Endless sticking

I stopped by to see Nicki at lunch and after work.  When I stopped at lunch Ali was still there.  I didn’t get to interact much with Nicki during that visit as they spent most of the time unsuccessfully trying to insert a catheter in her leg.  Nicki was so tired/out of it that she was hardly reacting to the repeated stabs of the needle.  While the techs were working Ali and I talked more about the game plan.

The myriad of tests that the vet has ordered have basically revealed nothing.  Their only other thought was doing a liver biopsy to check on some liver numbers that were somewhat low however in Nicki’s current state that would be ridiculous to do and even if there is a liver problem it is not the immediate culprit for her condition.  The vet suggested that we could try a steroid shot to see if it gets Nicki up and moving again.  Awhile ago she had one and she did have some noticeable short term improvement.

I am still amazed that Nicki’s lack of any substantial food intake for 6 days has not been given more weight in the process.  The vet keeps saying that dogs can go long periods of time without eating without it having a significant impact on blood numbers and well being.  Although I have seen the same thing when I researched I also saw this is affected by the dogs age and health prior to the lack of food.  Neither of those factors are in Nicki’s favor.

When I came back after work I wound up sitting in an empty waiting room for almost a half hour.  Evidently my timing was bad.  The techs were unable to get a good catheter spot so they were in the middle of suturing one to Nicki’s leg.  They allowed me to go back as they were finishing up.

I walked in to Nicki up on the table, looking exhausted.  I went in front of her and pulled back her loose forehead skin so she could see me clearly.  She perked up for a few seconds and then laid her head back down.  I felt terrible as I saw her laying there.  It was the first time I wondered if this was really what Nicki wanted.

When they finished wrapping up the freshly sutured wound  we took Nicki outside briefly.  Nicki is far too weak to be able stand up on her own or walk without assistance.  The vet had this harness set up that they strapped on Nicki to offer support.  It has a handle in the front and back.   When we got her upright she could stand still without major help but any movement required a firm grip on the handles.  We took her outside maybe 40-50 feet from the door and walked her back.  It seemed surreal to me we just had Nicki out at the house the weekend prior and had a normal, fun time.  Seeing her in this state of dysfunction so shortly afterward is hard to wrap my mind around.

I left before they subjected Nicki to more discomfort as they were to hook up a urine catheter since Nicki is unable to go conventionally and is on constant IV fluids.  I felt absolutely miserable when I left.

Despite my criticism of some of the practices and staff of this vet, there have been a number of the staff I have dealt with back in the ICU that have been incredibly nice, accommodating, compassionate, and kind.  They understand what it is like.  I almost wish they could give me an off the record opinion of the situation.