Vet Stress Even vets get the post-surgical blues: Sophie Sue’s disc surgery
Sophie is my ten year-old French Bulldog. She’s been at the specialty hospital for the past 24 hours and the worst is over. But I’ve been a nervous wreck—as any of you might be if faced with a similar crisis.
Sophie’s neck pain has been dogging her for six weeks now. She’s had anti-inflammatory drugs, opiate pain relievers, muscle relaxants, nutraceuticals, Reiki, massage, exercise restriction and TLC in the extreme. But her pain still comes in crippling waves, leaving her hunched and shivering whenever it hits her.
When the pain comes, her neck muscles spasm uncontrollably and she can barely move a step without wincing. Predictably, she never cries and she never wants to be left behind. Waiting patiently for me to lift her when she reaches any step (even the teensiest), she accepts being carried, babied and slathered with attention.
After more than a month of this episodic onslaught of serious suffering, I chose to have her undergo the myelogram and neck surgery I’d been so reluctant to elect on her behalf before now. That’s because usually we vets consider paralysis or other obvious motor problems the clearest indication for surgery. Pain is less evident in many cases and even when it is, as in Sophie’s case, we’re always hopeful it will subside with a judicious application of “tincture of time.”
Six weeks of this on and off stuff was finally long enough for me. So off she went to the place she and Vincent both had their soft palates cut and where all my serious pet care is typically dealt with: Miami Veterinary Specialists.
After confirming her pristine bloodwork and placing IV catheters, etc., Soph was shot up with drug cocktails and intubated. Her lower back was clipped and scrubbed. Dr. Wosar, vet surgeon extraordinaire, then took spinal X-rays before popping a needle into her spinal column. He instilled a dye there to help subsequent areas elucidate the outline of the spinal cord and show where it might be compressed by rogue discs. We call this procedure a myelogram.
Predictably, the myelogram revealed two nasty areas of blown discs pressing on her cord—almost certainly the genesis of her pain. Here's a pic. Can you see two indentations on the underside of the tube-like structure above the vertebrae?
Next up: the surgery. The underside of Sophie’s neck was clipped and prepped after she was harnessed into her favorite cockroach pose. And here’s where I bowed out. I couldn’t watch anymore—nor did I want her surgeon to stress on my behalf. Here's what she looked like when I left her:
We vets have a way of feeling your pain whenever one of our own pets has a perilous crisis. For the record, (and I’ve said this many times before) I would never want to work on my own loved one. In this case there was no way I’d ever be capable of it anyhow—not without a three-year residency and years of neurosurgery experience.
Even Dr. Wosar was likely to be having a harder time of it than usual—he spends a lot of time with Sophie Sue (she’d spent the morning in his office instead of one of the cages, befitting her status as “special friend of the surgeon”). But surgeons and their egos always power through under these conditions. He admits to being unwilling to let anyone else ever operate on his own cats. I, however, could never be so dispassionate. I turn into a blithering idiot when it comes to my own.
After Dr. Wosar removed all the offending disc material in a procedure commonly called a “ventral slot,” I received notice that all was well and that I could safely return. I found Sophie twitchy, whiny and disoriented—likelier the result of the myelogram than the pain of the surgery, but I couldn’t be sure. Despite her opiate drip, gobs of muscle relaxants and other pain relievers, she was still looking horribly pathetic. I could tell I was making things worse by keeping her awake with my presence, so I backed off and watched her fall asleep.
I went back to visit with her a couple more times before leaving her there for the night, certain that she’d be well cared for as they watched for seizures all night and kept her well medicated--but not at all happy to know she was uncomfortable and away from those of us who love her.
This morning she looked brighter—but still painful. She’ll likely stay another day due to all the pain meds she still requires but by tomorrow I’m hoping she’ll be able to turn her neck to look at me. It’s at these moments, watching pets recover, that I tend to wonder whether the pain of a procedure is worth it. For five more years of comfort? The logical me says "YES!" but the mommy in me says, “Omigod I can’t bear to see her go through this.”
January 30th, 2008
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Add Comment28 Comments
Oh, you poor mom! I'm in tears just reading about her surgery. You're both in my thoughts today.
{{{hugs}}}
Cindy January 30th, 2008 11:17:00 AM
Thanks so much for sharing this story. Best wishes for Sophie Sue's full and speedy recovery. I'll be eagerly awaiting updates!
Shasta January 30th, 2008 11:30:00 AM
5 years of comfort is worth it, even though it is SO hard to see her hurting now.
**hugs** and give little miss Sophie Sue a get better kiss from me and spoil her silly when she gets home.
Cindy January 30th, 2008 11:51:00 AM
Sending all positive thoughts your way for Sophie Sue's recovery.
