around too much and make her move around some, that it will help along with the Lasix to keep more fluid out of her lungs.
I know you must be caught between a rock and a hard place concerning both vets. It just sounds to me -IMO- that Dr. Lee's practice is maybe too big to give the personal attention that Dr. B can. It seems like it's his staff and not him, but unfortunately there's no way to get around dealing with them first before you can get thru to him or another vet. It must be totally frustrating for you.
Of course you know that the poochies and I are sending well wishes and prayers for Pidge, and you also.

No, it isn't Dr. Lee or actually even Dr. Feeman. I've got to get the point across to Dr. Lee, since it's his clinic, that when someone calls crying and saying "I'm scared! She can't breathe and her tongue is hanging out!" that it isn't a frivolous call. Both Dr. F and Dr. B said that if I had waited, Pidge may not have made it. Her lungs were already beginning to fill w/fluid. When that happened to Puddy, she was gone in an hour, so I knew that I didn't have any time to waste. By the time Dr. F called me back, it was 1 1/2 hours past closing time, so even though it was nice of him to finally call, it wouldn't have done me any good because their clinic is an hour away and everyone would've been gone.

Dr. B and her tech both commented on how strong Pidge is. She really fought them. So maybe she stands a good chance of the meds working and I'll have her for a little while longer. But I thought that way about Puddy, too. I don't want to sound defeatist but congestive heart failure is serious and when a cat is as old as Pidge, it's tough for them to fight. Dr. F told me to keep a close watch on her over the weekend. WHY does this always happen on a weekend??? She's going to sleep w/me tonight, like it or not. I'll never sleep a wink, knowing that she could be downstairs and not breathing.

[jenluckenbach]

Oh Mary, {{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}} This is so SCARY! Many MANY prayers coming your way for Pidge.

[phesina]

Oh, Mary, you and your kitties have really been through it all lately..

I'm so glad Pidge is doing a little better now. We are praying that the ultrasound goes well.

Hugs to you and gentle pets to Pidgie.

Love,
Pat and cats

[Medusa]

She's calmed down quite a bit. Her breathing isn't as labored as it was so I guess the Lasix injection is working. My son called and he heard her cry and he said "Is that her? I don't think I've ever heard her meow". I hope she has a restful night and that the ultrasound will give us a better idea of what's going on.