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Brooklyn off to the Neurologist tomorrow...

BrooklynMom

Well-known member
First, can I say that it makes me sick to my tummy that I am even posting anything in the SM forum category? Sigh.

So Brooklyn is off to the neuro tomorrow...and my husband is in Hong Kong...and I am so new to this country that I don't have anyone to come with me...and well...I am scared. I have all my insurance forms filled out, symptoms all types up, videos edited. I am ready....but my heart is not. It is all open from here on out, and we will just take it as it comes, but I am just so nervous of what may be. All I want is Brooklyn to have the best life ever, we are two peas in a pod, bonded at the hip, inseparable little people, she know what I am thinking before I do. She jumps at my happiness, she licks up my tears. She is my rock, I am her cuddle partner. She has given me purpose in a new country, through her, I have met the people I now know. Through her I have made friends (was just at a baby show this weekend for a friend I met in puppy school!) I am indebted to her for giving me that, what a blessing. In a new country she alone has opened a whole world of people to me. Bless her heart.

Today, I was a bit sad...hubby gone, neuro tomorrow, sister about to give birth (in America! and she is my world) and just feeling all round yuck. All I wanted was sleep, but Brooklyn is not allowed in our bedroom, let alone bed! But I thought, heck with it! I have the best trained dog on the planet, this won't change anything...so I brought her blankie into my bed, then brought her in too. At first she gave me this look like "ahhh, mama? I don't think we should do this" ha, but I told her "get on your mat" and she didnt even run, sniff or do anything, she just got on her blanket like I asked and curled up. She rested her head on my tummy and we both slept til 5 pm! I felt so connected to her, like she just knew, this is what I needed, she just had to behave and be with me. What a sweet girl.

So now the countdown begins. Neuro at 10 am Sydney time. Wish us luck...xx
 
My parish priest once looked after Oliver for a day and took him for a walk round the parish. He commented when he gave him back 'Every parish priest should have a dog - I've spoken to so many parishioners I've never met before because they stopped to say hello to Oliver!'

Brooklyn will still be the same dog, whatever the outcome of your visit to the neuro. If the result is bad, she will need you even more, to fight on her side against this horrible disease and keep her comfortable and living as normal a life as possible for as long as possible. You know we'll all be thinking of you, and waiting to hear your news.

:hug:

Kate, Oliver and Aled
 
Thanks for the kind words Kate, I so appreciate it and love your parish priest story. They really are little spiritual creatures aren't they? They make you selfless and self aware :l*v:

Also, to everyone, is there anything or any key questions that you think I should know before I go? I mean, I have a list, I feel really prepared, but for those who have been trough this before, were there any key things to remember or stuff you wish you would have asked?

It is only 9:15 pm, but I think I am putting Brooky and I to bed now...we need our beauty rest for tomorrow. At least I know Brooklyn is the chillest dog at the vets, so she will do great seeing the neuro. She is a rock star like that.

And yes Kate, thank you for reminding me that no matter what happens tomorrow, Brooklyn will not change. She will not be different. I need people to remind me of that. As humans, when we get sick or get the "diagnosis", we do tend to change, our minds get filled with all the "what-if's" and over flow of information. But dogs, aren't like that. She will not be googling the internet filling her brain with fears, she will not be wondering what will be, she will not know that anything has changed. I need to remember to live like her...no matter what happens tomorrow, it's good to live that way for all situations!
 
I know how close you and Brooklyn are and I will be thinking of you. Not sure of the time difference (I think you are getting ready to go to sleep so not sure when 10am is) but please know that I am thinking of you.
 
Many thoughts going out to you and Brooklyn. Good news vibes going out to you too :xfngr::hug:

Becky
 
You know we are with you and Brooklyn...

And that most of us know what you are going through. I do hate that your hubby is gone and do not have a friend to take with you. I will add that my hubby actually did not make things better. He gets so antsy... I finally sent him off to do something else while I waited at the neuro office. We care about you and Brooklyn so much... I will keep watching for news when you can post it.
 
Oh Kelsey, I am sorry you feel alone. Truly, if I lived anywhere near you I would go with you. So much going on for you!

I do like what Kate said about Brooklyn not changing. She is the same, and will be the same beautiful sweet, loving, funny, and cute dog she has always been. BTW, I love that you took her to bed with you......I think you both needed that.

We are here, waiting and praying for you both. Just know that, okay? Know that people all around the world are thinking of and praying for you. And we will be here through it all, with you, holding your hand, even though it's virtual.
 
My heart is aching for you. Please don't feel like you are all alone, you have the entire CavalierTalk forum going with you tomorrow. Brooklyn is in the best possible hand, yours. She will still be your sweet cavalier no matter what the diagnosis is. Whatever happens, you will be able to handle. Love you and Brooklyn and will keep you in my prayers.

Sending you hugs from me and sloppy wet kisses from Sydney!:hug:
 
We are thinking of you - it's so hard when you enjoy that special relationship, but anything like this actually brings you closer - as I said to Sabby, you find the strength within you to cope, because you love your companion so much.

Times - it's just gone 7.17am in Sydney TOMORROW morning, so just under three hours until appt time - I think!!
 
you can check here - especially if your brain is slightly more functional than mine at this time of night :)
 
I am thinking of you and Brooklyn and I am so sorry your hubby isn’t with you and you have to do it all alone. And yes Brooklyn is still going to be the same. I just remembered this about Harley when we went away this weekend and he had a fantastic time.

