Okay Kelley, I just heard back from my ex. He was looking for all the
paperwork, (her test results, diagnosis etc), but couldn't find it
because he's in the middle of trying to sell his house and everything is
packed away. This is what he told me:
Miss Kitty had a problem where her heart didn't grow together properly.
They called her murmur, a "machine" murmur. Blood was going backwards
into her heart. They put a shunt in that closed off the part of the
heart that was bleeding into the other and got the blood flowing in the
proper direction. He said his kitty was at the hospital for no more
than two nights and except for the scar that runs the length of her
underside, came through it beautifully. He said the operation cost him
about $2500. I had forwarded your diagnosis email to him and he said it
sounds like what was going on with Miss Kitty and doesn't understand why
you are being told that surgery isn't an option.
As I said before, he lives in Las Vegas NV. The vet that did the
surgery is Dr. Geels at, (he thinks it's called), Veterinary Referral
Services. He couldn't find their number, but the regular vet that
referred him is Mauer Animal Clinic: 702-870-1011. My ex-husband's name
is Jim Roach and they know Miss Kitty as "Princess".
If I were you, I'd track down Dr. Geels and see if you can fax your
vet's paperwork to him for a phone consultation. Maybe he could refer
you to someone in your area that could do the surgery. Hell, maybe you
and Missy could take a flight to Vegas.
Let us know,
Nina
Kelley Saveika wrote:
Hi Nina,
I'm surprised to hear that. Everyone I have talked to - the
cardiologist, the internist, the Yahoo heart group - says they are not
doing surgery on cats and that they don't do well at all with heart
lung machines. They say even dogs only have about a 5% survival rate
with this surgery. I'd put a 2nd mortgage on my house for Missy, but
not if she has a 99% likelihood of dying. Is it possible to get more
info from your ex? Maybe a hospital in a different state...
Yes, I'm on the Yahoo heart group. They are really nice there, not as
nice as here of course:)
On 2/1/07, *Nina* <[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>>
wrote:
Kelley,
Did the vet mention anything about the possibility of surgery
helping Missy? I don't know anything about CHF, but the diagnosis
you've outlined sounds an awful lot like what my ex-husband heard
when he adopted a little stray kitten. He opted for surgery and
she came through with flying colors. I guess it's becoming more
and more common to do surgery on cats with heart problems. It was
quite costly, but his little girl is about a year old now with no
further problems. Others on the list have mentioned a group for
cats with heart ailments, have you joined one yet?
Of course Missy is in my prayers and thoughts. You know how I
feel about that little darling of yours,
Nina
Kelley Saveika wrote:
Please pray or send healing thoughts to Missy, or whatever your
personal beliefs allow.
She went to the cardiologist today. Here is her diagnosis:
Diagnosis: Congenital heart disease. Missy has a large atrial septal
defect/ventricular septal defect (8 mm) a hole in the lower atrial
septal and upper ventricular septal wall where the chambers join
which
allows blood to shunt right to left and left to right in the heart.
Her heart chambers are dialated and her pulmonary artery and
veins are
dilated. Her right ventricular wall is mildly thickened. The defects
can lead to congenital heart disease (CHF) with fluid retention
in the
lungs, chest cavity and/or abdomen. Therefore I would recommend
starting her on a low dose of furosemide.
She called in a prescription of furosemide 10 mg/ml .3 mg once daily.
Here is Missy's picture, for those who haven't seen it.
http://www.moonvine.net/missy
--
Rescuties - Saving the world, one cat at a time.
http://www.rescuties.org <http://www.rescuties.org/>
Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life!
http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20
--
Rescuties - Saving the world, one cat at a time.
http://www.rescuties.org
Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life!
http://astore.amazon.com/rescuties-20
