UPdate on Ellie-mae...

[carole]

Thanks karen, oh i hope you are ok,not fun going to the dentist, none of us enjoy the experience do we? good luck with it all.

[Karen]

Thanks karen, oh i hope you are ok,not fun going to the dentist, none of us enjoy the experience do we? good luck with it all.

I'll be fine, it is just sore, nothing unexpected. The odd thing is, the novacaine always makes me need a nap afterwards, and it's not like I didn't get enough sleep the night before, or was tense the whole time. I like my dentist and even his assistant, we talk about pets, and he knows we do websites, et al ... Just my left jaw is complaining that someone was pounding on it - which is accurate!

[carole]

oh poor you, i know what it feels like when they have been in your mouth doing their thing, i hope you feel better and pain free soon, take care.

Ellie is not having such a good day today, getting her to eat has been a real struggle, she is hanging around for food, but i have offered her abut six different things, and she is only taking a small bite here and there,the vet wanted me to reduce her steriod, prior to the op if i could, as that will give her a better chance for the healing process, however it does not look like i will be able to get her to eat much if i do, catch 22 situation,the steroids help reduce the inflammation and pain for her, so it is hard to be cutting them down, but also she is on a high dose which is not good for her well being long term anyhow,complications, complications, when do they ever go away, pass me some prozac please......

[Lizzie]

The very best of luck to Ellie-mae. Even so far away I feel sure you are doing the right thing, at least I know you have made the choice I would make.

Do you have Mirtazapine in N.Z.? I use it every three days for my renal failure foster to reduce nausea and stimulate the appetite. It works really well. It's only a quarter of a small pill (though it is bitter) so isn't much to give.

[katladyd]

I know you are doing the right thing! What we do out of love can never be wrong! I am sending up prayers that the angels will watch over Ellie-Mae during her procedure.

[carole]

Lizzie i have not heard of that drug, it might well be used here under a different name, however the steroids she is on are supposed to increase her appetite and sometimes they seem to work well, she eats like a horse some days and others not much, i guess because i have reduced them from 4 to 2 now, it is not working so well, and we have to keep in mind she has those two sore teeth to contend with on top of everything else.

She ate ok this morning, last night not so good but she scoffed down some biscuits, however she cannot chew those so just swallows those whole, but she prefers them to wet food sometimes, Ellie gets given whatever she can eat really, as we just have to make sure she eats, obviously with the help of the steroids and my continuous efforts to coax her to eat, it has paid off as she has stablised within 100grms, which i suspect she lost this last week due to the less eating from her extra sore mouth.

The vet is hoping to reduce her medication to 2 a day, as she is on a high dose, which long term is not good for her, such a catch 22 situation really, so many complications surrounding it all.

Last night i was having second thoughts about the surgery for the tumour, as she just seems so tiny and frail, it seems too much to put her through, i still wonder if she can cope with it, and me as well,my heart aches, wondering if i am doing what is best for her, poor wee thing has no say in it, i have to make the right decision for her.

I have played out every scenerio in my mind, what if this happens?etc etc, and that does not help.

you see initially i had decided against removal of the tumour because i felt it was too hard on her, and too many complications, the only thing that has changed is that she requires this dental,and it seems a better option to do it at the same time, and so she will only go under one time, and my vet seems to think it is the best option for her,but now i am doing exactly what i never intended to do, put her through so much,i had decided just to make sure she was comfortable as possible.

So you can see why i am wrestling in my mind with all of this,the best part is the fact that i may well have Ellie for longer and that is i guess the reason why i am doing this, please just pray no complications arise and Ellie will sail through it, she is tough ole girl, so that helps.

Forgive my prattling on , i just need to vent to those who understand so well, I just feel so torn and so unhappy, if all goes well and she makes a good recovery, then i will be happy again, i just cannot enjoy life at the moment until all of this is over and my baby girl is well again, thanks for listening and for putting up with me.

[phesina]

Oh, Carole, we are sending our biggest {{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}} and ~~~~~~~PURRS~~~~~~~ to you and Ellie-mae both.

The love that you and Ellie-mae share shines through every word that you write. God bless you both, and may you both come through this big day in good form.

from Pat, Sydney, Poppy, Elmer, Sparkler, Lavinia, and Princess Poppaea Sabina Eugenia