Bull Arab X 7 years old with AIHA / blood transfusion

[karxlee]

Hi Lizzy

I know it’s heartbreaking being away from your beloved Lola but she really is in the best place, there will be people on hand that can help her quickly IF she needs it.

Like everyone is saying hang in there, your vet is right in not giving you percentages because you will either cling onto them or they will frighten you to death and lower your moral.

Lola needs the peace and quiet because she needs all her energy in getting better, when she sees you she will try to greet you and that will take a lot out of her. Once they have found a reason for her illness they can target it with the correct medication.

My Louis is a bit of an odd one he doesn’t fit the full bill of an AIHA dog, he has most of the symptoms but not of them, so I can understand how you are feeling.

You are doing you best and that’s all Lola can expect from you, if people haven’t been through this disease they have no idea what we are going through, that’s where this forum and website if unique. We do! – we have all in some way shape or form been through the most awful times, but we are all here to support you.

Lola is on all our minds as are you, everyone is praying and hoping and sending you both all our love and hope. She is clearly a little fighter and hasn’t given up, so neither should we.

I keep checking to see if there is any news, Sheena was my life line and we spoke a lot on the phone, she was there for me day or night, when I have good news she is one of the first people I tell, because if it hadn’t been for her I would probably have lost it a long time ago.

Keep your chin up, make sure you get some sleep because Lola will need a fit and healthy Mum to look after her when she comes home.

Love Karyn and Louis xxx

[Vally]

Everyone, I’ve had another message from Lizzy:

We just called for an update, her red blood cell count has remained stable at 23% (pre second transfusion her bloods were at 14% again) which is really good news so far as the last time we gave her a transfusion she dropped from 24% to 18% in one day. She got the second transfusion on Thursday night so the fact that she has been holding steady is good to me. This is good, right?

Lizzy

[Vally]

This is GREAT news Lizzy. Keep up the good work/reds Lola !!!

Vally & Bingo
xxx

[Lizzy]

Me again! Hello all.

So I am allowing myself a little sliver of hope as her bloods still haven’t dropped (I just called then for another update). What I am wondering is, if they find the cause of the AIHA and they remove it (say, a mast cell tumour), could that potentially mean she could be out of the woods once she recovers or is it something, once it’s happened [the AIHA], that is something that is likely to reoccur? I called my ex today and he got on a flight from Brisbane immediately to go and spend some time with her tonight which is lovely, as I can’t be there.

[Sheena]

Hello Lizzy

This is sounding much better – if she’s not dropping so much that is positive news & I’m really pleased for you. Eliminating the cause IS really important and then the drugs will do their job.

Lovely that your ex can see her – it will be nice for her to have a cuddle, I’m sure.

We never say our dogs are “cured” though because there is always a possibility of a relapse, so they go into remission really – this relapse possibility is minimised by avoiding any known triggers, avoiding certain no-no drugs, no vaccinations, treating any infection very quickly & thoroughly & so on. We all live with that forever & you will find plenty of advice from us all as we are all aware of how “special” our dogs are!

Come on Lola – you are so loved – keep fighting.

Love & hugs
Sheena xxxxx

[Vally]

Hi Lizzy, this is sounding really good.

Vally and Bingo

[jill]

Hi Lizzy, at last some good news for you ! Well done Lola! xxx that’s so nice she will have someone come to visit her ,I do hope she keeps improving, thinking of you both love and hugs Jill & Snoopy xxxxx

[Karxlee]

Hi Lizzy, I know exactly what you mean about allowing yourself a sliver of hope, we did the same with Louis, he had bad news all the time and when we got the phone saying he had remained stable, we didn’t believe it, we got so use to “his PCV has dropped” that we didn’t expect or believe the ” his PCV has stayed the same ” conversation I even asked them to check it again.

It’s really good news that Lol is holding her own, these blood transfusions really do buy them the time to allow the medication to work.
I’m really happy for you, and no doubt she will be glad to see your ex as well, they should also take a little bit of the pressure off you, try to stop giving yourself a hard time, you are doing everything within your power to help her and that’s all you can do, you are doing an amazing job.
Love Karyn and Louis xxx