I was making a short video of a lovely if somewhat hot and humid day, and feeling grateful when I realized I forgot my Haile! I am amazed I forgot her. Think about it. There myst be a lot of love in the universe (God/Universe/Spirit…your choice!) to provide us with such special companions!
First, I have no issue with taking Hailie to the vet. I do mind taking her if it’s obvious and to tell you the truth, I’m not thrilled with our usual vet but don’t want to start a with a new one coming in with a problem if I can avoid it. I’d rather schedule a wellness check to see if Hailie and I like the vet!
So…Hailie…5yo generally healthy ES, spends lots of time running around in tall grass/woodsy perimeter of our property. Is on flea/tick preventative (vetIQ flea and tick) which I love as its natural ingredients. We’ve lived here for 3 years now (humid North Shore area just outside of New Orleans, more so this year than in past). She is itchy on and off over the last month. Responds well to loratadine when needed. But I noticed when I give her skritches, I come across a patch here and there that feels rough. They mostly look a little flaky, and maybe a little silver looking. But I also find a few scabs here and there.
I just got some Vetericyn Antimicrobial gel spray but thought I would check here to see if anyone recognizes the pics of one spot and a couple of scabs just in case it warrants a vet trip.
First pic to get your attention lol. Other two of said signs of the itchies.
I’ll give pertinent data at the end! I this is going to take me a bit to get it all out and am hoping if I list the issue first it will save those not interested some time.
Diagnosed with Orthostatic Hypotension (delayed) in April 26. Consults with Ortho and Neurology. Non determinant tests=CTA, MRI w/w/o contrast, halter monitor, cardiac Cath, Heart Cath, Echo Cardiogram, tons of bloodwork (all normal or just slightly off - not concerning to Docs). The only test that proved of some concern was the Nuclear stress test which prompted the heart Cath. Heart Cath proved no structural cause for stress test results. Summary of stress test:
Abnormal myocardial perfusion scan. • There is a moderate to severe intensity, large sized, reversible perfusion abnormality that is consistent with ischemia in the basal to distal anterior wall(s) in the typical distribution of the LAD territory. • There are no other significant perfusion abnormalities. • The ECG portion of the study is negative for ischemia. • There were no arrhythmias during stress. • EF 67% • High Risk scan.
I have significant drops in BP when doing orthostatic BP readings (as instructed by cardiac NP). Drop begins at 3 min standing and continues to drop as long as 10 minutes at which point I have to sit down. During tests heart rate does not increase significantly (maybe 30 bpm once in a while). Systolic has actually dropped by as much as 75 mmHG. Most often drops between 30-50. Diastolic between 10 and 20. Symptoms are typical of OH - dizzy, air hunger, weakness, exhaustion if I crash more than one or two times a day. Taking Midodrine 7.5 am, 5 mid day and 2.5 PM if my BP isn’t high. While it seems to be keeping me from crashing so low, the orthostatic differences remain roughly the same. After being cleared by neurology based on the CTA and head/neck MRI’s I was referred back to Cardiologist. Cannot get an appointment until August 31, although the NP and I are communicating via the portal and medication has been adjusted twice to get to where I am now. She will not consider any further referrals until I see Doc. I’m doing all the recommended things like abdominal binders, increase salt etc.
So…I read via sites like the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo, Johns Hopkins, that there has been research showing a potential dysautonomia that can be linked to Autoimmune history (I’ve got tons) and perhaps even immune system problems. I have a significant history of medical events that have been unexpected and could be attributed to a compromised immune system with no specific reason. Ex: many years back Systemic Histoplasmosis discovered during surgery for lesions in my lungs believed to be cancer but were not. Also had sepsis only 6 weeks after a hip replacement and did not have a significant fever (so my ortho PA didn’t believe me when I said I felt like crap only one week post surgery). I could go on. Slow healing wounds leading to C-section re-opening when sutures were removed (in the 80’s), issues with sweating (only sweat from head), urinary retention until middle of night. Periods of chills and feeling feverish early evening with no elevated temp, night sweats And more! But this is long enough.
Here’s the question (aside from what do you think of all this!). F/U not until August 31. According to Cardiologist may be referred to Dysautonomia specialty but that will take around 4 months. My life as I know it has changed in so many ways. My activity level is waaaay down! I find it hard to even stand at the sink to wash dishes without having a crash. I’m 72 and had been on a campaign to get in shape so that I can enjoy my “third act”. This is not what I had in mind. I have sent all this info to my PCP and I have a virtual visit coming up. I really want to skip the steps between all this or at least get a jump on things and get some immune system testing done and if warranted get a referral to immunology. Oh…here’s another reason I don’t want to sit on this. I have a strong family history of things like Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia that they (I think Mayo Clinic) are seeing a connection to with OH and I want to aggressively seek answers. A compromised immune system could explain so much of my complex medical history! Is it reasonable to directly ask my PCP for this? I don’t want to be seen as “that patient” that is self diagnosing. But because of the delays and the impact it’s having, if there is anything that can be done to keep moving forward, I’d really like to do that!
