Past Pets and Moves

Corky

When I was born, my parents had a Springer Spaniel named Corky. Unfortunately, when I was a year or 2 old, he was in a car accident. It led to some complications later, and he ultimately passed away. I don’t remember much about him; I just have pictures of him and me when I was a baby. He was my first introduction to dogs. My parents also had a couple of hermit crabs that lived on the kitchen table. That was when we lived in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

We moved to Minnesota in 1993 into a duplex, when I was 7 years old. I started school here going into 2nd grade. About a year later we moved a couple blocks away into a house. That's when the pets started to come in the picture. I was in 3rd grade and 9 years old, when we got a cat and named him fluffy. We also got a lop-eared bunny rabbit we named Bo (short for Bojangles). I remember that both me and my sister had gerbils that we kept in our rooms. Mine was named snowy and it was albino (white), and my sisters was named stormy (Brown).

Fluffy

When I was in third grade, my parents got a divorce. My mom, sister and I lived there for another year and when I was going into 4th grade we moved into apartment. Unfortunately, they didn’t allow bigger animals, so we had to give both our cat and rabbit away before moving. Also, at that point my gerbil had died but my sisters was still alive, so he moved with us. While living in the apartment, we had a painted turtle that we named lightning. Both of us each had one hermit crab with painted shells as well. The turtle and crabs didn’t last very long.

Neke

We lived there for 1 ½ and then moved into a duplex. Although we wanted other animals at first, my sister and I settled for a beta fish, one for each of us. Then, my sister got another lop-eared bunny rabbit that she named Isabel (Izzy for short). At age 10, I got a ferret that I named Neke and I had him until he died at the age of 8. My accident was when I was 16 years old, and while I was in the hospital my mom and sister moved into a townhouse, one that was listed as handicapped accessible. I remember them bringing Neke to visit me while I was doing my rehab therapy at the hospital.

Rio (yellow) and Cole (gray)

In the beginning of 2005, we moved into the house that I live in now. It’s been completely remodeled to my every need. While living here so far., we’ve had 3 parakeets (first was Dakota; after him came Cole and Rio) and 2 cats (Ty and Toby) all of which passed at some point. Then, in September 2012, I got my dog Brody at 9 months. On December 20, he turned 9 years old and has been my buddy ever since. Every animal that we’ve had, I’ve learned responsibility, gained more compassion, and felt the love in return. I’m sure in the future there will be more pets and possible moves to come.

Toby and Ty

Brody

Jenni

Recent Hospitalization Due to Fluid Retention

 At the beginning of the month, I got Botox injections in my neck again. I’ve talked about getting it in the past, and how it’s benefited me. I do feel a difference once they give me the injections. My muscles get looser, I’m able to move my head more and I don’t have as much pain as usual. The downside to getting Botox is that I need to get it every three months for it to be effective. Also, for me, my neck gets tight so quickly that it only really lasts about a month.

A few Thursdays ago, I had a video appointment with a nephrologist. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been talking to several different doctors with all types of specialties, trying to figure out why I have so much edema (fluid retention). Most of them have narrowed it down to one problem, low albumin. Here’s a definition of how low albumin causes edema. 

“Proteins in the blood tend to pull water into our blood vessels (acting like a "water magnet"). When the level of protein in the blood is low, water may leave the blood vessels and collect in the tissues. Water in the tissues is called "edema".” I’ve done multiple tests that look at where I might be losing protein, since I eat enough of it and also drink a protein shake a day. There is medication that you can take to help raise it, but I haven’t gotten to the point yet.

One way to shed the water from my tissues and help with edema is to take potassium-sparring diuretics. They are designed to help reduce fluid levels in your body, without causing you to lose potassium, an important nutrient. Although one side effect to going on a diuretic (otherwise known as Lasix) is that it can cause low blood pressure. In fact, many people take it to lower their blood pressure as they cause your blood vessels to relax.

Unfortunately, due to my spinal cord injury, I have low blood pressure. I’m actually on a medication to help raise my blood pressure, so going on Lasix is a huge risk to me. Although the nephrologist that I spoke to said that since I basically tried everything to help get rid of my edema, she would want to see how my body would react to me going on some sort of diuretic. In order to do so, she wanted me to go into the hospital electively and they would be able to monitor me closely while attempting to shed all the fluid in my body using diuretics through an IV.

They happened to have availability a week after my video appointment for me to go in and I would spend at least three days, if not more, to help achieve this. Afterwards, it would almost be like starting fresh, with little to no edema and she could see if I gain it back, how long it takes, and then figure out an action plan from there. I’m excited but nervous at the same; I want it to work, but I don’t know what side effects I’m going to endure. 

**The beginning post was written the day that I went into the hospital, but I never got a chance to post it. Here is an update after being in the hospital.

Upon arriving, I was admitted to a floor that specializes in nephrology. I also met with neurology, cardiology, internal medicine, endocrinology, infectious disease, pulmonology, urology, and the general doctors on the floor. Each doctor looked at different parts of my situation to try to rule out what could be causing the swelling.

As each day was passing, they became closer to narrowing it down to what it wasn’t and what it could be. I spent a total of 12 days in the hospital, more than I expected, but enough for them to narrow the problem down to two reasons. One would involve neurology, and due to one of my seizure meds and the other involve cardiology, and due to a rare condition.

They took me off one of my seizure medications called Depakote and wanted to follow-up with me after a few weeks. This would be to see if it would help with me losing some of the water weight. After being off it for a few days now, I think it’s helped a little bit. I noticed that I’ve been peeing a lot more, which is a sign that I’m losing fluids.

If this doesn’t work, then the only other thing they narrowed it down to is a rare condition called capillary leakage otherwise known as Systemic Capillary Leak Syndrome. It’s when fluids or plasma leaks out of your capillaries into your tissues. It results in low blood pressure and can be dangerous, if not treated. The reason why it’s so rare is because there are not very many known cases of it and there is no known cure.

I’m hoping that it’s just my seizure medication and not the latter. Although since being off the medication, I have seen an improvement in my weight, so that’s a good sign already. I will keep you updated as time goes by.

Jenni