Up and Down

Yesterday was Scout's last day on doxycycline--an antibiotic she's taken for 6 weeks just in case there was an underlying bacterial infection that set off the immune-mediated reaction. So please pray that if there was a bug, it's dead and long gone!
Some days Scout really acts back to "normal" (and if you know Scout at all, you realize that means something a little different from your average dog). The day after we saw the vet who thinks Scout has lymphoma, Scout was running around like a banshee--jumping and yipping with joy when she saw me come home from work--bringing her toys over to engage in play (I haven't seen her do that since she got sick), running in circles, generally seeming fat and sassy. The only think that Scout can't do since her illness is jump up on thigs--like the couch, bed, back of the CRV. She just doesn't seem to have that kind of strength in her hind legs. But she can run like the wind when she's chasing her ball around the field!

But then there are days like yesterday--she's limping on her left back leg (where this illness seemed to originate), listless, lethargic, somewhat depressed. It was a beautiful day and I wanted to take her on a short hike, but she didn't seem up to it. It's like she takes two good steps forward, but then a big step back. This cycle has repeated itself a few times, so I'm not so worried about her "back-step" this time. We are just going to be leaving town for a week tomorrow and my prayer is that she'll be doing OK in our absence (my daughter and her husband will be Scout-sitting).
She's doing well on the new, lower dose of prednisone and when we get back from our trip the plan is to switch her to every other day on the 10 mg.
So please pray that she thrives while we are gone (helping Lindsay and her cat move up from LA). Pray that she doesn't get too sad and will continue to easily wean off the prednisone and continue to grow in health and strength.
Blessings, my friends!

Pilgrim

I have a confession to make. Pilgrim no longer lives with us.
I took her back to the Cat Adoption place last week. I cried a good part of the way (actually, my friend Bonnie had to drive because I was too upset). But it seemed the only reasonable thing to do.
Let me explain . . .
When we adopted Pilgrim from the Cat Adoption Team right before Thanksgiving, we thought we were investing in a healthy animal. Little did we know that Pilgrim was riddles with parasites, fleas and suffered from terrible digestive problems. She had the sweetest personality of any kitty I think I've ever had--but her diarrhea got so out-of-control that several times in the past few months (between the wedding and Scout's near-death experience), I drove her back to Sherwood (a 40 minute commute) to be examined. Each time, after her poop samples came back "normal," I was informed that she just had food allergies. The vet urged me to try and figure out what Pilgrim could successfully digest.
We tried a wide range of spendy, allergy-friendly foods, but nothing really helped. Duck seemed less troubling to her tummy than other foods, but then she'd get into Scout's food and make herself really sick again.
And then she started peeing on the beds . . . every one in the house!
So one day, after a stressful morning with Scout and a particularly bad bout of the runs with Pilgrim, I made a difficult decision. One of the special needs animals had to go--and it wasn't going to be Scout! My anxiety levels were at an all time high and I knew I had to simplify my life--or have a nervous breakdown.
Poor Greg--I called him three times that morning, agonizing over the decision. But I knew in my heart it was best--for all of us. CAT happily takes their kitties back and I knew they'd do whatever they could to get Pilgrim healthy and then find her a new home (I actually wrote a note on Pilgrim's release form, saying I wanted her back if her health issues cleared up. But they probably think we're unfit cat owners now).
I don't have to worry about Scout catching something from Pilgrim (there was always a question about Scout's initial illness resulting from a cat scratch or bite). And I didn't have to scoop yucky poop 10 times a day--or be constantly washing bedding. As soon as I dropped Pilgrim off at the shelter and kissed her little chapped nose goodbye, I felt incredible relief.
I do miss her sweet little personality, and I think Scout does too. But my daughter Lindsay moves in with us in two weeks--with her cat Penelope!
And I'm trying not to stress about it . . .

Scout gets her very own blog

So people looking for Extreme Women events won't always be so confused. So if you are keeping Scout in your prayers, check here often for updates.

Scout Update for 2/18/08

We just returned from the most depressing visit to the vet yet.

This vet was recommended highly by a friend of mine (who's a vet herself). I made the appt. last week and was excited to get to work with someone who knew about immune-mediated illness. The excitement was short-lived.

First of all, even though I'd faxed Scout's records to her office and given the receptionist contact info for her places of prior treatment, the vet didn't have Scout's labwork when she came in for the exam. So, once again, I gave a verbal account of Scout's medical history, with what info I could remember about her lab work. Basically, everything came back normal except for a high blood cell count.

The vet basically said she didn't agree with the diagnosis of immune-mediated polyarthritis/meningitis (which two prior vets agreed on). She didn't feel that enough tests had been run to come to that conclusion. Then, she started talking about lymphoma and recommended we start all over with a complete blood panel, x-rays and an ultrasound!
The look of shock on my face must have been evident, because she decided to toss out some options:
1) stick with her and test Scout for lymphoma
2)go see a specialist, who would start all over with lab work, x-rays, joint taps, etc.
3)keep doing what I'm doing and slowly wean Scout off the prednisone and hope for the best . . .

I paid $45 for that consult, scooped up my dog and left feeling very discouraged. Greg and I talked on the drive home and agreed that #3 was our only option. The diagnosis still makes sense to us and we are in no position financially to start all over with expensive lab tests.

So, please don't stop praying for Scout--or for wisdom for us. Some days Scout doesn't seem to be progressing as quick as I'd like (and I can't seem to find anyone to tell me what exactly that progress should look like), but we took her on a short walk today and she seemed almost back to normal. She's down to 10 mg. of prednisone now. The vet told me to give her a few more days on that dose and then switch her to every other day. Please pray that Scout can handle that.

The vet predicted that if Scout does have cancer--or something beside the immune-mediated illness--the effects of the prednisone will eventually wear off and the real condition will surface. That's what upset me the most--the thought that Scout's suffering might not be over.

Thanks for your continued prayers . . .