On the internet, it can be hard to have a discussion. I asked for your opinions, but I am also trying to come up with a theory BEFORE I go to the vet to try to save myself some money. I am not trying to "make excuses". I am trying to discredit certain theories and get my facts straight so i don't spend any more money than I have too on this situation. All of these posts have been very informative and I am going to call the vet tomorrow and set up an appointment.
With the information that I have been getting from this thread, I have a pretty good idea of what to rule out and what to inform the vet of so that he may make the best determination he can as quickly as he can.
The more information I have and the more that people chime in with their own experiences or opinions, the more I have to work with. This, in my opinion, is much better than going in blind. At least I have somewhere to start.
Edit: Think of this whole thread as one big conversation. At least, that's how I view it.