Cardinal1987
Member Since 2016
Hello
In advance, I am sorry for the length of this.
I am struggling with making a decision to have Ricky undergo abdominal surgery for the removal of a cyst (found on his liver and could be causing vomiting) and the biopsy of his intestines, liver and lymph nodes (to rule out IBD, SCL or other).
We saw 2 different surgeons and both advised there could be serious complication of leakage of intestinal contents that can occur at the biopsy site. She said this is reported up to 20% but her experience was lower. She said if this happened a 2nd surgery would be needed. She said Ricky may need to stay in the hospital 3-4 days, (he has not ever been away from home). He would be on pain medicine for 5 days. She said she does not expect discomfort for more than 5-7 days and uncomplicated recover is typically 2 weeks, she does not say anything about complicated recovery. She said he may have to be confined in a big dog crate for 2 weeks so he does not jump. The 2nd surgeon said if complications arise the outcome could be fatal, your pet may need an additional 5-7 days in the hospital and recovery is about 50%. Plus, some of the bowel may need to be removed.
I have been on other sites and opinions vary so I was hoping for more opinions on if your feline had abdominal surgery with biopsies.
I would appreciate anyone’s input on why they decided to do the biopsy, risk factors they were advised of, age of their kitty, did they need a 2nd surgery? Did you do the surgery right away or wait, if waited how long did you wait? How long did they have to stay in the hospital? How long did it take them to eat, drink, poop after surgery? Did the surgery site bother them, does having to wear the cone bother them? Did you have to keep them confined in a crate.? If the c word was found did you do chemotherapy and how did your kitty handle Chemo and anyone that did not do the biopsies and why they did not and if they regretted either decision. . Also did anyone’s kitty not survive the surgery or recovery and or get un-treatable news or inclusive news?
If you did not do a biopsy did your kitty go on steroids and or a chemo drug without getting a definitive diagnosis? If yes, how has your kitty’s empirical therapy been?
Ricky will be 15 on November 12th. The surgeon said age is Not a disease. But I am not convinced. Ricky’s last dental cleaning with removal of 2 teeth and removal of a growth by his ear was brutal on him and hell to watch him go through (the growth was diagnosed as mast cell tumor). He would not eat or take his medicine for 2 days. I vowed to him he would not have another dental cleaning and here I am contemplating abdominal surgery!
Also hoping to hear from anyone that had a liver mass removed and the outcome.
After re-reading our lengthy introduction (again sorry about that) the main reason for this posting is that I feel I am being selfish if I put Ricky through abdominal surgery where he could die during or after surgery and his recovery will be hell for him, maybe hell up to 14 days, and if he does have something very bad with no chance of therapy his last few days on Earth will be miserable instead of happy. So if anyone can advise the risks to have the cyst removed with the 3 biopsies are lesser then the reasons/risks I advised to not have the procedures done would be greatly appreciated! Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Healthy Regards
Ricky and Maria
PS Ricky is not a diabetic and hoping he will not become one from future steroid use. We are a member of your board and hope it was OK to post this, as we are just trying to gather as much information as we can to make the best decision for Ricky and do what Ricky would want and not what we want.
PPS I enclosed the IMS and surgery consultations and a picture of Ricky
In advance, I am sorry for the length of this.
I am struggling with making a decision to have Ricky undergo abdominal surgery for the removal of a cyst (found on his liver and could be causing vomiting) and the biopsy of his intestines, liver and lymph nodes (to rule out IBD, SCL or other).
We saw 2 different surgeons and both advised there could be serious complication of leakage of intestinal contents that can occur at the biopsy site. She said this is reported up to 20% but her experience was lower. She said if this happened a 2nd surgery would be needed. She said Ricky may need to stay in the hospital 3-4 days, (he has not ever been away from home). He would be on pain medicine for 5 days. She said she does not expect discomfort for more than 5-7 days and uncomplicated recover is typically 2 weeks, she does not say anything about complicated recovery. She said he may have to be confined in a big dog crate for 2 weeks so he does not jump. The 2nd surgeon said if complications arise the outcome could be fatal, your pet may need an additional 5-7 days in the hospital and recovery is about 50%. Plus, some of the bowel may need to be removed.
I have been on other sites and opinions vary so I was hoping for more opinions on if your feline had abdominal surgery with biopsies.
I would appreciate anyone’s input on why they decided to do the biopsy, risk factors they were advised of, age of their kitty, did they need a 2nd surgery? Did you do the surgery right away or wait, if waited how long did you wait? How long did they have to stay in the hospital? How long did it take them to eat, drink, poop after surgery? Did the surgery site bother them, does having to wear the cone bother them? Did you have to keep them confined in a crate.? If the c word was found did you do chemotherapy and how did your kitty handle Chemo and anyone that did not do the biopsies and why they did not and if they regretted either decision. . Also did anyone’s kitty not survive the surgery or recovery and or get un-treatable news or inclusive news?
If you did not do a biopsy did your kitty go on steroids and or a chemo drug without getting a definitive diagnosis? If yes, how has your kitty’s empirical therapy been?
Ricky will be 15 on November 12th. The surgeon said age is Not a disease. But I am not convinced. Ricky’s last dental cleaning with removal of 2 teeth and removal of a growth by his ear was brutal on him and hell to watch him go through (the growth was diagnosed as mast cell tumor). He would not eat or take his medicine for 2 days. I vowed to him he would not have another dental cleaning and here I am contemplating abdominal surgery!
Also hoping to hear from anyone that had a liver mass removed and the outcome.
After re-reading our lengthy introduction (again sorry about that) the main reason for this posting is that I feel I am being selfish if I put Ricky through abdominal surgery where he could die during or after surgery and his recovery will be hell for him, maybe hell up to 14 days, and if he does have something very bad with no chance of therapy his last few days on Earth will be miserable instead of happy. So if anyone can advise the risks to have the cyst removed with the 3 biopsies are lesser then the reasons/risks I advised to not have the procedures done would be greatly appreciated! Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Healthy Regards
Ricky and Maria
PS Ricky is not a diabetic and hoping he will not become one from future steroid use. We are a member of your board and hope it was OK to post this, as we are just trying to gather as much information as we can to make the best decision for Ricky and do what Ricky would want and not what we want.
PPS I enclosed the IMS and surgery consultations and a picture of Ricky
Attachments
Last edited:
First was a non diabetic - I tested him, the prednisolone did not make him diabetic. Number 3 also not diabetic on prednisolone. Neko was the more complicated one. We could not properly diagnose her because diagnosis methods (surgical biopsy or endoscopy) require anaesthesia, and her heart could not take it. So we went by best guess on imaging by the internal medicine vet. Number 3 had an endocopy which is faster to recover, came home the same day. Had a little throat irritation for a day, but other than a quieter meow, was fine. Endoscopy is only an option if the inflammation is in a place in the intestine that a scope can reach. Since your kitty needs surgery anyway, might as well get it all done. I belong to a Groups.IO group on feline small cell lymphoma. Have yet to hear of a cat having complications from the surgery, nor needing a second surgery.
