Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire
- Thread starter Emily_Babbelhund
- Start date
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
@Emily_Babbelhund, it is quite understandable that you feel as you do, I have an airy house, am in the country and I feel depressed, we are not perfect! As I read somewhere, it might have been Winston Churchill " if you are in hell, keep walking" - well, we aren't in hell (can feel like it) so keep walking and all will be well eventually xx
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
My mum asked the GP to reduce her antidepressants recently. The GP kindly said she'd feel more comfortable if mum gave it another six months and mum agreed. The next week we went back into lockdown. Mum's been joking about sending her dr a bottle of wine to say thanks for not listening to her!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Carbon and went back to his vet again yesterday. I'd not made an appointment (usually essential) because I thought I'd just pick up the Erythropoetin injections and be on my way. No offence to Dr. Patzak, but I didn't really have any intention of filling the prescriptions. That tells you a lot about where I am in my head at the moment.
However much to my surprise, we got the royal treatment. Dr P is always lovely to both Carbon and me, but when she saw him in the waiting room, she literally squealed. Later she said because I'd not answered her WhatsApp for two days, she thought I was angry at her. I honestly wasn't. I was FRUSTRATED with a dash of bewilderment and angst. But not angry. Well, I hope not (not going to re-read my last post to verify).
Anyway, back on track. Despite not having an appointment, we got in right away. Woe to the other poor people on the schedule that got pushed out for us. On the other hand, I've waited hours in the past for just that reason, so maybe it was just my day to get paid back on the good karma.
I finally got a full set of lab results and we went over every line in English. For you science brains, his "Leukozyten" and "Erythrozyten" are normal but his Haemoglobin is low. His "Retikulozyten" is also low. She wants all this to normalise prior to giving the Milteforan. She's using the Erythropoetin instead of another option because she still has concerns over his kidneys. Not big concerns, but enough to indicate the Erythropoetin. It is to help get him back up to speed with the anaemia, so I understand why she wants to give it.
He's going to take 1.000 3x a week for one week, then 2.000 3x a week for two weeks.
She also wants him to take something called domperidone. Because I have such a keen scientific mind and excellent memory, I keep calling it "Dom Perignon".
Reading what I could, I had concerns about the heart effects of domperidone, especially after Carbon has had heart worm, and told Dr. P. She said she'd never seen that but she would look into it. Probably because of the stubborn look on my face which clearly said, "I'm not giving him that."
I also got to ask why milteforan instead of glucantime (another anti-leish drug) and was happy with what she told me.
Our biggest bone of contention is timing. She wants to do weeks of injections and domperidone, THEN miltipforan. That would push his treatment back at least another month. I told Dr. P that I am out of here at the end of September. I've not been able to find anything remotely suitable to live in within an hour's drive of Dr. P's location after September. He needs to be DONE with his treatment by then. End of story. Then she gave me a look that said, "I'm not doing that."
We are very friendly with each other (genuinely so) but we've both dug in our heels. The injections won't arrive at the pharmacy until Monday so on Monday I will pick up the medication and take it to Dr Patzak's office. I can do the injections myself, but she wants to observe him for an hour or so after his first injection just to be safe. I appreciate that. As to the other, by mutual agreement, we'll fight over it again on Monday.
In other Carbon news (poor Carbon) we've put a hold on any SD training until the beginning of September. With my drug withdrawals, I have zero patience and I get very angry, very easily. This is not a good mindset for training, and our trainer agreed. I feel like a failure but on the other hand, I know it's for the best.
The drug tapering (I've got to quit saying 'withdrawal' as it sounds like I was doing crystal meth) is still a bumpy ride. I had a hair cut on Tuesday (stupid, stupid, STUUUPID!!!) and of course I had a couple of full blown panic attacks over the next couple days. Doesn't even matter if it was a good or bad cut, it was dumb to change anything right now because change = anxiety.
How ridiculous that I then had six hours of Zoom meetings on Thursday and sobbed like a baby between each one, then washed my face and re-did my makeup so I looked normal for the next (thank god for quality concealer). Also I think the panic attacks may have done something else funny as my left foot/ankle swelled up like an elephant foot the next day.
Dr Google told me I'm probably in the early stages of congestive heart failure. Or I just had too much salt for dinner.
Take my advice: never ask Dr Google ANYTHING.
