surgery – Adventures of Lupedog

2 months post amputation

Today would have been Lupe’s 2 month celebration. I think about the ups and downs we went through leading up to the surgery and the hope I had (along with Dr. B & Dr. Z) that removal of the bad leg would end her pain and give her a shot at normal…although I never considered that stinker normal 🙂 I remember dropping her off, kissing that horrible leg good bye and looking her in the eye and thinking, pull through little girl, mommy needs you. Well, she did and she came out of surgery like a champ…walking around that night and even peeing outside and then walking back into the recovery ward.

I didn’t even realize that today was the 7th at first…I’ve been working away in my office, quiet and alone. Now I know why. G-d to have been able to celebrate this milestone with her today would have been awesome but it wasn’t meant to be. Instead she is whole again celebrating with my Mom and Grandma (two of her favorite people because they always sneaked her food) and all of the Tripawd Warriors that have crossed the bridge. Let the rumpus begin up there!!!

Coming up on a week post surgery

Trying to remain pawsitive but Lupe seems to be fading. She is still not eating and seems to be so sleepy that she isn’t really moving. She is still drinking and will go out to pee 2 or 3 times a day, but still no poop. I have a call in to Dr. Z to give her an update, as Dr. B is not in the office today. Dr. B did call last night and said she wanted me to follow up with Dr. Z as she is more knowledgable on how dogs react post amputation.

I went to the office for a few hours yesterday. I needed to change of scenery and needed not to be jumping up every time I heard her move. I think we both needed a break. There were some tail wags and she did left her head up when I walked by her last night. But so far this morning, she went outside and is lying by the door, she didn’t even really walk into the apartment.

Do I regret surgery? No. I do feel like I had to give her a shot to be cancer free and live out her lifespan healthy and feeling good. I just don’t know if that’s a possibility right now. I don’t like the thoughts that are going through my head or the dreams I am having about things. But then I try to wipe those thoughts away and remember that she had major surgery at almost 15 and may need longer to heal. I guess I will see what Dr. Z has to say.

***Updated post for Lupe fashion show***

Lupe the life guard (and my foot) 6/12/12Orange sherbert 6/13/12

Back to work

Its Monday morning and that means back to work for me. Luckily my job is flexible enough that I can work from home for the next couple of days. I left Lupe for a few hours yesterday and had my neighbor come check on her. She brought her 5 year old to say hi to Lupe, glad I kept her shirt on, which was a hit with my neighbor’s daughter.

Purple butterfly t-shirt...one of my favs

Lupe is still not eating. She’s on an appetite stimulant but she seems to have no interest in food. She is still drinking and going pee. I bought the same chicken they had been feeding her in the hospital but she wants nothing to do with it.

I’ve also been having issues with giving her pain meds. She is on Buprenex and I’m supposed to give it to her in her cheek cavity. Its become a battle with her struggling to move away from me and actually snapping her jaw as if to bite me. She screams because she’s moving too much which is so upsetting to hear. I try to get her when she’s asleep but doesn’t always work. She hasn’t been a fan of getting the meds but its getting worse.

Time for my breakfast and to start my work day…Lupe is resting in the other room on her bed fuming from having to get meds.

She’s home!!!

Lupe came home yesterday!!! I had to leave work early so that I could get things ready just in case she came home (a new more supportive bed, t-shirts to cover the incision, floor mats, etc.). I was honestly nervous to see her but Dr. Z assured me that she was doing wonderfully. So in walked my little girl. All that I’ve read about looking in her eyes, remaining calm and pawsitive really did help. I was just so happy to see her that it didn’t matter what she looked like, which really wasn’t that bad. It was better to see her without the bad leg than to see it reminding me of what was inside of her. I spent about 20 minutes with her, snuggling, taking pictures, feeding her and I knew she would be coming home. Dr. Z came back in and told me the decision was mine but she felt that Lupe would do better at home in her normal environment. Lupe walked out of the hospital (wearing a new shirt), head held high and proceeded to tinkle on the driveway…guess she had to go.

