Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Update on Holly

I am just so thrilled to be able to post this today! Holly's blood work from Monday was fantastic!!! They had an emergency at the office so the blood draw was put in the refrigerator and forgot about until yesterday. Her Hematocrit is up to 57 YEAH!!! Alkaline Phosphatase came down another 300 points to 336, even her WBC is on the rise to 6.7. This past month we did the aziathioprine only on Wednesday and the 2mg of pred was given on Monday & Friday. So now awaiting Dr Dodds next suggestion, hopefully to stop the aziathioprine and lower the pred. To all of those just starting or in the early stages of fighting this disease, just know that there can be a light at the end of the tunnel. If you would have asked us 2 years ago, we would probably have said different. Our Holly was diagnosed In March 2007, so next month will be her 2 year anniversary and hopefully next month will be the month that we can stop all meds. Just will not know how to act without having all the pill bottles lined up. Lindad

Linda Sapphire

That is great news indeed...and very encouraging for those of us just starting our own journey. Thanks for posting and hope for continued recovery for Holly.

Lee Florida

Just fabulous, Linda! I am hoping Holly and Choe will soon be off all meds - just make sure you go slow. I am also afraid to write good news with my boy Choe, as we (you and I) have such similarities with our roller coaster 'recoveries' for our oh-so-special special dachshund pals. I am moving VERY slowly with his pred decrease. He is down very low; .05 every 5th day. I would be nervious at this juncture to eliminate the regimin, even with a high (51) pcv count. I keep my fingers crossed every day. I can't believe how fast he runs and how he so enjoys life compared to the multiple transfusioned,terribly sick boy who I thought I would never see run and pay again. All the very best for beautiful Holly. Jan

Jan Philly

Hooray for Holly, thanks for sharing your good news!! Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pinevlle PA

Linda, I think the fact that the blood draw results were delayed says a whole lot for how far you and Holly have come. No panic, no worst thought scenarios. I am so happy for you and Holly and it sounds like Jan and Choe are right there with you. Congrats to all! Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Way to go Holly! I hope to post good news for Wylie tomorrow as she her blood check in the morning. Laurie

Laurie CA

Thanks everyone for your continued support for Holly. Just wanted to let you know that I already heard back from Dr Dodds, she is wonderful! "Dear Linda and Bill: These results are very good. Our next change can be to stop the azathioprine all together. recheck in 2 months, and then we can decide if the prednisone should be decreased. My "gut" feeling is not to change it, but we'll see. Best wishes. Jean Then I asked her about her gut feeling on not reducing the pred down the road and here is what she wrote back: "Linda: Actually, when you have a recovered immune-mediated hemaytologic case [AIHA and/or ITP], taking the patient (human or animal) totally off immunosuppression at low maintenance doses can leave them more susceptible for releapse. Jean" So for now, eliminating the aziathioprine is just fine!! and hopefully in two months if all goes well we can decrease a little bit on the pred. Linda

Linda Sapphire

That is awesome news about Holly!! I wish ya'll continued success against your battle with AIHA. Layla & Tipsi

Layla Raleigh

holy cow! that's awesome! thanks for sharing. melissa and tiggs

melissa slc

This thread was discussed between 20/02/2009 and 22/02/2009

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