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[luvmyjacks]

Will was off the Itraconazole for one whole day ....... but then I got the call that another Veterinarian (radiologist) at the hospital thinks he still has activity in his lungs and needs at least another month of treatment.  In my paranoid state I ordered six weeks worth rather than be left with none.

Now to the really bad news.  poor little Will who has already lived through a tough seven months has developed a bullae which is now at risk of bursting.  It appears to be a secondary effect of the blasto which has done damage and weakened so much of his lungs as well.  Will of course is uninsured and uninsurable so I am left to consider the pros and cons of a catscan followed by a thoracotomy (sp?) while he still has blasto.  Add to the dilemma the approximate cost of $5000 and it is getting pretty ugly.  Between Will and Roxy I stopped counting at $11,000 knowing the monthly meds, the two month follow up x rays just keep piling on; but, to just say ok to another $5000 is staggering.  It seems so unfair that a little guy who is only two has to be in such a mess.  Not sure what to do but wanted to share with our friends here.

[Jen]

Oh growlzzz! More Itra, that sucks! 

But wait: Is it a bulla or bullae? (One or more than one?) Are they sure whether it's fiilled with blood, fluid or air?
 Check to see how big the damn thing is and see if maybe there's a possibility of needle aspiration instead of thoracic surgery.  I've actually seen it done, although it was an emergency procedure and didn't address the entire problem. More surgery was req. to stop bleeding.
Aw, my heart goes out to you.
I'll see what I can find out, if it helps at all.
 
jen

[luvmyjacks]

The explanation as I understood it (remember I was reeling in shock about the itra by this point) is that the airway has a big bulge down at the bottom where there are a lot of alvioli, and that the walls of the chamber are very thin and weak due to this stretching/bulging.  If/when it bursts fresh air will enter his lungs but there will no longer  be a vacuum created that will allow his lungs to expand and feed him air.  He will start to turn blue and need emergency surgery.  So, if it happens when I am close to the hospital with the necessary surgical team and have $5000 Will will likely survive (especialy if he is no longer suffering from blasto).  Otherwise he could just die in my arms like Roxanne.
Think there is only one of these things:  She said he had "a" bulla, but I'm sure when I asked her to spell it there was an "e" on the end.

[evayola]

Oh my goodness. Why why why? I am so sorry for all this. It is like, we get over one MAJOR hurdle and sure enough theres another one. I am sorry for Will. I have been super busy so I havent been coming on as much but I came this morning and saw Will was coming off meds and I was sooo excited for you both. What are you thinking about this all? Do you think he is going to make it? Does he seem at "different" You obviously know we are all here for you and I will be thinking of you & Will. Me and Marge will say a prayer for him.
Eva

[luvmyjacks]

Actually I'm quite numb and Will has just been siitting staring at me.  I'd like to think it's because he knows I'm upset and he's worried but if I were being honest I would have to admit that he's probably wondering why he didn't get any peanut butter today.  Sigh.  Tomorrow the new prescription will arrive and he'll think the world is back to normal while I'm afriad if he chases a ball or a squirrel it will mean the end for him.  He was never a normal jack russell and he rarely does the wild manic chase the others do.  He runs hard for a few seconds then gets distracted and waddles somewhere else.  We always called him the love child because we suspected his mother Bridget had a secret "moment" with Wil's real Dad. 
Thnaks to all of you for caring and understanding.

[luvnorfolks]

I do hope all turns out for will.  this disease is something .
I still am in shock about my lennox.  He just went downhill so fast.
I wish you well as well as your doggie Will.
Lorraine

[gunner]

How heart-breaking.   I too am stunned.  Once again it is an obvious shot to the heart that life is just not fair (no one ever said it was).  It is especially painfull knowing how much you have done for Will and for everyone else on this forum.  If there is anything I can do for you, I will, however, at this moment, not knowing what else to do, I shall pray ernestly and fervently.  God cares for the bird that falls in the forest, He cares for Will as well.
Joyce

[luvmyjacks]

Will took his "last" itraconazole on Wed.  Thurs I got the call that he needed to go back on it.  Thurs night he started to cough again.  Fri morning he coughed.  Couldn't get a prescription by courier to our ski cabin up north so the vet ordered Sporonox ($$$!) from the local pharmacy and we bought two capsules to split into portions to tide us over.  When I read posts by Jen and Evayola about paranoia .... leaves, mulch, a sore here, a little limp, believe me, I get it.  This disease is a runaway freight train and while I might lose Will to the bulla(e) I WON'T let the blasto kill him.  He's not all that bright so he was delighted to get the peanut butter treat again.  No more coughing so maybe I was over reacting.
Thanks to all of you who sent kind messages and warm thoughts while I sat here feeling numb. 