If you’ve gotten to the end of this thanks! Oh…72 yo female, 200# and losing, antidepressants my adult life, AdhD (medication works - d-amphetamine salts or something like that!) Hoshimoto’s Hypothyroiditis.
I’ll give pertinent data at the end! I this is going to take me a bit to get it all out and am hoping if I list the issue first it will save those not interested some time.
Diagnosed with Orthostatic Hypotension (delayed) in April 26. Consults with Ortho and Neurology. Non determinant tests=CTA, MRI w/w/o contrast, halter monitor, cardiac Cath, Heart Cath, Echo Cardiogram, tons of bloodwork (all normal or just slightly off - not concerning to Docs). The only test that proved of some concern was the Nuclear stress test which prompted the heart Cath. Heart Cath proved no structural cause for stress test results. Summary of stress test:
Abnormal myocardial perfusion scan. • There is a moderate to severe intensity, large sized, reversible perfusion abnormality that is consistent with ischemia in the basal to distal anterior wall(s) in the typical distribution of the LAD territory. • There are no other significant perfusion abnormalities. • The ECG portion of the study is negative for ischemia. • There were no arrhythmias during stress. • EF 67% • High Risk scan.
I have significant drops in BP when doing orthostatic BP readings (as instructed by cardiac NP). Drop begins at 3 min standing and continues to drop as long as 10 minutes at which point I have to sit down. During tests heart rate does not increase significantly (maybe 30 bpm once in a while). Systolic has actually dropped by as much as 75 mmHG. Most often drops between 30-50. Diastolic between 10 and 20. Symptoms are typical of OH - dizzy, air hunger, weakness, exhaustion if I crash more than one or two times a day. Taking Midodrine 7.5 am, 5 mid day and 2.5 PM if my BP isn’t high. While it seems to be keeping me from crashing so low, the orthostatic differences remain roughly the same. After being cleared by neurology based on the CTA and head/neck MRI’s I was referred back to Cardiologist. Cannot get an appointment until August 31, although the NP and I are communicating via the portal and medication has been adjusted twice to get to where I am now. She will not consider any further referrals until I see Doc. I’m doing all the recommended things like abdominal binders, increase salt etc.
So…I read via sites like the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo, Johns Hopkins, that there has been research showing a potential dysautonomia that can be linked to Autoimmune history (I’ve got tons) and perhaps even immune system problems. I have a significant history of medical events that have been unexpected and could be attributed to a compromised immune system with no specific reason. Ex: many years back Systemic Histoplasmosis discovered during surgery for lesions in my lungs believed to be cancer but were not. Also had sepsis only 6 weeks after a hip replacement and did not have a significant fever (so my ortho PA didn’t believe me when I said I felt like crap only one week post surgery). I could go on. Slow healing wounds leading to C-section re-opening when sutures were removed (in the 80’s), issues with sweating (only sweat from head), urinary retention until middle of night. Periods of chills and feeling feverish early evening with no elevated temp, night sweats And more! But this is long enough.
Here’s the question (aside from what do you think of all this!). F/U not until August 31. According to Cardiologist may be referred to Dysautonomia specialty but that will take around 4 months. My life as I know it has changed in so many ways. My activity level is waaaay down! I find it hard to even stand at the sink to wash dishes without having a crash. I’m 72 and had been on a campaign to get in shape so that I can enjoy my “third act”. This is not what I had in mind. I have sent all this info to my PCP and I have a virtual visit coming up. I really want to skip the steps between all this or at least get a jump on things and get some immune system testing done and if warranted get a referral to immunology. Oh…here’s another reason I don’t want to sit on this. I have a strong family history of things like Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia that they (I think Mayo Clinic) are seeing a connection to with OH and I want to aggressively seek answers. A compromised immune system could explain so much of my complex medical history! Is it reasonable to directly ask my PCP for this? I don’t want to be seen as “that patient” that is self diagnosing. But because of the delays and the impact it’s having, if there is anything that can be done to keep moving forward, I’d really like to do that!
If you’ve gotten to the end of this thanks! Oh…72 yo female, 200# and losing, antidepressants my adult life, AdhD (medication works - d-amphetamine salts or something like that!) Hoshimoto’s Hypothyroiditis.
I just need to vent. I’m so angry and sad as well!
