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Post by easttex on Apr 19, 2016 17:26:02 GMT -5
It comes down to this: do I proceed with palliative care for Peppy, not knowing if his illness is treatable, or do I opt for the biopsy, which might cause him to bleed to death. The medicine regimen that seemed to help for months no longer appears to. He could have a feeding tube surgically implanted, and who knows how many more really good days/weeks/months might ensue. That's the palliative route.
With a biopsy, the liver problem, whatever it is, makes him much more susceptible to uncontrollable bleeding. Assuming the biopsy doesn't cause him to bleed out, and cancer cells are found, if they have not metastasized, perhaps the mass can be removed. If it has spread all over, they will recommend euthanasia right then. It might not be cancer at all, and might be fairly easily treatable.
So, I can have some more good time with him, almost guaranteed, or I can go for the longer term, with the risk he will be lost on the table. Even if he gets through it okay, it's more than remotely possible that he will not be treatable.
At this point, I don't know what I will decide.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Apr 19, 2016 17:33:06 GMT -5
Easttex, I am so sorry that you are now at the decision making stage of Peppy's treatment. I cant advise you what is the best route to take, but please look at his quality of life after each treatment. Ask the vet that if it were his bird, what would he do (they wont give an opinion about your bird). Just take your time making this decision. I am sure other forum members have their own thoughts on your post - and it will be good to get the differing opinions. They will help you decide. Thinking of you.
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Post by zim on Apr 19, 2016 19:06:51 GMT -5
Reading this post deeply saddens me. I am very sorry to hear that it has come to this for Peppy.
I have no advice to give, I have absolutely no idea which route I would take if I were in your shoes.
Peppy is an extremely lucky little guy to have you to take exceptional care of him.
Wishing you both the best during these painful times.
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Post by cnyguy on Apr 19, 2016 20:51:20 GMT -5
Those are tough choices. Sorry that you and Peppy are faced with having to make such a decision. I don't know what I would choose to do in the same situation; it would require a lot of thought and a lot of soul-searching too. I wish you and Peppy all the best, whatever you decide.
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Post by Caseysmom on Apr 19, 2016 22:22:55 GMT -5
Oh Easttex, I am so sorry for you, that is a very hard choice. One that only you can really make, none would be wrong, it's what you feel would be best. I might choose the cuddly route rather than the invasive Only reasoning for me, I recently watched my friend suffer with sadness, chose to do the surgery route for her Lab, and she might have seemed better for about a week, but in less than three months from that she lost her and it was hard watching her in pain My thoughts are with you, I agree, that little Peppy is a lucky guy to have such a caring Mom. Big hugs!
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Post by aaron on Apr 20, 2016 12:24:02 GMT -5
Gosh, Easttex, I'm so sorry it's come to this  What an incredibly hard decision to make. I'm really not sure what I would choose if I were in your shoes. Makes you wish you could just ask him what he wants. If I had any clue what I would do, I would try to give some advice, but I have no idea. As Gary said, it would take a lot of thought and soul searching to come to a conclusion on something like this. I'm so sorry *hugs* |
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Post by beccilouise on Apr 20, 2016 15:12:38 GMT -5
Easttex, this is really sad and distressing. I'm so sorry I agree with everyone that this is a tough decision. My advice would concur with Jan's that his (and your) quality of life should come first. Arguably, the palliative care route may essentially be managing pain for an unknown ailment, but could equally allow him to live out the time he has left happily and with love. Similarly, if you choose the explorative surgery, Peppy's quality of life may face a vast improvement, or you may find that there is no way to ensure it and so perhaps euthanasia is kindest for him. In the latter case, arguably, you would at least face an instant decision, but you also may be faced with very little time, if any, to say goodbye. I honestly cannot say what I would do if it were my decision, other than feel utterly devastated. I guess just glean as much information from the vet as you can, surround yourself with caring friends who understand and enjoy whatever time you have left with your birdie. Maya and I will be thinking of you. xxx |
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Post by julianna on Apr 20, 2016 15:38:15 GMT -5
God bless you Easstex and Peppy. This would be one of the hardest decisions of my life and like the others said... it comes down to quality of life. Would any remaining time have quality to it? It is a heart breaking decision.
If there is no quality to living... do we really want to live?
My heart is saddened. Peppy has a wonderful Mom... and don't you ever forget... you did the best that you could.
XXOO
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Post by biteybird on Apr 20, 2016 15:56:48 GMT -5
We are thinking of you both...
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Post by easttex on Apr 20, 2016 18:04:39 GMT -5
I thank you all for your perspective and your kind words of support. For good or for ill, I've made my decision. I'm already second-guessing myself, too. One of the things that weighed heavily on my mind was an experience I had with surgery and one of my dogs, like Caseysmom's friend. With me, it was the third surgery I wish I could take back. Hindsight!
You hit the nail on the head again Aaron - if only Peppy could tell me what he wants. Right now he is perched at my neck, pushing his full 147g into my chin, letting me give him scritches everywhere and thoroughly enjoying it. We've spent many hours like this for the last few days. Aside from the extra cuddliness, I could almost convince myself that he's okay. Then I hear the crackling in his lungs and feel the sharpness in his keel, and I know he can't go on long like this.
He's going in for the biopsy Monday. Better now while he is relatively robust than waiting until his condition deteriorates further. In the end, the thought of watching him decline to the inevitable conclusion, knowing that something that might have changed everything was left undone, seemed worse than losing him on the table. That is selfishness on my part, but it's also what I would choose for myself. Since it isn't given to me to know what Peppy would choose, I gave myself his proxy. I think he's found a measure of real happiness after who knows how many years of neglect, and I hope to give him more. He is a little fighter.
Of course there's no way to really be prepared for all the things that could go wrong Monday, but I will spend many more hours snuggling like mad with him between now and then.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Apr 20, 2016 20:14:54 GMT -5
You have made the choice I would have made if it was Shah in this situation. It is better to take a chance than to watch him decline. Sending big hugs your way. Shah and I will be saying lots and lots and lots of prayers for you and Peppy.
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Post by cnyguy on Apr 20, 2016 20:29:12 GMT -5
Give Peppy a few scritches from me, and tell him that Ralph says he's a good parrot. Scooter just says "squeak." Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Peppy.
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Post by wsteinhoff on Apr 20, 2016 20:34:50 GMT -5
I think if it were Bishop I would've made the same decision. I couldn't stand watching him possibly be miserable with a feeding tube and just watch his health continue to decline.
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Post by beccilouise on Apr 21, 2016 0:04:55 GMT -5
Best of luck to both you and Peppy, Easttex. We're all desperately hoping that he is ok and any issue is operable. I think I would have done the same. It would just be too difficult to watch any animal I love getting worse. I hope he has a relatively good weekend in between now and then, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you both. xxx
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Post by Holly on Apr 21, 2016 3:43:12 GMT -5
Norman and I will certainly be thinking of you and Peppy this weekend. I think you have made the right decision, its the decision I would have made for Norman. Try and have a good weekend  |
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What an incredibly hard decision to make. I'm really not sure what I would choose if I were in your shoes. Makes you wish you could just ask him what he wants. If I had any clue what I would do, I would try to give some advice, but I have no idea. As Gary said, it would take a lot of thought and soul searching to come to a conclusion on something like this. I'm so sorry 
