Roxy - LP Surgery - UPDATE
 

I will try to make a long story short. She was scheduled for surgery 7/19/06. Tuesday afternoon 7/18/06 the hospital called and asked if there was anyway that I would consider a re-schedule b/c the just got a few urgent cases and Wednesday was going to be a very tight day! Well, I was so upset b/c it was all planned, I had things and people in place for the aftercare, etc...I told them that they really were making me feel horrible, that it was all planned and that I really was hoping to have this done now (during the HOT summer, so she can heal in the nice AC inside). They said ok, lets keep it has planned...then I talked it over with a few people, b/c I am so ‘superstitious' I called back and re-scheduled to August 9, 2006. They said that I didn't have to do that. They said no matter what Roxy would be well taken care of, it would just mean they would have to stay later and that was ok, they've done it before. She tired to reassure me, but there was NO way I could keep the appointment for 7/19, and said at this point I would feel much more comfortable with the reschedule. She said that she was sorry that her phone call disturbed me and that they really appreciate me rescheduling...

I know I am nuts, but I always look at everything very carefully, and always analyze everything to death. I think everything happens for a reason and I always try to see if there are 'sighs' of some sort with everything I do! Yes, I am crazy...:eek: :eek: :eek:

I don't think you're crazy. I probably would have done the same thing.

You aren't crazy! I over-analyze too!

You're not crazy! Tired dr's make mistakes that rested one's usually don't, so I understand completely.

Operations are best not done in a hurry somtimes, so I think waiting is better!

I agree with you. Always follow your gut feeling. I also feel things
happen for a reason. Good luck in Aug with you baby.

I think you made a good decision. I know it's hard to have to go through the waiting again.

I think I would have waited also.

Both my Chan's were done on an emergency basis so we didn't have the "torture" of waiting. It must be on your mind constantly.

Chan just had his last surgery on June 29 and we are headed for week 4 of recovery! Being this is the 2nd knee in 3 monthes - if there's any questions or anything I can tell you, please feel free to ask...

I feel like a "LP" expert now.....:lol tears

I know first, I would have been upset also. Then I would have done the same and rescheduled.

I understand it is hard because you had made plans, but if you had an emergency, wouldn't you hope that your vet would see you and cancel any other appointments for that day?

I have aNeutered 14 pound Yorkie. He had DOUBLE knee surgery for Luxating Patellas, TWICE! Poor baby. The first time they didn't do the surgery aggresivly enough so we had to go and have both back knees done again :( THEN, the morning after the surgery I took off work a couple days to be with him,. I got up to take him outside.....and he had taken ALL of his stitches out one of his knees. It was awful!!! It was WIDE open. I had to lay down on the floor before I passed out!
We made an emergency trip to Vet.

Needless to say...he's fine now. He walks alittle different but he's doing good! :)

POOR BABY...I am so happy that he is ok now! WOW, that's awful :eek:

Roxy is going to an Ortho Specialist to have the surgery done on both legs at the same time, so I am praying that she will only have to do this once. Roxy will be in the hospital from Wed. to Friday then I will be home with her from Friday when I pick her up until Tuesday. So, I am hoping that is enough time to really watch her and make sure she doesn't hurt herself. I will have to decide how things will go from there after.

Thanks for all the responses!

I hope you don't mind my asking but I have never heard of 2 being done at once.

Do you know if they're just deepening the groove or doing the cutting and pinning? Just wondering.....

We are doing both legs at the same time b/c the Specialist feels that Roxy will be ok and able to recover quickly. We will be taking x-rays that morning, just so the Dr. can see what she is truley deeling with, but I don't think she knows just yet until she going in and sees what excatly needs to be done. She did dicuss with me the deepen and also a pin.
I'd much rather her do both legs at once, I really don't want her to be put under 2 times and then also have 2 separate recovery times (6-8 weeks).
I'll let you know next week what exactly had to be done.

Oh I agree! Why go through that twice if you don't have to!

