Another Gracie Doodle Update

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Hey, the discussions are falling off the front page too quickly.  Mine is already gone and therefore you wouldn't have seen the next chapter on Gracie Doodle!!  

We went and got our second opinion today and there is nothing new, different or much to report.  He said he would treat Gracie exactly the same way and it is the way this disease is treated.  What Gracie is experiencing is not that uncommon.   Though to those of us who live with her and love her, we think everything is extreme...the hair loss, loss of personality, bacterial skin infections.  To us that is horrible but to the vet it is something to be expected.  It turns out this auto immune disease is being seen more and more.  We also were told that the goal was to stabilize Gracie so that she could be without or on minimal prednisone the rest of her life and the muscle loss could be suppressed.  There is already muscle loss on the top of her head.  The Golden Retriever bump is very pronounced and he told me that it would never fill back out.  She is slowly loosing her poofer which normally would cover it but her hair is becoming pretty thin up there. He said that if we could successfully get Gracie to a very low dose of prednisone then her hair would grow back and her coat would be shinny and soft again.  Right now it is sort of dried out and rough feeling instead of the silky hair I am used to. He knows our vet because they used to work together and he was Gracie's puppy vet.  He said our vet was a very smart and great vet and to stick with him.  He said that we could try all the holistic stuff, neurologists and such but in reality it is what it is and there is nothing else medically that can be done or changed.

The final sad thing is that this may be the disease that finally takes her life but not any time soon.  Still she might have a shorter life than we have planned for her which has me in such a numbed state that I can't imagine it.  There, I have finally said it and now I am going to go hold her and cry .................

[Bonnie and Kona]

A beautiful perspective, Michelle! It applies to us in many areas of our lives. We can learn to be filled with gratitude. Thank you for posting. We all miss Penny the Wonder Dog because you gave us the opportunity to know her through DK. xo

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

This is a keeper.  We will all be reading this one day, not only for our dogs but the loved ones in our lives.  Thank you Michelle.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Beautiful thoughts Michele.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Hugs to you for posting this Michele.  

[Leslie and Halas]

I'm sorry you and Gracie are going through this. We'll be hoping that the prednisone dosage can be reduced soon, and some of these side effects can be minimized. Try to stay positive, and know that you're doing everything you can.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Nancie, I am in tears reading this poignant story of Gracie's condition and the way she is being affected by both the condition and the treatment. Praying that she goes into remission soon and that you are able to reduce the dependance on steroids. Blessings to you and to sweet Gracie. hugs and doodlekisses all around. xoxo

[Sally Huff]

Nancie, I'm so sorry you have to go through this.  I too have a nine month old Gracie.  I can only imagine how your heart breaks.  You and Gracie will be in my thoughts

[Sharon & Monty]

What a terrible situation.  But as others have said, you have now had 2 exams with the same opinion.  This should help you to move forward.  A big hug to Gracie, you and your family.  Wishing you better days ahead. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I'm sorry.  I'm a glass is half full type girl but sometimes, it is what it is and I break down and admit what I can't control.  Sometimes, it is better to face it because you can deal with it easier ( meaning-all that  needs to be dealt with).  There, I said it too. After looking at this for 12 hours--I just had to get that out.

I'm crying right here with you.  I'm sad too.  I'm angry too.  But I'm filling up the damn glass again and knowing it certainly is NOT the time to give up.  Love you Nancie and Gracie. 

Gracie, sleep good. Get some rest. You've got some work to do. But, we know you can do it.

Nancie, I'll get my tears out now and join in the fight.  This has to be IMPOSSIBLE to witness and not just sometimes break down. Glad you came to share this with us.  You need us and we need you

[Leslie and Halas]

Well said.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Thank you so much Joanne...I know that after what you have been through you would have the right words to tell me.  I needed to hear that.  The love goes both ways! 

[Jennifer and Jack]

My Sweet Friend.. Muscle wasting is the new sexy.. Trust me.... I have skinny legs and arms from prednisone and I am HOT!!!!!! Just kidding I wanted to make you laugh.... but I will say you can rebuild some muscle back with her... it can be done and while it may never be totally normal you can gain some back.. I am proof of that.

I know it is horrible and unacceptable when you think that your baby will have or could have a less then very, very long life span. I won't lie to you that thought would bring me to my knees with Jack..it really would....and you have every right to be sad....but as much as I hate when I am in the mood to be sad others pointing out to me, the truth is... You don't know that it will cut her life short.....and any one of us or are dogs at any time can be diagnosed with a life shortening disease, We could all be one doctors appointment or test away from that....

As someone who lives this out personally, I recommend allowing yourself time to be ticked that you have to deal with circumstances that you do not want to, but then focus on the things that you have control of.. Every day you have Gracie make her life count..just like you already do. Make a vow which I am sure you have already that every day she is alive will be a special day for her in some way.... I do that with Jack and he is not sick, I do that with myself. I don't wait for a 'holiday" to have a holiday meal. I don't wait to give a gift for a reason.

You can't change the diagnoses but you can do everything in your power to focus on the good. The good news is there is treatment for your baby. It comes with some negative things, but it won't always be negative, When you taper the dose of steroids down, her hair will grow in more, her mood will come back.. In times of flare ups you remember it is a flare up and it will get better.

I can recommend Cowboy Magic for her coat to help make it feel softer and less wirey.. I actually have put it on my hair too.. I will pray even harder for the infections to go away....I will also thank God they have antibiotics to treat it.

I will never tell you how to feel, I would just try to encourage you to focus on all the good that is still there.. You can do this.. I promise you, it is so much harder for the person who is NOT sick to watch their loved ones be sick. I have been on both sides and I would rather be the sick person any day.

So much love to you and our sweet Gracie Girl.