I'm in a new panic now about Zero and need som help!!

A few weeks ago I wrote in about my 19 year old cat, Zero.  She has IBD that I couldn't seem to get control of then. She's improving a lot with that now, but yesterday when we got up in the morning, her left leg gave out and she was in pain when she tried to walk.  The vet and I agreed that her arthritis had gotten worse, so she put Zero on a low dose of Tramadol (Zero gets so terrified and angry when she goes to the vet that her obvious stress has made bringing her in torment for all of us, so we only go in when there is no other choice).  That worked really well and Zero and a great night and day today - I even caught her playing with her catnip banana, which has been beneath her dignity for a long time now!  NOW though, we have a new crisis. Tonight when I brought her her food, she flat out refused to even consider it, which was very odd because she's been eating well all day.  She also made it clear that something was wrong and that she was NOT happy about it.  I noticed that she acted like she was trying to swallow something a couple of times, so I ran my finger from her chin down her neck, which she usually loves.  But this time I felt a lump, and when I went back to touch it, it hurt her and she's refused to let me near it since.  So I called her vet and after answering questions about her breathing, etc., the vet said that it sounded like her thyroid tumor had enlarged to the point that it's really bothering her.  I agreed to bring her into the office tomorrow afternoon - despite our fears about Zero's stress level, there's nothing else any of us can do.

Does anyone here have experience with this in cats her age?  I know that the chances are high that after so many years of being hyperthyroid it has become a malignant tumor, but can it still be treated somehow?  Or am I going to be told that because of her age and other physical issues there's nothing that can be done?

I don't want to sound melodramatic, but at this point in my life Zero is the only reason I make any attempt to function in life.  Besides, she's gone through so much these past few weeks that I can't help but feel that she deserves at least some amount of time when she can feel well and be happy - time that we can spend together that isn't taken up with my obsessive worry and her annoyance at being the target of my obsession!

Your help would be so greatly appreciated.......Lauren

I don't have any experience with thyroid issues, but the loss of appetite could actually be a side effect of the new medication, and also, one rare side effect is swelling of the throat, which, of course, is not a good thing .  Could it be possible this is what you felt?  

Let's hope what you felt is nothing serious and she can continue on the Tramadol, her appetite returns and she gets back to enjoying life and playing with her banana