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Max testicular cancer journey - 4 surgical stops, next station on the train is oral chemo
- Thread starter Jenphilly
- Start date
**Prances about with Pom Poms** Gooooo Max!
Jenphilly
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Another day and dose of the daily med done, happy to report still no regurge. He ate great today, so happy to report that!
I have a new kitchen experiment to post. Trying some new ideas for crisp / crunchy. Max is not eating birdie bread as much as usual, and he loves crunchy, so time to pull out the dehydrator!
Tomorrow is a checkin with our longtime primary avian vet. Want her to see what fluid she can pull from his abdomen and think we will get some subq fluids cause, we are there and he's on chemo, so just seems a logical thing while we are there!
Not time for blood yet, but we will probably run into Philly for the first round of blood check.
Keep those fingers and toes crossed!
Max sends a hug to everyone!
I have a new kitchen experiment to post. Trying some new ideas for crisp / crunchy. Max is not eating birdie bread as much as usual, and he loves crunchy, so time to pull out the dehydrator!
Tomorrow is a checkin with our longtime primary avian vet. Want her to see what fluid she can pull from his abdomen and think we will get some subq fluids cause, we are there and he's on chemo, so just seems a logical thing while we are there!
Not time for blood yet, but we will probably run into Philly for the first round of blood check.
Keep those fingers and toes crossed!
Max sends a hug to everyone!
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Greylady1966
Rollerblading along the road
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Sending good thoughts to Max.
Jenphilly
Rollerblading along the road
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Today was the first vet visit since starting chemo. We were very happy to find that Doc agreed that there is not as much fluid build up in the lower abdomen, so we are trying to be not be overly optimistic, but it does seem that the chemo has had some affect on the behavior of the tumor. We've been needing to pull fluid every few days the last month, so not needing to pull fluid today was a very positive thing. Max had 25cc pulled on Monday, but we typically get 45-70 every few days, so was nice that he did not need to be stuck for that today! She did give him about 50cc of subq fluids since we were there, we both laughed that he's a parrot on chemo and since we are there, it's support that he can always use at this point.
I did discuss the bloodwork schedule that our avian surgeon suggested, which I was worried was a little too much. And our longtime avian vet agreed that weekly blood sticks will cause him more stress than beneficial, as long as Max continues to do well. She said that typically the bloodwork protocol is before the major infusion/doses, which means about every 3 weeks for Max. So that was very good news in my mind too. We have a standing weekly appointments in case we need an abdomen drain or some subq fluids to support him. We have the first blood panel setup in about 2 weeks (Tuesday the 12th).
But overall, today was a positive visit! So hopefully, next week we won't need to see Doc at all and next time Max has to go out on a car ride is in 2 weeks.
Max enjoying the baby rice food blob treats (hey that's what they look like!). Extra time in the dehydrator got them nice and crunchy for the spoiled blue brat!
I did discuss the bloodwork schedule that our avian surgeon suggested, which I was worried was a little too much. And our longtime avian vet agreed that weekly blood sticks will cause him more stress than beneficial, as long as Max continues to do well. She said that typically the bloodwork protocol is before the major infusion/doses, which means about every 3 weeks for Max. So that was very good news in my mind too. We have a standing weekly appointments in case we need an abdomen drain or some subq fluids to support him. We have the first blood panel setup in about 2 weeks (Tuesday the 12th).
But overall, today was a positive visit! So hopefully, next week we won't need to see Doc at all and next time Max has to go out on a car ride is in 2 weeks.
Max enjoying the baby rice food blob treats (hey that's what they look like!). Extra time in the dehydrator got them nice and crunchy for the spoiled blue brat!
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Good news that Max is progressing well.
Jenphilly
Rollerblading along the road
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Monday night update... Max has been doing really well until this morning. But it wasn't chemo that bothered him. Vet changed him to doxy during the chemo, I wasn't happy, he didn't like the doxy previously. Sure enough, after doxy and maropitan, he started regurging. And I mean everything.... after that, he kept working his tongue like he had peanut butter stuck on roof of mouth or kinda how we are when we burn our tongue. I made up a watery EmerAid recovery and did a few drops all day. By dinner time he was starting to pick at soft food and drank on his own (well from what he thought was my cup, hey whatever works!!).
With all the constant encouragement and letting him eat all the softer foods and veggies he wanted, we only saw a 15 gram drop in weight from 10 am to 9 pm, so not a scary drop. Our vet confirmed to skip chemo and other meds for rest of day. More important he eats and drinks, no need to add to an upset 'belly'. We have a penciled appt for tomorrow at 1130 if I have worries when we wake up, otherwise we have a standing Wednesday appointment for andomen tap (if needed) and subq fluids - definitely think the fluids are a good idea, and I want her to take a peek and be sure she doesn't see any irritation from the regurge, and obviously we need to discuss doxy alternatives.
So fingers crossed everyone we wake up to a happier and hungry Max!!
I swear he's just trying to find new ways to give me a heart attack!
Max hugs to everyone!!
With all the constant encouragement and letting him eat all the softer foods and veggies he wanted, we only saw a 15 gram drop in weight from 10 am to 9 pm, so not a scary drop. Our vet confirmed to skip chemo and other meds for rest of day. More important he eats and drinks, no need to add to an upset 'belly'. We have a penciled appt for tomorrow at 1130 if I have worries when we wake up, otherwise we have a standing Wednesday appointment for andomen tap (if needed) and subq fluids - definitely think the fluids are a good idea, and I want her to take a peek and be sure she doesn't see any irritation from the regurge, and obviously we need to discuss doxy alternatives.
So fingers crossed everyone we wake up to a happier and hungry Max!!
