Adventurin' Billy - trip #3

Oh dear.  I'm not on as much now that I have dialup and when I am I miss a lot of stuff........
 
Billy, you've got a whole bunch of german shepherds crossing their paws for you...and even the cats are in on the act.  You've just gotta keep doing what you're doing....fighting to get healthy again and being a good boy about your meds for mom and dad.  There are a LOT of people and critters thinking about you and praying for you, so when it gets hard, please remember that.  LOTS of folks are pulling for you to get better soon.
 
Callie, I know you have got to be going through absolute ehll right now, and there isn't a darned thing I can do except to send you some cyber hugs and keep both you and David in my thots and prayers....and you are.  I know that in a crisis you've just gotta keep doing what you have to do, but do try to find a few minutes to claim as your own each day to take care of YOU.  And give that wonderful husband of yours an extra hug from me.  He deserves it.

said was "I'll write the ticket FAST then". *sigh*

Hard a_ _ Cops!
 
Callie, let me know if you need me to do Anything  for you!
Billy is in my thoughts and prayers. Paws and fingers crossed for stability and healing.
 
Hugs...

Hi:  I'm new here but would like to let you know that I have a 10 year old Westie named Niki, she has been fighting this horrible disease for 4 years.  She not only has AIHA but Thrombocytopenia and Diabetes, the diabetes was caused by the large amounts of cortisone we used to treat the other autoimmune issues.  We almost lost her last month when without warning her gums starting bleeding and she had huge amounts of blood in her urine, I rushed her to the emergency hospital and her platelet count was ZERO.  I cannot believe she survived because most will bleed to death.  Her PCV (anemia) dropped to 21 so we were fighting both at the same time.  She has also had tranfusions which helped her survive a year and a half ago when her PCV dropped to 13!  Last week her blood test came back with a platelet count of 396,000 (normal is 200,000 to 600,000) and her PCV was 51.  Just when you think you have this crap beat it comes back with a vengeance!  I think the ATOPICA that I have been giving her is a life saver and for some reason the human form Cyclosporine made her very sick and did not work.  When she was first diagnosed 4 years ago it took a month to get this disease in control so keep fighting, she went a year and a half without any problems this time.  Let me know if I can help in any way.
Linda

Holly, Red and I are sending good thoughts your way.  Maybe you should take some Rescue Remedy yourself.

callie--Romeo and I are sending your whole family positive thoughts, all are in our prayers.  I only hope I am as good a mom to him as you are to your babies, you are my inspiration. 
 
Billy--you sweet boy, you are so cute, and so brave, wow, your mommy is so proud of you, we all are.  lease baby fight with all your might to get better; there are a lot of people and doggies cheering for you.  my little dog Romeo sends you lights of tail wagging and butt sniffs...take care my love.  we are hoping to hear good news from your mommy soon.  lots of hugs and kisses. 
 

Folks you blow me away with your support -- THANK YOU.   **Every single one of you** hit a hot note with me this morning.  I'm racing to work and wanted to post so I can't address each of you individually as I'd like.
 
Zippie your post is precious to me -- I understand every single thing you're saying (Billy's blood has been below 10 twice now) - particularly about how it can cross into another auto-immune disease.  But **thank you** for your comments about the cyclosporin -- I'm at the point right now where I'm trying to find it for my vet to get it for us and I was investigating the human form as well.  Atopecia is partly what Billy is on -- 250 mg once a day, plus 20 mg of pred twice a day (and trust me -- we ARE watching for renal and liver problems in a big big way). 
 
Hi folks -- it just got TOO much last night, forgive me for not posting.  He IS home.  We got home about 11:30 last night (of course, as 'stuff' happens right now, David's car had a short and when a Mini says "electrical failure" it means you're not even gonna get into the trunk where the emergency manual is *sigh*).  So not only did he have to contend with getting to the other end of the world to work, Billy and I had to 'detour' by way of where David works last night to pick him up and take him TO his now-fixed car *sigh*). 
 
