Decided not to put TB through surgery...

Today's decision to NOT put TB through the surgery was probably THE MOST difficult decision in my life. After hemming, hawing, and crying about it for 4 days, I discussed it further with the vet and something just told me to not put him through it. I decided to bring TB home with meds and pray for the best. I know he won't have all that long, I must be prepared for whatever is happening to him to get worse, but I won't give up. The doubts of whether surgery would help, or find anything fixable, or whether he would even make it out of the anesthesia was just too much. His clotting was delayed, and that presented its own risk of bleeding. He has been on IV fluids for 4 days, and receiving antibiotic injections as well as vitamins. He looks a lot better than when I brought him in on Monday, BUT he is still wobbly and most likely mildy anemic. Only time will tell if he will eat, I am stocked up on Hill's A/D to syringe feed him though. Man, this is so hard...I actually broke down in front of the vet when finally deciding to take TB home. I will probably go hold him and cry all night, but I just don't think the surgery would have made anything better. I will still pray that he gets better with meds, but only time will tell.

On Fri, 22 Jul 2005 02:08:18 +0000, NateB323
wrote:


Today's decision to NOT put TB through the surgery was probably THE MOST
difficult decision in my life. After hemming, hawing, and crying about
it for 4 days, I discussed it further with the vet and something just
told me to not put him through it. I decided to bring TB home with
meds and pray for the best. I know he won't have all that long, I must
be prepared for whatever is happening to him to get worse, but I won't
give up. The doubts of whether surgery would help, or find anything
fixable, or whether he would even make it out of the anesthesia was
just too much. His clotting was delayed, and that presented its own
risk of bleeding. He has been on IV fluids for 4 days, and receiving
antibiotic injections as well as vitamins. He looks a lot better than
when I brought him in on Monday, BUT he is still wobbly and most likely
mildy anemic. Only time will tell if he will eat, I am stocked up on
Hill's A/D to syringe feed him though. Man, this is so hard...I
actually broke down in front of the vet when finally deciding to take
TB home. I will probably go hold him and cry all night, but I just
don't think the surgery would have made anything better. I will still
pray that he gets better with meds, but only time will tell.

I'm sorry you are having such a tough time. Good luck to you and TB.

Charlie

Nate: That sucks! What a brave decision. May you & TB find peace.

Mathew

NateB323 wrote:

Man, this is so hard...I
actually broke down in front of the vet when finally deciding to take
TB home. I will probably go hold him and cry all night, but I just
don't think the surgery would have made anything better. I will still
pray that he gets better with meds, but only time will tell.

I'm sorry. Best wishes to you and TB. Sometimes cats can surprise us.
I'm sure you will make the most of the time you have left, whether it
is short or much longer. Please keep us posted on TB's progress.

Candace

"NateB323" wrote in message
...

Today's decision to NOT put TB through the surgery was probably THE MOST
difficult decision in my life.

I'm so sorry you and TB are going through this. Enjoy the rest of your time
together. He will let you know when it is time to cross the Bridge.
Take care.

-Kelly

NateB323 wrote:
Today's decision to NOT put TB through the surgery was probably THE MOST
difficult decision in my life.

FWIW, I think you made the right decision, especially if his clotting
time was too long. At this point, make him as comfortable as you can
and get him to eat whatever you can - Hill's A/D, Fancy Feast, tuna or
sardines (not too much of either one of these), Nutrical, and jarred
human baby food are all good choices to help stimulate apetite.

Best of luck to you. I know how hard it is to know you really can't do
anything. I went through something similar with my 12 yr old dog
recently, and it just broke my heart.

hugs,
-L.

On Thu 21 Jul 2005 10:08:18p, NateB323 wrote in
rec.pets.cats.health+behav
):


Today's decision to NOT put TB through the surgery was probably
THE MOST difficult decision in my life. After hemming, hawing,
and crying about it for 4 days, I discussed it further with the
vet and something just told me to not put him through it. I
decided to bring TB home with meds and pray for the best. I
know he won't have all that long, I must be prepared for
whatever is happening to him to get worse, but I won't give up.
The doubts of whether surgery would help, or find anything
fixable, or whether he would even make it out of the anesthesia
was just too much. His clotting was delayed, and that presented
its own risk of bleeding. He has been on IV fluids for 4 days,
and receiving antibiotic injections as well as vitamins. He
looks a lot better than when I brought him in on Monday, BUT he
is still wobbly and most likely mildy anemic. Only time will
tell if he will eat, I am stocked up on Hill's A/D to syringe
feed him though. Man, this is so hard...I actually broke down
in front of the vet when finally deciding to take TB home. I
will probably go hold him and cry all night, but I just don't
think the surgery would have made anything better. I will still
pray that he gets better with meds, but only time will tell.



Nate, I'm so sorry. Maybe you will have lots more time, or not.
You're the only one who can make that decision and it sounds like
you've given it a lot of thought. It's a hard decision to make and
one done out of love. Purrs for TB and for you.

--
Cheryl

"The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited
breath."
- W.C. Fields