carolyn & jesse (GA) & spock
Member since 2009
It's been a long time since I've posted (okay, it's been a really long time), but I do still read posts pretty regularly (and have even learned a thing or two).
A little history: Jesse was born with a chronic respiratory issue (mainly on the right side) and continually blew big boogers. I dealt with that since I adopted him in July 2002. He was a normal kitty except for that (and his diabetes diagnosed in 2009 of course).
One day I noticed he wasn't blowing snot anymore and he wouldn't let me clean his eye. I took him in on June 26th because his nose was swollen. He had blood work done and a head X-Ray and was put on antibiotics. The X-Ray was inconclusive and the vet said the next step would be to do a needle biopsy. His blood work showed increased kidney values - BUN 52 (range 14-36) and Creatinine 2.8 (range .6-2.4). The antibiotics didn't help. This vet told me (after she had to "research it") that I should start him on Purina NF. What?! 20 carbs - I don't think so.
I took him back on July 13 (and this time requested to see the owner vet). She said she would not compromise his kidneys by anesthetizing him to do a needle biopsy that probably would yield no results due to the complexity of the sinus cavity. She suggested a CT scan and surgical biopsy. She suggested a titer test for cryptococcus because if it was positive, we wouldn't need to go further with diagnostics. The test was negative.
I took him to a Veterinary Specialist practice on Aug 2nd for an exam and hopefully a CT scan. My appointment was with an internist. He can't breathe out of his nose so he's swallowing air - confirmed with an abdominal X-Ray. She said his neck lymph nodes were swollen and I agreed to a needle biopsy before going any further. She had to knock him out because he gets very distressed (but used a reversible anesthesia that would not tax the kidneys). She said her initial exam of the sample told her that it was either cancer or very inflamed lymph cells. So she sent it out to a lab. The lab results said it was not cancer.
I scheduled a CT scan and surgical biopsy which he had on the 15th. The surgeon called when she was done and said that he has a large tumor in the nasal cavity which is eating away at the bone. She sent out the samples out to the lab, but said there's hardly any hope that it isn't cancer. And his Creatinine is up to 3.6. I received the results of the biopsy on the 22nd - Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
I've lost 3 cats since May and now Jesse cancer.
I lost my civvie Twizzler on April 19th. He had fluid drained from his abdomen, had an ultrasound and was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma. The vet said he could last a year - he lasted two weeks.
I lost Mandy on May 22nd. She was FIV+ and I had taken her in awhile ago for what they thought was Horner's Syndrome. Despite antibiotics, it never got better and the whole side of her face became numb. Head X-rays on May 11th showed a slight shadow near or in her trachea. The vet said an endoscopy could be done, but it wouldn't show anything if it was outside the trachea. I took her back in on June 15th (and saw a different vet because the one I'd seen before doesn't work very many days - the trouble with a practice with a lot of vets). Even though I told her about the previous X-Ray findings, she only X-Rayed her abdomen because it was distended. She found it full of air and gave her a nebulizer treatment (what!?) and said she probably had asthma. She was full of air most likely because whatever was going on near or in her trachea was making her gulp air. I had to let her go one week later.
Johnny (also FIV+) had blood work done because he was losing weight. His kidney values were very high. All the vet said to do was support him with SubQ fluids and I could think about switching to a low protein diet. He had a long history of intermittent coughing but the vets told me it wasn't asthma. Two months later on July 27th I had to let him go.
I don't know if I can go through losing yet another cat. I only have one friend that understands the fact that these are my children. I can't even talk to anyone else about this because their words make me angry and prove that they don't understand. I now just hope that his kidneys take him before the SCC. I had another cat with SCC and it was awful.
Sorry this is so long, I just needed to put this out there to someone who understands....
A little history: Jesse was born with a chronic respiratory issue (mainly on the right side) and continually blew big boogers. I dealt with that since I adopted him in July 2002. He was a normal kitty except for that (and his diabetes diagnosed in 2009 of course).
One day I noticed he wasn't blowing snot anymore and he wouldn't let me clean his eye. I took him in on June 26th because his nose was swollen. He had blood work done and a head X-Ray and was put on antibiotics. The X-Ray was inconclusive and the vet said the next step would be to do a needle biopsy. His blood work showed increased kidney values - BUN 52 (range 14-36) and Creatinine 2.8 (range .6-2.4). The antibiotics didn't help. This vet told me (after she had to "research it") that I should start him on Purina NF. What?! 20 carbs - I don't think so.
I took him back on July 13 (and this time requested to see the owner vet). She said she would not compromise his kidneys by anesthetizing him to do a needle biopsy that probably would yield no results due to the complexity of the sinus cavity. She suggested a CT scan and surgical biopsy. She suggested a titer test for cryptococcus because if it was positive, we wouldn't need to go further with diagnostics. The test was negative.
I took him to a Veterinary Specialist practice on Aug 2nd for an exam and hopefully a CT scan. My appointment was with an internist. He can't breathe out of his nose so he's swallowing air - confirmed with an abdominal X-Ray. She said his neck lymph nodes were swollen and I agreed to a needle biopsy before going any further. She had to knock him out because he gets very distressed (but used a reversible anesthesia that would not tax the kidneys). She said her initial exam of the sample told her that it was either cancer or very inflamed lymph cells. So she sent it out to a lab. The lab results said it was not cancer.
I scheduled a CT scan and surgical biopsy which he had on the 15th. The surgeon called when she was done and said that he has a large tumor in the nasal cavity which is eating away at the bone. She sent out the samples out to the lab, but said there's hardly any hope that it isn't cancer. And his Creatinine is up to 3.6. I received the results of the biopsy on the 22nd - Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
I've lost 3 cats since May and now Jesse cancer.
I lost my civvie Twizzler on April 19th. He had fluid drained from his abdomen, had an ultrasound and was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma. The vet said he could last a year - he lasted two weeks.
I lost Mandy on May 22nd. She was FIV+ and I had taken her in awhile ago for what they thought was Horner's Syndrome. Despite antibiotics, it never got better and the whole side of her face became numb. Head X-rays on May 11th showed a slight shadow near or in her trachea. The vet said an endoscopy could be done, but it wouldn't show anything if it was outside the trachea. I took her back in on June 15th (and saw a different vet because the one I'd seen before doesn't work very many days - the trouble with a practice with a lot of vets). Even though I told her about the previous X-Ray findings, she only X-Rayed her abdomen because it was distended. She found it full of air and gave her a nebulizer treatment (what!?) and said she probably had asthma. She was full of air most likely because whatever was going on near or in her trachea was making her gulp air. I had to let her go one week later.
Johnny (also FIV+) had blood work done because he was losing weight. His kidney values were very high. All the vet said to do was support him with SubQ fluids and I could think about switching to a low protein diet. He had a long history of intermittent coughing but the vets told me it wasn't asthma. Two months later on July 27th I had to let him go.
I don't know if I can go through losing yet another cat. I only have one friend that understands the fact that these are my children. I can't even talk to anyone else about this because their words make me angry and prove that they don't understand. I now just hope that his kidneys take him before the SCC. I had another cat with SCC and it was awful.
Sorry this is so long, I just needed to put this out there to someone who understands....
You've had so many losses already and to hear such sad news about Jesse. So many hugs to you. :YMHUG: 
