An Update from Wilma
I’m feeling a little better so Pebbles asked if I’d write my own update from Wilma, so here I am. My first week on steroids stabilised my blood sugar, but left me feeling very distressed and agitated. Everything was proving too much. Mum and I had a serious chat and I said that maybe it was time to call it a day. Oh how we’ve talked. Mum could see how distressed I was and felt forced to agree. She couldn’t see any alternative. We booked an appointment for this afternoon and left it for me to decide nearer the time. If I felt all right then the appointment would be a check up and I’d have my Librela injection to help my arthritis. If I didn’t then we would say goodbye.
Anyway, after another five days of my steroids I started to get a little more used to them. My blood sugar is still stable, but I’m not having the awful mood swings and distress. A little distress but nothing we can’t handle. I’ve got some pain, but again I can manage that as things are.
Looking ahead
Don’t misunderstand, my diagnosis is terminal. I won’t get better. As to how long I could have, we don’t know. Managing the insulinoma through diet and steroids is generally expected to give me on average 2 – 4 months from diagnosis and I’ve already had two weeks. Some dogs whose blood sugar remains stable do manage longer and there is a suggestion that up to six to nine months can be possible. We’re not really expecting that. I’m not a young dog and this is not the only thing wrong with me.
So I don’t dislodge my blood sugar monitor I only go out on lead. That’s ok as I don’t really want to go out apart from to the toilet. I just want to stay by Mum’s side as much as possible and have cuddles from Dad.
We’re going to take it a day at a time and Mum says we will have a little review each week to look at my blood sugar levels. What neither of us wants is for me to start having seizures. Mum has also said I must not be stoic and must tell her when things get to much. That’s hard as we are a very stoic breed, but I’ve promised to try to be honest.
When Pebbles comes home
We have another few days to make sure things are really stable before Pebbles comes home. We’ve discussed how things will work then and obviously Pebbles and I won’t be together. Mum and Dad have talked and agreed that Dad will do much more of the dog care so that not everything falls on Mum. One problem is that I need feeding every four hours, which only gives small windows for Mum to leave me and go out. She isn’t normally out for longer than that, but the timing is going to be more difficult.
I really have appreciated all your messages of support, they mean a lot to both me and Mum. I shall probably let Pebbles keep writing the diary most of the time. It might help keep her out of trouble
Love and licks
Wilma
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