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December 13, 2002

So, after the first round of partial seizures, the grand mal, sitting on the floor of the hospital holding Esme's head as she slept, she came home night before last. She couldn't see (temporal blindness after the grand mal) so she would pace - and pace she did for about 7 hours non-stop (and pacing at this point meant, walk, run head into stationary object, turn around, repeat).

At 4:00 am I decided she needed a break and gave her a dose of valium (I can now give hints and tips for administering rectal valium). She slept for awhile, woke up in the morning, ate, pooped, and then I think she was just exhausted from it all and went back to sleep for most of the afternoon yesterday.

When she woke up it seemed like her sight was better, we walked up the block about 4 houses and came back, and she seemed to be doing reasonably well. The plan was to start loading doses of Potassium Bromide today.

About 3 minutes after we got in the door she started the seizure bark. I waited, hoping it was just a little one, but it kept going and got worse. More valium barely slowed her down, at which point I knew I couldn't keep her calm enough at home.

Back to emergency, this time I had the presence of mind to get the crate in the car first (there have been two car-rides with a very drugged dog flopping all over). So, off we went. I didn't want to go the Phenobarbitol route, but the other meds take a long time to get to theraputic levels, and there are few options right now.

I just look in her eyes, and she seems tired of all of this. Well, I'm sure she is, but tired of this in a larger way. Lots of dogs live with epilepsy, I know. But she's just having SUCH a hard time with this. As am I. And I can't see the trauma and expense of going to doggie emergency every three weeks. Two rounds of seizures in three weeks are currently totalling about $1200.

Today I'm waiting to see how it goes with the Phenobarb, if she doesn't respond well to it… well, I think it's time. It feels like I'm watching her poor little brain have meltdown. It's either been seizures, high agitation, or valium sleep for 3 days now.

Posted by rosebaby at December 13, 2002 12:26 PM