Chan's first surgery (April) was due to a trauma, he simply twisted it the wrong way during a walk. He was a grade 2 before and then in a split second became a 3-4. That was a Thursday afternoon and we had to wait until Monday for the surgery...that was long enough for me, can't imagine what you're going through. We went for his 8 week check up on June 2 and we given the go ahead to let him slowly, over the next month, get back into his normal routine.

As my luck would have it, 3 weeks later he was running for the front door with his sister and boom the left one gave out. That surgery was June 29. We're going on week 5 of recovery. Our surgeon INSISTS on the full 8 weeks.

Tough for us because Chan is not used to a crate. We found the x-pen works the best and keeps him nice and quiet.

The rehab is long and quite time consuming. I'd like to give you one BIG hint right off the bat - they send you home with a belly strap to aid in her walking during the first few days....it is quite awkward to work with and I have found that a scarf works much better. Not too wide, believe it or not a woman's silk scarf worked the best.

Also, when she comes home she will be uncomfortable. I don't know what I was thinking but I was shocked when he was in pain for awhile. It is a major orthopaedic surgery....they should send her home with a morphine patch on her leg. Just REMEMBER it will get better!!!!!! The second time around I was alot calmer because I knew what to expect - but the first one - OMG, I was certifiably insane!! LOL

If there's anything else I can do to ease your mine, don't hesitate to ask.

I have never known anyone to have 2 done at the same time - my surgeon refuses. Personally, I think it will force her to use both the legs and that is the key to a speedy recovery. Slow, weight restricted walking gets the joint moving and surely helps.

My thoughts are with you and your baby.......

Oh thanks for all your kind and helpful comments. I just might have to PM you next week for some more words of wisdom...

I do have a x-pen which I think will I use, thanks, b/c Roxy WILL NOT BE HAPPY IN A CRATE! :eek: :eek: :eek:

tlc....

Feel free to "pm" me whenever..........

She'll be on my mind, so please let us all know when she's done with surgery!

Good Luck to her and you......

Nicole...I'm so sorry your little Roxy has to go through this surgery! Bless her heart! I will be working on the day she has surgery, but I'll be checking from that computer to see if there are any updates. Sending hugs and kisses to all of you!!!

Hi Nicole! I've been thinking of you and Roxy today. Is her surgery done and how did she do? I will be so glad to hear an update on her! Maddie and I send get well kisses and prayers!

I think she said August 9th! That's tomorrow.....

Oh good grief! You're right! I worked today and don't know how many times I wrote the 8th, and what made me think it was the 9th and Roxy was having her surgery! I hope the little sweetie and her mommy do great!!!

Hi everyone! WOW do I have some news to share! First what an emotional wreck I have been. All last week I was trying to get everything in order for when Roxy goes for her "New Set of Wheels" as my husband says...:)
On Friday I stopped at the $1 store to get a few things, including this "stupid" ball for TJ b/c he loves to chase and attack balls and it is so funny to watch him go 'nuts'. Well that ball is going to cost me more worry and crying and money in the next couple of months, b/c TJ went 'nuts' and was sliding all over the hard floors after this ball. Before I got a chance to take it away from him, he hurt himself. He hurt his rear back leg. All weekend he would limp and then I would bend and stretch his leg and then he was fine. This went on all weekend. I finally had a 'cry' breakdown on Sunday. I took him to the Vet yesterday morning, and he confirmed what I FEARED...
Yes, TJ too has LP - Grade 2 or 3 in his right rear leg. :eek: :eek: :eek:
The Vet said to just relax, take care of Roxy right now. He said walk TJ vigiriously, but NO HARD PLAY. He said, maybe, just maybe, in a couple of weeks it might pop back in and STAY IN. But if not, then I will have to have surgery for him too, b/c when it pops out he has that leg just hanging in the air. Roxy was able to do this skip thing and she would get the ligament back into the groove. What a weekend :animal-pa

So, now I have to try and contain myself b/c I want to give Roxy my full attention b/c I was dropping her off this morning for her LP surgery :( :(
Which was so sad...As soon as I parked she started shaking. She has to have blood work and x-rays and then she is scheduled for #3 surgery for the day. They will call me as soon as they have finished. She looked so sad and scared when I had to walk away from her. I cryed immediately. I know she will be ok, I just hate knowing that she is scared.

