Waitng, waiting, waiting, waiting for results...
 

It's been a rough weekend. Started out on Friday: Tinkerbell had an appointment for an Ultrasound to verify a Liver Shunt, at her regular vet, using a mobile unit and tech (so I have my doubts). But we'll see.

So early we rise, and the caregiver for my daughter calls out with car trouble, while I was bathing Tink :eek:. So I have a dripping, hyperdog, and a person I have to get ready for the bus to go to daycare, 45 minutes drive time, and I can't leave till the bus comes. Kick in Sonic speed. All done, but we're now late. :( So I called the vet, to be sure we could still be seen... they said no problem. :) So off we go.

We missed all the traffic :) due to our delayed departure, so we made fairly good time without breaking any laws. We open the door to the vet's office and I peek in, only to see a cute Yorkie pup. Tink's in love and pulls to go see him. After some quick licks and continuous tail wags, we get signed in, jokingly asked 'Can I watch?", and find a seat. Short lived.... out for a potty break.

Back in, I decide to weigh her... Hmmmm... 13.5 pounds.... one pound up from last time.... good. Take a seat again. A man comes out from the exam rooms area with a very large dog and a pug. Tink and the Pug exchange sniffs and tail wags, then growls and a fight starts, but is stopped immediately by my unconscious clean and jerk reaction on the leash, and she's at my feet once more. The man was very nice, and couldn't stop apologizing! How refreshing was that! Of course I apologized too. Stuff just happens sometimes. Then the pug started this howling thing... so funny... everyone was laughing at him.

In the meantime, a few techs come out into the waiting room and call out the owners names for their appointments. Then my name is called. O Boy. Here we go through the doorway and down the long hallway. I don't remember this hallway being this long.... back to reality... the tech is leading us in the back (:eek:) around to a surgical suite (Oh my... looking like I'm going to get to see this! O Boy, O Boy, O Boy... I think. Me and my mouth... do I really want to see this? Too late now, I'm in there.)

So, the tech turns and introduces herself, she is Andi, and blah, blah , blah, (my brain went numb) is going to do the ultrasound. Okay. So I hoist Tink onto the table into a V-shaped cradle, head towards the door. To my surprise, she's being good. Tries to get up, but really can't move, so she decides to lay there, looking at me, while Andi is turning on the unit and getting ready to start. She slips two ties around Tinks hind legs to help hold her in the cradle. Then she explains she's going to clip some fur on Tink's tummy (had been previously shaved but grew out about an inch since I did it last), I say no problem, whatever you need to do is fine with me.... and then coats her tummy with the lube so the probe can slide around. O Boy.

Tink was being so good, Andi was able to do the whole abdomen, (found stones in the kidneys), till she got to the liver, bc she had to get the probe kinda up and under Tink's ribcage. Tink wasn't bad, but she would tense up, which I guess screws up the imaging. So my vet comes in and asks if sedation was necessary? Andi says well, she was being good till you walked in here! Ha! But decided to knock her out just a tad, so my vet injected a bit of Valium into a hind leg.... just enough to make Tink a little woozie, and he put her on a monitor, and had another tech come in to help hold her. Actually, he wanted me to stand back and let the tech do the holding (insurance regulations, I think) but Andi insisted I stay where I was, that Tink was okay. So, onto the liver.

It didn't take long, with the sedation, and we were seeing the liver with 3 tube looking things coming off it. Andi was flipping a switch, which made pretty colors come up on the screen (what do I know). This was the doppler, the thing that shows the blood flow. Hmmmm. Andi explained the tube at the top was the Caudal Vena Cava, the second, or middle tube was the Portal vein, and the third tube at the bottom was a shunt! Oh no! She went on to explain that the blood flow was confusing.... so I'll have to wait for her report.....

Waiting, waiting, waiting.....

Poopie on this... calling the vet now!

Oh, no. I hope you get good news.

oh man.....hoping for good news....

Oh no. Hope it's good news.

I hope you get some answers soon

I called.... the results came in yesterday...after my vet left:eek: she's not due back in till Thursday! I said, no problem.... have anybody call then fax me a copy of the report.... so...waiting, waiting, waiting....

Happy to hear the ultrasound was done. Hopefully, if she has a shunt, it is still operable.

