From:
quarrius@aol.com
Date: 2003-05-11 03:37:06 UTC
Subject: Complicated Post Op Question
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2875512.1052624226386.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Littlewhitegirl just had abdominal surgery on Tuesday--but this is the first time I am really concerned post-op.
Her other surgeriest she bounced back quicker (although she is ~5.5. - 6 years old now) and less complicated--but still, I worry.
Is there someone who might be able to help me??
First off:
she had laser surgery with right side adrenal (very large and attached to vena cava), insulinoma surgery (removal of 5% of pancreas), liver lobectomy (4 black spots on her liver lobe) and lymph node biopsy of lymph node in her abdomen.
Second: she has a stuffy nose that may or may not be causing her trouble with smell/oxygen--she gets benedryl 0.3ml 2x/day.
Right now she is also on:
0.3ml pediapred, 0.5 ml orbax 1x/day, 2cc pet tinic (increased from 0.5ml as a precaution), 0.1ml torbutol (as needed every 4-6 hours for pain).
Surgery on was on tuesday. She was in ICU and recovering well and went home with us on wed.
She is more lethargic than I have seen her in her other post op experiences. She will walk a few wobbly steps then lay down for a bit--then get up again. There are times she is wide awake, and aothers where she is barely opening her eyes. She doesn't seem to be comfortable when she sleeps and doesn't want to move her lower half. Understandable since she had surgery, but I'm confused since she bounced back so much quicker after the previous 2 surgeries. Today she trotted down the hall and I was happy to see that she might be wanting out and feeling better--only to check on her again and she was dead asleep and didn't even want to acknowledge me. Again, it seems so minor, but when compared to the other times, I get worried!
She eats when you give her food--but not a large amount--maybe 1 teaspoon full at most per "sitting". She seems to get tired of eating and goes to lay down.
is this expected? is it because she had such a complicated surgery?
the other thing, her poop in the box is small (most likely due to the fact she is eating less)--but they tend to be normal but the second half of the BM has an orange tint to it. I have never seen this before. Is it due to the meds?
Thanks for any help you can give me.
I know she will be lethargic from the torb and possibly from the benedryl too--but I just don't want to be overlooking something that should cause me concern.
her gums are pink and paw pads too.
What could be going on inside of her? Are these symptoms of a problem? or just a slow recovery?
Again, thanks for any info..
Meagan
Quarrius@aol.com