I talked to my SIL today and she was pretty upset.  They're talking
about a feeding tube for a couple of *months*.  Feeding by tube every 4
hours (they can't do that) and changing the dressing every day, two days
at the most.  Even our regular TED doesn't like to change feeding tube
dressings.  PLUS steroids for the IBD in perpetuity.

My SIL's feeling like she wasn't informed properly of the implications
of the spleen removal - they expected that she'd have the feeding tube
for a couple of weeks at the most and then be relatively ok.  In this
case, they don't even know what kind of quality of life Melba will have
with her IBD let alone with the spleen removal.  the IBD looked
significantly worse with this operation than when she was first
diagnosed and had surgical biopsies 8 years ago as a kitten.  Don't know
the IBD prognosis on its own.

I would be hopping mad if I were them.  They were quoted an outrageous
sum as the upper end of the surgery; however, they've maxed that out
*and* been charged an unconscionably high amount just for the additional
stay afterwards.  All this with the under-stating of the side effects
and I'd be feeling pretty ripped off.  All this for what quality of life
for the cat?  Like you said, if it was for sure cancer then maybe - but
as a just-in-case measure I don't know.  My opinion of the clinic is not
high at this moment.  I think they prey on people who love their pets -
my bro and SIL look at their cat as their baby and wouldn't just let her
go without trying to do something.  I think it got out of hand.  Very
few people could afford to pay what they have had to pay.

Ugh.

Susan M
Otis and Chester