Rib Removed?

[4My2Greys]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="tydyelady" data-cid="5396262" data-time="1355285500"><p>

 

I don't know what the odds are. And the cost. Damn, do I have to bring this up and factor it into my decision? Do I have to put a price on my boy's life? We are not rich people, surgery maybe $5-6000? I just looked up costs of ratiation, and it was $900-$3500 - this on top of surgery? OMG, how do I know what to do? This is killing me, my poor boy, I can't save him? I can't prolong his life because its out of our price range? How the heck do I make any kind of decision here? My heart is breaking, my tears are falling, and I don't to lose my boy. <br />

I will be sending to OSU, at least to get a second opinion, but going there is out of the question, I am across the country. <br />

I just don't know what to do. </p></blockquote>

 

I wanted to let you know you are NOT alone. I faced the same thing 6 months ago when I made the very difficult decision not to leave Bruiser at the e-vet and let them perform a surgery that would start at $2500 and in most likelihood give me only 1 or 2 months if the mass was HSA, which it did turn out to be. The only reason Bruiser is still here, laying and snoring at my feet is because of my wonderful regular vet. He did the surgery for about a 1/4th of what I was quoted at the e-vet and then gave me a ridiculously cut rate on his chemo, not even charging me for his time. Unfortunately your boy's surgery is a lot more involved than a splenectomy. Deciding not to do the surgery doesn't mean you love him any less, it just means it hurts that much more

[Guest mld]

I want to add that if you're struggling with cost, Care Credit gives you between 6 months and a yr of interest free payments. There is a steep catch though. If you don't pay off by the end of the time period, they charge back interest and theirs is very high. But at that point you can always move the balance to another account with no interest or a free interest promotion. I've used Care Credit a LOT. For the dentist I had a whole year to pay off $3000. For the emergency room and surgery on Opal I had 6 month to pay off $4000. I transferred that balance to a year free promotion with my current credit card.

 

I hope this helps.

I've heard about this one reptile forum, Great idea!

[teri_d]

checking in for updates after the oncologist visit -- it's not just the expense -- it's quality of life, odds that the surgery will give extended life, putting them thru the surgery (sounds like a major one), what does "aggressive" mean (fast growing or fast spreading??), etc, etc etc -- so many factors -- i am SO sorry you are facing these decisions -- i hope that your oncologist is good with guiding you thru all the info you need to process to make a decision. just remember - there is NO right or wrong - only the path that you choose for opie - and once you choose the path you're going to take, don't ever look back -- all we can do is just do the best that we can....even though we so wish we could change the circumstance, we can't. hugs to all of you - hang in there -

[greytluck]

My cat had a rib removed as well as his muscles just behind his shoulder. He had a benign tumor that became very large very quickly. He was only 3 at the time but healed very quickly from it. He surprisingly has no range of motion issues even today at 12. When you pet his side you can feel the missing muscles but other then that you would never know he is one rib and some muscles short.

[tydyelady]

Oncologist basically talked about the 4 different cancers it could be - Can't rule out or confirm one way or the other on any of them. Its so frustrating. Kept saying cells are so differentiated. Anyways, she wanted me to at least talk to a surgeon, and he would be able to answer a lot more of my questions about doing the surgery, odds, recovery, etc. I frankly am not that hopeful, but I do think we should at least talk to the surgeon. The only clear answer I am getting is it is some sort of cancer. How the heck to I make any type of informed decision with this little to go on? It all seems like one big gamble. I am so depressed, sad, frightened for our boy.

[Batmom]

I'm sorry you didn't get more answers. Sending hugs for yourself and scritchies for your good boy.

[Guest KennelMom]

We lost Prajna to chondrosarcoma, possibly osteo. He presented with a lump on a rib. He was diagnosed at the specialty hospital...they advised against any surgery because they would have had to remove so much (the tumor was in two body cavities) that recovery chances would have been very poor.

 

[carronstar]

I am sorry you are not getting more/clearer answers. It is all so very subjective, and so difficult. Sending hugs and healing thoughts and prayers.

[teri_d]

thinking of you and opie this evening

[tbhounds]

Have you consulted with Ohio state just to see if they have performed a similar surgery and to see what type of recovery time may be involved?

[EllenEveBaz]

Just sending more cyberhugs.

[tydyelady]

Just got the digital xrays from my vet today, so going to send those and all reports to Ohio State tomorrow. Opie hasn't eaten in a day now, and he yelped when he got out of the car today. We gave pain pill, and a Pepsid, but still not eating. He has been drinking, and he did eat his turkey neck, just won't touch anything else. If this keeps up tomorrow, will be calling our vet first thing Monday

AM. Our poor boy, I am so very afraid for him.

[Charlies_Dad]

Just got the digital xrays from my vet today, so going to send those and all reports to Ohio State tomorrow. Opie hasn't eaten in a day now, and he yelped when he got out of the car today. We gave pain pill, and a Pepsid, but still not eating. He has been drinking, and he did eat his turkey neck, just won't touch anything else. If this keeps up tomorrow, will be calling our vet first thing Monday

AM. Our poor boy, I am so very afraid for him.

