Mommy is letting me take over the blog today to let you all know what I've been going through this week.
This summer I've had a hard time breathing. It's been so horribly hot here in Vermont that Mommy thought that was causing it. But it's cooler now and I've been getting worse. I've even needed to stop and rest after using my litter pan. On Thursday I went to the vet and he took an xray, which showed fluid in my chest cavity. He wanted a radiologist to look at it for a second opinion.
Yesterday morning the vet called and said he wanted me to have an ultrasound and see a cardiologist because the radiologist found that I have an enlarged heart and a mass in my abdomen.
Mommy got me an appointment immediately for yesterday afternoon. I saw the radiologist first. She said I don't have a mass but my spleen is enlarged. She stuck a needle in my spleen and is having the fluids tested. (Mommy sure loves kissing my shaved tummy from the ultrasound!)
Then I saw the cardiologist. He could see immediately that I have severe congestive heart failure. He stuck a needle in my chest and drew the fluids out. I'm now on a diuretic to prevent the fluid from building up again, and Plavix because I'm at advanced risk for blood clots. I have bloodwork coming on Monday to see if there are any other heart drugs that are safe for me to take. I sure can breathe better now that the junk is out of my chest!!!
On Tuesday the results from my spleen test will come back. Since the radiologist didn't know at the time that I'm in congestive heart failure, I'm hoping the enlarged spleen is a result of that and not cancer somewhere.
So my prognosis isn't great. We were told some cats go downhill within months, others last a couple years. Mommy says she'll fight this with me for as long as we can. I just wish she'd stop crying so much.
7 comments:
oh, *wipes tears from eyes* Good luck to you and Mommy!
Hang in there Tara. . . and Melissa :-) Palmer Zoo Crew paws crossed for you.
TIME. Sending loads of prayers and best wishes to you both.
Tara, you need to hang tough, kitty girl. Be brave and take the meds, soak up your mamma's love and fight the fight! We had a beloved Siamese who was diagnosed with kidney (renal) failure. Vet gave her 6 mths. but then he said there was something we could try--not proven, but worth shot. it involved giving her fluids three times a week for . . . ever. And it worked for three years. :) hugs to Tara and Melissa!
So sorry you are have to go through this Tara, but hope you will continue to feel better and keep your Mommy company for a long time to come.
Miss Kallie, Samson, Boots, Garfield, Bella, myself and Starr send lots of love your way.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
Keeping fingers crossed you'll be okay, Tara. You're lucky to have a mom who loves you so much.
Thank you all so, so much for your kind words. They mean so much.
Post a Comment