Oh what a beautiful girl! I just love that white patch on her chest!
I'm sending lots of luck and good thoughts yours and Moche's way, hang in there and let us know how it goes.
Lymphoma diagnosis
Re: Lymphoma diagnosis
..........Traci
Moche had an ultrasound and xrays today. They picked up a slight thickening of her stomach lining and intestinal walls, (Dr. said it was at the high end of normal) and detected a level 3 heart murmur. I'm shocked that he picked up a heart murmur. She has her BP checked every 4 months and has full physical exams by two different doctors who never detected the murmur. Either they were incompetent or it is something new. Internist said her chest xray was normal and in the future we should see the Cardiologist but it is not urgent immediately. BTW, her BP at her last bp check on 31 Aug 2011 was 170/130. The Internist says she either has IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) or Lymphoma. In order to test for IBD he has advised us to have an Endoscopy done under anaesthesia, which will also take small samples of the upper GI tract for biopsies. It may or may not detect Lymphoma. If it is IBD they find in the Endoscopy then she will have to be on steroids and a special diet. It is not fatal, and is treatable. If she has Lymphoma she will have to be treated with chemo drugs and steroids. It will lengthen her lifespan by a year to 18 months as she is an old kitty. So now we have to decide what we need to do for her that is the least painful and best for her well being.
Doctor has given me 4 pages of case notes, so the above is just a summary. Ican scan and email them to you if you want to take a look more in-depth. Moche has been fine since Sunday - eating, playing and not vomiting at all.
Doctor has given me 4 pages of case notes, so the above is just a summary. Ican scan and email them to you if you want to take a look more in-depth. Moche has been fine since Sunday - eating, playing and not vomiting at all.
Re: Lymphoma diagnosis
Did the internist mention that a conservative approach could be to initiate a trial (hypoallergenic or low-antigen) diet first? Did he express urgency for an endoscopy?
It's possible Moche did in fact develop IBD around 2004, but without the endoscopy, I'm sure the vet at that time felt it was an educated guess (or presumption based on symptoms and lack of other diagnostic confirmation). If the symptoms now are similar or the same as they were back then (especially in absence of other symptoms that would indicate lymphoma), it might be worth a conservative approach with diet. I would leave it up to the internist's professional opinion whether to consider pred or not (based on his knowledge and review of Moche's complete medical history, her current symptoms, and lab/diagnostic results).
On the other hand, you certainly wouldn't want a potential lymphoma going undetected and untreated. Pred would be among the meds used here anyway, so that might be a compelling reason to start it (if assuming and treating as if IBD), combined with the diet. If her lab results have been normal to this point, it's possible Moche is a good candidate for anesthesia, except for the hypertension and newly discovered heart murmur, this too must be left to the discretion and professional opinion of the internist whether to consider anesthesia for an endoscopy. Personally, I would ask him about treating conservatively first with diet and the addition of low-dose pred before considering anesthesia/endoscopy. The hypertension and heart murmur must be taken into serious consideration in considering anesthesia.
I know this is not an easy decision, so discuss with the internist what his opinion on which course to take is most beneficial to Moche at this point. If diet with or without pred could be initiated first, at least to see if there is favorable response, it would certainly be the least invasive.
It's possible Moche did in fact develop IBD around 2004, but without the endoscopy, I'm sure the vet at that time felt it was an educated guess (or presumption based on symptoms and lack of other diagnostic confirmation). If the symptoms now are similar or the same as they were back then (especially in absence of other symptoms that would indicate lymphoma), it might be worth a conservative approach with diet. I would leave it up to the internist's professional opinion whether to consider pred or not (based on his knowledge and review of Moche's complete medical history, her current symptoms, and lab/diagnostic results).
On the other hand, you certainly wouldn't want a potential lymphoma going undetected and untreated. Pred would be among the meds used here anyway, so that might be a compelling reason to start it (if assuming and treating as if IBD), combined with the diet. If her lab results have been normal to this point, it's possible Moche is a good candidate for anesthesia, except for the hypertension and newly discovered heart murmur, this too must be left to the discretion and professional opinion of the internist whether to consider anesthesia for an endoscopy. Personally, I would ask him about treating conservatively first with diet and the addition of low-dose pred before considering anesthesia/endoscopy. The hypertension and heart murmur must be taken into serious consideration in considering anesthesia.
I know this is not an easy decision, so discuss with the internist what his opinion on which course to take is most beneficial to Moche at this point. If diet with or without pred could be initiated first, at least to see if there is favorable response, it would certainly be the least invasive.
..........Traci
Re: Lymphoma diagnosis
Traci, I just wanted to let you know that I sent an email directly to your CT address. Somehow the PM I sent late last night with the info is still sitting in this forum's outbox.
Re: Lymphoma diagnosis
I believe it resides in the outbox until I click and read it, I just PM'd and replied in email.
..........Traci