I'm going to end on a positive note (I know, shocking) but I have started to notice some good changes from coming off the drugs:
That's (again!) way TMI, but I wanted to say some good stuff too instead of just moaning.
However much to my surprise, we got the royal treatment. Dr P is always lovely to both Carbon and me, but when she saw him in the waiting room, she literally squealed. Later she said because I'd not answered her WhatsApp for two days, she thought I was angry at her. I honestly wasn't. I was FRUSTRATED with a dash of bewilderment and angst. But not angry. Well, I hope not (not going to re-read my last post to verify).
Anyway, back on track. Despite not having an appointment, we got in right away. Woe to the other poor people on the schedule that got pushed out for us. On the other hand, I've waited hours in the past for just that reason, so maybe it was just my day to get paid back on the good karma.
I finally got a full set of lab results and we went over every line in English. For you science brains, his "Leukozyten" and "Erythrozyten" are normal but his Haemoglobin is low. His "Retikulozyten" is also low. She wants all this to normalise prior to giving the Milteforan. She's using the Erythropoetin instead of another option because she still has concerns over his kidneys. Not big concerns, but enough to indicate the Erythropoetin. It is to help get him back up to speed with the anaemia, so I understand why she wants to give it.
He's going to take 1.000 3x a week for one week, then 2.000 3x a week for two weeks.
She also wants him to take something called domperidone. Because I have such a keen scientific mind and excellent memory, I keep calling it "Dom Perignon".
Reading what I could, I had concerns about the heart effects of domperidone, especially after Carbon has had heart worm, and told Dr. P. She said she'd never seen that but she would look into it. Probably because of the stubborn look on my face which clearly said, "I'm not giving him that."
I also got to ask why milteforan instead of glucantime (another anti-leish drug) and was happy with what she told me.
Our biggest bone of contention is timing. She wants to do weeks of injections and domperidone, THEN miltipforan. That would push his treatment back at least another month. I told Dr. P that I am out of here at the end of September. I've not been able to find anything remotely suitable to live in within an hour's drive of Dr. P's location after September. He needs to be DONE with his treatment by then. End of story. Then she gave me a look that said, "I'm not doing that."
We are very friendly with each other (genuinely so) but we've both dug in our heels. The injections won't arrive at the pharmacy until Monday so on Monday I will pick up the medication and take it to Dr Patzak's office. I can do the injections myself, but she wants to observe him for an hour or so after his first injection just to be safe. I appreciate that. As to the other, by mutual agreement, we'll fight over it again on Monday.
In other Carbon news (poor Carbon) we've put a hold on any SD training until the beginning of September. With my drug withdrawals, I have zero patience and I get very angry, very easily. This is not a good mindset for training, and our trainer agreed. I feel like a failure but on the other hand, I know it's for the best.
The drug tapering (I've got to quit saying 'withdrawal' as it sounds like I was doing crystal meth) is still a bumpy ride. I had a hair cut on Tuesday (stupid, stupid, STUUUPID!!!) and of course I had a couple of full blown panic attacks over the next couple days. Doesn't even matter if it was a good or bad cut, it was dumb to change anything right now because change = anxiety.
How ridiculous that I then had six hours of Zoom meetings on Thursday and sobbed like a baby between each one, then washed my face and re-did my makeup so I looked normal for the next (thank god for quality concealer). Also I think the panic attacks may have done something else funny as my left foot/ankle swelled up like an elephant foot the next day.
Dr Google told me I'm probably in the early stages of congestive heart failure. Or I just had too much salt for dinner.
Take my advice: never ask Dr Google ANYTHING.
I'm going to end on a positive note (I know, shocking) but I have started to notice some good changes from coming off the drugs:
- While I still want to eat and eat a lot, I'm thinking about food much less obsessively.
- I'm continuing to take longer walks with Carbon because I feel like it, not because I'm forcing myself.
- I'm getting much more work done and caring more about the outcome.
- I'm sleeping much less and able to keep going for the entire day without a 2-3 hour nap.
That's (again!) way TMI, but I wanted to say some good stuff too instead of just moaning.
Atemas
UK Tour Guide
- Location
- North Cambridgeshire
That is really good news - hope you can keep going and the positives outweigh any negatives
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
You and about 73million other people.She also wants him to take something called domperidone. Because I have such a keen scientific mind and excellent memory, I keep calling it "Dom Perignon".
