Michelle, Reading this email just broke my heart. I can hear in your words how very much you love Lucy. I wish I could just hug both of you and do something for you both. No matter how strong my faith is, I always have questions. Everyone doesn't get to experience the natural cycle of life. Some have to go sooner, or more violently, or have to suffer. And those that should suffer, those who cause pain in the world, often aren't the ones chosen to suffer. Why? I don't know. I just have to let all the good that does happen outshine the bad. I hate that you might lose Lucy. She seems like so much more than a companion for you. Please gather strength from our prayers, and know that we are all thinking of you.
:) Wendy --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Well, Lucy screamed while they were feeling around > her belly trying to find > the place to put the needle in, but while they > drained she just laid in my > arms and purred. The fluid, which I was told was > clear and thin on January 16 > and 17 when samples were taken, looked pale yellow > to me and the vet said the > consistency was a bit thick. He sent some more out > to be analyzed, but he > feels quite sure it is fip. > > He filled a small bowl 2 or 3 times with fluid-- I > would guess at least 100 > or 200 cc's. And when the fluid stopped coming, he > said he had reached the > end of that "pocket," but she still has a huge > belly. He said he did not want > to keep poking her all over trying to find the > pockets to drain it from, and > wants me to just see how she does with that much > drained. He did not think her > breathing was bad to begin with. He put the 1/2 cc > dexamethasone shot into > the catheter when it stopped draining. He said her > belly may fill up faster > now, since proteins were taken out of circulation > by draining from the abdomen > and lower proteins enable more effusion. I guess > that is why some people > have said it filled up faster after being drained. > > He was amazed that she is still eating. I think it > must just be all the > pred. I asked for leukeran. He wants to wait a > couple of days and see what the > new fluid analysis says and how she does on the > increased pred and the dex that > she got in her belly today. He is worried the > leukeran might suppress her > bone marrow more. He really does not think the fluid > is from ibd or lymphoma, > as he said he has never seen either create anywhere > near this amount of fluid. > > She was happy to get home and walked around a > little, though she looked a > little wobbly. At one point she actually ran for > about 20 feet or so, and her > poor jelly belly swung from side to side as she did. > Now she is camped out on > the heating pad by her new favorite spot, a > bookshelf where she heard a mouse > this morning. She has been purring a lot more > today, I think because I gave > her more pred this morning and maybe she has had > some fever and that took it > away, I don't know. > > I so don't want to lose her, but know what Hideyo > said is right. I asked > the vet about coming to the home for euthanasia at > some point and he said he > will if he can schedule-wise. I asked him what will > get her, as I have never > had a cat with wet fip before. He did not know, as > most people euthanize at > diagnosis of wet fip he said. Does anyone know? Is > it likely to be her anemia? > Or will something else happen? He said she will > probably stop eating at some > point, despite the steroids. I do not think I will > want to force-feed her, > unless she seems to be otherwise feeling good. > > Right now she is falling asleep. She is my baby. > > Michelle > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091