Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Hi Michelle, I hope Lucy is feeling better today..I sure don't know what to do cause what works for Inky doesn't seem to work for Lucy. Have you tried adding bene-bac? I gave Inky some when he had loose stool and Bandy, too.. The bran isn't working either I take it... I know my lymphoma kitty was on 20mg of pred for 9 months or so..actually the rest of her life..I had another kitty on that much pred for 3 yrs...she had a tumor on the back side of her tongue and the pred would keep the inflammation down so she could eat...She had all the side effects that people get on high dose steroids, but that was the only way to keep her comfortable and she was until the last few days.. Have you checked her for hyperT? I know some of Inky's troubles was that along with the IBD. Inky is so skinny, but eats ok and only has 1 stool per day..I gave him astragalus, too. I think that might have been for the hyperT though..I am trying to rack my brain as what you could try... Anyway, you 2 are in our thoughts and prayers. Kerry and Bandy Do you Yahoo!? Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail Beta.
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Thanks, Kerry. Actually, her stools seem pretty normal now, just a bit soft but that could be because I gave her a lot of rice bran yesterday mixed in with her baby food. She is back on 10 mg/day of pred. I am not really worried about keeping her on that for a while. It's more that I am worried as to why she needs it. It could just be IBD, or it could be lymphoma, and the latter requires leukeran as well as pred, I think. This morning she ate a little raw food and a handful of cooked duck, then 1.5 jars of turkey baby food with supplements and bran mixed in. She is on a baby food kick and acts like she is not that hungry until I give her the baby food and then she gobbles it voraciously. Unfortunately it gives her gas, which then makes her uncomfortable and sort of lethargic for a few hours afterwards. It has already put a little weight back on her, though, and I at least know she is eating enough, and she is not getting diarrhea, so I guess I will keep giving it to her if that is what she wants to eat, unless or until she will eat enough or something else. I have an internist aptmt scheduled for Monday. If she is relatively ok I may try to switch it back to Wed for work-related reasons. Benebac seems to give Lucy diarrhea. I think it may be cultured in lactose, and she seems to be lactose-intolerant. She does better with kyadophilus, which I was using in Nina's turkey mush recipe for the past couple of weeks until Lucy stopped eating it a few days ago. Maybe I will put some in her baby food tonight, or whatever she eats. Thanks again, Michelle In a message dated 7/15/2006 5:36:58 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi Michelle, I hope Lucy is feeling better today..I sure don't know what to do cause what works for Inky doesn't seem to work for Lucy. Have you tried adding bene-bac? I gave Inky some when he had loose stool and Bandy, too.. The bran isn't working either I take it... I know my lymphoma kitty was on 20mg of pred for 9 months or so..actually the rest of her life..I had another kitty on that much pred for 3 yrs...she had a tumor on the back side of her tongue and the pred would keep the inflammation down so she could eat...She had all the side effects that people get on high dose steroids, but that was the only way to keep her comfortable and she was until the last few days.. Have you checked her for hyperT? I know some of Inky's troubles was that along with the IBD. Inky is so skinny, but eats ok and only has 1 stool per day..I gave him astragalus, too. I think that might have been for the hyperT though..I am trying to rack my brain as what you could try... Anyway, you 2 are in our thoughts and prayers. Kerry and Bandy
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Michelle, Maybe try mixing the baby food with her regular food and slowly phase it out so she is eating only her regular food. I'm currently phasing out the Fancy Feast and getting my guys on a better food. Then we work on phasing out the dry :) Cody is getting bigger and bigger. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Lucy has always been really fussy about food, and will not eat anything mixed with anything else, even if she would eat both separate. And she doesn't eat wet or dry food (she never liked wet and dry makes her sick now). The only thing she can eat is her raw diet or cooked turkey or duck. I have tried mixing the baby food with the raw and she looks at me like I am insane. Good suggestion though! My mom found some Beechnut at the supermarket near her, so I am going to get it and try mixing the two baby foods together, at least, to try to minimize the amount of corn starch she gets. She is eating some cooked turkey also, just ate a few pieces now, but she doesn't eat that much of it. Baby food is the only thing that really gets her going. She does seem to have gained an ounce or two since the other day though, knock on wood. Thanks, Michelle In a message dated 7/15/2006 2:35:19 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Michelle, Maybe try mixing the baby food with her regular food and slowly phase it out so she is eating only her regular food. I'm currently phasing out the Fancy Feast and getting my guys on a better food. Then we work on phasing out the dry :) Cody is getting bigger and bigger.
