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Tuesday, March 7, 2017

The Monster Revisits

Two nights ago, I was awakened by Shyla's muscles jerking. She has had a number of myoclonic seizures over the past 9 months, including two nights ago. Her first one was last July (2016). During that first seizure, we had no idea what was happening when her hind limbs started involuntarily jerking because we'd never seen a myoclonic seizure. We took her to the emergency vet at 3AM but the jerking had stopped by the time we arrived there.

We then had a long relaxed time, with no more seizures. We hoped that it had been a fluke and would never reoccur. We went back to leaping and playing, almost forgetting about it.
Unfortunately, that peace was broken in September, when Shyla had a cluster of those myoclonic seizures over a week. A neurologist suggested that Shyla take Keppra, a seizure control medicine. A good reason for using a strong medicine is that this kind of epilepsy ("myoclonic epilepsy") can develop into grand mal seizures, which are life-threatening. Another danger is that the muscle jerking can become omnipresent, making it impossible for an afflicted dog to move or function normally. By controlling the seizures now, the hope is that we'll prevent worse problems from developing.

Shyla has done pretty well since she started Keppra. She had only one full blown myoclonic seizure while taking it up until a couple of weeks ago. Then, we had the tooth saga. She had a seizure on the evening that she came home after having the broken tooth extracted. Then, she had another one two nights ago.

I normally sleep very deeply so I was surprised that her twitching limbs awakened me two nights ago. As soon as I felt her movements in the dark, I knew that we'd have to wait it out - there's little that can be done to change its course aside from giving an extra Keppra pill at the start (she's fully conscious during these episodes so she can take a pill). I settled in next to her to see what happened.

I have to admit that these episodes scare me deeply. I never know how one will evolve. I wonder whether this will be the one that becomes a grand mal seizure. Despite my best efforts, my mind flits to the videos I've seen of dogs who are literally plagued by these twitches 24/7. I fear for our Shyla but there's nothing that I can do to help. Loving deeply means caring so much that it hurts.
Two nights ago, she really wanted contact and comforting during her episode. I let her rest her head on my chest, and I laid my arm along her spine so that I could feel what was happening with her muscles. After about an hour, the cacophony of twitches started to quiet, giving her longer rests between them and jerking her limbs less intensely. By about the 90 minute mark, both Shyla and I were dozing off because the seizure was ending.

We'd survived another one. I hope with all my heart that these seizures become a distant memory sometime in Shyla's life. I want her to be able to fly high for a long life.

26 comments:

  1. Poor Shyla ...I hope these seizures soon become just a bad memory. Ruby also has seizures - though hers are mild as seizures go. We have not had one in awhile so I'm hoping we have found the right dose of medication to keep them away.

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  2. So sorry for her...and you. I had a poodle that had those seizures starting when she was about three years old. She lived to be eighteen and died from something else. I tried everything to stop them, even going to a holistic vet. She took phenobarb all her long life. I'll never know if it helped or not. But between seizures, she was a happy, life-loving little dog. I guess that's all you can ask for.

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  3. this hurts my heart for both of you, prayers this will go away.. I can only imagine how scary this is

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  4. So glad you were able to offer Shyla comfort, it must be so confusing for her.
    Sending POTP.

    xo Astro

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  5. Sending lots of love to you and Shyla both! We hope she can conquer the nasty seizure monster soon!

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  6. We'll be keeping Shyla in our prayers... We so understand your desire for your girl to have a long happy healthy life not plagued by any afflictions. Our little Molly has recently been diagnosed with SARDS.

    Molly and my Mom @The Fast and The Furriest

    http://thefastandthefurriestat.weebly.com/

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  7. Elsa was diagnosed with 'idiopathic epilepsy" two weeks after I rescued her. Her seizures are generally of the Grand Mal version and she is on phenobarbital. One other thing the vet suggested has been to include CBD oil which has great results with keeping seizures to a minimum and not requiring stronger meds that can potentially harm vital organs. I hope for you and your sweet girl's sake these episode do not evolve into Grand Mal seizures and am sending you loads of digital thoughts of healing. Good luck!

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  8. We just hate that the evil monster is messing with dear Shyla. Hugs and love from all of us.

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  9. Shyla we are so sorry to hear the big monster S. we know mom will take good care of you
    Lily & Edward

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  10. Sweet girl! That must be exhausting for her as they last so long. Hope they do stop forever.

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  11. I'm so sorry that Shyla has to go through that! :( ((hugs))

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  12. The seizures sounds so scary. I had no idea that they lasted that long! Paws crossed there won't be another.

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  13. Well, you know our experience with Ciara and seizures:( It could be that Shyla is coming to the end of the "honeymoon" period with Keppra and may need to change meds or add another one to the Keppra. We send you all our best for the seizures to go away and stay away.

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    1. You are right on, Kathy. I've been emailing and talking with vets all day, and it is looking as if we may be adding phenobarb quite soon. We haven't made a final decision yet but things seem to be leaning that way. I knew that this would be hard for you to read about due to your sweet Ciara. You are more than welcome to skip all posts with "monster" in the title. I'd understand.

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  14. 90 minutes would seem so much longer for the twitching to subside. But your heartbeat, and a warm arm would be a wonderful comfort. I hope they cease, and that you are well too.Hugs from a cold and very wet NZ.

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  15. We are so sorry the evil monster has invaded your lives again. We now how terribly frightening these seizures can be. We are praying and wishing every day that they go away as mysteriously as the appeared.

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  16. Oh no, I was so hoping that last one was just because of the meds and stress of surgery. It has to be so scary to not know whether it will progress, and to just have to wait it out like that. Sending hugs and warm thoughts to both of you, hoping it will be a long time before another.
    Jan & the crew at Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  17. We hate hearing this! Thank doG that you were right there the entire time to comfort Shyla as best you could, KB♥

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  18. Oh No .... this is so sad. We had a little wire haired foxie who had seizures all her life but never ones that went for that length of time. 90 minutes is a long time. It must be so hard for you to watch and so hard on Shyla too of course. We always knew when our Lucy was about to have a seizure. She would always come to me for comfort just prior to them starting. It is good that you were there for Shyla. They do need comfort. It must be so scary for them..

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  19. We're sorry to hear Shyla had another visit from the seizure monster. We will keep our paws crossed tight that the vets can find the right combination of meds to help her.

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  20. I join you in the hope that the seizures will become a distant memory for dear sweet Shyla. Sending golden good thoughts from our mountains to yours.

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  21. Poor sweet girl. I've seen seizures in a foster I've had, and a family member's dog. They are so, so terrifying to witness and I can't imagine how stressed you must be!

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  22. we are so sorry the monster visited again. all paws crossed that she will go into another quiet period
    hugs
    Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel

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  23. So sorry this has happened again, but very glad Shyla is comforted by your presence!

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  24. My heart goes out to you, KB, no experience whatsoever to offer you. Hoping a new med will do it for Sweet Shyla and soon! POTP.and prayers from us.

    Jo and Stella

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  25. Oh, that poor sweet girl. I'm so sorry to hear this. We are sending our best pawsitive thoughts your way. I hope they can get her medications dialed in and it will help!

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