Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - good days for lola??

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. So we're still on this wild roller coaster but we are definitely on a high point at the moment (which is still scary because I feel like we're going to drop at any second!!) How is it that Lola seems to be getting healthier when everyone keeps telling us that there is no hope? She has stopped gagging after drinking water, has stopped having drops of blood come from her nose, her eyes look better, and her energy level and overall mood has gotten much better. She is almost back to doing her normal daily things (although we try to still keep her as calm as possible since we are still unsure of everything) I ended up not going to north jersey today for her first consultation because it would have been a total of 6 hours in the car for lola in addition to however long the appointment would have taken...i also wasn't guaranteed to meet with a specialist..i would travel to the end of the earth if lola needed me to, but my mom and I felt that we should wait a couple of days (at least to ensure that when we go we will meet with the doctor) ..when we went to u penn we spoke with a resident that had no idea about what was going on and it was basically a waste of our time, money, and lola's energy. I can't bring myself to keep doing this to lola and to me. Anyway, I am so so happy with how lola is right now..she is on all of the same meds except we stopped the clavamox because it has been 10 days (which is what the bottle says) ...I feel like I am starting to think things are back to normal and that lola is going to be here with me forever and then something bad is going to happen..or something is happening now that i just can't see on the surface and i am being foolish for not driving her to north jersey today. i just don't want to keep getting lola's blood taken and tested by a NEW doctor each week, only to hear them give us their hopeless thoughts, at which point we decide to never go back to them.. so then begins the endless cycle of going home with our heads down feeling sad and defeated only to start the search all over again for a new doctor.. i would love to hear any opinions about lola's current state--i know that this is ultimately a decision that i must make but i know that everyone on here has been through this or is going through this..and i just don't get what is going on right now.. thank you as always, christina and lola

Christina new jersey

Christina, I can really understand your decision to not make the long drive. I would at least get your local vet to do an in house PCV reading just to make sure Lola is steady. It should run less than $20.00 and give you peace of mind. Glad to hear she is seemingly much improved. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Christina, I have been following Lol's story but haven't posted in regard to it. However I did want to comment on this statement you made: "How is it that Lola seems to be getting healthier when everyone keeps telling us that there is no hope? " I have been involved with AIHA/IMHA for 19 1/2 years since my Meisha was diagnosed in 1992. I have been doing the Meisha's Hope AIHA/IMHA Web site for 13+ years and have seen thousands of cases of the disease in that time. Far too many vets give up on dogs with AIHA/IMHA because they do not have the experience and expertise to deal with it. However if you read the Success Stories at the MH Web site http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/successstories.htm you will see that many dogs who have been given up on by vets have gone on to recover and do very well. One dog on the Success Stories page had a PCV of 3....yes 3 and was given a 1% chance to survive. She is still doing very well. So please HANG in there and KNOW dogs CAN and DO survive AIHA/IMHA and go on to live happy healthy lives. You both are in my thoughts and prayers.

Joanne MN

Christina, You know how new we are to this....about the same as you and Lola. So all I can do is share what Bentley has gone through this last couple of weeks, and what his numbers have done. I didn't see any improvement in him for three weeks....then, all of a sudden, his behavior improved. He was more alert, barking, asking for treats, etc. When he went back for bloodwork, his PCV was identical to what it was after the second transfusion, and the other levels were good....no more spherocytes. So his numbers matched how he looked clinically (behavior wise). It could be that Lola's meds are kicking in, and doing what they need to in order to get her body back on track. But she will need to be monitored carefully. And I know, for me, I needed to have the specialist there to check Mr. B's blood so I'd have my questions answered....I can imagine your frustration in trying to figure out when and where to take her. Is there a way your regular vet could set up a meeting with a specialist? I was so anxious to take Bentley almost daily to check his numbers....then one day, I just took a deep breath, relaxed, and decided to just ENJOY him....We cuddled, played a bit, napped. And from then on, its been much better. I do know what you mean about being afraid of the future....we go Wed for bloodwork, and I'm so scared Mr. B will have lost ground. This illness is a long, hard road. I don't think I could go to a new vet each time....I'd try to find one I felt comfortable with, who knows alot about Lola's condition and treatment options, and give the medications time to see if they will work. I'm sure the others will have more advice to offer! Mr. B and I send you and Lola big HUGS :) Sally

