CharlieBear 1
Vet School 0

So the intrepid Bear had his diagnostic recheck appointment at the Vet School yesterday. I finally saw the reports from December 7 which stated that his CT was normal, his EMG was normal, and his MRI ( of spinal cord, spinal nerves, brachial plexus nerves) appears normal.

They wrote, " No obvious impingement of nerves is seen, though nerves do course through his lipoma. Mild compression of inter thoracic trachea. (Two years ago, the infiltrative lipoma literally moved his trachea to one side of his neck: it looked like an oxbow river. But then we had debulking surgery so this "mild compression" is good news, it seems.)

So...and I quote the report here, " CharlieBear's case is very complicated." CharlieBear and I had to laugh at that one..after decades of cases at the Vet School, this was a new one:)

" It is assumed he is painful since he is limping but no one [ortho, neuro, onco, radiology oncology, soft tissue surgery, emergency] has been able to determine the source of his pain. Our orthopedists and neurologists have been unable to elicit any pain. His CT, MRI, and EMG did not show any obvious nerve impingement, infiltration of the nerves, or evidence of functional disruption secondary to the the lipoma."

Pain meds, major or lesser debulking surgery, and radiation were mentioned on the 7th but when I talked to our go to oncologist before Christmas, she said that maybe we just watch and wait and take more images in a few months.

So yesterday we had a neuro appointment ( onco's husband is head of neuro) and after the a bit of poking and prodding the latest recommendation is: do nothing. (I know that my onco, her husband, and even Da Bear's previous surgeon had been debating his case for weeks.)

So in less than a month we heard amputate now, then open his chest debulking, then wait and image more frequently and monitor to : DO NOTHING!

I feel like we are in a " House" episode...but completely understand their dilemma and agree that there really is not much TO do at this point ( if you can think of anything, or questions I should have asked, or solve the case, I am sure there is a cash prize involved!)

BUT!!!

CHARLIEBEAR THE WONDERPYR has been released from their care with no follow up needed!

We have tinkered with his pain meds and still continue to do so and they recommended losing the tramadol and adding amitriptyline. He will stay on the meds the rest of his life.

He did have a swollen lymph node (on that leg) which they aspirated but that is highly likely due to inflammation and the sample will likely be full of fat.

CharlieBear has stumped the best of the best and now gets to be left in peace in his pasture with his pony and his BFF EmmaRose!

Sooo...I am hoping that CharlieBear can be nominated as an honorary TriPyr TriPawd because we sure would like to continue to hang around you guys. ( And, if you do the maths, Heffalump ended up with two legs and CharlieBear gets to keep all-both highly unexpected- so that averages to three:)

Love you guys! And that is some of the first happy news of 2017!!!

Best wishes, hugs, and PyrPaws all around!!!