Once a year I go on a beach trip with my grown kids, grandkids, and some extended family. This leaves no one to care for my sensitive Hailie. This is the third year I have used this pet sitter and I pay extra for her to stay with my dog. Hailie has been with me or a family member all her life (she’s 5) except for this trip, and I pay extra because I stress that I do not want Hailie left alone for more than an hour or two, maybe 2x a day. Yesterday I noticed that her e-collar hadn’t been charged overnight because it only had 10% charge. I messaged her around 10am asking her to put it on the charger. She replied “I will” and then I moved on. Around 4:00 one of the Grands asked to “see where Hailie is” so I pulled up the app and it still showed 10%, and Hailie was still in the house. I then looked back on our security cameras and saw that she left the house at 8am and didn’t return until 5 (even after I called her) I asked what was up. She gave a bunch of excuses, and even tried to lie about when she had been there. I ended up leaving the beach early, and driving home with my heart aching for poor Hailie! She must have been worried and so confused. The cameras show her laying under the dining room table, a place she never goes, as if she was hiding from some threat. I told the woman to leave before I got home because I didn’t want to have a conversation with her as it might get heated.
It’s one thing if a dog is used to long stretches of time alone. And there isn’t anything inherently wrong with that for some dogs. But I have been very specific (and unapologetic) about what I want when I’m gone and I’m willing to pay for it.
Speaking of paying for it, how would you handle paying her? I do NOT want to pay her what we agreed to. She didn’t do the job she agreed to do, plus ruined half my trip, and made my grands sad I was leaving early. My daughter says pay her what we agreed to minus the days I lost. I don’t want to pay her at all because I’m so angry, but I know that’s not fair either.
*THIS* is the picture she sent me to tell me Hailie was “just fine”. Does that look like a happy setter to you??? It doesn’t to me.
Would like to get recommendations for some kind of guard for me ES’s belly! (Pictures to show the type of area in which she pretends to hunt ❤️)
We don’t hunt but she runs around our 3 acres that have tall grasses around the perimeter. She keeps getting what looks like lots of small bites on her abdomen and a reaction that causes red skin. I clear it up using an oatmeal bath but she goes out and it recurs. I’ve looked at some of the belly guards on line but most seem designed to protect the chest. Others seem too heavy for daily wear in south east Louisiana!
Can anyone recommend one that might help? If you don’t use a belly guard, how do you keep your dog from picking up little creatures? (I suspect chiggers or a similar pest).
First off I’m not using a pattern. I saw a pic of something and just for fun decided to try to do it without a pattern. I’m pretty new to tatting. I haven’t figured out shuttle tatting but have done a bunch of needle tatting, and have even figured out things like split rings. I’ve managed to get the tightness of my rings consistent - I pull it as tight as it will easily go - I cannot figure out getting chains consistent. Example - on the multi colored piece you can see the inconsistency best. If I pulled as tight as it would easily go, it bunched up and I had to try to adjust them after I finished. So going down the second side I tried just pulling it tight enough to make I the size I want it but that can’t be right and still didn’t result in consistency. As I’m writing this I think I’m realizing that if pulling it tight makes it bunch up, something must be wrong about the needle/thread combination or the number of ds I’m putting into the chain. What do you think?
The white one is better but still not great.
Does this make sense? Could this be why they have deserted me in my hour of need 😝 (I’m confined to the house for a bit with an injury).
About two weeks ago I had maybe 4 or 5 hummers visiting my feeders on and off. (It’s my second year after first hanging at the end of last season.) One day one of the hummers was doing that swooping flight back and forth that I’ve learned here, is a mating ritual. Several times I observed one hummer feeding and another one going after the feeding one (not returning to feed itself). Since all that I have not seen a single hummer, although one feeder does seem to be going down a bit in its nectar level. I really really want them back! I even added a water bubbling fountain hoping to see them again. Any advice?
Also could it possibly be that we have tons of flowers that are in full bloom right now. Might they prefer those?
This was in my Facebook ES group and I thought I’d share it here. The heartbreaking part about this cancer is that there are very early warning symptoms that don’t appear to be connected because they come and go. Occasionally not eating a meal. Less than enthusiastic about going for a walk (again, comes and goes). Odd bouts of panting. Changes in sleep habits. Self isolating. Occasional gray gums. None of these on their own would send me to the vet. They can come and go over the course of weeks and even months. More often than not, owners do not connect them, and the cancer is only found when the worst happens, and it’s a crisis. Survival at that point is highly unlikely.
So pay attention. Maybe make notes when your dog seems off on any particular day. If it starts to concern you, see your vet and ask for imaging, if only to ease your mind. I know I’ll be starting a diary of sorts on my phone just in case. And please share this flyer.