This is the soonest I've seen him after a transfusion, so I'm not exactly sure how to say he 'is' yet.  He's not a bright-eyed and busy tailed as last Saturday, but he also has good color and generally seems like he feels good. 
 
They think what caused this last 'crash' was lack of iron.  He's really really iron-deficient.  Now I've been shoving everything at him that has iron (from beef heart to spinach and beyond), BUT he's also been on canned vet food up there for what … nearly 3 weeks with only 'weekends' at home of a day or two.  So they gave him a shot of iron and have put him on a double-dose of a pet vitamin w/iron. 
 
It's very likely that his body is chugging SO hard to try to turn out new baby red blood cells and yet the immune system was so bent on destroying them, that because of the abnormal load on the bloodstream the iron he had just wasn't enough.  They really don't think there's internal bleeding.  
 
The fact that he's so iron-deficient may also be exactly what's causing him to be tired.  (Anyone else thinking of the old Geritol commercial "Iron poor tired blood"??)
 
He's REALLY glad to be home.  His color is good and I'll post again just as soon as I#%92m able.  This is the day I have to be careful for ME.  Too many long work hours trying to 'make up' and long long driving trips.  I think Mom needs vitamins too (and I'm not just saying that either!).  Thanks again!! more news later.
 

All of you are still in my thoughts and prayers. 
 
God doesn't give you more than you can handle, but some days I'm sure you want to say "Okay, enough already Big Guy".
 
{{{hugs}}}

Sorry, I forgot to ad that when she first developed anemia the only thing that really brought her out of the dive was IMURAN, I think Billy needs to try this ASAP because it takes several days to work.  Please talk to your Vet about this.  So in the short term Imuran and Cortisone, long term maintenance if needed would be the ATOPICA.

More hugs to you - been really busy with my own pair of sick canine boys but you are still in our thoughts and prayers!  I bet you are on rescue remedy yourself but if you aren't be sure you look into it.  I used it, and a stress supplement, last year when my world kind of came crashing down and I couldn't beleive what a difference it made.

Late seeing this but very sorry to hear of the additional Gainesville trip and all the other assorted problems you've been having.
 
(((hugs))) to all and lots of good thoughts for Billy's recovery! 
 
Hope by now things are getting better for all. 

I'm so glad that Billy is home- and I'm sure he will continue to improve- I really have the feeling that he's turned the corner on this!
 
Billy- eat all the healthy and yummy stuff your mommy makes for you and you will feel better real soon!

Yay!  I am glad he is home and seems to be doing OK.  I suppose it is good to know he has the iron problem since it seems easily fixable.  I hope that's all
 
Now Billy, listen carefully.  We know you love Eric, but no more surprise visits, OK?  Mommy needs to stay home and work and sleep and spend time with you, outside of 3 hour car rides OK boy!  Keep up the good work!

I'm so glad Billy is home; you've had a rough week, especially with the mini breaking down. The iron supplements may make a lot of difference. I hope Billy is stable and you can get some rest this weekend; <<>>.
 
 Billy, you're such a good boy and you're going to feel better very soon. Jessie, Weasel, and Nexus all have thier paws crossed for you and are sending you get well belly rubs and ear scratches.

Tonight he seems actually a bit better -- Eric phoned to check on him (I like that they do that) and he says it IS likely that it's the low iron causing the fatigue, that in fact he probably didn't sleep much because of testing, etc.  So he's probably just plain tired.

He did fine during the day -- I didn't get to come home (I gave my boss a choice -- either let me come home during the day to check on him and I'd come back and work late, or I'd work straight thru and leave ON THE DOT of 5.).  It was actually probably better for me to stay because then he didn't get all upset at my coming and going again and he had a clean crate (with these meds that's a wonder!)

So we're still a go here!  Zippie I will check out that med as well - thanks.

Dang why didn't the picture show up rather than making you chase it.  It's JUST a little one from my Razor and heck there's ALWAYS laundry on the futon!1 LOL