Saturday, 03/03/18

Ha! "Ozzie looks nice but is an azzhole..."

Love, love ! Looks like my current world !! We ended up breaking trail for just under a mile and gladly launched onto a snowmobile track for the remaining two !

Oh, Ozzie! I can't believe he's an azzhole. I bet he's wonderful all the time!

Not a great week....

Went to MD yesterday to have nerve issue evaluated. Yes, ulnar nerve is inflamed. Treatment - stretch the nerve and surrounding tissue, take ibuprofen (if bariatric dr approves - which s/he won't), don't abuse it. Next level of treatment comes when grip weakens, fingers fail, nerve pain shoots down arm. Hmmm.... Boooo.....

While I was there the took my BP. SKY HIGH! It's probably the Vyvanse, so it will be "bye bye vyvanse...Doc said that you must go..." (sung to the tune of Bye,bye Birdie.... you're in the army now...) I'm sure next month when I go in for a recheck. Booooo...... again!

Keira - all blood work normal - yay and booooooo! Yay cause everything topically looks fine. Boo because now I have some tough choices to make. Well, honestly I've already made them, but I'm pretending I'm mulling over my options. I love her dearly and had not planned on her going anywhere anytime soon. I was hoping to have her for another 4 years at least! Yet, I have to do what's right for me and for Keira. Fact is I'm a school teacher who created a side business to make ends meet because tutoring was not a lucrative second career. I don't have unlimited funds and spending 5K on an operation that may or may not extend her life another year (being optimistic) doesn't seem right. Spleen cases with the multiple tumors are statistically 80% of the time sarcomas and only 20% of the time benign. To find out what type of tumors would require an open operation to remove part of the spleen since needle biopsies on the spleen are inconclusive. I'm inclined to take the passive road and do nothing for now and take a wait and see attitude. I have more questions for the vet before I make a final decision.

Caught myself engaging in some heavy duty negative self talk the past few days. Not good!!!!

No clue on weight. have not weighed since the other day. Eating was horrendous yesterday. Today has been better.

Hi Devon

Whew, you have a lot going on. Not sure how you injured the wrist but baby it as you can. I have a paraffin bath for my hands and it sure feels good. A hand therapist might help you. But its one more thing to do. Take care of it though.

Poor Kiera. I think you are right to wait and see. Dogs don't understand that suffering might bring some benefit later. Hard to put a dog through surgery when it won't buy much. I lost a 9 year old border to prostate cancer some years ago. I went to a specialty vet in santa rosa when the ones here couldn't figure it out. The specialist figured it out quickly but recommended no treatment. We had him for another couple of months and spoiled him rotten. I used to take him to Petco to look at the rats in cages which he adored. He tried to drag a cart of them away. Also special beach visits. Your heart will tell your whats right and extensive and uncomfortable treatments are not necessarily best for the dog. Peace to you on this. Hug that girl.

Diane S

Best advice ever!

Hey Devon, there is a topical form of ibuprofen called Voltaren Gel. It requires a prescription. While it is absorbed through skin and gets into bloodstream, maybe it would not be so bad as pill form. Shel, thoughts please? I have some and it works. Diane S

There is still a risk to gastric tissue even with topical application. BUT, it is thought to be minimal. Honestly, not well studied. But, people who are in the best position to give expert opinion say that it is ok in people who are at highest risk of NSAID gi side effects....for example, people on blood thinners and the elderly.

So, not NO risk but widely considered to be safe for most vulnerable populations. If I was answering a drug info question at work, I would say it is a reasonable option for VSG patient.

If it requires a prior auth in your prescription insurance system, there is a very good possibility that it would be ultimately approved because of history of VSG. (Voltaren gel frequently requires auth)

FYI, it is OTC in Canada, about 12 dollars a tube. So close, yet so far away.

Once again, Shel, I'm so glad you're on OUR team.

I'd always interpreted the NSAIDs information as meaning that ALL NSAIDs are dangerous to us. Thank you for the differentiation re the topical apps.