Sorry Wendy, I didn't do an intro post.
Yes, I know, I just joined the list and threw myself into the mix.
I've covered a lot about myself, so, is the intro still needed?
No problemo.... :)
Susan J. DuBose >^..^<
www.PetGirlsPetsitting.com
www.Tx.SiameseRescue.org
www.shadowcats.net
"As Cleopatra lay in state,
Faithful Bast at her side did wait,
Purring welcomes of soft applause,
Ever guarding with sharpened claws."
Trajan Tennent
----- Original Message -----
From: "wendy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org>
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2007 11:42 AM
Subject: To Malone and Susan D.
Malone and Susan,
I apologize for not welcoming you guys to the group.
I didn't get any intro posts for either of you, but
when I go into the archives, it looks like I am not
getting about 60% of the posts. I need to email the
site administrator and ask why. I am trying to catch
up in the archives.
Susan, I read several of your posts, but for some
reason, I thought you were the other Susan. You
sounded like you'd been here forever!
So again, welcome to the group. And please don't
hesitate to post anytime you need help or anything
else.
:)
Wendy
--- catatonya <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hi Caroline,
>
> It sounds like you're doing everything you can.
> I'm sure by now someone has mentioned taking doxy in
> case it's hemobartonella. If it's not hemobart the
> anemia is hard to beat, but there are people on the
> list who have bought 'good' time for their cats with
> various methods. 13 pounds is a good weight, and
> his behavior sounds good too. I hope the best for
> Monkee.
> tonya
>
> Caroline Kaufmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> wrote:
> Hi everyone. I wanted to provide an update
> on my FeLV pos. and lymphosarcoma cat Monkee. He
> saw his Vet yesterday to determine whether the
> Epogen had helped his anemia. The news was very
> bad. Apparently last week, when the anemia started,
> his Red Blood cell count was 13%. After a week (& 3
> doses of the Epogen), his RBC count was actually
> worse, 10%. However, Monkee's White Blood Cell
> count is normal (it was down last week) and his
> lymphocyte count is normal. Dr. Daley also found a
> lymph node in his groin that is enlarged (but it
> can't be felt from the outside- it runs along the
> artery in the leg). His Vet said she thinks the
> FeLV is causing the problem, or it could be the
> lymphosarcoma, but when pressed, she said that she
> honestly doubted it was the cancer. She presented 3
> options: (1) a bone marrow aspirate/biopsy to
> determine what is going on at the cellular level;
> however, it is invasive and Monkee would need
> sedation- which he couldn't get anyway while
> so anemic (so he'd need a blood transfusion 1st,
> just to be able to do the biospy); However, the
> biopsy, in her opinion, would probably just tell us
> it's FeLV causing the anemia; (2) a blood
> transfusion to literally buy me more time with him;
> (3) try another dose of chemo in hopes that the
> anemia is being caused by lymphosarcoma, although,
> as I said previously, she doubted it and that was a
> shot in the dark.
> My mother and I did not want to put this cat
> through chemo again (although he did very well with
> the first round). But now that he is actively
> anemic, there was no way I would do it, especially
> knowing that Dr. Daley really didn't think the chemo
> would actually help the situation. We also didn't
> want to put him through a bone marrow biopsy that
> would probably tell us what we already know, but
> don't want to admit.that for four years, I had the
> healthiest, beefiest, toughest cat in the world, who
> never even suffered from a urinary tract infection;
> who was so healthy, I wanted to test him a 3rd time
> this summer for FeLV because I was sure he didn't
> have it..To now, out of nowhere, in a span of 2
> months, we have gone from that, to a severely
> anemic, suffering, FeLV cat with lymphosarcoma.