Said before he/she should be struck off.Take my advice: never ask Dr Google ANYTHING.
Sounds like you are doing well, really, Emily, plenty of positives.
You are such a wonderful advocate for Carbòn.
Don't be so hard on yourself, be kind, like you would be if you were a friend of yourself (is that a weird thing to say?)
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Beanwood
Administrator
Great that you were able to get some quality time with your vet, it does sounds like she genuinely cares about both of you!
I would not be concerned by the cardio effects. This is simply when other drugs compete with liver enzymes, it can cause a tiny pause in part of the heart cycle. Prolonging the interval between "Q and T". Carbon wouldn't be prescribed any other drugs which would interact with this medication. Any QT prolongation only would occur on the medication, if at all worried, just keep to lead walking, avoiding any zoomies etc.. I would be only concerned if Carbons ECG was abnormal, due to old age, heart failure or other co-morbidity, or further Leish progression.
Considering everything right now, you are doing remarkably well. Just take is slow. You may want to go for long walks with Carbon, but take more time out to just relax on a cool bench and people watch if you need to get out and about. xx
So, blood chemistry is still off in terms of his aneamia. His retic is low, and by the sound of it, Carbon is not producing good enough quality red blood cells, they could be immature or faulty. The fall out from this is that "normal" red blood cells live for 120 days, his may not be lasting as long. Meaning his bone marrow is working harder to produce more, and probably isn't quite achieving this, so his heamoglobin levels start to slip. The EPO will stimulate his bone marrow to produce more.
So, although his kidney biochemistry is OK ... she doesn't want to do anything at this stage which may put pressure on them. This is understandable if her aim is to get Carbon super fighting fit right now.
Looking at Domperidone, this is a drug to zap the immune system, working on a level to help regenerate and protect by whipping his immune system into shape. (it works specifically on an interleukin and cytokine level so immunotherapeutic ) It is not a "toxic" drug. Considering Carbons slightly abnormal biochemistry, I can see why she would look at this drug. It is indicated for mild clinical disease of Leish.
I would not be concerned by the cardio effects. This is simply when other drugs compete with liver enzymes, it can cause a tiny pause in part of the heart cycle. Prolonging the interval between "Q and T". Carbon wouldn't be prescribed any other drugs which would interact with this medication. Any QT prolongation only would occur on the medication, if at all worried, just keep to lead walking, avoiding any zoomies etc.. I would be only concerned if Carbons ECG was abnormal, due to old age, heart failure or other co-morbidity, or further Leish progression.
This is tricky, once on this path of treatment, I would be inclined to follow this through. At the very least, you need to see how Carbon responds to the EPO, that in itself can be a helpful diagnostic indicator of what to do next .... Domperidone or a more aggressive approach. Start with Plan A, then work through Plan B and C when you need too... just like yourself take it all one small step at a time.
This is good clinical practice, and just the same for hoomans!
Considering everything right now, you are doing remarkably well. Just take is slow. You may want to go for long walks with Carbon, but take more time out to just relax on a cool bench and people watch if you need to get out and about. xx
- Location
- East Sussex
Glad you had a thorough consultation with your vet and it sounds as if you are doing really well with your own drug-tapering. Be kind to yourself. x
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
- Location
- South Manchester England
wrong message can’t delete
Even though you still have concerns, that seems like a really good appointment with your vet. She obviously likes Carbon and is keen to get it all sorted for him, as well as going through it all with you rather than just treating him with no discussion.
You’re doing well too, so be kind to yourself and keep focusing on the positives!
You’re doing well too, so be kind to yourself and keep focusing on the positives!
Lisa
Moderator
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
You are doing amazingly well considering all the many stressors you have been under and are continuing to be under. So don’t be hard on yourself! You and Carbon will get through this together, one day at a time!
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
You are doing an amazing job @Emily_Babbelhund
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Hola todos! I have told ML that I am taking over here for a while. It is, after all "The Labraventures of CARBON", not "The Moaning Ramblings of MAMA LADY", no? So I am stretching out my little black paws to bring you mi vida, my life, from my point of view. Que bien! Let's get started.
