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Post by pinky on Sept 2, 2012 9:39:57 GMT -4
I am double-posting this--in the Ping thread and in a new one.
Talked to the vet more. I'm better informed, and he trimmed the estimate. Nevertheless, I cancelled the surgery to give me more time to think.
Possibile courses of action/outcomes:
Surgery done, with histology on tissues.
Surgery done, with no histology (so won't know if tissues are cancerous, but it saves a lot of money)
No surgery immediately, but eye pops out and forces the issue of surgery vs. euthanasia.
No surgery, and Mable is euthanized when the situation requires it.
Mable is euthanized soon, on the grounds that she has three medical issues.
Surgery could be completely successful, with neither site cancerous, and she would go on to live a decent life.
If cancer is found, that's just information--it doesn't change treatment (there is none).
Doing nothing: how much pain is she in/will she be in from the glaucoma-like pressure in the eye? She is on Metacam now.
We think the tumor may be a fast grower, which may suggest malignancy.
Some people in my life are saying to end the situation; that way I'll have money, time, and emotional resources to spend on new, healthier hamsters. But watching her bounce off the walls of her play bin last night I burst into tears, crying, "I can't do that!" She doesn't appear ill in the least, though the eye situation is obvious.
Help. . .
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Post by Hamsters82 on Sept 4, 2012 15:55:24 GMT -4
Oh Robin, I'm so sorry.  *hugs* I think you should try the surgery that way you know, if something does happen, that you tried every avenue to help Mable. I think the medicine is helping her otherwise, like you said, she wouldn't be bouncing off walls. I'm sorry it had to come to this; I'll pray that Mable gets better. She's in God's hands. |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Sept 8, 2012 23:48:09 GMT -4
What Katie said seems right. *hugs* from me too. I have had my own problems of late. See the Cat thread shortly. |
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Post by pinky on Sept 9, 2012 20:42:48 GMT -4
Quick update: Surgery is Tuesday. It may not involve the eye at all, since the size of the eye is much reduced now, and if it doesn't that will save me money.
We have been having some really nice play times. I realized that she DOES like climbing on me if I give her the right surface to climb on (a particular sweatshirt that she can get a good grip on), and so she's been climbing up my chest, onto my shoulder, and into my hair. I have had several hams that liked doing that, and I'm delighted that she's now one of them. Playing this way, she does not nip at all. I just have to remember that she's blind on one side and so she can be easily startled. And if she's startled, she lunges at the "assailant." She also lunges at the Metacam syringe because she loves the taste of the stuff so much. No scruffing and stuffing the syringe into her mouth needed!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Sept 10, 2012 1:36:34 GMT -4
OK. All the best.  |
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Post by pinky on Sept 10, 2012 23:15:28 GMT -4
METACAMMMMMMMMMMM!  Mammary tumor is dark area at lower right.  |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Sept 11, 2012 1:56:07 GMT -4
Just posted I use a syringe to get supplements into Jason - he apparently so dislikes the taste if I mix it in food he will not eat it! Same syringe. She seems to like it! Cute! |
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Post by pinky on Sept 11, 2012 23:40:36 GMT -4
Surgery went fine. She still has her eye. Very vascularized tumor, with blood supply leading from her chest, so it was a somewhat more tricky surgery than anticipated. But she is home and doing well. 3 meds to give and sutures that I hope she doesn't destroy (though the vet put in two layers of them for good measure).
Glad this day is over. Very draining.
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Post by Hamsters82 on Sept 12, 2012 13:52:42 GMT -4
That's great that the surgery went well!! I wonder if hamsters will chew at their stitches, they should make small e-collars for them. Mable has such a great mommy!  |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Sept 12, 2012 23:47:30 GMT -4
Katie is right. I know about draining - see my thread on Jason. Whew. Very glad it went well. |
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Post by pinky on Sept 15, 2012 21:05:43 GMT -4
Incredibly, she just cleaned up the site herself and has never bothered the sutures. Healing seems to be coming along nicely, and she is herself, which tells me that pain management is adequate. Don't know the status of the tumor, so there could be more in store, or not. But for the time being, all is well.
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Post by pinky on Sept 20, 2012 22:33:17 GMT -4
A scary setback the other night: she unexpectedly grabbed onto my hand; I jerked my hand up, with her attached, and then she fell some inches onto the bedding, not hitting anything. That was enough stress to make her bad eye bleed. There I was at 11 pm with a hamster with a bloody eye and blood around the nose. Stressful! Fortunately the bleeding stopped, she made it through the night without incident, and she never showed signs of pain or discomfort. We go to the vet tomorrow to have sutures removed and for an eye check. It could be that I will no longer be able to play with her in the way that I have because of the small risk of falling, which clearly can injure this very sensitive eye. It could also be that the vet recommends that the eye just come out. I hope it's not the latter.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Sept 26, 2012 16:13:23 GMT -4
How did it go?? Hoping for the best! ------------------------ Sorry I've been so busy, and now I have PC issues. This is a library PC!   |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Sept 28, 2012 14:14:13 GMT -4
Still hoping it went well. |
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Post by Hamsters82 on Sept 28, 2012 16:22:59 GMT -4
Aw, I hope Mable does well at the vet's and when she comes home. Maybe she could still use an exercise ball or you could put up a barrier and have her near your legs, that way you can still play with her.
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