Cami
Boxer Insane
Saw the cardiologist today.
They were quite happy with Cami's progress. Said that if they didn't know her they would wonder why she was visiting the hospital? When I told them that what they were seeing was only about 1/4 of Cami's true personality and energy levels they were a bit taken aback. I tried to tell them that she is way more hyper than the average hyper Boxer.
Even with all of her freaky excitement her heart rate never got above 180 which would be perfectly acceptable under the circumstances (vet visit) for a "healthy" dog.
Seems the meds are doing their job and Cami is for sure doing hers!
We voiced our concerns over the twitching she has been doing. Hard to describe and only happens when she is really relaxed or sleeping and within 2-5 hours of giving the meds. Does not happen when it is getting near time for the meds so we know they are the cause.
Seems they are tremors. A neurological side effect of the meds. They lower her brains natural threshold for "something" (can't remember the name). It won't ever cause any long term effects UNLESS she starts seizing which is a possibility. Will also stop and revert back to normal if she stopped taking the meds.
So.....we are lowering the dose from 150mgs 3 times a day to 120mgs. But....and here is the catch. The medication does not come in that dose and is in capsule form so we can't get the dose in a traditional manner.
Actually this medication is a human med which has been discontinued --Mexiletine. Original manufacturer has stopped making it and the company that was making it in a generic form has also stopped production. What is out there is OUT there already. The hospital located a compounding pharmacy that has the ingredients and that is where they are having Cami's med made.
Called them to see when they could have it ready since we want the lower dose soon.
"Sometime" next week!!! YIKES!!
I don't feel bad AT ALL but I pulled at the heart strings of the lady I was talking to at the pharmacy. I explained Cami's predicament and after a long AWWWW.....she told me told hold on. Pharmacist agreed to make her meds today before he headed out and they closed for the weekend. They will be boxing up the meds and leaving them outside their door for me to pick up after they are closed....TODAY!! WOO-HOO!!
Cami heads back next Friday for another EKG, BP and whatever else they decide to do. If all goes well with the lowered dose of meds she will come home with a holter.
Working on switching up the medication dosing times. They have her currently receiving her last medication at midnight and her first at 6am. Not bad however she needs to eat before all the new meds and then given Pepcid 30 minutes prior to that. I am getting up at 5am having gone to bed after midnight and I am not a morning person. Well, re-phrase that....I am not a NICE morning person.
We have one med 3 times a day. Another heart med twice a day. Thyroid twice a day. Pepcid twice a day. Nothing can be given together!! Add in her fish oil with meals twice a day, Taurine with meals twice a day and Vitamin C with meals, again, twice a day and I am feeling like a drug pusher! They did however take her off of the Benadryl twice a day for now (cancer therapy). If truth be told she is a lot less snotty (runny nose) without it! Don't know what is up with that but whatever. I'll take it. Her heart is a much bigger issue now than her cancer is so we are picking our battles.
She is watching her daddy through the window and wishing that she could be outside with him playing in the snow. He is clearing off the driveway and sidewalks of that pretty white stuff! She loves to play in the snow.
On a side note:
One of the techs mentions today...
"Cami likes STEAK"
I'm like huh?
She said that while Cami was having her EKG done they were all eating their lunch and she was hanging out with them. They gave her steak from their Japanese takeout.
Good Grief.
Can't thank you all nearly enough for the outpouring of BW love and support. You have really made a difference in not only Cami's life but ours as well. I will never be able to repay any of you for the kindness you have given without hesitation. Just know that you all feel like an extended part of our family. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.
They were quite happy with Cami's progress. Said that if they didn't know her they would wonder why she was visiting the hospital? When I told them that what they were seeing was only about 1/4 of Cami's true personality and energy levels they were a bit taken aback. I tried to tell them that she is way more hyper than the average hyper Boxer.
Even with all of her freaky excitement her heart rate never got above 180 which would be perfectly acceptable under the circumstances (vet visit) for a "healthy" dog.
Seems the meds are doing their job and Cami is for sure doing hers!
We voiced our concerns over the twitching she has been doing. Hard to describe and only happens when she is really relaxed or sleeping and within 2-5 hours of giving the meds. Does not happen when it is getting near time for the meds so we know they are the cause.
Seems they are tremors. A neurological side effect of the meds. They lower her brains natural threshold for "something" (can't remember the name). It won't ever cause any long term effects UNLESS she starts seizing which is a possibility. Will also stop and revert back to normal if she stopped taking the meds.
So.....we are lowering the dose from 150mgs 3 times a day to 120mgs. But....and here is the catch. The medication does not come in that dose and is in capsule form so we can't get the dose in a traditional manner.
Actually this medication is a human med which has been discontinued --Mexiletine. Original manufacturer has stopped making it and the company that was making it in a generic form has also stopped production. What is out there is OUT there already. The hospital located a compounding pharmacy that has the ingredients and that is where they are having Cami's med made.
Called them to see when they could have it ready since we want the lower dose soon.
"Sometime" next week!!! YIKES!!
I don't feel bad AT ALL but I pulled at the heart strings of the lady I was talking to at the pharmacy. I explained Cami's predicament and after a long AWWWW.....she told me told hold on. Pharmacist agreed to make her meds today before he headed out and they closed for the weekend. They will be boxing up the meds and leaving them outside their door for me to pick up after they are closed....TODAY!! WOO-HOO!!
Cami heads back next Friday for another EKG, BP and whatever else they decide to do. If all goes well with the lowered dose of meds she will come home with a holter.
Working on switching up the medication dosing times. They have her currently receiving her last medication at midnight and her first at 6am. Not bad however she needs to eat before all the new meds and then given Pepcid 30 minutes prior to that. I am getting up at 5am having gone to bed after midnight and I am not a morning person. Well, re-phrase that....I am not a NICE morning person.
We have one med 3 times a day. Another heart med twice a day. Thyroid twice a day. Pepcid twice a day. Nothing can be given together!! Add in her fish oil with meals twice a day, Taurine with meals twice a day and Vitamin C with meals, again, twice a day and I am feeling like a drug pusher! They did however take her off of the Benadryl twice a day for now (cancer therapy). If truth be told she is a lot less snotty (runny nose) without it! Don't know what is up with that but whatever. I'll take it. Her heart is a much bigger issue now than her cancer is so we are picking our battles.
She is watching her daddy through the window and wishing that she could be outside with him playing in the snow. He is clearing off the driveway and sidewalks of that pretty white stuff! She loves to play in the snow.
On a side note:
One of the techs mentions today...
"Cami likes STEAK"
I'm like huh?
She said that while Cami was having her EKG done they were all eating their lunch and she was hanging out with them. They gave her steak from their Japanese takeout.
Good Grief.
Can't thank you all nearly enough for the outpouring of BW love and support. You have really made a difference in not only Cami's life but ours as well. I will never be able to repay any of you for the kindness you have given without hesitation. Just know that you all feel like an extended part of our family. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.
!!
.