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Good thoughts and prayers going up for you and for Lucy. elizabeth In a message dated 7/13/2006 8:28:06 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Lucy was doing better, getting over her IBD flare-up I thought; but I tapered her down to 5 mg/day of pred yesterday (did 10 for a week, then 7.5 for 4 days, then 5 starting yesterday) and today she is worse-- some diarrhea with some blood, less interest in food, and under 8 pounds for the first time. I put her back on 10 mg pred today and cooked her something new (duck) which I am now afraid will mess her up even more. I made another appointment (canceled the last one) with the internist in Red Bank, 1.5 hours away, for next Wednesday. I was going to try to take her tomorrow, but my mom has convinced me thus far to wait and see if she gets better again from the pred and not take her if she does. I don't know. I fear intestinal lymphoma. I feared it when she first flared up 2 weeks ago, but then after 3 days on 10 mg/day of pred and eating just turkey her diarrhea totally went away and she even got constipated from lack of fiber, and I figured that was unlikely to happen with lymphoma and more likely to be a flare-up of IBD. But now I don't know. She has never needed to be on so much pred for more than a few days before, and she has never lost so much weight (though she also has never been on an entirely protein diet before either). If she does not have lymphoma, her IBD has gotten much worse than it was. I am very depressed by this. If you can spare her some good thoughts and prayers, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Michelle
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
From me too...I'm so sorry she isn't doing well. - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Friday, July 14, 2006 7:07 am Subject: Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Good thoughts and prayers going up for you and for Lucy. elizabeth In a message dated 7/13/2006 8:28:06 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Lucy was doing better, getting over her IBD flare-up I thought; but I tapered her down to 5 mg/day of pred yesterday (did 10 for a week, then 7.5 for 4 days, then 5 starting yesterday) and today she is worse-- some diarrhea with some blood, less interest in food, and under 8 pounds for the first time. I put her back on 10 mg pred today and cooked her something new (duck) which I am now afraid will mess her up even more. I made another appointment (canceled the last one) with the internist in Red Bank, 1.5 hours away, for next Wednesday. I was going to try to take her tomorrow, but my mom has convinced me thus far to wait and see if she gets better again from the pred and not take her if she does. I don't know. I fear intestinal lymphoma. I feared it when she first flared up 2 weeks ago, but then after 3 days on 10 mg/day of pred and eating just turkey her diarrhea totally went away and she even got constipated from lack of fiber, and I figured that was unlikely to happen with lymphoma and more likely to be a flare-up of IBD. But now I don't know. She has never needed to be on so much pred for more than a few days before, and she has never lost so much weight (though she also has never been on an entirely protein diet before either). If she does not have lymphoma, her IBD has gotten much worse than it was. I am very depressed by this. If you can spare her some good thoughts and prayers, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Michelle
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Michelle, I have a friend who's kitty had bad IBD same as Lucy, they also had to have her on pred as she got very bad without it. The doctors had given up on her at some point but my never did and finally got her stabalized, she has been on pred for over 7 years and is doing great. I think her dose started at about 20mg (she couldn't tolerate that, she was very lethargic and slept all the time so the lowered it to 10, she did better on that), they very, very slowly weaned her down to the 2.5mgs over about a year's time. Once she was stable and doing good on the 10mgs (she was on this for a couple of months), they lowered it to 7.5mgs for a few months, then down to 5mgs, she was on this for probably 5 months, then they lowered her to 2.5mgs, so far she is OK on that. She does have to up it on occasion when she has a flare up, but that doesn't happen very often. She is 16 years old now and back when she first started the pred, the doctors had pretty much given up on her, her IBD was so bad, they had been syringe feeding her for 6 or 7 months, my friend had decided to take her in and euthanize her, she was down to 5 pounds, skin and bones. That day (the day she was taking her in), she came down stairs and started eating. And that was 7 years ago!! Just wanted to give you a story with a good outcome. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Lots of prayers for Lucy to get stable and be able to live in harmony with her sensitive tummy. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Sending a lot of prayers and she is in my thoughts as well. Terrie Mohr-ForkerTAZZY'S ANIMAL TRANSPORTSSIAMESE COLLIE RESCUEOwner/DriverCheck sites for available Siameses for adoption!http://www.tazzys-siameses-collies.petfinder.org/Click Here to Join WASHINGTON SIAMESE RESCUE Yahoo Group!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wasiameserescuehttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/SNOHOMISH_COUNTY_PETS_in_WAhttp://hometown.aol.com/tatorbunz/index.htmlhttp://hometown.aol.com/tatorbunz/myhomepage/petmemorial.htmlPetfinder.comAdopt a Homeless Pet!http://www.petfinder.com/http://www.felineleukemia.org/http://www.petloss.com/TAZZY'S ANIMAL TRANSPORTShttps://www.paypal.com/http://www.frappr.com/wasiameserescue
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Thanks so much, Belinda. I think it is very possible that Lucy's IBD has just gotten worse, that the pred made her better, and that I weaned her too fast. I hope that is the case, and that she gets better. I really don't want to take her for all sorts of tests, or to put her on leukeran if she does not need it. I am just also worried that she may have developed intestinal lymphoma, being both FeLV+ and having IBD-- both of which make them prone to intestinal lymphoma, and so am worried that if I keep waiting and it is lymphoma I will not catch it in time. I really do not know what to do. I made 2 appointments in the past 2 weeks and canceled them both when she was better, now I made another one for Monday. I hate to stress her with the drive (she hates it) and vet visits if it really is just IBD and I can keep her stable on pred. What do you think I should do, Belinda? Today, between the jar of baby food she ate and the random pieces of turkey she ate for me, and the couple fingerfuls of raw I stuck in her mouth, she has certainly eaten enough for breakfast. She went outside and ran around for a few hours, washed herself, and slept in the sun, then came in and I think wanted more baby food (I need to get more). She has not gone again, so it has been over 12 hours since her last bowel. It is possible that she is actually constipated, rather than having diarrhea, because the diarrhea I found yesterday was a relatiely small amount with a solid bowel in the middle, and then she had a tiny bit more liquid later, and when this happened 2 weeks ago I think she was constipated. I don't know. I really waver back and forth between thinking I should take her in and thinking I shouldn't. If she does not starting being more interested in non-baby food by MOnday I will definitely take her. It is if she improves again that I don't know. I would love to know your opinion, Belinda. Thanks, Michelle In a message dated 7/14/2006 9:01:40 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Michelle, I have a friend who's kitty had bad IBD same as Lucy, they also had to have her on pred as she got very bad without it. The doctors had given up on her at some point but my never did and finally got her stabalized, she has been on pred for over 7 years and is doing great. I think her dose started at about 20mg (she couldn't tolerate that, she was very lethargic and slept all the time so the lowered it to 10, she did better on that), they very, very slowly weaned her down to the 2.5mgs over about a year's time. Once she was stable and doing good on the 10mgs (she was on this for a couple of months), they lowered it to 7.5mgs for a few months, then down to 5mgs, she was on this for probably 5 months, then they lowered her to 2.5mgs, so far she is OK on that. She does have to up it on occasion when she has a flare up, but that doesn't happen very often. She is 16 years old now and back when she first started the pred, the doctors had pretty much given up on her, her IBD was so bad, they had been syringe feeding her for 6 or 7 months, my friend had decided to take her in and euthanize her, she was down to 5 pounds, skin and bones. That day (the day she was taking her in), she came down stairs and started eating. And that was 7 years ago!!Just wanted to give you a story with a good outcome.
