Lacey - UPDATE Pg 2, #19; had her mastectomy today.

**Freedom** · 12-07-2009, 06:49 PM

Biopsy results are in. Not the best news, but not the worst, either.

Low grade malignancy. Seems entire tumor was excised, there is a border a the way around with no "bad" cells in that border.

Recommend closely watching patient for possible recurrence, and recommend chest x rays. That is because this stuff moves NOT to the other nipples, but to the lungs. I asked what happens if we do the x rays. Either we find nothing (GREAT) or we find something and start chemo IF that is what I want to do. I already know I am not putting Lacey through chemo. So no reason to do the x rays.

I had Lacey in to the vet this evening. She is not recovering as expected. She won't eat or drink, barely takes 2 bites hot dog per day. She has lost 1.5 pounds since Friday. The vet checked her all over: no temp, no tenderness, so discoloring, no signs of internal bleeding, no signs of infection. We did give Lacey a long term antibiotic shot, just in case there IS an infection, which we can't find.

Other options include: redo the blood work -- all was well before the surgery and there really should not be anything other than, perhaps, an infection. Appetizer pills to encourage her to eat. Fluids, although Lacey is not "clinically dehydrated" at this time. (How come? I haven't seen her drink at all since she came home Friday at 4 PM!)

Vet admitted she is stumped. Also said it was obvious to her when Lacey walked in that she is not at the point the vet would have expected her to be at by this time.

Going to wait another day or 2, and then maybe try the appetizer pills.

**chocolatepuppy** · 12-07-2009, 06:56 PM

I'm sorry not better news.

Hopefully Lacey will be fine for years.

**cassiesmom** · 12-07-2009, 08:39 PM

Oh, Lacey! On the one hand I am very glad the margins were clean and I hope nothing ever shows up on a chest x-ray. On the other hand, sweety, please drink and eat something, please, pretty please?

Hugs from your fan,
Elyse

**MonicanHonda** · 12-07-2009, 09:43 PM

I hope Lacey gets better. That is a long time to not eat or drink. Poor baby. I hope she starts getting better poor thing.

**caseysmom** · 12-07-2009, 09:50 PM

Sending some good thoughts for Lacey.

**Freedom** · 12-08-2009, 07:05 PM

First, I want to reassure everyone, Lacey is BACK! She is her normal self, eating, drinking and a happy happy girl!

The problem was the pain relief drug she was given: buprenorphine. It is a narcotic, and used for mil to moderate pain control at home. And it seems to have some side effects which vets are observing, but which are NOT listed ANYWHERE! It says it has a sedation effect. Well, it was making Lacey really odd.

This morning, Sugar had a follow up with her eye surgeon, for her cataract surgery from 7 months back. I took Lacey along as she has been house bound for 4 days and won't be on walks for a total of 2 weeks. The eye surgeon is WONDERFUL, and as she has worked with me helping 3 pets. I have frequently taken 4 fluffs in for Sugar's visits, lol. She knows about my rescue obsession. Rolled Eyes

So, seeing as Lacey is wearing a cone collar, she asked and I talked. What is the pain medicine? I told her. STOP it. STOP IT NOW. Er, but it is for pain.
Ask your vet for something else if Lacey is uncomfortable but after 4 to 5 days she can go with no pain meds. "It is THAT medicine which is making her act weird, not eat and so forth. It is a narcotic." She said they have been seeing this a lot, even though it is not being reported as yet.

Due to a crazy morning here at home, Lacey hadn't gotten her dose in the AM. And she WAS acting better at this point, 10 AM. So I have stopped giving her that medicine at all. She is FINE!

I set this as separate thread in case we ever need to back track which medicine. Not that we will remember the name, but remembering Lacey, medicine, weird, will help in a search for it.

I will phone Lacey's regular vet tomorrow to let her know.

**cassiesmom** · 12-08-2009, 09:10 PM

Oh, Lacey! Buprenorphine would flatten anybody! It's even more potent than morphine. I'm glad your doing better without it and I know your mum will be able to pick up quickly if you seem to be in pain, cos she knows you so well.

It is a good thing you went with Sugar to the eye doctor! Did Sugar get a good report, by the way? Could you please have mum give you both, Tasha and Marlin some hugs for me?

elyse