Sending prayers that you get good news soon!!

If it were me, I would be insisting on talking to someone. I swear some people just don't understand that waiting for things like this is terribly anxiety provoking.

I am so sorry you are going thru this, and the waiting is just ridiculous torture.

Since a shunt has been found, it seems that they should be more helpful in moving ahead with the next step, or perhaps transferring this case out to someone more qualified to fix it?

I'm hoping for the best treatment and recovery for Tinkerbell, and some peace of mind for you.

I am hoping you receive some more information soon about the shunt and the chances for its correction via surgery. Keeping Tink in my prayers.

I agree! The answers to all your questions are on some piece of paper in a file, probably laying on somebody's desk and meanwhile you are on pins and needles! Get on that phone girlfriend and get those answers! Keep us posted and our fingers and puppy paws are crossed for the best possible outcome!

I hope you get a call soon and it is good news. Waiting is so hard especially when you know they have the results. I will keep her in my prayers.

Sorry to hear this, sending prayers for little Tinkerbell and good thoughts that all will be well soon. Be strong...hugs from me & Zhoie XXOO

Hoping that you and Tink get good news.

Okay, a vet called me back, and my fax picked it up and disconnected us! This can't be good.... calling him back....

It's operable! It's a Splenocaval extrahepatic shunt (there are 3 types). Here's a link to what it looks like (includes US videos):

Complications after surgical attenuation of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts in dogs can be prevented by intraoperative Doppler ultrasonographic assessment of portal hemodynamics - (c) Veterinary Sciences Tomorrow


Normal liver:

Attachment 338584

Splenocaval extrahepatic shunt:

Attachment 338585

What to do now? They recommend "L/D, Lactulose, and metronidazole until surgical intervention can occur in which Ameroid Constrictor therapy placement, liver biopsy and cysotomy should all be performed with apropriate analysis and histopathology to rule out concurrent MVD".

I told him to call the specialist and set up a consult.... and now the bad news: he's guessing it may run over $4000.00.

Waiting some more... and see. :( but :D

Oh and Thanks to all who responded for the well wishes.... please keep Tinky in your prayers....

Well, thankfully since it is operable, I would suggest you do what you talked about previously for Tinkerbell...go to UT. Good luck and I will keep Tinkerbell in my prayers.

Yea! Just keep looking for that silver lining and try not to stress on the rest$$

We'll keep your baby in our prayers!

Don't know what to say...I'm glad it's operable, but wow, the cost! I know you're like me, and will do anything to take care of your baby, but I'm very sorry you have to bear this financial burden...Having said that, I'm glad there is a positive solution...My neighbor had to have a shunt done, on one of her pups, and it's been several years, and you'd never know there was anything wrong...I'm sure this will be the same for Tink...I'll be praying for her...
Hugs, Maggie

I'm so sorry that you are going through this Kathy. You and Tink are in my prayers. As expensive as it is, I always believe it's a positive if money can heal things. Thanks god it's operable.

I am sorry the news was not better. I will keep you both in my prayers.

I am so sorry to hear your little one has a shunt.
My little Dixie had hers repaired a few years ago but also ended up having underlying MVD, so she is on lactulose and prescription foods for life. But she's doing great. I belong to a great dog liver disease group if you are interested:
DogLiverDisease : Dog Liver Disease

I agree. Sending prayers for Tink.

Sending prayers and hugs to all of you :hug:

So sorry to hear about your little one. My baby girl had a shunt, was diagnosed at 13 months, and went to UT (Dr Tobias) to have the Ameroid Constrictor placed in 3/09. Even with airfare, hotel and surgery - including scintigraphy, the cost was less than $4000.00, and I felt so comfortable with UT doing the surgery. It's my understanding that it's the aftercare that is so critical with these tiny babies. They were so kind at UT and my Lola is doing great. I left Houston on Wednesday evening and was back home Sunday afternoon. Good luck to you and your little one!

Sending prayers and good thoughts to both you and Tink!:)

Sorry to hear you are going through this....saying a prayer for you and Tinker that all goes well. I am glad that it is operable even though the surgery is costly. I have used care credit to pay for expensive vet hospital bills and it makes it a little easier not paying interest. I hope all goes well with Tink. {{{hugs to you both}}}