Millie has had surgery today on tumour.

[hugomom1]

Poor Millie! Glad her surgery went well but I hate to hear that she's having such a hard time. I know what you're going through. My 8 yr old baby, Hugo, just had a soft tissue sarcoma tumor removed 12/30. The biopsy result was undifferentiated sarcoma, they couldn't remove enough to get clean margins so he needed further treatment. He started Radiation Therapy this week at Ohio State University Vet Hospital.

I know 'Spindle Cell' cancer is scary stuff. I googled the heck out of Hugo's diagnosis and still found out more information on this site than anywhere else! Mostly thanks to the wonderful people who have been through the same thing and gave me a strong shoulder to lean on.

Please let us know how Millie does with her recovery.

 

[Britbox]

First off, thanks Stacie, for replying to my post when you are going through so much with your baby Hugo, I so appreciate you taking time out to sympathise with Millie, and wish you both the best possible outcome with your battle with this evil cancer that plagues our beloved breed, I hope and pray, that you have a good prognosis, and that you will have many more happy years together, God bless you, and we are sending all our love and good vibes.....
Well what can I say about the last 24hrs?..Millie is in a bad way, in so much pain it's heartbreaking..Last night, I can honestly say was one of the worst of my life..Believe me, I've been through this before with Poppy and her brain tumour, endless seizures, and lots of TLC, but never, ever did I witness her in so much obvious pain and distress. Millie is in agony, and exhausted, as I am. Millie and I have not slept now for almost 36hrs, poor baby, in pain and so tired...I made up a bed on the floor for both of us, made it as cozy as I could in the hope she would snuggle, and find some comfort from being next to me..She can't even manage getting into her basket, so this was the best I could think of..She won't eat, and wouldn't even drink a sip of water. She paced all night, panting and crying in pain, regardless of the fact that she'd had a painkilling jab, the bandage holding all that massive skin graft in place, is so annoying her, and the elastoplast holding it all in place around her tummy is pulling her hair out at the roots, so I know that too is hurting...
Jeez what can I do??..I feel so bad, I think in my exhausted state, I've made the wrong decision..Maybe I should have left it..I mean I took a visibly healthy happy Boxer into the vet, full of life, and I bring home, a dog that is in agony, crying real tears (I've never seen her do that before), that I feel I'm not giving the right nursing skills to..I read on the net how a skin graft needs complete rest to heal, Millie is pacing, and crying..I phoned the vet, and he said she can't have any more meds for pain till this evening, because she's had so much...I'm doing it all wrong, and fear she'll lose her leg if it dose'nt heal properly..Oh my, I prayed to Saint Francis of Assisi to help Millie, and to give me strenghth to get through this, I can't stand to see her in pain and be so helpless, please give me the strength to stay awake and help her...I prayed that she'd take at least a sip of water, she was so dehydrated, her nose was cracking...I can't tell you how hard I prayed, and I believe my prayers were answered, because she had a few sips..Please God let Millie get through this, or take her from her pain... Tomorrow we are back at the vet for a dressing change..I'm terrified at what I will see, I think I'm the worst Mum ever.
Thank you all for being an ear to listen, and a shoulder to lean on..I feel so alone and helpless..God bless all your babies, and keep them in good health.xx

 

[darwinsmom]

I am so sorry to hear how poor Millie is struggling. Is it possible to switch the pain meds and possibly add a sedative (not ACE, of course). Sometimes individuals just have poor reactions to certain drugs. My mom felt absolutely miserable for several days after coming home from spinal surgery and as soon as she discontinued the valium she felt much better. Is Millie on any NSAIDS? My vets had me discontinue those when Darwin was refusing food after surgery as gastric side effects are not uncommon. I wonder also if Millie might need some IV fluids until she starts feeling better.

Do you have a support system for yourself at all? Please try to take care of yourself as well. Millie needs you healthy and strong.

Best wishes,
Karlyn

 

[Britbox]

I am so sorry to hear how poor Millie is struggling. Is it possible to switch the pain meds and possibly add a sedative (not ACE, of course). Sometimes individuals just have poor reactions to certain drugs. My mom felt absolutely miserable for several days after coming home from spinal surgery and as soon as she discontinued the valium she felt much better. Is Millie on any NSAIDS? My vets had me discontinue those when Darwin was refusing food after surgery as gastric side effects are not uncommon. I wonder also if Millie might need some IV fluids until she starts feeling better.

Do you have a support system for yourself at all? Please try to take care of yourself as well. Millie needs you healthy and strong.

Best wishes,
Karlyn

Thanks Karlyn,
Yes Millie is on NSAIDS, Metacam..I just gave her the dose for tonight, and she threw it back up. In the meantime, the vet just phoned with the results of the biopsy on her tumour..I'm so out of it with tiredness, I didn't get the full name (I'll find out tomorrow, when I see him), but suffice to say it was a sarcoma, and very aggressive...Good news (no even better than good, FANTASTIC) is that it's all removed with a very clean margin, and he said he's 99% sure that it won't return!..My prayers have been answered.
The vet said he would have come and given her another shot of morphine, but I'd already given the metacam, and we can't be sure how much she'd digested before she was sick, so he's advised a half dose now, to get her through the night..I know she'll get over the pain, it's awful but transient, in a week or so, hopefully the worst will be over. I'm just so thankful that the cancer has gone. I've had to be alone all day, as my family have been out at work, but thankfully, they'll be home soon, and I can have a cup of tea (or a large glass of wine!) and a good kip for an hour or so before I start the night shift appicon
Thanks again for all your good wishes, and support, and I'll keep you updated with Millie's recovery. xx

 

[Murp.mm]

. I'm so happy to hear that Millie got a good report. Poor little girl having to go through all that. I have an idea about her pain situation as my girl had two knee surgeries in 4 months (ACL repair and meniscal removal) and she had a very rough time especially after her first surgery. She was in hospital for three days and when she came home the first few days were terrible. She was vomiting, had diaherria and just pacing on three legs. Once she came off the heavy pain meds she improved quite a lot apart from her knee that is. Now it's been 2 1/2 months since the second surgery and she is doing much better overall apart from a UTI that came on today and now she's back on antibiotics again and the occasional dermamax for pain with her knee. Good luck with your baby and I'm so glad she got a good report.

 

[Lisa H]

Hoooray...that is WONDERFUL news. I have tears of joy in my eyes. Feel better soon Millie....that bad cancer is gone....HUGS

Lisa and Justice

 

[Cami]

Sending multiple prayers and healing blessings to you, Millie and your entire family.
Her pain is yours as is evident from your posts. I know what you are going through and also how hard it is to get through each and every second. Please make sure to do what you need to do to stay healthy, both physically and emotionally.
You both need rest and I am hoping that you can soon find it. Thinking of you both.

 

[Gatorblu]

I'm so glad Millie's prognosis is so good! I'm also so sorry she is so very uncomfortable. I know how it can hurt every fiber of your being when our babies are in pain and there seems to be nothing you can do to make them feel better. The pain will pass. Sending prayers your and Millie's way for a quick recovery!

 

[EAO76]

Gosh matacam is not a strong painkiller. For all that she has been through you’d think they give her something more. When my guy had major surgery he was sent home with a fentanyl patch. Poor Millie. I hope she is feeling better soon.

 

[RoxiesEcho]

I hope Millie is feeling a little better now that she's had a few more days of recuperation. I'm glad to hear she got a positive prognosis from the vet but I will continue to send healthy vibes to her and your family.