My Trixie girl has CRF and PSK and I'm Heartbroken

Trixie is almost 5 years old and was diagnosed with CRF in February. Started her on antibiotics and sub q's. The vet wasn't very helpful or clear about much at first, so we found a much better one. She's on the antibiotic, another for stomach ulcers, one for nausea, Alternagel to lower phosphates and Renal K to supplement potassium, and sub q's. We've done 3 ultrasounds, lots of bloodwork and urinalysis.

The vet was very impressed with her recent bloodwork and she seems much better. She's eating, playing, ferociously I might add, and gained a little weight back. She's 10 lbs now. She also seems to be well hydrated and we've been able to stop giving her fluids (what a relief, for that anyway). The last 2 ultrasounds have shown fluid outside the kidney capsule on the right so the vet tapped it. I think she pulled two syringes full, 60 cc's. It keeps coming back though. So the dilemma is, do we have it tapped every month to relieve the pressure associated with the fluid build up? Or have the capsule surgically removed?

I would certainly appreciate any insight from anyone who has dealt with fluid build up or surgical removal of the capsule. I've been on a few of the sites mentioned in the "sticky", but it's all quite overwhelming.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by mews2much

I hope she will be ok.
I have a 18 year old cat with CRF and lost her daughter at age 5 to ARF.
My Yoshi had kidney problems also and I lost him at age 5.
He had stones or cysts in his kidneys and surgery was to risky.
What do they think is in her kidney?
You can always get a 2nd opinion.

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Sorry to hear. They think she has both, stones and cysts. The biggest issue is the buildup of fluid. So removing it every month or the surgery. We are going to have a consultation with the surgeon after the vet issues her final report.

Kinda weird, we've never asked for a prognosis. I know they can be wrong when giving you a time, but it seems more final.