> Dr. Daley gave him days. Days. Which my mom and
> I were not prepared to hear at all. I mean, he is
> eating, drinking, using the litter box, he is thick
> (he was slightly overweight to begin with, so that
> is helping him now). Yes, he's not "Monkee" as I
> have known him, but he just doesn't look to me like
> he's on his last leg. When we questioned her on the
> "days" prognosis she explained that due to the FeLV
> virus, and the anemia, his body is not making RBC
> and his brain is not getting enough oxygen and
> although he seems okay now, he is dizzy,
> lightheaded, probably having vertigo, and all of
> that will continue to get worse because his body is
> not manufacturing RBC- which carry oxygen in the
> blood, and eventually, his eating/drinking and
> making it to the litter box will all drop off.
> We asked what could be done and she said, if you
> "are not ready yet," she recommended the blood
> transfusion, which will give him about two weeks,
> and then the benefits of the transferred blood will
> wear off and he will start suffering the anemia
> symptoms again because his body is not producing
> it's own RBC. She also said that morally, with FeLV
> cats, she will do 2 blood transfusions, and then
> that is it. It is fighting a losing battle and that
> is as far as she will take it.
> I was wrecked and my mother was crying too. I
> decided to pull myself together and still take
> Monkee to the Holistic Vet, Dr. Susan Maier, after
> we left Dr. Daley's. It was our first visit and I
> thought, I am so desperate right now, it can't hurt.
> A funny story about this visit: Monkee totally
> perked up as soon as we left Dr. Daley's (he hates
> it there!). Dr. Maier has a few black and white
> "clinic cats" that roam around and as soon as we
> walked in, Monkee, in his carrier, freaked out (he
> hates other cats-which is probably why he ended up
> with FeLV to begin with!). I was carrying his
> carrier on my shoulder to an exam room and I
> instantly felt the carrier get completely light-
> there was no longer 13 lbs of weight on my shoulder!
> I didn't understand what happened, but I turned
> around and all I saw was black and white x 3 (Monkee
> is black and white), and I just grabbed the first
> black and white form that was closest to me, and
> thank god, it was Monkee! He had opened
> the front flap of his pet carrier-widened the
> zipper I guess with his paw and then his face, and
> jumped out.in an effort to "get" the clinic cats
> that were following us to the exam room! I grabbed
> him just in time because he was already facing off
> against them ready to attack, and because he has
> FeLV, it scared me to death! But that is not the
> behavior of a cat on his last leg! As soon as we
> got in the room, he walked around and dug his paws
> under the door and meowed and basically, obsessed
> about the cats just outside the door! It was so
> funny! He really put on quite a show for Dr. Maier
> at his first visit! So there I am, with my tear
> streaked face, Kleenex all over the place and
> swollen eyes, and my cat is basically prancing
> around Dr. Maier's exam room acting like the King of
> the Jungle!
> Dr. Maier said there are things she can do to help
> support Monkee's blood transfusion and make him feel
> better. So, we are trying Phosporus 30C, Clostrum,
> Thuja 30C and essence of flowers. Has anyone else
> tried these on an anemic cat and had any success?
> At this point, we will try anything. Plus, Monkee
> seemed to enjoy his Dr. Maier visit and the whole
> office had a totally different feel (far less
> clinical and hospital-like), which was good for both
> of us. Dr. Maier said he looks great and she is by
> no means ready to "give up on him yet."
> However, the one thing that is troubling me the
> most is that, my mom asked Dr. Daley if a FeLV cat
> suffering from anemia could ever "come out of
> it"/beat the anemia to a point were the anemia is in
> remission and the FeLV goes dormant again? (She was
> a biology teacher so she was thinking in terms of
> how other viruses behave). Dr. Daley responded,
> flat-out, "no." Meaning, once it's started, all you
> can do is buy more time via blood transfusions
> because it is a losing battle. I wanted to know
> what people on this list serve thought about that?
> I know I need to work on my "denial"- this is my
> first and only FeLV cat, so it's all new. But this
> just seemed like such a troubling response?
> Monkee is at Dr. Daley's right now (and pissed!)
> getting his blood transfusion.
> I would appreciate any insight that anyone may
> have, now that I finally have some more info about
> Monkee's condition..
> Thx,
> Caroline in Kentucky
>
>
>
>
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