Struggling with decision...

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NateB323 - 21 Jul 2005 21:47 GMT

L,

God Bless you, thank you for your support. Today's decision to NO
put TB through the surgery was probably THE MOST difficult decision i
my life. After hemming and hawing about it for 4 days, I discussed i
further with the vet and something just told me to not put him throug
it. I decided to bring TB home with meds and pray for the best.
know he won't have all that long, I must be prepared for whatever i
happening to him to get worse, but I won't give up. The doubts o
whether surgery would help, or find anything fixable, or whether h
would even make it out of the anesthesia was just too much. Hi
clotting was delayed, and that presented its own risk of bleeding. H
has been on IV fluids for 4 days, and receiving antibiotic injection
as well as vitamins. He looks a lot better than when I brought him i
on Monday, BUT he is still wobbly and most likely mildy anemic. Onl
time will tell if he will eat, I am stocked up on Hill's A/D to syring
feed him though. Man, this is so hard...I actually broke down in fron
of the vet when finally deciding to take TB home. I will probably g
hold him and cry all night, but I just don't think the surgery woul
have made anything better. I will still pray that he gets better wit
meds, but only time will tell.

Thank you...

-L. Wrote:

> NateB323 wrote:-
> Thank you for all of your support and opinions. However, there is no
> need to highjack this post and make it another battle ground fo
> people
> who dislike each other. I am stressed out enough, I don't need yo
> guys
> fighting here. I went to the vet and talked to her today. I als
> got
> to be with TB for over an hour. He looked so much better from the
> drip, but I know if I just took him home, he would probably go right
> back. He will not eat at the vet, he never has, and they don't do
> feeding tubes through the nose, so I syringe fed him there tonight.
> He
> took it well, and did not vomit or even act like he was going to. He
> wanted to go home so bad though, I could tell. Everytime I stood up,
> he started purring and stood up too. This is the hardest decision I
> have ever made...I know if I bring him home and continue the regular
> treatment, he'll go downhill and probably die within a month or less.
> The thing that is most worisome is this "lobulated fluid structure"
> that is around his galbladder. This could be the cause of his very
> high white blood cell count. If he didn't have this structure,
> would
> not even consider the surgery and hope for the best. But, since this
> structure is getting more "extensive" I'm afraid of what it could do.
> To make matters worse, I am taking serious flak from my fiance. I
> it
> were up to her, she would put him down, hell, she would have put him
> down long ago...she just doesn't understand. Its causing problems
> right now...this whole situation just plain sucks!-
>
> I am so sorry, Nate, that you are going through this, and that your
> fiance isn't being supportive. I hope you can find some peace in
> whatever decision you make. This is the hardest part of being a pet
> guardian.
>
> I think you have to ask yourself a few tough questions...
>
> 1. If I choose surgery and the cat doesn't make it through th
> surgery,
> how will I feel?
>
> 2. If I choose surgery and the cat is worse off afterward, how will I
> feel?
>
> 3. If I choose not to select surgery, will I regret not making that
> choice, if and when the cat gets more sick or dies?
>
> Of course if you choose surgery and the cat gets better, you will have
> no second-guessing to do.
>
> If and when you are at the place where you might consider euthanasia,
> this site might help you decide if and when the time is right:
>
> http://angelshavenhere.homestead.com/makingthedecision.html
>
> My heart goes out to you,
>
> -L

--
NateB323

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mlbriggs - 22 Jul 2005 01:42 GMT

> L,
>
[quoted text clipped - 71 lines]
>>
>> -L.

Purrs that you will "weather the storm". When my Princess (RB 16) was so
bad, the doctor told me that surgery was the only option. I asked what
was the chance of her surviving the surgery, he said "none"/ She lasted a
month. It has been eight years and I still wonder if I should have let
her go sooner Purrs for you to do what you think best.MLB

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Gail - 22 Jul 2005 02:19 GMT

I think you made the right decision in trusting your gut. Whatever happens,
you have given him a wonderful life. Enjoy whatever time you have left with
him.
Gail

> L,
>
[quoted text clipped - 79 lines]
>>
>> -L.

Reply to this Message

Karen - 22 Jul 2005 05:03 GMT

> I think you made the right decision in trusting your gut. Whatever happens,
> you have given him a wonderful life. Enjoy whatever time you have left with
> him.
> Gail

I agree. Purrs to you both.

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