peacefrog Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 Thanks Tassie, I agree I've said it over and over - the support here is just amazing!! It was such a comfort to visit each day and see the well wishes and prayers for Esmay, asking how she was going etc, and I even spoke to Dyzney on the phone and email many times over the course of her illness whose tireless support and guidance just floored me! It truly felt as though I wasn't going through it alone, which is not a nice feeling. In time I hope I can assist others in the same way. I'm so sorry you lost Sam What sort of dog was he? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Thanks Tassie, I agree I've said it over and over - the support here is just amazing!! It was such a comfort to visit each day and see the well wishes and prayers for Esmay, asking how she was going etc, and I even spoke to Dyzney on the phone and email many times over the course of her illness whose tireless support and guidance just floored me! It truly felt as though I wasn't going through it alone, which is not a nice feeling. In time I hope I can assist others in the same way. I'm so sorry you lost Sam What sort of dog was he? He was my first purebred Border Collie - introduced me to the world of obedience, agility and tracking trialling - and he did therapy dog work with me in a couple of nursing homes and a palliative care ward. Started me on my dog training journey - well the serious part of it - my first dog Jessie, a Kelpie/BC cross, actually got me to my first obedience club - she was 2 and a half years older than Sam - but outlived him - by about 7 months, bless her. Losing them never gets easier - it just gets different each time - and you know that you've got through it once, you can get through it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacefrog Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 I love border collies, our first dog was a border collie. They are my favourite "big" dog I can't remember feeling like this when we lost him, but he was the family dog and not really mine. I do think you are right in that the first dog you lose is the hardest and then it just becomes different. I think you also start to realise that they are here for only a short time and that's just the way it is. I got Esmay just after we lost a close family member, so I think we all latched onto her in our time of grief and she quickly pulled us out of it with her antics! She was one hilarious dog. I think part of our grief is in losing her so young in the way that we did but the majority would be her just not being here. The amount of times I have turned around expecting her to be behind me before remembering - I think that's going to take the longest to come to terms with. Anyway, I'm going to go watch a movie and relax a bit. Today was the first day I have managed to accomplish anything from "normal" life so I feel some unwinding is in order...and it had to be my favourite activity of washing and the 5 loads that came home from our camping trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 I love border collies, our first dog was a border collie. They are my favourite "big" dog I can't remember feeling like this when we lost him, but he was the family dog and not really mine. I do think you are right in that the first dog you lose is the hardest and then it just becomes different. I think you also start to realise that they are here for only a short time and that's just the way it is. I got Esmay just after we lost a close family member, so I think we all latched onto her in our time of grief and she quickly pulled us out of it with her antics! She was one hilarious dog. I think part of our grief is in losing her so young in the way that we did but the majority would be her just not being here. The amount of times I have turned around expecting her to be behind me before remembering - I think that's going to take the longest to come to terms with. Anyway, I'm going to go watch a movie and relax a bit. Today was the first day I have managed to accomplish anything from "normal" life so I feel some unwinding is in order...and it had to be my favourite activity of washing and the 5 loads that came home from our camping trip! And that was probably just the right sort of 'normal' that you needed - well done! Take care - and keep loving those memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkehre Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Lovely to see you back PF. How was your trip away with OH? I hope you are coping OK. When will you be getting your foster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacefrog Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share Posted February 16, 2010 (edited) Our trip away was amazing Dyzney, we went to the country and camped beside a waterfall for 3 nights...was just the best! I am coping pretty well, a few tears here and there but each day becomes a little easier. Esmay comes home this afternoon, I am really looking forward to that! I am thinking about taking in some giveaway Maltese & Shih Tzu's, one dog at a time, and rehoming them. I would love to do something like that for awhile. Edited February 16, 2010 by peacefrog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkehre Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Down by the waterfall for 3 days sounds just perfect. How wonderfully peaceful. I am glad you are coping OK. Best of luck with your new fostering venture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonlime Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Good on you Peacefrog for getting into fostering, there is nothing more rewarding in this world. Thankyou for your thoughts Tassie, you have been great during this hard time. And Peacefrog, it does get easier, but I know what you mean about expecting Esmay to be there when you turn around...I kept going to make up Fel's bowl of dinner everynight and would call out to him in the yard, then realising he wasnt coming home. Those are the hardest times. Im glad you get Esmay back tomorrow. I am desperate to have Fellow back, I am very unimpressed with the cremation company (who came highly recommended by DOLers). I still dont have Fellow back which makes me feel a little unsettled. They havent returned my calls or emails since the day he was put to sleep (4th Feb). They have a different excuse everytime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacefrog Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share Posted February 16, 2010 Definitely agree there groupfive, it's constantly on your mind, but when you go about your business and momentarily forget it's the little things that get you. Esmay came this afternoon, she is in a gorgeous little tabletop cabinet and I can put in a photo, collar and toy, it's something I will keep forever of my little girl. I was looking forward to having her home aswell. It's the last phase of the grief I suppose, now it's just time that is needed to heal. I'm sorry to hear of your troubles with the cremation company, that is very bad form in a time of grief! I can't believe it has taken them that long :rolleyes: Esmay passed on Tuesday and was picked up and cremated on the Wed and then it was just a matter of waiting for the plaques to be done. I hope you get some answers soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonlime Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Definitely agree there groupfive, it's constantly