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Michelle, Prayers going out for little Lucy as well as you. Please keep us posted, especially after she sees the internist. :) Wendy --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Lucy was doing better, getting over her IBD flare-up I thought; but I tapered her down to 5 mg/day of pred yesterday (did 10 for a week, then 7.5 for 4 days, then 5 starting yesterday) and today she is worse-- some diarrhea with some blood, less interest in food, and under 8 pounds for the first time. I put her back on 10 mg pred today and cooked her something new (duck) which I am now afraid will mess her up even more. I made another appointment (canceled the last one) with the internist in Red Bank, 1.5 hours away, for next Wednesday. I was going to try to take her tomorrow, but my mom has convinced me thus far to wait and see if she gets better again from the pred and not take her if she does. I don't know. I fear intestinal lymphoma. I feared it when she first flared up 2 weeks ago, but then after 3 days on 10 mg/day of pred and eating just turkey her diarrhea totally went away and she even got constipated from lack of fiber, and I figured that was unlikely to happen with lymphoma and more likely to be a flare-up of IBD. But now I don't know. She has never needed to be on so much pred for more than a few days before, and she has never lost so much weight (though she also has never been on an entirely protein diet before either). If she does not have lymphoma, her IBD has gotten much worse than it was. I am very depressed by this. If you can spare her some good thoughts and prayers, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Michelle __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Hi Michelle, You know my prayers and thoughts are always with you and Lucy. We've talked about this so many times... Her symptoms are so much like Gypsy's (the way she bounces back from flare ups and then has problems again), my intuition is telling me that she has a wicked case of IBD and not lymphoma, but of course my intuition is not to be trusted when that's what I've been hoping and praying for all along. I think it's time you kept that appointment. You're having almost as hard a time not knowing as you are with dealing with her symptoms. If you could get some fairly conclusive results indicating what the heck is going on, one way or the other, I think it would be beneficial. At least you wouldn't beat yourself up for hesitating. You know how much I hate stressing kitties out with vet visits, but you really need to know what's going on, for your sanity and Lucy's well being too. Sending you love and encouragement, Nina [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks so much, Belinda. I think it is very possible that Lucy's IBD has just gotten worse, that the pred made her better, and that I weaned her too fast. I hope that is the case, and that she gets better. I really don't want to take her for all sorts of tests, or to put her on leukeran if she does not need it. I am just also worried that she may have developed intestinal lymphoma, being both FeLV+ and having IBD-- both of which make them prone to intestinal lymphoma, and so am worried that if I keep waiting and it is lymphoma I will not catch it in time. I really do not know what to do. I made 2 appointments in the past 2 weeks and canceled them both when she was better, now I made another one for Monday. I hate to stress her with the drive (she hates it) and vet visits if it really is just IBD and I can keep her stable on pred. What do you think I should do, Belinda? Today, between the jar of baby food she ate and the random pieces of turkey she ate for me, and the couple fingerfuls of raw I stuck in her mouth, she has certainly eaten enough for breakfast. She went outside and ran around for a few hours, washed herself, and slept in the sun, then came in and I think wanted more baby food (I need to get more). She has not gone again, so it has been over 12 hours since her last bowel. It is possible that she is actually constipated, rather than having diarrhea, because the diarrhea I found yesterday was a relatiely small amount with a solid bowel in the middle, and then she had a tiny bit more liquid later, and when this happened 2 weeks ago I think she was constipated. I don't know. I really waver back and forth between thinking I should take her in and thinking I shouldn't. If she does not starting being more interested in non-baby food by MOnday I will definitely take her. It is if she improves again that I don't know. I would love to know your opinion, Belinda. Thanks, Michelle
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
It's possible that she is constipated, especially if it's happened before it may be a concern. The only bad thing with pred is if there is any suspicion at all that there may be lymphoma, the longer they are on pred the harder lymphoma may be to detect and if chemo is an option you want to consider, being on pred for a long time can make the chemo less effective. It may be a good idea to have her checked both for the constipation and lymphoma. I'm not saying this to scare you so don't get worried, but if she is having a recurring problem with constipation you may want to make sure there isn't a mass in her intestines blocking her. I'll pray its just IBD (still not very pleasant) and upset tummy. My vet was showing me how to palpitate their intestines and they should feel slippery and smooth, not lumpy or thick. It's been a while ago so I don't remember exactly how I did it, but I do remember they felt like she described. I think Joey was my guinea pig! I also have heard that sometimes with extreme cases of IBD that don't seem to respond well to pred alone they do put them on leukeran too. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
actually, more recent studies have shown that this is true for dogs but not for cats. However, you are right that it would make it harder to detect. In a message dated 7/14/2006 2:04:47 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: if chemo is an option you want to consider, being on pred for a long time can make the chemo less effective.