When I get up in the morning first thing I do is come and have a look on CT to see how you got on and I am probably not alone in watching this post.

So just remember we will be with you in spirit.
 
Keeping our fingers and paws crossed here for the best outcome regarding Brooklyn's neuro visit, I am sorry you have to go through the appointment alone but like many others here, I will be thinking of you and little Brooklyn :hug:
 
Thinking of you and Brooklyn and hoping for the best. I too went through Riley's neuro appt by myself. Not a fun thing, but you do what you have to do and you get through it. At least you can come here and either unload or give us good news.
 
We are back.

One tip for anyone else who goes through this...don't drink a double shot coffee before hand! I already tremble when I get nervous and coffee made me a mess! I think the vet was more concerned about me than Brooklyn. Ha.

Okay, so first off, Dr. Georgina Child is amazing. As I have posted before, she is the only specialist small animal neurologist in Australia, so we are lucky she was so close. The hospital was beautiful too and everyone was so kind. She is a specialist in SM, and has done a lot of work with the Griffon breeding program. She had nothing but time for us, she stayed talked to me for an hour when I knew her other appointment was waiting out front.

Onto the appointment. She did a lot of physical examinations and tests on Brooky and she said that "from the physical tests, she responded great neurologically...though, that still doesn't mean she won't have SM in an MRI". But she was pleased with Brooklyn's appearance and responses. I showed her a video montage I made up to give her a better idea since it is hard in an office when all they want to do is cuddle to make a person understand the "discomfort" I see in her. She agrees that what we are seeing is SM symptoms, no doubt. But she is also concerned that we have not ruled out food allergies as well. (Brooklyn was given steroids and anti-histamines at one point, which had no affect, so my vet isnt leaning towards allergies, though food is a mystery still). She said she saw a breeding cavalier last month that the breeder brought in because her signs were so classic SM, they MRI'ed her and she didn't have it, only later they found her sever allergies to beef and some other things.
Anyway, Dr. Child does want an MRI though to know for sure and that will be our next step, but she isn't rushing into it right this second. What she is doing first is that she is putting her on Gabapentin (100 mg 2x per day) for a month to see if this eases her symptoms at all so we can get a better picture of moving forward. Also, in order to get the MRI covered by insurance, the insurance has to first agree to cover this neurology appointment, and if they do, they will then cover all further investigations into SM (MRI and anything that follows). This will take about 2-4 weeks to process, so that is why we are also not rushing into an MRI, but still trying something in the meantime and not leaving it hanging. Also, Brooklyn's parents have been MRI cleared, which does not mean that she doesn't have SM, but Dr. Child's says it does play into her equation on how fast to move and how likely (i.e. if she came from a pet store, Dr. Child's said she would have assumed right away with these symptoms and pushed an MRI sooner).

If the insurance approves the MRI, she does want to do the MRI right away though, to just rule in or out SM. If it is not approved, she said she would be more comfortable ruling out the food allergies first just to make sure before we spent $2k (though to be honest, if Brooklyn is suffering, I want to know so I can help her despite the cost. It's a tough one). She has seen a LOT of SM, and she said that she is not one to wait if she feels the need for an MRI to be done asap, but she felt okay with where Brooklyn is right now to wait a month, try some meds and go from there. So I guess that is good news?? I have no idea. Should I have pushed harder for an MRI right away? Or just go with what we are doing? It is so hard.

We will most likely move forward with the MRI in a month, so I don't know if I feel a bit good because while she is concerned enough to move forward with investigations...she is not concerned enough to get Brooky into an MRI asap, or if I feel bad because I am just stuck waiting again and wondering.

I the mean time as well, we are moving Brooklyn to a venison and kangaroo only diet. Dehydrated raw and raw. It is not a typical "elimination diet", but she said to go ahead and do that because she has never eaten these proteins and it might give us an idea as well. We will seek a dermatologist only after the MRI gets confirmed or not confirmed. One thing at a time she said.

Whew. I am exhausted and don't know how to feel or what to think. I feel better than expected and still worried at the same time. A month will move by quickly though and maybe medication and/or food will help in the meantime. The MRI is still looming though, but I need to put my trust in Dr. Child now as she has seen more than me (which is really hard for me, I want to know I am doing the right thing). As long as our insurance prevails, we will have and MRI in a month. Brooklyn was a rock star and captured the hearts of everyone...of course!

Time for a nap! Thank you all for you well wishes, they got me through today...you have no idea how much they meant to me and how much support and strength I got for them. You all are amazing.
 
I've been waiting for news. I'm glad you are seeing a good specialist and so let's hope things improve

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
 
Hi

The specialist sounds brilliant ,venison and kangaroo sounds nice and healthy ,the girls have had
venison and it disappeaed very quick .

Well done to you and stay as positive as you are .
 
Go get your nap....

This is alot to process. At least she is now on meds that could help her if she happens to have CM and/or SM. Gracie sure has done better on a limited raw diet herself for protein allergies. She has not had colitis now in ages!! Hope your insurance will cover the MRI. I am so grateful for Petplan covering this and not giving us any hassles at all. I like your neuro already....good action plan.
 
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