post TPLO blog attempt....

 

my attempt at this last night was not successful.  i have just given her the trazodone dose. went up last night.  she can have up to 250mg every 8-12 hours...i had started with 100mg but bumped up last night to 150mg. above is the before photo.

here is Ivy getting ice and elevation soon after she got home.  was so happy  i was able to get her home and so very grateful for G and M for helping me get her home and inside.  M did a carry in.  G drove my car so i could stay in back and make sure she didn't bounce around...she tried. 

Ivy did well, though she was under the effects of the anesthesia and drugs in general so she was goofy and confused.  i stayed in the pen with her that night as she really couldn't be alone...

around 11 that first night my knee gave out.  severe pain and inability to extend the joint beyond just over 90 degree angle, which meant any attempts at walking were so painful it made me nauseated.  i did have to walk some though.  get her pills, try to get her outside if needed.  each step i took i clung on both sides to what ever was there.  i actually was screaming out in pain, which i felt badly for as i didn't want to scare Ivy and Tusker. i'm sure they were already pretty freaked.  i was starving but every time i got up i was hot, exhausted and nauseated so i just couldn't eat.

at one point it was clear that the silly blow up collar wasn't preventing her from getting to where she wasn't supposed to. oddly, i could crawl around just fine.  standing and walking were impossible.  a quick internet search had me paranoid i'd blown my meniscus helping my dog recover from hers...oh the irony.  anxiety kept building as i wondered how i was ever going to be able to help her over these next months when i couldn't even walk.  how was i going to get her outside to try to pee..as she hadn't yet pee'd post op. 

at one point i went upstairs and got this old collar of Rio's.  it is working thankfully. of course, it was on the highest shelf.  lots more screaming in pain. I also grabbed one of my old crutches as they were tucked in a corner and kept getting stuck.  then i also grabbed the massage gun as much of the pain seemed to be the muscles up and down the entire leg were completely knotted up.  threw stuff down the stairs and managed to get back to Ivy and laying down beside her. 

i got the new collar on her.  helped her reposition often and just was by her as much as i could. i attempted to get up to get a bite to eat.  tried ibuprofen/ice and elevation for my leg.  eventually i attempted robaxin...anything i could think of to alter the current situation.  it was unbearable at times. 

got her meds in the morning and realized i could not do this alone, i was going to need some help.  

i texted GT and LS, who was getting off work and let them know of the current situation.  

nothing in life beats having amazing people in your life who are willing to help you out in your most painful and desperate times. thanks is not enough for how i felt getting those return texts promising help. 

i hobbled up to unlock the door and crawled back in the cage. 

below is her after shot...a lot of hardware, right! 

it was with such relief when i heard the door open and M came in to try Ivy Rose out for a bathroom break.  she still didn't go but i was just so happy to have someone take her and give it a try.  i had read from many that they often do not void right away.  they are given the vet equivalent of bupivicaine which can hinder humans voiding when placed epidurally...so i figured that may make sense. 

she smelled of urine so i know she had pee'd post op.  she took sips of water for me through the night and at some point she ate kibble a few at a time from my hands.  we iced and elevated, meaning i had to get up and down a few times. the things you do for your dog. 

G came over later and was able to work from my place so i could go upstairs and take a shower and try to nap. i was exhausted just going up the stairs so i lay down for a bit, then i showered. i left the door open in case i fell.  that pain was crazy but the interventions had at least taken it down a notch.  i wasn't screaming anymore. 

back to bed to rest a bit and then i really worked on the massage gun with my legs because i could feel the knots from my thigh down my calf.  easing that up over the next 24 hours has been huge.  i've continued to ice and elevate when i can.  i can move about easier but still limping.  i have managed to be able to help Ivy outside.  

these are the swim/bath time a few days before surgery so she'd be clean and have a happy memory.  

L came over and took Ivy out for an afternoon pee attempt, which was successful. she just used the sling to lift her back end down the two steps.  no stairs for 8 weeks. last night i was able to do this again and she actually peed and pooped...my world is small this week.  

