Here again with another nail biting wait to find out what the lab results say

Countrylass

Countrylass

Teenage Guinea Pig
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I'm sure most piglet slaves have been there - you spot something amiss (in this case watery eyes), so you take said piglet to see the vet, then comes the bad news which wasn't what you were expecting (the watery eyes are due to conjunctivitis which is down to all of the lymph nodes - neck and legs - being inflamed), you agree to samples being taken for analysis otherwise no treatment can be given (cue tense wait with nerves on edge in case of sounds of pig squealing) before bringing the little tike home so she can stuff her face with goodies from the greenhouse. Carol is doing absolutely fine, appetite is same as normal, no weight loss. I, however have symptoms of everything not being peachy with the world (I forgot to put the baking parchment in before the baking beans for my pastry and nearly forgot to go to my hair appointment - I was 15 minutes late). As we won't get her results until Wednesday, which I hope won't be lymphoma, I may end up a nailless gibbering wreak! In my defence, I'm not normally this bad, but Carol is a bit of a favourite who we've had 3 1/2 years.
 
Aw, feel for you, it’s much harder for us than the piggie involved, they just get on with it. We on the other hand stress and worry. Hoping you get good news when you and Carol eventually get the results x
 
It's so easy to get distracted when our pets are ill. Waiting for results is the worst. Carol doesn't know she's ill. She's just bimbling around doing happy bimbly pig stuff.
 
Aw I know how you feel. Waiting for results of a lump removal last week. Jellybaby meanwhile is just grumpy coz he’s not allowed to jump onto the carrot house till his tummy scar heals - which if I’m honest with myself is actually healing very well! Thinking of you and Carol 💕
 
I hope that the results come back promptly and that they are reassuring for you. Try not to worry too much while you wait. It’s easy to end up overthinking things and fearing the worst. My Boris had samples taken earlier this year and I was convinced he had lymphoma. They actually came back clear and he is still fine. But he still has the lumps and swellings. But I had worked myself into a frenzy while waiting for the results.
 
Thank you all for your kind wishes. The vet has confirmed that it is lymphoma and has suggested the following treatment plan:
  1. Cytarabine as an injection at the clinic weekly
  2. Prednisolone given orally daily at home
  3. A second injectable medication of Spectrila could be given every 3-4 weeks at the clinic to improve response to the primary treatments.
Obviously I need to discuss this with Carol (with a few nibbles to help of course) to see what she would prefer in terms of discomfort. The vet has said that these treatments would be aiming to put Carol in remission and won't be able to cure her.
 
I'm sorry for your devastating diagnosis,with treatment you have many more months together.Carol willl not know she is ill.i send positive thoughts to you and Carol.:hug:
 
Talked it over with Carol or rather I talked while she tucked into some homegrown herbs and leafy stuff. She did do two grunts in quick succession when I asked her if she could cope with 2 injections and then gave me a very whiskery sniff all over my forehead and glasses so I'm going to say that she agreed to the full treatment plan and wasn't just scouting for more goodies!
 
I’m sorry that it’s come back positive for lymphoma. Treasure whatever time you and Carol have together x
 
So sorry for the diagnosis.
Getting that kind of news can be devastating.
It sounds as if you and Carol have a plan.
Take lots of photos, make lots of happy memories and enjoy every day.
Holding you in my heart ♥️
 
So sorry to hear that. I’m glad you and Carol have had an agreeable chat about a plan. Big hugs to you and Carol 💕
 
Hello I'm Carol, the hoomans are making me help with disposal of the icky green stuff which keeps getting into the house (I think I'm being fattened up)
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Thank you all for your kind words, I've told the soppy hooman that I'm staying around until the greenhouse and vegetable patch are empty of nibbles. I hope you won't mind my image making a regular appearance with a little update on progress with the treatment plan
 
Hello everyone Carol here. I've had three doses so far, my hooman is pleased as my weight is stable and the lumps haven't grown plus I'm still helping to remove the icky greens (the vet wanted my lumps to have shrunk but I'm more concerned that I'm not turning into the Hulk or Spiderpig). Here I am showing my displeasure at the offerings I'd been given:

Carol - not pleased
 
Aw Carol quite right to show your displeasure. What is that offering?! So glad to hear your weight and lumps are stable
Love from fellow lumpy Jellybaby and bestie Bertie ❤️
 
Thanks Jellybaby and Bertie - are you being manhandled too? The hooman keeps giving me dill and expecting me to eat the stems, I mean I did to start as I was being nice but now I want something more exotic like wild plantain from the garden! I'm hearing mutterings from the hoomans about autumn grass shortages starting :eek: so I may be giving even more eye stink out in the future.......
 