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
I hadn't heard that, so I'll keep it in mind, it comes up on the lymphoma list sometimes. -- Belinda happiness is being owned by cats ... Be-Mi-Kitties http://bemikitties.com Post Adoptable FeLV/FIV/FIP Cats/Kittens http://adopt.bemikitties.com FeLV Candlelight Service http://bemikitties.com/cls HostDesign4U.com [affordable hosting web design] http://HostDesign4U.com BMK Designs [non-profit animals websites] http://bmk.bemikitties.com
RE: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Don't wait, get her checked. One of my negative cats, Puddin'taine,started losing weight last year and I took him in to the vets' and we ran all kinds of tests and everything seemed to be finehe was almost ten and we thought maybe he was just losing a little as some cats dowell, then he began the vomiting and it was very bad w/dry food so I put him on wet food only which almost eliminated the vomiting...but he began to lose more weight and so..finally an xray which showed suspicious masses and an exploratory surgery which confirmed two areas in the abdomen/intestines.now we are going thru chemo and even with a good response, they won't give him more than 6-9 mos unless the cancer goes into remission, which it has not yet although he has improved and gained weight. I will continue to treat him as long as his quality of life is good, and it is right now, I'm hoping the next sonogram shows the masses shrinking I wish I had not waited that year-I felt I was doing the right thing and felt like a fool when I kept taking him in saying "something was just not right" and I spent the money on all the blood tests/organ functioning tests/geriatric testsI didn't put a limit on it, but didn't keep going with the xrays/sonograms bec. everything was negative and the switch to wet food did seem to help -- my vets mentioned the xrays/sonograms, but even they did not seem to think we needed to keep going until the weight loss started again after the switch to all wet food. The earlier you know if it islymphoma the better the outcome may becats do well w/chemo if caught in time. Have the xray or sonogram or take the step to have the exploratory surgery and biopsy, it will likely give you the answers you need.I'm guessing Lucy is FeLV+ and as I understand it, that will make the fight tougher so the sooner the better. You have my best wishes for a good outcome for Lucy. Tracy - Original Message - From: To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: 7/13/2006 11:27:16 PM Subject: Please say a prayer for Lucy Lucy was doing better, getting over her IBD flare-up I thought; but I tapered her down to 5 mg/day of pred yesterday (did 10 for a week, then 7.5 for 4 days, then 5 starting yesterday) and today she is worse-- some diarrhea with some blood, less interest in food, and under 8 pounds for the first time. I put her back on 10 mg pred today and cooked her something new (duck) which I am now afraid will mess her up even more. I made another appointment (canceled the last one) with the internist in Red Bank, 1.5 hours away, for next Wednesday. I was going to try to take her tomorrow, but my mom has convinced me thus far to wait and see if she gets better again from the pred and not take her if she does. I don't know. I fear intestinal lymphoma. I feared it when she first flared up 2 weeks ago, but then after 3 days on 10 mg/day of pred and eating just turkey her diarrhea totally went away and she even got constipated from lack of fiber, and I figured that was unlikely to happen with lymphoma and more likely to be a flare-up of IBD. But now I don't know. She has never needed to be on so much pred for more than a few days before, and she has never lost so much weight (though she also has never been on an entirely protein diet before either). If she does not have lymphoma, her IBD has gotten much worse than it was. I am very depressed by this. If you can spare her some good thoughts and prayers, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Michelle