On a more general interest note, perhaps you could tell us how much each of these procedures and the overall care costs? I'm sure it wasn't inexpensive, even being friends of the surgeon.
Laura Bennett January 30th, 2008 11:54:00 AM
My thoughts are with you and Sophie Sue. I understand how you feel... As a vet tech I always had to step out of the room when it came to surgery on my own. Hang in their Mom!!! Possitive thoughts and hugs coming your way!
K9 January 30th, 2008 12:20:00 PM
Many good healing thoughts being sent Sophie's way from Maine! Hugs for the worried mom as well. Hang in there!
Marie January 30th, 2008 01:25:00 PM
I got woozy just reading about your baby's surgery..... best wishes and prayers to both of you. It's strange... but I can handle anything at work, blood and gore are nothing. But show me a kid or dog in pain and I am a blubbering idiot.
Keep us updated and give Sophie a scritch at the base of her tail for Agadore, Beaner, and me.
agadore's mama January 30th, 2008 01:27:00 PM
Sending all good healing vibes Sophie's way...and all get-through-it-calmly vibes for Sophie's mom, heh.
caroline January 30th, 2008 01:49:00 PM
Poor girl! I hope she recovers quickly and smoothly and is feeling better soon.
katie January 30th, 2008 02:17:00 PM
Feel better Sophie Sue.
AdoptedAPBTs January 30th, 2008 02:23:00 PM
((((hugs))) and well wishes for Sophie Sue - you too!
Creature of Habit January 30th, 2008 02:36:00 PM
You poor thing! It must be even harder when you treat animals all day! I know that despite the little bit of amusement that came from having a loopy peke when he had his dental surgery, we were constantly afraid he might try to jump up or down from something. Even walking was worrisome!
I hope Sophie has a very speedy recovery!
MLO January 30th, 2008 02:45:00 PM
If it gives you any comfort, here is a human view on 'lots of pain now, but less pain in the future.' My mom had a hip replacement about 10 years ago, and then had worn out parts on that hip replaced this summer. In both cases, within about a month of each surgery, she said she would do it again in a heart beat. I think in a lot of cases (including myself and having rheumatoid arthritis), long term, daily pain is both mentally and physically harder than bad pain that gradually gets better and goes away. Vet or not, it's hard to see your very own 'baby' have surgery. I hope your sweet Sophie Sue feels better soon. We're sending lots of Cardi kisses to her from Texas!!!
Cardimom January 30th, 2008 05:18:00 PM
Amazing.
Alex January 30th, 2008 05:26:00 PM
I agree whole heartedly with Cardimom. I suffer from chronic and unexplainable pain in my shoulder and upper arm, recurring tendonitis in both hands and wrists and sciatic in my lower back, hip and on a bad day knee. Its both emotionally and physically exhausting. If I could change things, I would wish for an acute injury or something repairable by surgery so that I could one day wake up and be pain free. Thats a long way off so I subsist with the amazing aid of a fantastic chiropracter and massage therapist and lots of strong pain meds.
Shannon January 30th, 2008 06:10:00 PM
Dr. Kuhly, Without a doubt, surgery was needed. Your choices were simple: lifetime of drugs, submission to pain and progression, ultimately euthanasia. I was in knots over my 9 yr. old Sealyham "Pearl"'s surgery. I wish I could upload her cracked egg "look" post-surgery. Happily it was a huge success and one that I would elect again, and much sooner!
Speedy recovery to you and Sophie Sue!
Barbara A. Albright January 30th, 2008 07:09:00 PM
I'm positive Sophie Sue knows you love her and have her best interests at heart. I'm going to hug my dog Dixie extra hard tonight.
Larry January 30th, 2008 10:19:00 PM
How is Sophie Sue today?
Creature of Habit January 31st, 2008 09:01:00 AM
I was just going to answer that...She's surprisingly good--moving her head around with an unexpectedly good range of motion. None of the muscle spasms, but she's still on high-ish doses of pain relievers and a small-ish dose of steroids. She eats eagerly (she especially loves to get shards of guava patries--one of her occasional indulgences) and is getting planty of hugs (as you all prescribed). Thank you for your support and sweet words!
Dr. Patty Khuly January 31st, 2008 09:18:00 AM
What the heck is a guava patrie?
Anna January 31st, 2008 09:44:00 AM
Oops--guava *pastry*, AKA, "pastelito de guayaba." This is a guava paste (a tropical fruit marmalade) filled flaky pastry. It's delicious and very Cuban.
Dr. Patty Khuly January 31st, 2008 11:20:00 AM
Hoping you and Sophie Sue recover swiftly!
I just got a guava tree!
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