Countrylass said:
Thanks Jellybaby and Bertie - are you being manhandled too? The hooman keeps giving me dill and expecting me to eat the stems, I mean I did to start as I was being nice but now I want something more exotic like wild plantain from the garden! I'm hearing mutterings from the hoomans about autumn grass shortages starting :eek: so I may be giving even more eye stink out in the future.......
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Whoo your hooman sounds fab. Dill? Not a chance - we try to look starving but she won’t give us nice treats. Lucky you! And the autumn grass shortage has already started down here in Wiltshire. The horse (aka Donkey) still gets grass even though he’s fat enough but apparently our grass is full of mushrooms 😬 We‘re off to practice our eye stink ….
 
We are lucky that my hooman is lazy and doesn't cut the grass more than 3 times a year so it doesn't dry out too much in the summer plus there are trees to provide shade. We wouldn't want a horse :eek: sounds terrifying! My hooman was well trained by our previous friends (she still hasn't been reinstated as number one cuddle receiver after getting sacked by Dillon years ago as chief) so we only have to get the boss hooman on the case who says we are getting thin to her which makes her turn pale and run to the place known as Asda at 5:30am to get yummy salad. I'm not sure of her plan to bring another man into the house, I mean it's bad enough having one who isn't getting Fifi her rolled cabbage leaf tomato Subway without adding one who will be bossing Doris around and eating all the salad
 
Saw the vet for my usual weekly appointment and my lumps are smaller with my weight stable at around 1159g, so I've got two doses of chemotherapy left before moving to just the steroids. I didn't have to complain this week (previous visits have made me urinate on the dosage charts and grumble at the vet) as the hooman acknowledges my right to be seen before any other pig who has an appointment.

Sadly we lost Doris yesterday who had perfected the stink eye ability with associated mouth action. This does mean that the hooman will start plotting to bond all three groups together again (she muttered something about Ruby having lots of eye, ear and side licking to share and only Emmeline to share it with now).
 
Aw that’s great news for Carol. It sounds like she’s asserting herself as any good piggie should 😂
So sorry to hear about Doris though - big hugs 💕 We lost our little Jellybaby earlier this week - he never quite perfected his eye stink. Do hope you have success in bonding your girls and that harmony results. Thinking of you as you grieve for precious Doris x
 
Sorry to hear that you are going through the grieving process too - it never gets any easier, even when you sort of expect it. Thank you for your thoughts, sending hugs :hug::hug::hug:

Carol was most upset to be excluded from today's bonding session between Ruby's group and Lexi's group. She was pacing the bars and popcorning! The bonding failed as Lexi and them started tusseling, may have to consider bringing in a neutered boar or two at this rate. I know we will lose Carol at some point to the cancer and Fifi is very highly strung so I'd rather not leave it to the last minute.
 
So sorry that you lost Doris.
Be gentle with yourself as you grieve.
Hope things work out for every pig else, one way or another.
 
Hello I'm Mags. Now don't worry, I live with Carol and she is fine but sister Penny, who lives next door with Lexi and my sister Jazz has me concerned.

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Penny leaked rather a large amount of blood yesterday, so the hooman dragged my neighbours off to the vets. Apparently after having to give a urine sample, be poked and have her teeth checked, the vet said she's got to be spayed. Something about Penny having a full bladder, only trace amounts of blood in her urine sample despite having a red genital area (the cotton bud came out red after wiping slightly inside) and having very short hair in stripes either side of her back. She doesn't have cysts, hasn't complained about peeing or pooing and her appetite is still good (well she does weigh over 1400g but both of my sisters are chunkier than I am). Jazz said the vet also said Penny's incisors are growing wonky but in a normal way for her.

The hooman has had both Jazz and I out to check us for hair changes (cue much muttering to herself) and I think she has decided that our hairs are slightly shorter but not in a way where she feels we should be whipped in for surgery immediately.

Anyways, Penny is having a full spay on Friday. Lexi is having her lump checked while they are at the vets and I've got to go with Carol when we pick Penny, Lexi and Jazz up so Carol can have her lumps felt.

All this activity before the hooman goes to meet Rufus on Sunday.
 
Oh my - hello Mags. What a lot going on for you and your hooman. Thinking of you all especially Penny next Friday. 💕
 
Dear Mags,
We feel for you.
What a lot going on.
We hope that everything will be ok and Rufus can still come to live with you.
We hope Penny will recover well from her surgery.
Love from Priscilla and Micah, Naomi and Ruth
 
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