La mañana, the morning, was aburrido, BORING. The only interesting thing was I got to hear Echo bark and my Tia Mags on the computer. Ojala, que bien! How good! ML plays with her sparkly pens and talks to Mags and some other nice Eeenglish people and she is happy. I am happy too because we get a walk after the sparkly pens. Everyone wins!
Estan listas? Are you ready? I am learning German and here is a new word for you: Apotheke. Si, si, my German is getting so much better. ML has been studying all the time so I learn some words when she says them out loud because I am a perro muy inteligente, a very intelligent dog.
This afternoon I took ML to the APOTHEKE. While we waited for my medication to make me super strong, I made super strong love eyes to another lady waiting in line to try to get her to give me COOKIES!! Que lastima, she did not understand my love eyes and no cookies came, even if she did smile at me. ML said, "Good lord, Carbon, quit making googly eyes at people - not everyone has cookies in their pockets".
Numero uno: I do not make GOOGLY eyes, I make LOVE eyes. And si, I look very guapo, handsome while I am doing it. Numero dos: YES, everyone DOES have cookies in their pockets. Do not try to fool me, ML, I was not born yesterday! Pfft!
After the Apotheke, we walked to the car. I LOVE walking to the car because we go by so many good smells plus through a big park where I can leave my news here and there and over there and just there and there too. I have so many stories to tell, de verdad.
ML was impatient with me. She is impatient a lot with me these days and very grumbly. I just keep doing my important job of giving her besitos (special Carbon kisses) and hope she will feel better. Today she felt extra grumbly so I was extra charming. I am very good at my job, de verdad, and that is the TRUTH.
So we got to the car and ML pushed the little key chain button thing and...nada. Rien. Niente. Null. I have run out of languages, but you get the idea. OUR TARDIS WAS DEAD!!!! CATASTROPHE!!! WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?????
Whew, que dificuldad. ML put me in the front seat: where I DO NOT belong. She grabbed her phone and ran out of the garage. Then she ran back in and got me out of the car. Then we walked out of the garage and sat down. ML had a cry over the TARDIS. It was pretty sad. How am I supposed to get back to Eeengland and Cornwall and the @Beanwood gang and Reuben and Nellie and all my other friends without my TARDIS?
We waited and waited and waited. Then a big orange car came . ML talked to a grumpy man. Why is everyone so grumpy lately? The grumpy man put funny wires into the TARDIS and then yelled at ML. Later ML explained to me that the grumpy man was yelling instructions to her in Bavarian - that is different then German - and when she asked him to say it in German, he just yelled louder in Bavarian.
Humans are ridiculous, tengo rázon, no? Am I right?
Then we had to drive and drive and drive because the grumpy man told us to. Eventually we came back to my nice doctor lady. Si, si, that's where we were going all along! But it was too l late in the day and the office was closed. EXCEPT they forgot to lock the door and ML went in anyway. Oh, she is very sneaky that way.
My vet lady was still there so she gave me my super strong medication in a shot - I was very brave - and then she waited. ML said she was waiting for me to croak, but as I am no frog, I cannot imagine what she meant. I did not bark, or cry or CROAK, I just sat there. And I may have licked the floor because...que rico, how delicious, a floor that had been walked on by so many other dogs all day! Heaven!
After a very, very long time (maybe: being a dog my time judgement can be skewed by how close it is to my next meal) we talked to Vet Lady, she pronounced me 'just fine' (but of course) and we finally got to go home. ML says she can now give me my super strong medication every other day. It is a needle but I do not care. Gentleman dogs are not afraid of needles.
Oh, and Vet Lady said that I cannot compete in the Tour de France because my new super strong medication is something called "doping" so I am disqualified. Pfft! As if I would run willy nilly through France at top speed: there are way too many croissants to stop and enjoy along the way.
Now ML and I are very tired. We had a big day: it took us five hours to get to Vet Lady and back again. Tomorrow ML says we are going no where except for our walks. Ojala! I'm all for an adventure, but a nice rest day sounds muy bueno, very good to me!
La mañana, the morning, was aburrido, BORING. The only interesting thing was I got to hear Echo bark and my Tia Mags on the computer. Ojala, que bien! How good! ML plays with her sparkly pens and talks to Mags and some other nice Eeenglish people and she is happy. I am happy too because we get a walk after the sparkly pens. Everyone wins!