I will write later when I know more. Thanks for all your concerns and caring thoughts.

I just called the Hospital. Everything is good (blood work and x-rays) and she is going in now for surgery (3pm) :eek: and the Doctor will call me as soon as she is finished.
I thought she would done by now. I thought I did SO GOOD by lasting ALL DAY and not calling. I thought I was going to call and it would be all over. NOW I HAVE TO SIT HERE AND STRESS!!!!

I'll write back again after I hear the GOOD NEWS :)

It's a quick surgery - she's probably done by now! (less than 1 hour) I'm sure they'll call as soon as they get a chance.

So sorry to hear about your other baby! Sounds like my life!

I wish I could have warned you about the hardwood floors - #1 NO NO! I have them also but since Chan's first knee surgery I have enough throw rugs around that it looks like wall to wall carpeting.....lol

Hang in there - let us know when you hear how she is....

I am going crazy over here waiting! My husband wants me to just wait for them to call me back (since I last called at 3pm). I said I will wait until 6pm and then I am calling again. ;)

My surgeon didn't call till 9:00 pm and I knew Chan was in surgery at 2:45pm because a friend works as a receptionist there.

I know you must be going NUTS - but no news is good news! I'm sure she's done, like I said it's a quick surgery and he's just finishing up other surgeries before he makes his phone calls.

How is your other one doing? I would think TJ is uncomfortable - did they give him anything for the pain? Does he miss Roxy or is he enjoying being an only child?

Hang in there..........what's worse is she'll get some GOOD drugs tonight and you'll be sitting there worried sick! Get some WINE and drink it - lol....

I was so hoping I'd come on here and read that her surgery was behind her and she's doing great! Instead I read that now poor little TJ has the same problem! I feel so bad for you and the pups! I hope his pops back in and darn...that must be very painful! Please let us know when you've heard news about Roxy. I suppose she'll have to spend the night at the vet! Big hugs to you, Nicole! You've got way too much on your plate right now! Bless your heart! Sending get well wishes to both Roxy and TJ!

Connie and Yorkiemalt, Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayer. Roxy is doing well the Doctor said that everything went very well and she is very pleased. Her chest x-ray really didn't show anything bad, so she feels her Trachea Collpase is very mild and low grade and managable, hopefully it remains that way. The LP was not the 'normal' type of LP surgery b/c Roxy legs are 'slightly' curved, so she only had to deepen the groove and tighten some muscle and tissue. One of Roxy's legs was worse though, b/c after she deepened the groove the tendon did slip right back in, but the 'knee cap' wanted to remain facing the wrong way :eek: :eek: :eek:
So the Doctor had to play around with that, but in the end she feels confident that all went well. Now, the true test will be how she recovers. She will definatly be in the hospital until Friday and then we will have to see if she is able to be released. Which is fine with me. I'd rather her stay and get peace and rest.

TJ is ok. He was with Daddy all day. He boycoted food, pooping and peeing. He did finally pee around 4pm. He finally ate around 8 pm. BUT NO POOP YET! I haven't seen him limp today - YAY! I breifly told the Doctor about him after we talked about Roxy. Time will just tell with him. He doesn't seem to be in pain. My Vet didn't give me any meds for him, just told him NO HARD PLAY and to watch to see how often (or not) he seems to just carry that leg in air. And like I said, nothing today (although, I have only been around him for a short period of time so far). He seems to be a little sad, but he isn't looking for Roxy, so the little bugger is probably enjoying being an only child!

Thanks again for your prayers and well wishes, but I know that we have just started on our LP journey :rolleyes: . Recovery is going to be rough, but I am remaining positive. ;) :)

I will keep you updated as we go.

I'm with you!! I would have taken it as some sort of sign!! Rescheduling was the right thing to do!!

I am so sorry that your baby had to have the surgery!! I am glad that she has come out of it and is doing well. I hope you don't have to go through this again. I will pray that your other babys knee goes back in place again by itself!! Wishing you all the best!!