Hello,
Beta had the scope procedure today with the Oakhurst Specialist and the doctor that has been treating her. The Specialist called and reviewed her findings with me, and this is what she said in laymans terms:
The esophogus appeared normal until bottom which was inflamed.
The stomach lining should be smooth and shiney. She described Beta's as cobblestone like, pitted, rough and textured. I asked if it was only in one area and she said the entire stomach lining was covered in this texture. She said that a full blown ulcer looks like a volcano on their monitor and Beta's stomach was full of baby ucler like pits not fully developed if that is what she was seeing. She said that she hasn't seen a stomach look that bad in many years. I asked her to rate between 1-10 (10 the worst) how bad the stomach lining was, she said 7-8. She said the upper intestine was irritated and red but not out of the ordinary like the stomach. She took several biopsys for stat testing which will be back by Friday.
The specialist said that it could be a number of possibilities that couldnt be determined until the biopsys came back, but she suspects that it is the intestinal disease that we have already been treating her for (which would be disturbing becuase the meds havent improved her condition at all), or it could be an ulcer type disease. We have been giving her carafate for an ulcer since Friday and the reg doctor is surprised that visually there werent more improvements. The third possibility is a lymph type cancer that is hard to visually identify.
The specialist said that since i had mentioned a constant cough with mucus and that the night before Beta didnt move from 6pm until bed and was breathing short hard breaths, she would take the opportunity (since beta was already out) to flush the lungs with a liquid. The liquid is airrated out and samples were taken and put on a stat status as well. The reg doctor said that there was a lot of debris coming out of her lungs which didnt look great. This cough could be from Beta throwing up and inhaling some vomit or cancer or a few other things that I cant remember the details of.
The specialist and doctor agreed that Beta's condition is critical for the next 24hrs. She is on IV and will be given all meds through the IV to avoid stressing her stomach out more than neccessary. She is receiving shots of pepto and prevacid (the purple pill) and the carafate orally. They told me that i should have her under 23 hr care. My options were, Oakhurst who doesnt have a night staff, take her home with an IV, and the Largo ER.
The Largo ER or Specialist is where Beta had that first surgery that came up with nothing. I felt the care the provided was poor due to the nature of their business. Too busy to notice her pain, not enough attention, very loud. So my options really, were to bring her home with IV and cone and meds and put her to bed and potentially stress her out with the transport or having her at Oakhurst.
I decided it was best to have her there over night. She was extremely groggy from the last surgery so I expect she will be the same today. They are giving her pain meds as well and we hope that she will sleep soundly through the night. The Vets leave around 7pm and arrive 7am. Although I am emotionally stressed becuase she is not with me, I know she is in a place with faces that she recognizes and a stable and quiet environment. They are also looking for a medicine that is not common. Apparently the ER stocks it but would not release it to them because it was for their critical patients. I want to say it was the Prevacid or equivolent in IV form. The vet is scouting out other hospitals for the drug to see if they can find it.
She will receive protein and glucose in her IV as well to aid her nutrition and fluids to keep her hydrated.
It would be foolish for me to not consider the worst scenario, right? Cancer? If it is her entire stomach and lungs it may be unfair to Beta to keep her in a state where she can't eat or not feel pain. I hope that isnt what she has. The other two options are managable once controlled through medication hopefully. I really dont know what equates putting a dog to sleep, but if she cant eat, and is in constant pain, or is given a terminal diagnosis, I will have to deal with that in a manner that is respectful of Beta.
Money is always a concern right? Recently divorced and struggling on my own, I have sworn to myself not to allow finances make and determination on Beta's life. She is 4yrs old and if she can improve, I will do whatever I can do to get her healthy. This is what credit cards are for, emergencies. If anyone out there is going though similar problems, I hope the data we are sharing will help. My basenji's are my kids.
I will post the moment I hear anything about the results. Please keep your fingers crossed for Beta. The entire vet staff is rooting for her and they say she is a very strong girl for such a little Basenji.
Betsey
me and fender send her hugs and kisses. :x