Re: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Don't wait. I am sending lots of prayers. May all the angels surround you and Lucy. She is a dear little cat who loves you tremendously. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 10:27 PM Subject: Please say a prayer for Lucy Lucy was doing better, getting over her IBD flare-up I thought; but I tapered her down to 5 mg/day of pred yesterday (did 10 for a week, then 7.5 for 4 days, then 5 starting yesterday) and today she is worse-- some diarrhea with some blood, less interest in food, and under 8 pounds for the first time. I put her back on 10 mg pred today and cooked her something new (duck) which I am now afraid will mess her up even more. I made another appointment (canceled the last one) with the internist in Red Bank, 1.5 hours away, for next Wednesday. I was going to try to take her tomorrow, but my mom has convinced me thus far to wait and see if she gets better again from the pred and not take her if she does. I don't know. I fear intestinal lymphoma. I feared it when she first flared up 2 weeks ago, but then after 3 days on 10 mg/day of pred and eating just turkey her diarrhea totally went away and she even got constipated from lack of fiber, and I figured that was unlikely to happen with lymphoma and more likely to be a flare-up of IBD. But now I don't know. She has never needed to be on so much pred for more than a few days before, and she has never lost so much weight (though she also has never been on an entirely protein diet before either). If she does not have lymphoma, her IBD has gotten much worse than it was. I am very depressed by this. If you can spare her some good thoughts and prayers, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Michelle No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.0/388 - Release Date: 7/13/2006
RE: Please say a prayer for Lucy
Praying for Lucy here as well.tTracy Weese [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Don't wait, get her checked. One of my negative cats, Puddin'taine,started losing weight last year and I took him in to the vets' and we ran all kinds of tests and everything seemed to be finehe was almost ten and we thought maybe he was just losing a little as some cats dowell, then he began the vomiting and it was very bad w/dry food so I put him on wet food only which almost eliminated the vomiting...but he began to lose more weight and so..finally an xray which showed suspicious masses and an exploratory surgery which confirmed two areas in the abdomen/intestines.now we are going thru chemo and even with a good response, they won't give him more than 6-9 mos unless the cancer goes into remission, which it has not yet although he has improved and gained weight. I will continue to treat him as long as his quality of life is good, and it is right now, I'm hoping the next sonogram shows the masses shrinkingI wish I had not waited that year-I felt I was doing the right thing and felt like a fool when I kept taking him in saying "something was just not right" and I spent the money on all the blood tests/organ functioning tests/geriatric testsI didn't put a limit on it, but didn't keep going with the xrays/sonograms bec. everything was negative and the switch to wet food did seem to help -- my vets mentioned the xrays/sonograms, but even they did not seem to think we needed to keep going until the weight loss started again after the switch to all wet food.The earlier you know if it islymphoma the better the outcome may becats do well w/chemo if caught in time. Have the xray or sonogram or take the step to have the exploratory surgery and biopsy, it will likely give you the answers you need.I'm guessing Lucy is FeLV+ and as I understand it, that will make the fight tougher so the sooner the better. You have my best wishes for a good outcome for Lucy.Tracy- Original Message - From: To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: 7/13/2006 11:27:16 PM Subject: Please say a prayer for LucyLucy was doing better, getting over her IBD flare-up I thought; but I tapered her down to 5 mg/day of pred yesterday (did 10 for a week, then 7.5 for 4 days, then 5 starting yesterday) and today she is worse-- some diarrhea with some blood, less interest in food, and under 8 pounds for the first time. I put her back on 10 mg pred today and cooked her something new (duck) which I am now afraid will mess her up even more. I made another appointment (canceled the last one) with the internist in Red Bank, 1.5 hours away, for next Wednesday. I was going to try to take her tomorrow, but my mom has convinced me thus far to wait and see if she gets better again from the pred and not take her if she does. I don't know. I fear intestinal lymphoma. I feared it when she first flared up 2 weeks ago, but then after 3 days on 10 mg/day of pred and eating just turkey her diarrhea totally went away and she even got constipated from lack of fiber, and I figured that was unlikely to happen with lymphoma and more likely to be a flare-up of IBD. But now I don't know. She has never needed to be on so much pred for more than a few days before, and she has never lost so much weight (though she also has never been on an entirely protein diet before either). If she does not have lymphoma, her IBD has gotten much worse than it was. I am very depressed by this. If you can spare her some good thoughts and prayers, I would appreciate it. Thanks, Michelle
