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concretegurl · 12-23-2011, 10:23 PM

Thank you so much everyone. I read over each of your posts here and it really helps to feel so supported and not alone in this.

It has been a long struggle, too long.

We have had a neurological consult, a few months after I got Elvis after his first set of seizures, but because Elvis has cluster seizures in a spirratic pattern that has never been more than one session or cluster of them any closer than 3 months apart she recommended to be without medication.
Th neurologist didn't recommended bring him to her for full treatment until several steps had been accomplished with our veterinarian here.

Elvis was going for his second consult to access damage and evaluation of a treatment plan in July, which would be based on the seizure pattern.

So far the assessment of damage I see in his behavior has been Elvis seems to already have optical damage from the pressure on his optical nerve during seizures-he walks into things but randomly or is suddenly surprised when he touches something so it appears to be a depth perception issue in his right eye (he only walks into walls etc on his right side) but it was "cloudy" on the scan also he seems to have lost his sense of smell (if he really had it at all when I first got him) my other dogs can sniff something out right away Elvis seems to have about the sense of smell of a person he smells things but has to exert a lot of effort to find it while my other dogs sniff it and go right to the smell.

Elvis also has knocked one tooth during a seizure-he had horrible dental issues when he came to me and despite originally being told we should consider having all his teeth pulled we have saved them at least for now) he literally jumped up from sleeping flew off the couch tried to run to me ran right past me and smacked into the brick fire place before falling over into constriction.

Of course I was told to call back and schedule sooner if things worsened...but really we need someone on hand here not 7 hours away.

Then I was stressed because he started to exhibit more of them in a closer succession so we started alternative treatments and basically triage (giving Valuim to interrupt after he had a seizure) nd he did receive (annal a potassium something) but he was only on an alternative medication for the last almost year and it obviously wasn't working.

I'm feeling bad that I was doing all of this alternative treatments and going back and forth with conflicting advice and then what everyone was saying seemed common sense and I wasn't proactive enough being responsible for his care to make this decision before.

I was really relieved to hear one seizure is one too many and to feel justified in not being the crazy over zealous dog owner who thinks they know more than the experts. I went from being confused about this in the beginning to being frustrated it wasn't "fixed" right away, then frustrated I

Alldogboots thank you so much for that advice! I will definitely follow your lead and insist on it ever 6 months then. I was previously so worried after the concern of liver issues that in my mind anyone suggesting pheno was following and old school treatment that was harmful-however I have to swallow my pride say I don't know what I'm talking about if it is working for others then I owe it to Elvis to try it-obviously what I was choosing wasn't working and it has been to his detriment.

I have noticed he is a little lethargic with the pheno, but then again he is always very lethargic after a set of seizures (also very edgy and anxious with both seem to translate into him just curling up on my feet or lap and literally not only being with me 24:7 but he has to be actually touching me somehow).

Every-time this happens I go through this whole emotional phase of at first being so panicked, then mad because this is all so unfair, and then I catch myself up and try to figure out what to know, do next and to evaluate and process the next course of action.

It's so especially unfair he's such a great little (well big for a Yorkie) buy who already has enough medical issues epilepsy is just the icing on his short stick cake.

I'm ready for this to be the cure or treatment that works, but I'm realizing I have to acknowledge this is forever and I'll probably have to reevaluate the next course of treatment with the vet & new neurology consult over the next 6 months or year all over again.

I really do appreciate how supportive and caring everyone is. Love you al so much kisses from Elvis and our whole family to you all.

12-23-2011, 10:23 PM	#10
concretegurl Between♥Suspensions Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vaissades Posts: 7,979	Thank you so much everyone. I read over each of your posts here and it really helps to feel so supported and not alone in this. It has been a long struggle, too long. We have had a neurological consult, a few months after I got Elvis after his first set of seizures, but because Elvis has cluster seizures in a spirratic pattern that has never been more than one session or cluster of them any closer than 3 months apart she recommended to be without medication. Th neurologist didn't recommended bring him to her for full treatment until several steps had been accomplished with our veterinarian here. Elvis was going for his second consult to access damage and evaluation of a treatment plan in July, which would be based on the seizure pattern. So far the assessment of damage I see in his behavior has been Elvis seems to already have optical damage from the pressure on his optical nerve during seizures-he walks into things but randomly or is suddenly surprised when he touches something so it appears to be a depth perception issue in his right eye (he only walks into walls etc on his right side) but it was "cloudy" on the scan also he seems to have lost his sense of smell (if he really had it at all when I first got him) my other dogs can sniff something out right away Elvis seems to have about the sense of smell of a person he smells things but has to exert a lot of effort to find it while my other dogs sniff it and go right to the smell. Elvis also has knocked one tooth during a seizure-he had horrible dental issues when he came to me and despite originally being told we should consider having all his teeth pulled we have saved them at least for now) he literally jumped up from sleeping flew off the couch tried to run to me ran right past me and smacked into the brick fire place before falling over into constriction. Of course I was told to call back and schedule sooner if things worsened...but really we need someone on hand here not 7 hours away. Then I was stressed because he started to exhibit more of them in a closer succession so we started alternative treatments and basically triage (giving Valuim to interrupt after he had a seizure) nd he did receive (annal a potassium something) but he was only on an alternative medication for the last almost year and it obviously wasn't working. I'm feeling bad that I was doing all of this alternative treatments and going back and forth with conflicting advice and then what everyone was saying seemed common sense and I wasn't proactive enough being responsible for his care to make this decision before. I was really relieved to hear one seizure is one too many and to feel justified in not being the crazy over zealous dog owner who thinks they know more than the experts. I went from being confused about this in the beginning to being frustrated it wasn't "fixed" right away, then frustrated I Alldogboots thank you so much for that advice! I will definitely follow your lead and insist on it ever 6 months then. I was previously so worried after the concern of liver issues that in my mind anyone suggesting pheno was following and old school treatment that was harmful-however I have to swallow my pride say I don't know what I'm talking about if it is working for others then I owe it to Elvis to try it-obviously what I was choosing wasn't working and it has been to his detriment. I have noticed he is a little lethargic with the pheno, but then again he is always very lethargic after a set of seizures (also very edgy and anxious with both seem to translate into him just curling up on my feet or lap and literally not only being with me 24:7 but he has to be actually touching me somehow). Every-time this happens I go through this whole emotional phase of at first being so panicked, then mad because this is all so unfair, and then I catch myself up and try to figure out what to know, do next and to evaluate and process the next course of action. It's so especially unfair he's such a great little (well big for a Yorkie) buy who already has enough medical issues epilepsy is just the icing on his short stick cake. I'm ready for this to be the cure or treatment that works, but I'm realizing I have to acknowledge this is forever and I'll probably have to reevaluate the next course of treatment with the vet & new neurology consult over the next 6 months or year all over again. I really do appreciate how supportive and caring everyone is. Love you al so much kisses from Elvis and our whole family to you all. __________________ Shan & 8 kids now!