Jason & Belle (GA)
Active Member
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=13494
I wanted to give you an update on Belle 24 hours post op. Although the circumstances of the surgery weren't ideal, it seems that it may have been necessary after all. Her bilirubin was >12 and rising before surgery, and today it's at 5.5. The doctor believes the cyst they found and drained was compromising the bile duct. They couldn't remove the cyst, but if this ever happens again, they can drain it without invasive surgery. Her ALT went from a High of 4000 to 1300 and dropping, her pancreas values are now normal, and her anemia is getting better but still present. The numbers are all very positive. We should have her biopsy results soon, so I'll finally have some answers as to what's been happening with her. They didn't see anything unusual during surgery, so between that and the fact that she has gained weight and always eaten well over the last year, we're hopeful it's not cancer.
There is still some concern about her healing ability, but they have decreased her dose of prednisolone by half, stopped the Plavix, and have her diabetes well under control. All good news as far as healing goes. The doctor was very happy last night when she went in to see her and she popped up and came to the front of the cage. When I saw her this morning, she was alert and active, trying very hard to jump off of the examination table. After about half an hour, she fell asleep. She's been through a lot and the fentanyl she's on seems to have a real sedative effect on her. She also did eat a meal on her own.
I talked to the vet about keeping her in the hospital until she was fully recovered, and she gave me some great ideas to put my mind at ease about the intestines healing. Like taking her home, but bringing her back in frequently to check the intestines to make sure they were healing. I'd love to have her home, so that may be what I do.
Thank you all for your kind words and support. It's gotten her this far, and for the first time, I'm somewhat optimistic that she will fully recover.
Jason
I wanted to give you an update on Belle 24 hours post op. Although the circumstances of the surgery weren't ideal, it seems that it may have been necessary after all. Her bilirubin was >12 and rising before surgery, and today it's at 5.5. The doctor believes the cyst they found and drained was compromising the bile duct. They couldn't remove the cyst, but if this ever happens again, they can drain it without invasive surgery. Her ALT went from a High of 4000 to 1300 and dropping, her pancreas values are now normal, and her anemia is getting better but still present. The numbers are all very positive. We should have her biopsy results soon, so I'll finally have some answers as to what's been happening with her. They didn't see anything unusual during surgery, so between that and the fact that she has gained weight and always eaten well over the last year, we're hopeful it's not cancer.
There is still some concern about her healing ability, but they have decreased her dose of prednisolone by half, stopped the Plavix, and have her diabetes well under control. All good news as far as healing goes. The doctor was very happy last night when she went in to see her and she popped up and came to the front of the cage. When I saw her this morning, she was alert and active, trying very hard to jump off of the examination table. After about half an hour, she fell asleep. She's been through a lot and the fentanyl she's on seems to have a real sedative effect on her. She also did eat a meal on her own.
I talked to the vet about keeping her in the hospital until she was fully recovered, and she gave me some great ideas to put my mind at ease about the intestines healing. Like taking her home, but bringing her back in frequently to check the intestines to make sure they were healing. I'd love to have her home, so that may be what I do.
Thank you all for your kind words and support. It's gotten her this far, and for the first time, I'm somewhat optimistic that she will fully recover.
Jason