Sally Louisiana

Christina: Lola has made it this far. I think day by day the odd's are more in her favour. If her spirits are better today fantastic. At some point in the next couple of days that you should get her bloodwork done. I am sure that she will have good and bad days ... don't we all. You her owner and caregiver would know the best about how she is doing ... especially with the hands on attention and nursing you are providing her. I am so very glad that she's not feeling so mopy.

Elaine Ottawa

this disease is day by day and takes a lot of deep breaths and patience, the meds do not work instantaneously, and that is the problem it is different with each animal, but it sounds like lola might be starting to turn a corner, just keep up with what you are doing and do not get discouraged our pooch lived 10 yrs after she was diagnosed, and that was in 1992. take care Bev

Bev

Keep checking her gums. My dog's energy was at its peak when she was at her low. Now I can't tell how she's feeling ever so I rely on her gums. I thought I read somewhere that you were considering alternative methods? My mom told me about her friend whose dog drank car coolant and nearly died from kidney damage. Apparently, they went to ayurvedic vet and her dog lived another 5 years. If there is a good one in your area you should definitely go.

Monet Sammamish

Christina: I'ts been a couple of days, how is Lola doing??? I've been keeping little Lola in my thoughts.

Elaine Ottawa

Hi Christina, I second that request. Always thinking about Lola, too. How are you both? Richard and Dylan

Richard Burnaby

every time i think i posted to you guys, i realize that since i didn't fill out the name field that it didn't post! i'm sorry guys!! it is so nice of you all to check up though, you're all so amazing!! we got her cbc results back over the phone today and we are picking up the actual paper tomorrow (and i really can't remember what the numbers were because i wasn't home when we got the call) good news is that her cells are showing up as regenerative --this news is coming from our local vet so i'm not getting our hopes up too much being that he said this last time and then the internal med specialist said that they werent..but i do believe him..he said that the absolute reticulocytes were actually above the normal percent---her pcv is at 26 which hasn't really changed--i wish i knew what her pcv was when she was healthy so i had something to compare it to..her white blood cells are still low but have climbed slightly---her platelets are still under 50,000 as well (which is my main concern) but the vet says that that could change throughout the course of her meds i feel as though she is stable, and she is having hours of energy and seems like she's back to her normal self--but then there's that 1 or 2 hours late in the day where she starts to pant and have rapid breathing and her eyes loose their focus and her nose runs--i feel like maybe it is just that in between point of the meds but it confirms my decision to remain with her at all times- my mom thinks i am crazy for not leaving her side but what am i expected to do? go out with my friends and then have something happen and hate myself?? i rather take the time necessary to make sure she is better and until then my social life will be put on hold.. i mean, aren't parents the one's that say its YOUR pet she's YOUR responsibility, but then when i try to be responsible i get criticized!! its a never ending cycle, oy! anyway, thats my daily vent. i'm so proud of lola and despite all of the horrible things that have happened, i feel like my love for her has grown, which i didn't even think was possible. hope everyone is well, give your puppies kisses for us! -christina and lola

christina new jersey

Christina, You being Lola's "Mom" ask your Mom if you were sick would she be out socializing? I understand your need to be with Lola. Sometimes dogs do not go back to the normal range of PCV and still go on to live happy normal lives so don't get too caught up in numbers. Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Penny, I already used that one on her! Almost exact words lol!! Thank you so much for your prayers! :)

christina new jersey

This thread was discussed between 25/07/2011 and 30/07/2011

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