Bugsy's Medical Saga

Hey, did you guys hear the news that I'm home? Some folks new to the bloggie might be wondering what's been going on, and all of you may be wondering what's next in the Medical Saga of The Bugster. So howzabout a little recap and update of what's what.

The Cancer Thing

• In late May, some of the excess pigmentation in my right eye was diagnosed as a tumor by Dr. Regular Vet with a consultation and confirmation by Dr. Eye Specialist Vet. It was determined that the best course of action would be to remove the eye, and test it to determine if the tumor was cancerous or not.
• Due to some bladder problems (see below for that saga), the eye removal surgery didn't take place until mid-August by Dr. Regular Vet.
• The initial biopsy on the eye tissue showed that it was indeed cancerous, so off I went in early September to Dr. Cancer Vet for a CT scan and determination on further action.
• The CT scan showed some residual 'stuff' in the area of the no-eye, but -- happily -- nothing in the lymph node or chest area. Nothing had spread.
• Daily radiation treatments over 3.5 weeks (M-F) were decided on for the residual stuff, and due to the distance of Dr. Cancer Vet from our house, I boarded with them during the week during the treatments. My treatments went very well, so far I've shown no side effects, and I kept up my weight during treatments.
• Last Wednesday (10/7) was my 18th and final treatment!!!

So, what might be expected now?

• Dr. Cancer Vet doesn't really expect any side effects to show up, except maybe for losing some furs around my no-eye and them possibly growing back in white. Since I already have white on my face and throat and other areas, it wouldn't look all that out of place if it happens. I could live with that as the only side effect.
• I go back in a month for a general check-up, then again at the 3 month mark.
• At the 6 month mark, Dr. Cancer Vet will do a CT scan, to see if any of the residual stuff is still there or if it's all gone (and make sure nothing decided to show up anywhere else). The radiation continues to do its job for that long, so there's no sense doing a scan any earlier.

And that's where I iz on the Cancer Thing!

Now, about that pesky Bladder Thing.

The Bladder Thing

• In May, even before the eye tumor diagnosis, I went to Dr. Regular Vet for a bladder problem. It was thought to be just a bladder infection, so I was taking drugs for that. It kept not clearing up, though.
• A week or so after the eye tumor diagnosis, Dr. Regular Vet did an X-ray and discovered I had a bladder stone, not an infection. That needed surgery to be removed.
• Dr. Regular Vet and The Mommy decided it wouldn't be good to do both surgeries (bladder and eye removal) at one time, and thought it was more important to get the stone out first, so that got done in late June.
• The stone was sent out for analysis, but intentionally on a 'slow' basis (~4 week turn-around) to a college lab so it wouldn't cost anything as there was no real medical reason to get the answer back any faster. It turned out to be a struvite stone, which of course is the kind we kitties least want to have if we're gonna have one.
• Right now, The Mommy is trying an 'over-the-counter' healthy type of food that is formulated to help this kind of problem, rather than going on a prescription food. The good news is that I like it and will eat it. The so-so news is that Dr. Regular Vet is hesitant to give his full recommendation to such food over prescription food, but he has an open mind.
• Because of Dr. Regular Vet's hesitation, I had to go back 3 weeks ago just for a follow-up pee test to see if any struvite crystals (pre-cursors to stones) were showing up yet. The good news is there were none...the bad news is that I did have a bladder infection. *le sigh*
• So I took pills for a couple of weeks while at Dr. Cancer Vet Jail, then went back last week to Dr. Regular Vet for a re-check. But I didn't cooperate and give him any pee to test, and was supposed to go back today for another try.
• Instead, Dr. Cancer Vet stole some of my pee while I was asleep for one of my last few treatments this past week and sent it off to be tested!  Without even asking me! Hmph!
• But I'll forgive him, because the tests came back clear, the infection is gone, there still are no crystals, and best of all, I didn't have to get in the cage and car to go see Dr. Regular Vet today!!

The bottom line of all this is that there's no particular follow-up on the Bladder Thing to worry about, and I have a month before there's any follow-up on the Cancer Thing. I'm a free cat with no cage or car ride in my future for a whole month!!! Yayness!

Whew, that was a lot of catching up. Maybe we can go for a month without me whining about my medical issues for a change, eh?

But first I must once again thank each and every one of you -- that means you and you and you and you and...well, okay, I can't do it individually, but please know that me and The Mommy and the rest of the Krew thank each of you for all of your purrrrrrs and hugs and prayers and well wishes and everything while I've been going through all this, especially during Cancer Vet Jail this past month. Knowing everyone was sending me all those purrs and good thoughts helped me through it, and surely contributed to the 'no side effects' result!

Right now, I foresee a lot of naps in my future...