What would you do? (**Update 6-18-09 - need your prayers)

[Medusa]

When my Puddy was sick, my vet told me to give her cooked elbow macaroni and chicken baby food. She lapped it up. I'm so sorry that Sydney is having this problem. I know how worried and stressed you must be especially knowing that you'll be going away to school soon. You both are so strong that it amazes me. Please know that my prayers are always w/you and Sydney, Katherine. Keep the faythe, honey.

[carole]

My heart truly goes out to you at this very difficult time, i know exactly what it is like having a cat that won't eat, Ash is the same on and off with his CRF, you try everything with no success sometimes,then all of sudden yes my boy eats, i know Sydney has a lot of problems, and i can only hope with all my heart you find something he can eat and soon, i will be thinking of you, all paws and fingers crossed Sydney makes a turn around and eats, come on Sydney you can do it. HUGS

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope that her appetite will improve soon. I'll keep her in my thoughts and prayers.

[kittykatharine]

Well, Sydney was on the Tapazole 1/4 of a tablet Monday night, all day Tuesday and no changes were seen. I then added an appetite stimulant to see if that would make her hungry and eat. She has been on that all day Wednesday and this morning. Sydney looks terrible. She is very lethargic, she looks extremely weak, and she just lays around looking very sick. The appetite stimulant has made her more hungry, because I watch her go up to the bowl - but she will only eat a few bites at a time. She acts like she is hungry but then to ill to eat. This morning when I was getting ready for work, I took her out on the back porch (which is her favorite thing to do) and she just laid next to me on the cement. I am sure now something is definitley really wrong and she needs to go the vet. Unfortunately, my little sister was in a car accident Tuesday and I missed work and then Monday I missed work to go to the vet, therefore I could not take any more time off this week - luckily my wonderful boyfriend has dropped everything he was doing and ran to the house to take her in. As soon as I hear word of what the vet says, then I will make a post - I hope and pray it is nothing too serious I was starting to wonder if maybe she went from hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism... I have no idea - I just know that Sydney and I need as many prayers as we can get, because it isnt looking very good right now...

[Catty1]

PRAYERS for dear Sydney....I so hope it is something treatable and straightforward!

{{{{hugs}}}}

And - I hope your sister is ok.

[Medusa]

Goodness, we need to pump up the volume on the prayer power! Here's praying for good news. Keep the faythe, Catherine.

[kittykatharine]

PRAYERS for dear Sydney....I so hope it is something treatable and straightforward!

{{{{hugs}}}}

And - I hope your sister is ok.

Thank you so much Catty1. I just got a call from my boyfriend stating that the vet will not be in till 2pm today, so he left Sydney there. This is upsetting because that means two more hours of waiting and poor Sydney spending more time there, which she hates so much. I am just so worried. I really can't handle too many blows with her - it seems like everytime we have a wonderful step forward, we always take several backwards. I just want her to be happy and healthy. Before we started her on these meds her only symptom from the hyperthyroidism was she was loosing some weight. Now with the medicine, she still isnt eating and she now looks so sick. It has been nothing but an up and down rollercoaster.

Oh, and my sister, she is fine - she just hurt her neck some. Sad thing was she had just bought that car two weeks earlier. I felt so bad for her - she was sitting at a red light when some guy rammed into three cars behind her, who hit her, and she hit the car in front of her. We are praying that they can fix the car. It has been a horrible week...

Goodness, we need to pump up the volume on the prayer power! Here's praying for good news. Keep the faythe, Catherine.
__________________
Blessings,
Mary

Thank you so much Medusa, we can use all the prayers we can get right now.