L has stopped by and taken Tusker for walks a few times and that first night she and G both cooked for me and took care of me as well as the dog.  G said i looked absolutely grey when she arrived. no sleep, no food, no water and severe pain will do that i guess.  above is right after she got home and M had lay her down in the fenced area.

my system is working good. i shut Tusker in the house and then we can take Ivy outside.  she gets pretty baffled and wants to use the dog door.  she's also not willing to slowly walk outside.  it's either stop or go. 

this morning i used the lift to get her up over the steps and had her leash on.  i left her walk herself and removed the lift once on the main yard. i then replaced the lift to get her back up and over the stairs.

these are sunsets from the night before surgery at Basher i think.  Ivy was pretty sore that day.  i think we just hit the dog park? can't even remember. 

the short walk and swim the day before had really done her in.  a week or so ago her left knee had totally given out.  she was minimally weight bearing on it.  the issues prior had predominantly been on the right but she had never been non-weight bearing on the right except right after the walk/car ride home. so i had told the vet this and told them to do the worst leg.  

the surgeon told me the left was indeed totally ruptured acl and meniscus.  her right has scar tissue and arthritis.  still hoping i can delay that surgery or just avoid it....as of this moment the idea of going through that night again is terrifying. 

she did put stem cells in both joints.  i authorized that hoping that we can help this one heal up well and give the other leg the best chance to last as long as possible. 

her life will not be as crazy as pre surgery i'm sure but it should be much better after this.

she is much more perky now.  more like herself...needing more drugs.  attempting to get at the incision.  she's figured out how to gently remove the blanket i put over her leg with her teeth so i remembered i'd seen some trick with kids leggings to put over the leg on the TPLO site on facebook. 

i kind of made one with some of my old layers.  it's not great but seems to have helped. she's not a fan of the collar. can't wait til she doesn't need that. i take it off while she eats and when she goes out potty. 

G has come through again and is using some of her grandsons old ones for Ivy.  SH will pick it up as today and yesterday she Ivy sat so i could get a shower.  right now i keep getting up and checking on  her.  i know i will need to work up to getting ready to head back to work.  LH will also come pick up Tusker for another walk.  

the cats have come and checked on her. last night they slept in the chair by her.  Covi kitty has jumped in with her on several occasions to check on her and get a good sniff.  i have also allowed Tusker in for sniffs and licks.  highly supervised of course.

hard to keep them apart but they do love to play and i know when they are back together and she is healed it will be scary at first.  i think you fear destroying all you have worked to heal in one wrong move.  eventually i will need to let go and let her live again.  that is months away still. 

Miss Breezy hasn't made the trek in to see Ivy.  Ivy would probably attempt to hump the poor cat.  i don't think that is the sort of rehab the vets would approve of.

Ivy is eating better and the treks outside are slowly improving as well. it's a learning curve for us all. 

not looking forward to the day i return to work.  poor girl 

the set up...this is pre-op. i left everything up for a few days so they could get used to it

luckily my dogs have always respected boundaries...odd really.  

this is how the cats slept last night.  

keeping watch over their girl. 

i'm pretty housebound for the moment.  we have our first follow up soon and then hopefully Ivy can do short walks on leash.  

once my knee improves i'll have to plan to risk leaving Ivy alone for a walk with tusker.  will be good for my sanity. probably walk her, trazadone, settle and then walk him.  she will get a few short walks, which i suspect will tire her out. 

walked Tusker on the day of her surgery. 

took that back trail off of Rovers Run. 

i also had a dentist appointment that day..a good distraction.  i told them my dog was going into surgery and if the vet called i was going to have to take it.  of course, the vet called right as the dentist was doing his exam, they were super cool about it though.  

nothing like something like this to remind you of the kindness of the world.  

i am so grateful to the many friends who have helped me out and checked on me over these past several days.  

better head back down here soon and ice/massage my leg and check on our girl.  she just changed positions.  getting easier to just let her move.  that first night i was so paranoid she would fall and hurt her surgery...she was also more gorked but not so gorked so they really do need help with activity.  

it was good to see her moving while GT was watching her that first afternoon.  a relief knowing Ivy has this.  

i told the vet i thought she would be highly motivated patient.  she will be. 

a sweet poster over the area where Ivy is.  my niece and her family made it for me for being a nurse during this pandemic...so sweet!!  

thankful for A.  friends that you can count on.....who know what you need even when you are too delirious to know what you need.  B.  that surgery went well C.  that Ivy is already looking better just a few days in.