So last night I couldn't go to sleep, so my mind started wandering. Night is the worst for me!! I just got really anxious about the whole situation with Penny :sad7:. I was just stresing about what would happen if the drug therapy didn't work. What happens if we start reducing the drugs and she is back in pain! Sorry for my rant, but I am just so worried about this whole situation! I really just want her to be back to normal and her old self. I'm just really scared...
I know what you mean - I went through the same thing with Gretl! I was so worried that after the whole meds, hydrotherapy, and surgery recovery bit had happened, that she would be in pain and I had done the wrong thing by putting her through all that. It is a normal hooparent reaction. You should have seen me the first time I realized Heidi was having a horrible reaction to her rabies shot at 16 months of age! I was screaming to myself as I drove to the emergency vet as fast as was safe! Relax, dear! We are all sending Princess Penny all the rays we can muster and she will get through this and, yes, it is stressful. You just keep plugging away, day by day! Rays for you, too!
By the way, whatever Penny was sleeping on or beside, as I began typing this, made her look like her left eye was a big, old googly frog - eye! I had to look twice to see if her eye was open, swollen, or what! It looked so cute, once I realized it wasn't part of Penny!
It is normal for you to be upset and worried its what women do best especially where a loved one is involved try to take some deep breaths try not to worry know you will anyway it is what I would do if I were in your shoes.You just have to hang in their and try not to show Penny you are worried you do not want her stress because you are stressed you know how they pick up on that. I know from my own experience with back pain or any pain stress makes it worse.You just vent all you want its good for you look at all the people you have pulling for Penny just takes allot of time for her to get better the only thing is with time it seems to go by slowly.
Lov
Papbouv
You will do the best you can, and so will she. This is an abysmal experience. Try to not think beyond the next 20 min. I know this is really easy for me to say. Have been there. If you have an Ipod or a Walkman and earphones, put in new batteries, memorize the controls so you don't wake up Drew, and plug yourself in to whatever blocks the panic in the middle of the night. You can't think 2 things at once without significant practice....
In the day, laundry...work, oh sh##, "I'm at work?????" It does change, slowly.
Good luck, and many Colorado rayz, Puppy kisses and all the good will we can send you. ;o}
I hate to see you going through this Kari! I think most of us have been there...I can freak out over the edge with the best of 'em! :wink: I was a total wreck this summer (ask Delia) I lost 6 lbs in 5 days, couldn't sleep, couldn't think...it was a nightmare that seemed would never end, waiting to see what was going to happen. I have been through this kind of panic many times, losing my Mom, Dad, brother, sister, 2 close friends and of course my furkids....and let me tell you it does NOT get easier/better with practice! Worry is part of being a Mom. Just keep in mind that her chances of making a total recovery and you all getting back to your normal lives is multitudes greater than the alternatives! And as she keeps getting better and better and more and more time goes by you will relax and not be watching her every move and every breath again.
Try not to focus on what will happen if the drugs don't work...and focus on what will happen when they do! :thumb:
You aren't alone...it will be OK you will get through this!
Hey Kari!
Just hang in there girl, you and Penny will get through this. Just take it one day at a time! :heart:
Warm sunny hugs from us all!
What your feeling is perfectly normal. It's been a really rough few weeks for all of you! Try to just take it one day at a time... difficult as that may be. We are ALL here for you guys so vent away! Hugs to you Kari and gentle belly rubs to Miss Penny.
Kari, have you ever noticed that the word "Women" and "Worry" begin with the same letter? That's because that is what women do....we worry. We are all here for you and pulling for you and Penny and sending healing rays, hugs and kisses. We have been there....this past year when Zoe was sick I lost weight, cried all the time and couldn't sleep either...it is what we do....we are women....we are the caregivers and the doctors and the people who take care of everyone else but seem to neglect ourselves. We are all here for you, we understand, we will help you all we can.....Dee Dee and Lauri are both right when they say, "Take It One Day At A Time" and "Don't Worry about What Will Happen If The Meds Don't Work....Just Focus On What Will Happen When They Do!!!"
