Ann - thank you so much. That sounds awful!
We spent most of the day at the low cost vet mobile. This vet, I thought, was very good. He gave her a B12 shot and some fluids, along with a bag of fluids to administer at home via IV. Unlike the other doctor, who is "not convinced" she is diabetic, this doctor believes that she is. He took a BG today and I think it was around 343. He said a CT scan would actually be 2k. I can't do the CT scan and not sure if it even makes sense, but I did ask about xrays. I am bringing her back tomorrow to be anesthetized and get a full body xray done. Tomorrow he will show me how to do the insulin as well.
The insulin now is an issue for me due to the expenses of all of this. I had anticipated getting Lantus, but now think I might have to do Humulin N because of costs. I asked him about the Humulin N, as I hear it is much more harsh. He seems to feel that I should do the Humulin N for costs purposes, I think primarily because of her condition, he doesn't feel optimistic that she is going to be around much longer. we are going to discuss some pain meds for her tomorrow as well. I don't know if it doesn't necessarily matter at this point if it's Humulin N vs Lantus or if the Humulin N is going to cause her pain because it's stronger?? He is suggesting about 1 ml to start. I am also nervous about over dosing her with insulin. I'm also nervous about whether she's going to get through being anesthetized tomorrow. She is weak and dehydrated.
If you think she has bone marrow cancer, are prospects terribly slim? How much time does a cat usually have? I am so sad for her. she looks even worse today..
Laura, I am pleased you got a different vet this time. In regards to the more expensive CT, which can be used for cancer growth/mass screening, just matter of the so called specifity of all as CT, versus xray, versus MRI - and the The Ultrasound Scans. On my Simba and Gustav we only do Ultrasound in the internal oegan, abdomen, heart region. It is kitties, they are so body tiny that an Ultrasound for a good vet is easy.
I also got called myself the past year for cancer screening, first in the xray machine, which was so unsure they called me in for the better see direct specifity Ultrasound.
For Simba really ending up bad with his pancrea, swollen inflammed entire 1.5 centimeters, besides constant Ultrasound of entire Simba and Gustav after that, I also had them do Fine Needle biopsy under sedation, in both the swollen pancrea to get all different active cells going on in it.
The same with Gustav and his blood bone marrow cancer as per se above, multiple myeloma, plasma cell cancer. Gustav was born with the Leukopenia of the Lymphocytes, and since I had them life long in once a year first for annual full blood tests and health exam, then twice a year after 2006 - I saw it early then with the other screaming indicator Tot Protein, spiking super high.
Yet it was fluctating in beginning but by 2008 so much constant high Tot Protein and others related, I had them do this E-fores Blood Protein Specification blood test. I have it all on paper here (at home) showing what these specifications and spikes looks like.
That vet however messed up too, didn't even get b a c k with a reply. So no treatment for it for Gustav.
2009 went, and 2010 went. Then I had them do another E-fores specifying blood test of the protein spikes.
That onco internal vet came back to me, and it was for him a rare type in cats, more common on dogs and with dogs higher survival 50/50 against cats survival only 20/70. I went for it anyway with Gustav. That was 2011 then. The Alkeran chemo tablets and the cortison tablets was cheap. I've enclosed picture of the Alkeran chemo tablets. Super tiny. And he didn't throw up or anything, but he got low white blood cells overall from it.
Gustav's heart too went bad, Chamber Hypertrophia development and high blood pressure 240 Systolic, so also Fortekor and Norvasc tablets for that.
A complication for him developed, simply with all his ordinary leg blood veins basically becoming unable to even touch with the mandatory every 3-4 internal blood test when on the chemo, they just burst and enormous hematom developed in them and his legs. And otherwordly pain for him from that. They burst him so well that it was unable to heal at home even before next time.
I took him off the Alkeran then.
And did every 6 months organ internal Ultrasound, and did one so close in time as in the fall 2011 and he then had none lymphoma growth internal too. But when he died 6 months after, he had a lymphoma growth. Either it was cell growing then 6 months before, not able to be seen as full mass yet, but was in growing into a clearly visually seen one only 6 months after.
Blood in his urine in the last months too before he died.
All horrible and I pretend it hasn't happened, but put in the perspective of already blood bone marrow cancer there visually in all blood tests in 2008 to 2011, totally untreated, I don't know what the first vet not getting back in spite real blood tests for it, would have said to me then in 2008, in terms of survival years in treatment.
You see, Don't give up Hope
Go to this new vet there with this specific tests for it, they are readily and almost direct available to the vets to quick draw these specific blood tests and Ultrasounds and use as and in the diagnostics.
And they shouldn't really cost so much. Not in comparison to other things.
Telepathic Simba always said to me - Listen To Your Heart and Don't Give Up Hope.
And he was right 1 000 000 % aaaall the times. For 17 years.
Listen to the above specific, listen to yourself - and Listen To Skinky
And Tiger Mum right diagnistic tools harass the vet -
You are doing Great, Laura. I am mighty proud of you already on top of it with help here, from Jennifer with helping with the home blood test know how show how, travelling around entire to me h u g e million people large New York for Skinky and yourself - you are One Of A Kind Of Hulluva Good Tiger Mama -
Hugs to you both and May The Force be With You!
