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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - To those of us that have lost our friend
| When I started on this Thread, I met some Beautiful, Caring people. You were so helpful to us, so supportive. The new ones that had no idea what to expect next. The ones that needed to communicate with others that were going through the battle with this Damn Disease. At times I felt alone, until I was able to come here and discuss what should be done next, what to look for etc.? I didn't feel alone any longer. Thank You! After our Loss, I really Prayed that things would have better outcomes for all of you and your fur friends. Now I've seen 2 more losses on here since losing Lucky. I am so Sorry and Heart Broken that any one has to go through this. As I sit here crying for Dufy, Bently, Tessy and our Lucky, I feel that maybe now, We may need a place to come every now and then to discuss our loss. When talking about it with people that haven't gone through it, they look at us like we are crazy. We are still Hurting and at times wish that there was someplace to go to talk to others. You will all remain in my daily thoughts. Our Memories will live on in our Hearts.... |
| Kathy Crestline |
| Kathy, I agree....unless a guardian has walked this road, I'm not sure they can understand just how intense it is. My heart hurts so badly right now for losing Bentley after he put up such a brave fight, never complaining. It is helpful for me as well to have a place to talk with others who can relate. My HUGS to all whose furbabies have crossed the Bridge, and my best wishes to those still fighting. Sally and Bentley (Over the Bridge 10-29-11) |
| Sally Louisiana |
| Sally, We have a site on the ROTW that we post on. It's about Fur friends that we have lost and that we miss. Lucky has her thread. A few people started posting on it about how they lost their babies. Sad Stories. They started pouring out their feelings and that's when I thought that maybe we could do that here? A few of us are hurting and Maybe we need to post out feelings? You mentioned that maybe Lucky and Bentley had the same condition. Lucky had her first Transfusion and went up to a 42%. After a couple of days, She went down to a 40%. The Atopica and Pednisone got her back to a 41%. Weeks later she was a 36%. She kept having drastic drops and go up a few, another drastic drop, up a few. This went on for the last 6 mos. of her life. She never could get her levels back up. She was maxed out on her meds. She was taking 13 pills a day. They couldn't up the dosages as that could kill her. When she passed away, she had gone down to a 12%. That isn't what ended her life. The Specialist said that when they are maxed out on the Meds, there's a good chance of forming Blood Clots. Lucky was having a hard time Breathing (worse than her breathing for the last few Months.) She started vomiting Sunday Morning ( and looked at us like she was going to be in trouble.She had been so badly abused by her previous Owners)) :( Her panting was worse. I believe that she fought for her little girl.) When we had called her Doctor that day, He had planned on a Blood Transfusion the following morning. When my Husband and our other Daughter decided not to wait, by the time that they got to the car, Lucky was really drooling. She had a lot of Mucous Flowing. When they got to the Doctors office, Lucky was cold and her oxygen level was low. She couldn't get comfortable. Luckys little girl feels that we should have brought her home. Sally, How could we have brought her home? I feel that she would have suffered so much. She had already started flipping her body. The only Reason that I am telling you this is to see if what Lucky had was the same as your Bentley? Sally, I really want to see More Success stories. I'd love to see a cure. We know what these people on this site are going through and hope to be reading about their Success stories. It's a Terrible disease that no one should have to go through. Lucky Duck, You left us Sept.5th and we Miss you so much. RIP Baby Girl! :( |
| Kathy Calif. |
| Bentley was very similar.....he had a HCT of 19 when diagnosed, and initial transfusion got him to 24. He was put on prednisone and cyclosporine, but within two weeks was back down to 17. A second transfusion got him to 35.....Mycophenolate was added, along with Pepcid, Sucralfate, Benazepril, PetTinic, Denamarin, and antibiotics and meds for yeast infections, etc. His meds had to be upped after about six weeks, to a maximum level....we had nowhere to go further down the road. After the second transfusion, Bentley went down to HCT of 28, and settled there until the destruction finally stopped, about eight weeks in. Beyond then, his numbers climbed to 35 at the highest....then he had the same larger dips of about 5 pts, then an upward swing of 1-2 pts, then down 5, etc. This last week, he had fallen back from 29 to 24 in two days. The last two days I am convinced he was in pain....he had been troubled with stomach issues the last couple of weeks, and skyrocketing WBCs. He wasn't eating, was confused when he went outside, and moved frequently in an attempt to get comfortable. He barely raised his head from the floor. Like I said earlier, there was nowhere to go with meds. After a hard four month fight, I knew it was time to stop. I would try to help Lucky's girl understand just how uncomfortable Lucky was, and that the best gift we can give our furry friends in that situation is a peaceful crossing over the Bridge. To have brought her home would only have prolonged her agony. The choice you made was the best one....don't doubt that. It may just take time for your little girl to realize it. Hopefully one day a cure can be found....from what I've learned, humans also suffer from this. How incredibly horrific for them. Sally and Bentley (Over the Bridge 10-29-11) |