[Jen]

Coughing, OMG. I hope it's nothing.
You think maybe he IS that bright and coughed on purpose? A little protest cuz hims didn't get the peanut butter? Like Dirt does the Darth Vader impression until she gets a cinnamon roll?   They do learn fast, and get used to being so spoiled!

When I started dosing her because of that sore, the Itra had absolutely no adverse effect like it did when she was actually sick. But all I had to do was mention her "butter", and she was licking her chops- ready for it every day.
Hope for the best.
jen

[Wilson3]

wow i do not know what to say....
you have gone through so much ...
are they 100% positive on what it is?
the lungs can heal themselves to some degree x-rays are very hard to read sometimes
did they take them using the extact setting as in the past?
wilson will still cough but their is no sign of blasto anywhere  in his body i think i just am looking for a sign of it again and pay attention to much even  notice my other boys doing it blasto sure sucks!!!!
you guys will be in my prayers and soooo hoping all will be well
we all need to send positive thoughts their way.....
wilson3

[luvmyjacks]

I think the main difference  was that the x rays taken this time were described as digital and showed more detail.  If it is similar to new camera technology I get it.  The bulge was mistaken for lung damage when we looked at the x rays from Feb but this set is much clearer.  As sick as it sounds, I am actually glad Will is back on hte Itraconazole because it somehow feels safer than having him off it and wondering if there is one tiny little blob of yeast starting to grow again.  Checking out options at Guelph for treatment of the bulla but for now just handing out the peanut butter and hugs.  Here is a description of Will right now.
Does anyone remember seeing a baby on a change table without a diaper?  Just on his back legs apart, toy in his mouth squeaking, squeaking legs occasionally kicking out in joy. He gets so much happiness from a smile or a warm tone of voice..... and a toy that still has a squeaker.

[Jen]

That's a happy boy, and it's all he cares about. Did he stop coughing when he got his peanut butter? There's comfort in knowing the Itra is working on them and there's no chance of a new infection for now.

It cracks me up to see Miss Bumbledore rolling on her back like a chubby horse. Our dogs don't play with toys or chew anything. Unless it is (or was) alive.
(Although when she was a pup at BSU, DB ate a feather boa and pooped purple feathers for a week.)

There's a flyer going around the area for a lost white pet skunk.  I found what's left of it in the yard last week. Millie killed it, and Dirt was destroying the evidence.

Millie is on probation and I don't know what to do with her.
She killed one of our neighbor's chihuahas some time ago, and went after the other one yesterday. She doesn't know how to be on a chain; she's used to running and is a natural born killer. By all rights, she should've been shot for the first one and is living on borrowed time. She's chained up for now, but is fighting it.
The neighbors have every right to take her out if she screws up.
Anyone want a homely jack russell?

[luvmyjacks]

Doesn't sound good.... I'm lucky that I had the cats and a guinea pig before I got my jacks so they learned to leave them alone.  Snakes and squirrels are fair game and I think Roxy used to send the cats to the basement when I was out but we haven't had the killing fields around here..... unless you count all the sweet little chipmunk bodies and the odd bird caught having a bath in the little waterfall. Oh yes, and the snakes.  Poor you if Millie takes out the other dog.

[Wilson3]

lee
will sounds VERY happy!!!
and very lucky!!! you know one of my moms dogs has a bad liver and should have past on 3 yrs ago she is now 13 yrs old now my mom gave her dandlion root she was yellow in color also very picky on eating but some how she is still here and no longer yellow
miracles do happen ) will,is going to   live to his senior yrs. and he is in the best possible hands!!!
life will be just a bit different try not to think about what could happen enjoy them both to the fullest will is very stronge he has come this far!!!
kristin

[luvmyjacks]

Kristin you always make thing sound so positive and you are right, Will is very happy now that he is back to extra cuddling and lots of peanut butter.  I'll be careful not to run him too hard and hope he makes it to a ripe old age.  Thanks for your encouragement and positive outlook