So post away....and we will listen, we will try to help and we will pray. I know I haven't been a member here on Wiener Writings very long but I do sense that we have a common bond and that we are all family. Hugs and Kisses to you and Penny.....anxiously awaiting an update in Cincinnati.
Bless your heart - I know it is so hard. So many of us have been there - maybe not to the extreme that you or others have, but nonetheless - totally freaked out where our furkids are concerned. Playing "what if" is so normal with women - as others above have noted - we worry over everything. All you can do is take one day, one hour at a time, baby steps, creep along with her healing and what is going to happen, is going to happen. Penny has such loving care with you and Drew and your extended family caring for her. She has every chance in the world of getting through this. We are here to support, listen and send prayers to get all of you through this..... we are here to listen anytime.
My heart is heavy for you and we all hurt with you as she cries out when she hurts..... you aren't alone.......
Just sit by your girl and stroke her and find peace with her.
Major doxie rays and prayers on the way for our Penny and for mom....
Just know that we all are here for you. I wish there was some way that we can help. But each has their own coping measures. Just remember that you have to take care of yourself too as well as Penny. Many rays coming from all of us here in NE. Penny will make it through this. You guys are on my prayer list.
Mel, Mimi and Tuttle
Thanks everyone! I'm sitting here at work trying not to cry! Your encouraging words mean so much and really uplift my spirits! Drew is home with her today...when I left for work they were both sleeping in the living room :grin:
I haven't read all the replies yet, but I'm glad you feel you are able to vent here. This group is always so supportive. The way I look at this sort of thing...........instead of stressing out about what could happen, just take it one day at a time. And its always smart to hope for the best but prepare for the worse. With doxie back issues, this is the way I look at it. There are a lot of options. Surgery, medication, carts. The expense of it all is very stressful along with the emotional part, I do know this. I used to be freaked out at the idea of a cart until I thought about it logically and read up on it. A dog with a cart is no different than a person with a wheelchair. Its a device to enable mobility and they really are wonderful things that give a person or animal some independence. Dogs with carts are just such troopers, they are not into the "pity me" thing, they just carry on. Can you imagine yourself going through back surgery? I think it would take me a long time to get back up to snuff after something like that. We have to allow ourselves the luxury of time. Penny is healing as we speak. I had a doxie (Hasen) that needed neck surgery. It went well, he came home and within a day was in pain again. I was SO upset. I had to take him back to the vet and he had to stay there over the weekend. That did him a lot of good as he was confined and quiet. This gave the healing a chance to get a good start. I know how upsetting the backslides can be. But we have to keep a grip, for our doxies sake.
I know how tough this can be and can only imaging how much anxiety you feel with the extra vet visits.
I think sometimes, we run on so much adrenaline trying to heal them ,that at night is the only your mind can let those emotions surface and the worry sets in.
Vent as much as you need to so you can be strong for Penny when you need to. Pretty soon you are going to be stressed about trying to keep up with her again. :)
Aw Kari, this is such a rough time. It's understandable that you're losing sleep. Please know my thoughts are with you, Drew and Penny. Please know we care.
Thanks everyone! I appreciate your support! I am doing better today and am trying to remember to take it a step at a time and a day at a time.
Thinking of Penny, Kari and Drew today. Can we get a Penny update? :pray:
Quote from: Sandishooligans on January 13, 2007, 01:36:32 PM
Thinking of Penny, Kari and Drew today. Can we get a Penny update? :pray:
Hi Everyone! She is doing good today - seems to be more interactive. She is very concerned about what our cat is doing and patrolling him from her crate :grin:. She is extremely clingy to her dad today as well. She made a HUGE poop this morning and has been drinking a bit more. Her right leg is weaker than her left which is odd since her left leg was the one that was having problems before surgery. All-in-all small improvements!
Glad to hear that she is slowly improving!
Weird about the right leg being the weak one. :confused: