My Phat Girl Pea has PT *cries* A good update for once :)

[henry's_mum]

:hugs: :hugs: :hugs: :hugs:
awww, hun, I wish I was closer to you...
I'd come over and give you both hugs, let me know if there's anything I can do hun,

:heart:

 

[joolzratbag]

So sorry to hear that What dose of dex is she getting? It sounds like it is a really aggressively fast-growing one :?

 

[lilspaz68]

So sorry to hear that What dose of dex is she getting? It sounds like it is a really aggressively fast-growing one :?

Pea is a bigger girl in a small body (used to be 615 grams, is now 530 grams)
I was dosing her at 1 mg/kg and the dex is 5 mg/ml

So she was getting .1 cc...I am going to up it to the max dosage tonight of .2 cc's and see if that helps. She seems a bit better today after 2 doses, not quite as weak and wobbly. Still PT pushbacks but not all the time.

 

[lilspaz68]

One thing that bothers me about my Pea is that I have no real clue of her age, and I need a birthday for her...I feel that takes her out of the Unknown category.

She was listed as 18 months but because of her condition, who knows...It seemed a lot of rats listed at 18 months were actually a LOT older when they got to their adopters.

Her adoption pics

A few months ago

If she was 18 months then, she would be 23 months now? Does this seem right to any of you? Her coat has a harshness to it (both she and her younger cagemate had this, but the younger one is now soft again and Pea's never changed much, like an older lady over 2).

My guess is 26 months or so...what do you think?
I think making up a birthday for her will give me closure and make me feel a bit better. Its like when I name little eepers before they die so they aren't nameless like so many others are. That type of thing...okay now I am rambling. :roll:

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

I would agree with 26 months. It was around that age that Lilly's (she 30 months now) coat got rough and thinned out a little and her weight dropped. It is hard to tell since Pea is a big girl. My Flower is a big girl and is around 30 months (guestimate) but I have noticed a weight loss in her recently. It is also hard to tell because in Lilly I can see her age in her face, but not in Flower's she still looks bright and happy as does your Pea.

In her adoption pics she looks old but not in your recent pics. Just shows what a great rat mommy you are. :thumbup:

It really just hacks me off that our babies are so plagued with such bad genes. It really just makes me what to go on a killing spree. :rant: Starting with our local newspaper and all the stupid idiots with puppies and kittens listed :redhot: and then heading straight for all the petstores that sell live animals.

I think maybe a few doses of the higher doses of Dex will get the ball rolling on holding the PT back and slowing the growth. I know in my girls with most meds I start with the higher dose and back it down little by little until the illness is holding steady or gone. My vet agrees with this.

 

[lilspaz68]

I gave her .12 cc's this morning, so I should know more tonight, I coudn't wait.

I got a reading from Arlene, and am waiting for permission before posting it. Bring Kleenex!

 

[lj]

Have you tried her on steroids? I have had girls with it int eh past, but unfortunatly for them it was very fast....My girl Pepper has it right now too, but she is on Prednisone, and it has made a HUGE difference! When I first took her in, she was circling, doing the push back a bit, very unsteady and seemed unsure of things...then the vet gave her a shot of it and within a few hours she was almost back to her old self... Now she takes it in pill form, but I am just so happy that it is working and she is doing so much better!

I really hope your little Pea has a slow growing one, and that with a little luck and lots of love she can feel a bit better for awhile at least. I am sure she knows how much you love her! Lots of good wishes and kisses for Pea and you!

Don't even tell me Pepper.....No. It's something else.

 

[lilspaz68]

I got permission to post the quick conversation that Arlene had with Pea...

Hi Shelagh,

Thank you for letting me know about little Pea. This is one of those many times I wish I were there to hold and cry with you. It feels "unfinished" because "it" lasts forever.

Pea is grateful for the opportunity to share with you. She is quite distressed because she knows you are so upset. She does not want to go, but realizes her body is going to soon force her to leave. It does "feel" like a PT and from the symptoms almost surely is. I sense something else going on in her head. There is a lot of "pressure" feeling.

She feels baffled about what is happening partially because things are changing so fast. I can almost feel her sighing as she thinks about you. As with all of them, she loves, loves, loves you. She's determined to fight as long as possible. She thanks you for sharing it with others so they can understand what may be happening with other ratties. She's perfectly willing to be an "example" for teaching purposes. Pea says that "teaching" is a big part of your "mission" and that's why you often end up with the "difficult" ones.

Pea's Message to you:

"Everything changes, Mommy--for the big good. What seems like bad sometimes is only because you can't see it all. That's very hard for humans to grasp. I have you to take care of me.I am loved. We will be okay."

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

OMYGOSH :cry3: :cry3: :cry3: that just ripped my heart out. :heart:

 

[mamarat]

Keeping you both in my thoughts. :hugs:

 

[Godmother]

It is very hard. I agree that you have to give her a birthday for your own peace of mind. 26 months seems reasonable, so you can choose a nice birthday for her and hope that she enjoys a belated birthday treat.

Let's hope that the Dex will continue to help.

 

[lilspaz68]

Perfect.

I will give her the 14th as her birthday since it is mine as well, and I will share. :cheeky:

Soo I will say she was born on June 14th, 2006... So it was just after her 2 year birth (I will never forget June 21st, 2008 ever) that we found each other. :heart:

 

[Godmother]

Great! So it's time to celebrate her 30th month-day, just a little late. :heart:

 

[lilspaz68]

Great! So it's time to celebrate her 30th month-day, just a little late. :heart:

Wow! I cannot do math outside of work. :shock:

her birthday would be Oct 14th IF she's 26 months old. Can someone double check my math? :doh:

 

[lilspaz68]

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

I

big doses of dexamethasone!!

Tonight I came home to a Pea who was so much more Pea-like

But here, the inevitable pics!

When I called her name

Climbing around with her cagemate Calla behind her

Sorry mom can't waste a minute...off to explore

Calla, the now skinny cagemate...she was a very heavy girl too when she arrived

Sharing with Calla

I feel a lot better today

She still is unable to grasp but her eyes are bright, her will is strong, she's less weak and confused, and thats enough.

 

[henry's_mum]

:happydance: :joy: :happydance: :joy: :happydance: :joy:
I'm soooooo happy Shel'!
what wonderful news!

:hugs:

 

[Quinnchilla]

:happydance: WOOOHOOO! That is awesome!!!! I am so glad she improved! Any improvement is WONDERFUL! :happydance:

Go Pea :joy:

 

[Dahlas]

Finally some good news :happydance: I hope she continues to do good. She is a real cutie......

 

[mamarat]

:joy: She looks good. :happydance:

 

[jorats]

Sweet, what a difference!!