Our first night home went pretty well. She was okay walking around, ate a little bit and just rested. She woke up a couple of times during the night but seemed to settle herself back down fairly quickly. I did have to help her the first time cuz she had gotten off her bed. I’m a light sleeper so I was up at every little noise but got a decent night sleep, except that I’

m up extra early on a Saturday morning. Plan for today is to just relax and be around for her.

I know that we are not out of the woods but after all that transpired before the surgery, I truly feel like we are heading down the right path. The decision to do the amputation was the right one. Dr. Z said that if we had kept the leg, her quality of life would have declined very rapidly. So while we don’t know what the future holds and there will definitely be some bumps along the way but I’m glad to have her home.

Okay, now time for pictures…not many close ups but there are some shots with the incision visable…

Day 1

Think I actually got some sleep last night. The apartment was oddly quiet and lonely with Lupe, but I made it through and so did she!

Dr. Z just called and she sounds so upbeat. Lupe is up, walking around, alert and doing great. She still doesn’t have an appetite but she’s been on fluids and glucose so Dr. Z doesn’t expect her to have one. I’m going over around 3 to see her and we will decide if I’m ready and she’s ready to come home. Dr. Z has seen this type of quick turnaround once before and that was with her dog. She thinks that the tumor/leg was so painful and no that its gone she’s a new dog!

I have to leave work a little early because I haven’t prepared for her to come home today! Need to pick up mats/carpets to cover the floors and get some t-shirts to cover the incision…and then be ready to see her at 3.

There have been so many people pulling for Lupe, sending prayers and good vibes her way, so thank you all as they have worked! I know we have a long road ahead of us and may have some bumps in that road but after the last few weeks, I truly think we can handle just about anything…just me and my tripawd 🙂

Groggy Lupe from our video chat last night

So long monkeybutt!!!

After almost 15 years, Lupe is now a tripawd!!!

I dropped her off with Dr. Z this morning. The tech came to get her so I kissed her nose, scratched her ear and under her cheek and kissed that cancerous leg good bye. Dr. Z called shortly after and said that Lupe’s blood work looked good, consistent with what we had been seeing. She was a little dehydrated and her blood sugar was a little low, but she was getting fluids and glucose. Dr. Z said if we were going to do the surgery it was better not to wait. It was a quick decision…

Dr. Z called me a little before 2 to let me know Lupe got through the surgery wonderfully, no complications. She was awake and breathing on her own. Dr. Z was amazed at how her leg had changed from a week ago. It was severly inflammed and must have been causing so much pain. I spoke to her nurse a couple of hours ago and Lupe was resting comfortably, still coming out of the anethesia but we set up a time to have a video call at 9 pm. So what they do is have the nurse and me on the phone talking about her progress while they have a video camera on Lupe so I can see her. I should be able to see her tomorrow and hopefully she will be coming home on Saturday.

I’m overwhelmed by everything. Driving home tonight I saw people walking their dogs and the guilt hit me along with the anger. I guess its normally to be jealous of the monkeybutts with knowing what is happening with Lupe and I. I’m not sure what to do to prepare for what I am going to see and how things are going to be when she comes home. She’s still my Pooh Bear and I need to not lose sight of that and treasure the time we have as we move forward on this new road we are going down. Wow, Lupe is tripawd and I’m a tripawd pawrent…craziness!!!

Today could be her big day…

Just got into work having dropped Lupe off at Dr. Z’s. Signed all the forms for the amputation but not sure if it is still an option. Dr. Z and I spoke yesterday and she felt that all of Lupe’s symptoms (not eating, lethargy, upset tummy, etc.) are related to the pain and the meds. So we agreed that I would drop her off as scheduled this morning, Dr. Z would do some blood work and an exam and then call me to discuss our options. Surgery may give her the best chance of being pain free and returning more towards normal, but she may not be able to handle surgery and even if we do it, nothing is guaranteed…but isn’t that the way in life?

I handed over my sweet girl to the surgery tech, kissed her beautiful nose and her cancer leg, gave her a big ear scratch and she was gone. Now to through myself into work until I hear back from Dr. Z…but first, a deep thought from Lupe…