[kittykatharine]

The vet clinic called and said the vet agreed Sydney wasn't feeling well. They called to ask my permission to perform a blood panel test, a thyroid functioning test, and an exam. Plus, since Sydney has always been one to vocalize her displeasment with being at the vet - add in the cost of sedation. **Sigh** this is getting so hard. I managed to come up with the thousands of dollars for chemotherapy, the thousands of dollars in tests, and I had even accepted the $1500 for the radioactive iodine treatment if needed. But now, it just seems like these costs keep skyrocketing and there is not an end in sight. I have already signed a lease in the city I am moving to for school and there is no way to get out of it (unless I pay the full amount of the lease). When is she going to get better? My biggest fear is she is going to have some issue, which is fixable, and I am going to have to watch her die because I just cannot afford it. I have put myself in so much dept as it is, and I am reaching a breaking point. My family is starting to look at me like I need to make a decision when enough is enough - but I just hate that I have been put in the position to where her future is in my hands. I have never expereienced this before. Baby and Hercules died before I was really capable of doing anything. Sydney on the other hand refuses to give up and I feel I owe it to her to not give up on her as well. When is enough enough?

[kittykatharine]

The vet called and here is the synopsis. Her blood work came back normal with the exception of her creatine levels (went from 33 to 27) - which the vet attributed to the Tapazole. Her kidneys, liver, and heart all looked good. The vet said she didnt feel any masses in her abdomen and her nasal passages looked clear - meaning no indication at this time that the cancer has returned. The vet sent away her blood for a thyroid tests and I believe the vet agrees with my hypothesis that the Tapazole made her go from hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism. We were instructed to discontinue her Tapazole until further notice (till the test results come in in a few days). The vet gave her subQ fluids and an anti-nausea injection. She said that Sydney should drastically improve overnight. I hope and pray this is it - if not then her cancer may be back and we just can't see it. Please send prayers and thoughts our way.


**holding onto hope**

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm glad to hear that Sydney's bloodwork and oragns look good. Lot's of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent her way.

I know all to well about vet bills because I'm dealing with this right now myself. When you have 6 cats it's a never ending thing.

[kb2yjx]

My Boo went to hypothyroidism after she had the radioactive iodine. Boo looked like she was on death's doorstep. But she pulled thru and lived another two years, before kidney disease caused her death. Prayers for you and Sydney.....

[kittykatharine]

Well, I stopped the Tapazole as directed and gave Sydney her anti nausea medication this morning. Sydney does look better today, and she seems to be more alert and not looking like she is on the verge of death. She does, however, still look like she doesnt feel very good. She was eating more, and I was actually able to get her to eat about a small can of cat food and a half of bottle of baby food - which is more than I have been able to get her to eat for a week. I am hoping she continues to improve and that she will be feeling better really soon. I am going to call the vet this morning to let them know about her progress. Still waiting to here back about the test results.

I'm glad to hear that Sydney's bloodwork and oragns look good. Lot's of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent her way.

I know all to well about vet bills because I'm dealing with this right now myself. When you have 6 cats it's a never ending thing.

It was defintely a huge relief to see her liver and kidneys were fine, I was becoming increasingly concerned. Thank you so much for the postive thoughts, they are very much needed. Like I have said before, this whole expereince has been very eye opening for me. I never really thought about cats and chronic diseases before my Sydney, and now I feel I am more proactive and watching for any signs. I am also researching pet insurance for my Charlie, becuase I just don't know what I would do if he got sick. I could never imagine having 6 kitties! :LOVE:

My Boo went to hypothyroidism after she had the radioactive iodine. Boo looked like she was on death's doorstep. But she pulled thru and lived another two years, before kidney disease caused her death. Prayers for you and Sydney.....

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am so sorry that Boo has passed on. I feel that Sydney too looked like she was on death's doorstep yesterday, and this is why I feel she went in to hypo. I hope this is it because it is fixable, whereas if the cancer returns, this would not be. Thank you so much for the prayers - they are greatly appreciated!

[Catty1]

More prayers as Sydney gets better and better .

HUGS!

[momtomany]

The Dunn gang is sorry that you are having such a bad week. We will keep the kitty prayers going up for you, your family, and Sydney.

[jenluckenbach]

Definitely praying for Sydney.