| Sally Louisiana |
| Hi Sally! It does sound like they were Similar cases. Lucky's destruction never stopped. No matter what the doctors ordered or what we did, seemed to have helped her. She never lost her appetite, Not even on her Death bed. Lucky ate boiled chicken the morning that she passed away, She threw it up and looked so scared. Like she would be in trouble. She was never in trouble. She must have had a bad life before us? She'd play Ostrich. If she couldn't see us then we couldn't see her. :) She even barked at visitors, that Sunday morning. I forgot the name of the medicine that we gave her when she was released from Tustin. It was a strong medicine that hubby had to wear gloves while giving it to her. Nothing helped her. The Doctors were hoping to get her levels up to at least a 30% to do a Spleenectomy.(Sp) Never could spell it. She never built up. All of her medications were maxed out. Never could reduce any of them. Maybe she should have been on a stronger dose of Aspirin? We always will wonder what we did wrong. Saturday the 5th. Marks 2 Months since her Death. It still seems like yesterday. The Pain of losing her is still with us all. I know how you are feeling Sally. Bentley was your Baby as Lucky was Ours. :( Take Care and Thanks for letting me Rant. Kathy |
| Kathy Crestline |
| I too still can't believe that Lyndi & I could not beat this. 27 was as high as we could get her PCV but she felt very well even at that #. For 8 weeks I really believed she would be OK & then she relapsed, PCV down to 16 from 22 the afternoon before. The transfusion brought her up to 35 but it fell quickly during that week. Her eyes told me she didn't want to go on Sat morning Oct 15. She was the Alpha dog in the family, even though she didn't have to establish it. Duncan & Whisper just knew. They are almost as lost as I am . Her things are everywhere I look. She was a Sheltie Rescue, A Treasure someone else didn't want. She was the smartest dog I've ever had & that's saying something because I've had several very smart dogs. Her only goal in life was to please me & I only had to teach her something once. I was her handicap in agility. She learned everything after 1 time, her Mother took a little longer but she was very patient waiting for me to catch up !! I know she is at the Bridge, barking & learning new agility moves to teach me when I get there. I Love You My Sweet Baby Girl. |
| Margaret SW Pa |
| Margaret, I am so sorry about Lyndi. We too thought that we could beat this. We reassured Lucky Everyday that she was going to be fine. That she would soon be able to play with the other dogs like she used to. We were going to get her Cells back up to a 30% as even though it was risky, our vet. Was going to remove her Spleen. She'd stare us in the eyes, with so much trust in us. At times, We are still feeling like we failed her. She was eating and barking that Sunday Morning, Accepting all of the Belly Rubs that she could get. Even chased the Cat down the hall. Things changed fast and she was gone that night. We are still hurting so bad and at times, our daughter still cries herself to sleep. I know how you are feeling. Lucky was "our" little treasure. :) She was disposed of like a piece of Trash. When we saw her in the Shelter, She was bouncing as to say, "Look at Me, I'm here." We chose another dog and walked away. Lucky looked so sad. Her little tail between her legs and her ears were back, she no longer bounced. So Skinny, who would want her? We told the Shelter helper that we wanted to see her too. Lucky was to be destroyed that day. We walked out with 2 dogs. One was placed immediately. Lucky was fattened up and was to be placed but started having Seizure activity? That's when we decided to keep her. Christmas is already tough on us this year as Lucky was acting strange Christmas Day, last year. The 28th. of Dec. we got the dreaded phone call. She had Autoimmune Disease. Lucky's Little girl was born on Christmas day and isn't even looking forward to her Birthday this year. Hugs to you Margaret. RIP Lyndi. Love and Miss our Little Lucky. Our Little one Passed away 9-4-11 RIP Lucky. It still hurts like it was yesterday. |
| Kathy Calif. |
| As Christmas quickly approaches us, It brings back terrible memories. Memories of our Lucky acting Differently, realizing that something wasn't right. Memories of a Christmas where she didn't care about her Gifts and a Holiday filled with Sadness when we were told on Dec. 28th. that she has Autoimmune Disease. Autoimmune Disease has since been added to the Bad words that people shouldn't say, Nor should they or their fur babies have to go through this Terrible Roller Coaster Ride. Our Hearts still ache and as the Holidays are upon us, We are filled with not the Happy Memories but the Sad Ones. What can I say? We miss our Little girl..... :( |
| Kathy Crestline |
This thread was discussed between 31/10/2011 and 26/11/2011
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