I am so sorry you are going through this. I do hope OSU can provide you with more information and options as I know there has not

been a lot of pups on GT that have gone through what Opie and you are going through. One thing to keep in mind is that his appetite

will be directly affected by the pain and perhaps the protocol your vet has prescribed is not sufficient? Also I know some meds can

cause stomach upset however it seems you are giving him Pepsid so that should hopefully help.

[gracegirl]

How is Opie doing? Thinking of you guys!

[tydyelady]

I have (sadly) started posting in the Osteo thread. Opie is having major eating issues now. He basically stopped eating Friday night. We went to the vet Mon AM, and got a pain med regiment, and started him on that. He is eating better, but still not like normal. He will eat turkey necks, chicken wings, raw hamburger, Burbdog Biscuits (LOL!), dog bakery cookies my son brought, any type of sandwich meat, but NO kibble. DH just force fed him, with a spoon, about half a bowl tonight, to get it down him. I don't know where this pickiness is coming from. He seems perkier, and not doing that puking type cough he also started to do this weekend (probably because he had no food in his stomach, and was coughing up bile.) Since we do not want to do any surgery, will be deciding on what other type of treatment might help. Also going to be starting him on Arteminisin (sp?) someone is kindly sending to us.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, they are so appreciated, you have no idea.

[FountainLady]

Have you tried scrambled eggs? I was able to get a little kibble into my osteo dogs by scrambling it up in eggs, with cheese and any meat I had around. It's good he's eating other things. Opie needs to continue to eat to keep his strength up.<br /><br />I'm so sorry it is Osteo ... sending a hug. <img data-cke-saved-src="http://forum.greytalk.com/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.png" src="http://forum.greytalk.com/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.png" class="bbc_emoticon" title=":(" /><br /><br />

[tydyelady]

We don't know for sure if its osteo or what, but its definitely some sort of cancer. Will try the scrambled egg - he used to like it, but who knows what he will or will not eat now.

[teri_d]

susan - i am so sorry that opie is not eating well - when rivie has os she did not want to eat - i started cooking boneless/skinless chicken breasts in water with chicken boullion and then shredding it up in the food processor....i think the osteo did something to her jaw and eating caused her discomfort, as if i just cut the chicken up into pieces it was not devoured like when i shredded it in the food processor. every once in awhile i would brown her some hamburger and she would eat that pretty well, too -- i would cook several days worth and just keep in in the frige and zap it at meal time to bring to room temp - hope this helps opie - my heart breaks for you that you are going thru this -- hugs - teri

[Batmom]

Is he getting some meds for his tummy? Here our routine if on antibiotics or pain meds is, give 10mg famotidine (1 regular strength Pepcid), wait 30-40 minutes, feed meal or goodly snack, give other meds right after meal.

 

When Batman was ill, he lost interest in kibble early on. I fed a lot of hamburger (cooked, in our case), hamburger-ground chicken mix, spaghettios, canned green tripe, scrambled eggs, poached chicken livers.... I tried to keep to @ 50% ground beef for the calories.

 

For many dogs, a drizzle of molasses, honey, or vanilla ice cream on top of other foods makes those other foods more attractive.

 

Gentle hugs to you and your boy.

[tydyelady]

We were concerned about not eating kibble, like he wouldn;t get enough vitamins or something. Today he ate beef and turkey sandwich meat, 3 slices of braunshweiger, about 4 cookies, and a chicken wing. About to give something for dinner now, and hope he eats it.

Yes, he has some prescription thing for his tummy - vet did this to get him to start eating. May go back to the pepcid when it runs out, and give twice a day before meals.

This is a vast improvement over this weekend, when he just refused to eat, period. He must have been in pain, as the pain meds seem to have made a big difference, and he is eating now, just not his regular food.

Well, we will do and cook what we have to, to keep him eating and strong.

[Batmom]

I didn't worry *too* much about nutrition but most days he did eat some meat, eggs, vegs/fruits/grain products. You could also get a multivitamin for him -- that might ease your mind if he hits another day where he'll eat only weird stuff.

[Charlies_Dad]

I would not worry too much about what Opie eats, just that he eats something. This is the time to spoil him rotten and not worry too much about other things.

[duncan41]

Please concentrate on his quality life instead of the diagnosis! I know it is so hard, but if you can force yourself to do it, you will be concentrating on HIM and not the disease. That's all he wants anyway - to know you love him as much as he loves you! He doesn't understand treatment or money. He only understands the inflection of your voice, your body language, your facial expressions, the feel of your loving hands and your warm, loving kisses.

 

As far as food is concerned, does it really matter at this stage? There are some who believe in cancer diets, but frankly, having been through a similar experience, if he were my dog, I would give him anything he wants to eat. The more comfortable he is, the better chance he will start acting like his old self. And that's what you really want, isn't it? To get back to "normal", even if it's just for a little while?

 

And I am going through it again - not cancer this time, but a death sentence nonetheless.

 

There are never any guarantees in life, so grab it, hang on, spoil him rotten and give him and yourself the best time of your lives for the foreseeable future. I will keep you both tucked tightly in my heart and prayers.