Estan listas? Are you ready? I am learning German and here is a new word for you: Apotheke. Si, si, my German is getting so much better. ML has been studying all the time so I learn some words when she says them out loud because I am a perro muy inteligente, a very intelligent dog.
This afternoon I took ML to the APOTHEKE. While we waited for my medication to make me super strong, I made super strong love eyes to another lady waiting in line to try to get her to give me COOKIES!! Que lastima, she did not understand my love eyes and no cookies came, even if she did smile at me. ML said, "Good lord, Carbon, quit making googly eyes at people - not everyone has cookies in their pockets".
Numero uno: I do not make GOOGLY eyes, I make LOVE eyes. And si, I look very guapo, handsome while I am doing it. Numero dos: YES, everyone DOES have cookies in their pockets. Do not try to fool me, ML, I was not born yesterday! Pfft!
After the Apotheke, we walked to the car. I LOVE walking to the car because we go by so many good smells plus through a big park where I can leave my news here and there and over there and just there and there too. I have so many stories to tell, de verdad.
ML was impatient with me. She is impatient a lot with me these days and very grumbly. I just keep doing my important job of giving her besitos (special Carbon kisses) and hope she will feel better. Today she felt extra grumbly so I was extra charming. I am very good at my job, de verdad, and that is the TRUTH.
So we got to the car and ML pushed the little key chain button thing and...nada. Rien. Niente. Null. I have run out of languages, but you get the idea. OUR TARDIS WAS DEAD!!!! CATASTROPHE!!! WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?????
Whew, que dificuldad. ML put me in the front seat: where I DO NOT belong. She grabbed her phone and ran out of the garage. Then she ran back in and got me out of the car. Then we walked out of the garage and sat down. ML had a cry over the TARDIS. It was pretty sad. How am I supposed to get back to Eeengland and Cornwall and the @Beanwood gang and Reuben and Nellie and all my other friends without my TARDIS?
We waited and waited and waited. Then a big orange car came . ML talked to a grumpy man. Why is everyone so grumpy lately? The grumpy man put funny wires into the TARDIS and then yelled at ML. Later ML explained to me that the grumpy man was yelling instructions to her in Bavarian - that is different then German - and when she asked him to say it in German, he just yelled louder in Bavarian.
Humans are ridiculous, tengo rázon, no? Am I right?
Then we had to drive and drive and drive because the grumpy man told us to. Eventually we came back to my nice doctor lady. Si, si, that's where we were going all along! But it was too l late in the day and the office was closed. EXCEPT they forgot to lock the door and ML went in anyway. Oh, she is very sneaky that way.
My vet lady was still there so she gave me my super strong medication in a shot - I was very brave - and then she waited. ML said she was waiting for me to croak, but as I am no frog, I cannot imagine what she meant. I did not bark, or cry or CROAK, I just sat there. And I may have licked the floor because...que rico, how delicious, a floor that had been walked on by so many other dogs all day! Heaven!
After a very, very long time (maybe: being a dog my time judgement can be skewed by how close it is to my next meal) we talked to Vet Lady, she pronounced me 'just fine' (but of course) and we finally got to go home. ML says she can now give me my super strong medication every other day. It is a needle but I do not care. Gentleman dogs are not afraid of needles.
Oh, and Vet Lady said that I cannot compete in the Tour de France because my new super strong medication is something called "doping" so I am disqualified. Pfft! As if I would run willy nilly through France at top speed: there are way too many croissants to stop and enjoy along the way.
Now ML and I are very tired. We had a big day: it took us five hours to get to Vet Lady and back again. Tomorrow ML says we are going no where except for our walks. Ojala! I'm all for an adventure, but a nice rest day sounds muy bueno, very good to me!
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Oh Carbòn, you and ML have had quite a day.
Humums and dads get quite upset when their TARDIS doesn't work as it means lots of kibble money down the drain.
Remember, sad MLs need lots of Bestios.
Humums and dads get quite upset when their TARDIS doesn't work as it means lots of kibble money down the drain.
Remember, sad MLs need lots of Bestios.
Lisa
Moderator
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
Oh dear...Carbon I am sure you were the perfect gentleman dog today. Give ML some extra love from all of us, please?
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Claro que si, but of course I was the perfect Spanish gentleman today. Today and EVERY day!