I swear he's just trying to find new ways to give me a heart attack!
Max hugs to everyone!!
Greylady1966
Rollerblading along the road
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Fingers crossed for you. 
Hugs for you and skritches for the feathered fuzz! You'll both survive this!
Jenphilly
Rollerblading along the road
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Max Thursday update.... well he's still testing me to see how much I'm paying attention!
We saw our longtime avian vet yesterday. She pulled about 45cc of fluid from his abdomen. Not bad since it was first time in over a week and we were up to every other day getting that amount. Color was normal but there was a tiny chunk floating and we all agreed for peace of mind, send it for culture.
She gave subq hydration again... after Monday episode, it was a we're here, would be silly but to give him the boost / support.
He's eating great again. So thankful for that. No other regurge and he had daily chemo Tuesday, Wednesday and today with no issue.
We are holding off starting any other antibiotic to replace the doxy. We are pulling blood Monday morning and fingers crossed his WBC count looks okay and we might hold on an antibiotic until we see an actual need. Right now it was just support / preventative, so we're on the fence of risking another reaction if there is not a 'need'.
So that's the update ... only concern right is he's not always maintaining body temp normally. So he's got a warming pad in back of sofa, one in his troll cave and he's still bunking in our room in his travel cage with full heat and oxygen support over night. Vet said the body temp is often a side effect seen in chemo with all critters as well as people. She's positive he responds to the warming station, so more a mom worry!
I'll post again over the weekend or after we see the Vet again Monday morning.
Max hugs to everyone for a wonderful weekend!
Pic of Max being a messy turd getting some EmerAid and baby oatmeal in him before starting meds each morning. My kitchen is splattered with weenie boy moving the mush to under his tongue then shaking his head soon as I move my hand.... get a macaw they said, it will be fun they said
We saw our longtime avian vet yesterday. She pulled about 45cc of fluid from his abdomen. Not bad since it was first time in over a week and we were up to every other day getting that amount. Color was normal but there was a tiny chunk floating and we all agreed for peace of mind, send it for culture.
She gave subq hydration again... after Monday episode, it was a we're here, would be silly but to give him the boost / support.
He's eating great again. So thankful for that. No other regurge and he had daily chemo Tuesday, Wednesday and today with no issue.
We are holding off starting any other antibiotic to replace the doxy. We are pulling blood Monday morning and fingers crossed his WBC count looks okay and we might hold on an antibiotic until we see an actual need. Right now it was just support / preventative, so we're on the fence of risking another reaction if there is not a 'need'.
So that's the update ... only concern right is he's not always maintaining body temp normally. So he's got a warming pad in back of sofa, one in his troll cave and he's still bunking in our room in his travel cage with full heat and oxygen support over night. Vet said the body temp is often a side effect seen in chemo with all critters as well as people. She's positive he responds to the warming station, so more a mom worry!
I'll post again over the weekend or after we see the Vet again Monday morning.
Max hugs to everyone for a wonderful weekend!
Pic of Max being a messy turd getting some EmerAid and baby oatmeal in him before starting meds each morning. My kitchen is splattered with weenie boy moving the mush to under his tongue then shaking his head soon as I move my hand.... get a macaw they said, it will be fun they said
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He's a sweetheart and he knows it.
Greylady1966
Rollerblading along the road
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Hugs to you both!
Jenphilly
Rollerblading along the road
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Monday update!
We went to see our primary vet (Dr Knight) this morning. We pulled blood for the first check since starting chemo. Fingers crossed that comes back without any worries. Then Saturday we do his 2nd round of the strong chemo.
The culture for the fluid last week is still negative, so that's a good thing.
He has recovered from the Doxy reaction. Eating great, so that's a huge relief.
The fluid is starting again, we pulled 25cc yesterday and then Dr Knight was surprised when she easily pulled 82cc today. We are hoping the chemo this weekends stops that again, we went about 12 days without fluid issues after the first dose, so hoping that happens again.
Overall he seems to be great, just hoping the blood results agree!
We went to see our primary vet (Dr Knight) this morning. We pulled blood for the first check since starting chemo. Fingers crossed that comes back without any worries. Then Saturday we do his 2nd round of the strong chemo.
The culture for the fluid last week is still negative, so that's a good thing.
He has recovered from the Doxy reaction. Eating great, so that's a huge relief.
The fluid is starting again, we pulled 25cc yesterday and then Dr Knight was surprised when she easily pulled 82cc today. We are hoping the chemo this weekends stops that again, we went about 12 days without fluid issues after the first dose, so hoping that happens again.
Overall he seems to be great, just hoping the blood results agree!
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Jenphilly
Rollerblading along the road
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Sorry, been a bit on a Max update!! He is still tolerating treatment well. Avian surgeon (Dr Tyson) wanted Max back on an antibiotic, so zithromycin was the choice. We have not had a fluid drain in almost two weeks, so that's awesome! He had his 2nd cyclophosphamide 2 weeks ago tomorrow. Hoping the chemo has affected the tumor enough so no more abdomen fluid drains!! We go Tuesday for more bloodwork, then mid September we go back to Philly for ultrasound to see how tumor looks!
We have a 17 day cruise planned leaving October 1st, and I really am dreading leaving him, but I know hubby is really looking forward to getting away. We are taking some Mini Max's to take for hiding and gifting! I had fun coming up with these! Hopefully that keeps the positive energy going for Max!!
Hope everyone is doing great!
We have a 17 day cruise planned leaving October 1st, and I really am dreading leaving him, but I know hubby is really looking forward to getting away. We are taking some Mini Max's to take for hiding and gifting! I had fun coming up with these! Hopefully that keeps the positive energy going for Max!!
Hope everyone is doing great!