on your mind, but when you go about your business and momentarily forget it's the little things that get you. Esmay came this afternoon, she is in a gorgeous little tabletop cabinet and I can put in a photo, collar and toy, it's something I will keep forever of my little girl. I was looking forward to having her home aswell. It's the last phase of the grief I suppose, now it's just time that is needed to heal. I'm sorry to hear of your troubles with the cremation company, that is very bad form in a time of grief! I can't believe it has taken them that long Esmay passed on Tuesday and was picked up and cremated on the Wed and then it was just a matter of waiting for the plaques to be done. I hope you get some answers soon! Yes, he is having a hand made urn done, which I understand can take a bit longer, however it is their lack of contact that really has me in the shits. They havent phoned or emailed once to give me an update or even confirm the details that I wanted on the urn. It is costing me a pretty penny, you would think at a time like this, I wouldnt have to chase them. I just want my boy home. Ill be calling them tomorrow I think, for the fourth time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahs mum Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Hi there I am new to the Dogz online forum, however have been searching all over to get information on Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia, and can see that there are lots of people who have experience with this scary illness. Just thought I would put down my recent experience with IMT. My much loved 'substitute daughter' 6 year old gordon setter Sarah who is normally healthy as, was running a temp and would not eat her dinner one night a couple of weeks ago. I got her to my vet early next morning thinking she had an infection of some sort. To my absolute horror after the temp was taken (41c) the vet sprang into action and put her on an immediate antibiotic drip etc and bloods were taken, the vet was extremely worried and was suggesting all different illnesses, cancer, tumours, lymphoma etc etc. She was telling me that there was something seriosly wrong with her as 41c was really really high for a dog and she needed to get the temp down and investigate the reason for it. To her credit the vet did lots of tests including a full xray to try to narrow down what was causing the extremely low white cells that showed in the blood tests. Overnight stay at the vets, more bloods the next day, I was convinced I would be saying goodbye to my special girl that day, however the vet was terrific and as I was so distressed I am sure I only took in half of what she was telling me. Sarah slowly rallied without the need for a transfusion and her bloods were slowly slowly looking a little better and temp was going down slowly. I brought her home after 2 days at the vets and she has been on antibiotics. More bloods every couple of daysto monitor what the white cells were doing and also cortisone tablets to knock out the immune system to give her body a chance to heal itself. I am happy to say that the bloods that were done yesterday are all showing levels in the normal range. Sarah's IMT was only a mild case as the vet said I was lucky to get her in and treatment started quickly. I know there are no permanent aspects of this but I am guardedly optimistic in hoping that when the cortisone is finished in quite a few months time that we will have turned te corner and keep this at bay. Just thought I would tell my story and maybe help someone else. Thanks for reading, Sarah's Mum X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkehre Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 Thanks for sharing Sarah's mum. I too hope Sarah has a full recovery and a long and healthy life ahead. Please keep us posted. Lots of hugs to Sarah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacefrog Posted March 5, 2010 Author Share Posted March 5, 2010 Hi Sarahs Mum, thank-you for sharing your story. It is so nice to hear the positive stories for a change! I hope Sarah continues to improve for you. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahs mum Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Hello everyone who is involved in the Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia rollercoaster. Our gorgeous Sarah has slipped a bit since the my last posting. Bloods taken this week showed her white cells back down again and my vet has put her on a cocktail of drugs (Imuran and Doxy + Prednisone) to see if this will knock this IMT on the head. She is not the same happy super placid kid that she was prior, but we are hanging in there with her ravanous hunger and thirst from the cortisone and are due for more bloods in a week or so so see how it is all going. I hope the future looks bright and I am looking everywhere on the net to see if there are some good outcomes for us all. Does any one have a happy sotory that they can pass on to give me a glimmer of hope? Thanks to the the people that have replied I really appreciate the advice. Sarah's Mum X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bokezu Posted March 19, 2010 Share Posted March 19, 2010 Sending lots and lots of healing vibes Sarah's way...........hoping she perks up in the next couple of days and gets stronger and shakes this illness! It can be beaten, and thats what Sarah will do I know xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahs mum Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Sending lots and lots of healing vibes Sarah's way...........hoping she perks up in the next couple of days and gets stronger and shakes this illness! It can be beaten, and thats what Sarah will do I know xxx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahs mum Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Sending lots and lots of healing vibes Sarah's way...........hoping she perks up in the next couple of days and gets stronger and shakes this illness! It can be beaten, and thats what Sarah will do I know xxx Thanks again everyone for replies. Still on the IMT rollercoaster, More bloods last week to see how Sar is going. Huge shock, all whites OK, however now low in the red cells, amemia!!! Off to the Uni of Qld for a full stomach scan. Good news there, nothing showed up at all, all organs are clear, liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas etc. So no underlying nasty tumour that they can see. So why the no red cell count??? Vet thinks perhaps the Imuran (which has a side effect sometimes of causing anemia) so Imuran dose cut drastically, and upped the dose of the Prednisone. See how she goes until next week and then check everything again. I am worried about bone cancer, vets think not, that will be the next test, a bone marrow biopsy. Am beginning to wonder if I am being cruel and just clutching at straws for my own selfish reasons. Should I keep pursuing this or just do a wait and see on the treatment. Maybe see another vet specialist - or soemone who has treated lots of other dogs with this condition. A vet at the Uni suggested this was one way to go. My own vet has been fabulous though but is finding this all very frustrating. Sar is still not her old self, and is lying around a lot - but I guess with the drugs and now the anemia - that is to be expected. Will keep everyone posted. Keep sending the good vibes our way please. Sarahs Mum XX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now