Dont' worry! It's just the medicine!

[Twice]

Can I vent? I have been out of my mind these past 3 days over my Abbyhead and nobody at home gets it. . "Don't worry!" they tell me. "It's just the medicine!" I wish I could so easily dismiss it.

When the doctor prescribed this Ivermectin for Abbys mange, she told me if I notice any nausea or listlessness to get her back there immediately. Monday night I noticed her mopey. Tuesday night I took her and Roxy out for a walk. Abby did her business and insisted on going back upstairs. Nothing I did could make her move in any direction other than home. I brought her up and walked Roxy alone. This in itself is odd because Abby is like the mayor. She LOVES walking around the block saying hi to everyone. If someone comes walking up the sidewalk towards us Roxy gets suspicious. Abby will sit and look pretty waiting for the new person to say how cute she is (and they always do lol) I chalked that up to her back leg still bothering her (she jumped off the couch Monday night and I think she landed wrong because she's been babying it)

Yesterday morning my mom called me. She goes to my house a couple times a day while I'm at work to walk my dogs. Abby wouldn't come out of her pen. She tried coaxing her out with food, fruit even vanilla wafers. She wouldn't move. That's when I remembered what the doctor said. I left work and brought her in immediately.

Doctor says that this "might" be the Ivermectin. She took her off of it for 3 days then starting the dosage process from 0.1 again. How exactly is this going to help!?!?? If she's reacting to it now, she will react to it again right?? I love her primary vet but I wish to God she would just step out of that little box sometimes. There HAS to be something else we can do. "well we used to do this, but we don't have that anymore. and we used to do THIS but we haven't done that in a long time because we have this new stuff". I don't care what you USED to do. I want to know what you are GOING to do.

I asked for another kidney panel to be run. Abbys numbers are elevated. She says this could be from the Ivermectin too. No it cant! Yes, I believe 100% that her attitude, mood and behavior these past 3 days are because of this drug, I can even believe it might be why her hind leg hurts. Ivermectin when given to humans can sometimes cause muscle and joint pain. But it would not cause a 60 point spike in her BUN level. Even IF it somehow did, it would no way no how cause a jump in calcium, creatinine and phosphorous too. Something else is going on here but nobody will listen to me! I swear if one more person tells me "it's just the medicine" I'm going to jail!

Yesterday morning I made an appointment for her with a holistic vet. I was supposed to take her today but have to cancel that for now. I can't afford 160.00 yesterday for emergency treatment then 180 today for another doctor (plus the 250 that the specialist is going to charge me when she finds out about yesterdays test results )

Abby is going to get over this. I have no doubt that I will get her numbers back down to a more normal range again. Sometimes it feels like I'm running uphill on an escalator. I'm moving but not getting anywhere. Welcome to the roller coaster ride that is kidney failure

Anyway. I'm sorry. I just needed to scream and I know that you guys are the only people that I have right now who understand.

So thank you



ps.

If theres an upside to any of this her PCV is back up to 32 and she is maintaining a steady weight gain of about a pound a week. She now weighs an amazing 24.3 pounds!

 

[RescueMe]

Im sorry that Abby is still not better. Chin up she will get better. prayers to you guys.

 

[Fontanafox]

Praying for Abby to get back to her ole self

 

[MamaAndi]

I feel bad for you guys, I know you work so hard to do everything in your power to keep her healthy and happy.

I did want to mention though...lots of people forget that you have the right to refuse a medication. Just because the vet says it must a certain way doesn't mean it has to be. I work in nursing and lots of people forget that doctors work for them! Same way with vets. If you are unhappy with a mediction just nicely lay it out and say...This doesn't work so where do we go from here? You know your Abby better than anyone because you are caring for her all the time. Go with your mama instinct!

 

[Twice]

Im sorry that Abby is still not better. Chin up she will get better. prayers to you guys.

Thanks Abby is never going to get better though. The best we can hope for is to maintain her current health and fight like hell against any backslides. And this is a backslide. 2 steps forward, one step backwards

I'm sure it has to do with the infection, immune system and probably some allergies making her weaker. I've noticed her nose runs when we're outside so I'm thinking allergies.

 

[bullmama]

I feel for you sweetie. I am not a big fan of 95% of vets out there. Hopefully the holistic vet will give you a better idea

 

[Twice]

I feel for you sweetie. I am not a big fan of 95% of vets out there. Hopefully the holistic vet will give you a better idea

I love her vet. She has given me her cell phone number to call or text any time I have questions or concerns, I have her personal email address and she is always sending me research and studies and things. She calls at night and on weekends to check on Abbys progress. She comes in early or stays late for us. She has even offered to take the hour and a half long drive to meet face to face with her kidney doctors. She is completely committed and dedicated to her care.

I just wish that she would for ONCE throw the rule book away. First we try this. Then we try this. Oh no, we can't go here until we've gone there. It drives me nuts!!! lol I get it. There are protocols for everything but they aren't one size fits all and I feel like we are wasting time that we really don't have following steps that were designed for someone else!

Thanks for letting me vent (again lol)

 

[BabyDuke]

Oh I feel for you.. and I am not a big fan of vets either but sounds like you have a good one.. we have to remember they are human too and the answers are not always black and white as much as we would like them to be.. its all trial and error unfortunately and because we love our babies so much we just want the answers NOW.. I am the same way.. Duke can not take benadryl or he gets lethargic like crazy.. it took our dermatologist changing all of his meds to figure that one out! now he takes Zrtec and he is fine yet many bullies on here take the other and are fine?? hang in there.. really hoping you get to the bottom of it soon. big hugs!!!

 

[JAKEISGREAT]

Well..I don't have any words of wisdom for you. You are in uncharted territory for me. But I can offer you a pat on the back and a hug. It's true Abby won't ever be cured..but there will be more forward steps. I suppose sometimes we have to take the steps backwards to understand how huge the forward steps are. Personally, if I were you..I'd count the staying in place steps as Big steps..just holding her place for another forward move. You are a wonderful Bully mom, and Abby wouldn't be moving forward, even in tiny steps without you.

 

[RiiSi]

I feel for you. It must be totally frustrating cause you're doing everything and beyond to give her a wonderful life against all odds.

BTW we are not propably the vets favorite clients....

 

[Twice]

BTW we are not propably the vets favorite clients....

no, we probably are not!

 

[Sherry]

A better Bully Mom, I have not met. We would do anything for our fur kids, and you do. Abby is teaching us all so much through you my dear friend.

 

[BabyDuke]

no, we probably are not!

ha ha ha so true!!!! I think they run when they see us coming!!

 

[kazzy220]

Hang in there .... I know how frustrating it is but it does seem like your vet is really on your side!! Big to you ... and screaming at the top of your voice is allowed!!

 

[Audrey Hepbull]

I am sorry you are going through all this. I know how frustrating it is to have a bully with a bazillion health issues. Hoping your sweet baby is feeling better soon!