Our stories
Thank you so much @Anastasia .. you really are a blessing around here.
Sweet @Eve7 I just saw on another thread that you are in hospital. Really sorry to hear that, and I hope you are okay now. Thanks for your lovely message here yesterday too. I also think of you a lot, and am here for you if you ever need me. Like you, I am here with open arms, a whole heap of love and kind understanding.
@Former-Member ... thanks beautiful. Yes I did tell the surgeon about having lost my husband 2 months ago. He wanted to know what happened and how I was coping. When I said about vulnerability, its about feeling vulnerable when needing to undress or reveal myself to another human being. Especially male. I guess I'm essentially a bit of a prude. But its also around feeling exposed and vulnerable as a result of my trauma. Yes you are right, dahlias are a lovely flower and there are many varieties of them and heaps of colours. I have posted a picture of what my dahlia looks like below.
Dear @Peri ... its always lovely to see you when you appear around here. In fact I've seen you around the past few days. I hope you are receiving the support you deserve? Thats really fantastic to hear that you are seeing some benefits from your recent medication regime. Fingers crossed that the improvements continue and your gloomy mood lifts somewhat, and your anxiety eases. Perhaps the gloomy mood has something to do with it being mid winter? I read that your little granddaughter had her 8th birthday recently ... how delightful. Thank you for posting.
@Zoe7 @NatureLover @Bow @saltandpepper ... thank you for asking about my dear little dog Holly. Also @Claude @WIP @Owlunar @BlueBay @Snowie @outlander @Shaz51 @Lee82 @Bellarose75 @Sophia1 for info. As you know I had Holly to the vet on Friday. Sadly her appointment was not as positive as my own appointment earlier in the day at the surgeons. She had her annual vaccinations, and that was all fine.
But her breathing issues continue. As I suspected, the vet is almost certain now that she is suffering from a collapsing trachea (windpipe, which takes oxygen from the nose and mouth to the lungs). She has two major risk factors for this ailment ... cushings disease which causes a breakdown of the tissue in the trachea, causing it to lose structure and collapse. Small breeds such as terriers and chihuahuas are also more prone to this disorder. So it all seems to fit. As do the symptoms ... cant get air when she gets excited or when she is sleeping.
Its an intermittent thing, where the structures collapse and dont permit enough air to get through. So that means the dog will gasp, or cough. And coughing causes more inflamation which worsens the issue further. This diagnosis could be confirmed via an xray under anaesthetic. Although if the trachea is not collapsed at the time of the xray, you can get some false negatives. I would rather not put her through another general anaesthetic for likely no benefit.
Surgery is considered a last resort because it has a lot of complications, and they dont do it until things get really bad. Surgery involves inserting a stent into the trachea to hold the airway open. But it requires a specialist and is not able to be done locally. Likely a trip to Sydney would be required.
Other than surgery, its a matter of trying to manage the symptoms. I have had her on a natural remedy for about a month now to help control the coughing. That seems to be working quite well. We have already tried 2 other things which help some dogs ... anti-biotics and anti-inflamatories ... neither of which appear to have helped her. It just keeps getting steadily worse.
So as of today, when the new meds arrived at the vets, I am trialing a brochodilater medication. Its meant to help open up the airways and improve lung function with the air she is managing to get down there. Its the type of thing that humans use for asthma or bronchitis. Unwanted side effects are fairly minimal, so they say. Worth trying anyway, because its so very distressing watching poor little Holly struggle to breathe every night. Its been like watching her being slowly strangled to death. I often just sit there trying to comfort her and crying my eyes out because I know there really is nothing I can do.
I dont know how long I will have her by my side. Its just so unfair, because other than this beathing issue ... she is fit, healthy, happy and runs around like a young pup. God ... I hate life sometimes!
Anyway thats my long delayed update on Holly that several of you have been asking for. I waited until today, because Holly has now had her first dose of the meds. Not sure how long its likely to be before there is any sign of improvement. But last night was awful ... I'm really longing for any improvement at all tonight.
I had an appointment with my psych this morning ... feeling a bit fragile after that. And I had to see my solicitor this afternoon regarding estate and probate issues. Always more papers to sign it seems. But things are happening.
Friday I see my GP ... need some referrals and some scripts. Will also talk to him about COVID vaccine, and get his thoughts on that. I had my flu vac last week, so cant have COVID jab just yet, but just want him opinion about a few things. I must admit that with hubby dying of blood clots (in the lungs) and another recent death attributed to the AZ vac, I am not as keen to get it now as I once was. If I had a choice I would have the other vac, but I'm 62 and am not given a choice. Yeah I know the chances of blood clots from the vaccine are minute ... but they are still there. And with my luck lately ... I figure if anyone is going to get complications ... I will.
Emelia 💕
