I'm on either a second or thrid wind right now.  Steve nad I spent most
of last night up with Ashling, and had worried trhat this would be her
day for a mercy shot but she began to turn around a lot by something
like 5 a.m. and more through the day.  She has been playing to day and
readily treating us to kisses.  A few days ago her ascites was getting
really out of control and her glucose level was worsening.  (She has
carcinoma in multiple organs.) Anyway, the first hope is to get better
control over her glucose levels, and the secondary hope is that we can
get good enough control over it that her Prednislone level can be
lowered which might help reduce her abdominal ascites becasuse her
Lasix is pretty much pegged.  The aim, of course, is quality of life.
We did finally start pain meds (which are working exactly as they should
on her -- good pain control but no dopiness).  It acts fast, she takes it
readily and soon affgterward begins kissing the ckeek of whoever gave it
to her then wants to play.  In her case we are using Metacam rather than
the Torb we have often used in the past and we are very pleased with the
results and so is she, plus she doesn't mind getting it.  Anyway, that
is the aimand how we are trying to achive it in case the info may be
useful for someone at some poioint, or if someone has additonal ideas
to discuss with her vet.  We of course understand that she is not only
terminal but is very near her time, but all the good days we can give
her are worth it.
 
Oh, and PLEAASE: tips on bladder expressioin!  She sometimes has some
problems with urinating on and off now.  It's something we have never
done.
 
Tonight at least we should get some sleep which will be an improvement
for Steve nad for me over the last few days.
[Posted in FML issue 4380]