Our own FIP scare

We're dealing with our own fip scare... I felt like posting because it makes me feel so much less alone reading what other people are going through. It's so terrifying. Our cat wasnt eating like usual for a day or two but I didn't think much of it, figured she was just being picky, then suddenly we woke up one morning and she was stumbling around like a drunken bobble head! It was horrible to see her like this! We took her to vet and she was very dehydrated and underweight (her weight has always fluctuated). The vet told us she would probably die within 24 hours but took tests and gave her fluids. She has an inner ear infection and her rectum was so inflamed they couldn't get a stool sample or even her temp! For the next couple of days I gave her antibiotics and force fed fluids but she was willing to nibble on some of her favorite treats. The vet called and said her blood test came as positive for fib which I knew nothing about except after a brief search that it's fatal. The grief has just been exhausting I've barely been able to function! Her blood tests are pretty close to perfect and now she is eating heartily and drinking on her own, she's already gaining some weight and her coat is fluffy and soft as ever. She's getting fluid iv 3x this week. She's always had loose stool since we got her as a stray 7 years ago, I tried diet change with no difference but recently had been thinking colitis since she occasionally has mucus and a tiny bit of blood and often has hair balls. She's lethargic at this point and definately a bit more snuggly than she normally would be. But I'm wondering about the fib diagnosis. She doesn't seem to have a lot of the symptoms and the antibiotics kicking in really seem to be perking her back up and her appetite is good, and she has plenty of fight in her when I give her meds (haha). I don't necissarily want to give myself false hope... But I want hope. I'm terrified of losing her. I'm on such a Rollercoaster I don't know how to feel or what to do. I want a second opinion but we've spent almost all of our money (our entire food budget etc) so I'm just going to have to do without it. Our vet is kind of strange (recommended giving my cat whole milk & seemed surprised when I questioned it, acting like fib is definately diagnosis) and I don't know what to think. And support or thoughts is definitely helpful. This is such a tough time. I can take comfort in the joy she's brought us, and that even if she does has fip she's had a better and longer life than she would have as a stray. But its just wrecked me to the core thinking of her leaving us.

It is terrible to wait and not know, and in that time you have to fight as hard as you can because it may still be something treatable, and anyway, you desperately want your cat to be comfortable to be comfortable and active as long as possible. On the milk thing, you could try and give goat milk, which is highly nutritious and very low in lactose. I use it for orphan kittens and they thrive on it.