Fractured Spine

[Taw5106]

Never worry about asking too many questions when it comes to medication and clarifying what they gave is a MUST! The variance of the intrafungol was a valid question and needed clarifying before administering. You are not a doctor and meds are not your specialty like they aren't mine so ask all the questions you want and need to ask.

I support hospital systems and was called in to explain why the system had instructed a nurse to give a patient 500 mg of morphine and not the 5 mg the doctor had written down. For a nurse with more than 10 years of experience, why would she think giving a patient 100 times more than a typical dosage of morphine was OK and not question it? I looked at what she had received from the doctor and looked at her activity in the system, and showed where the Dr had written 5 mg, and the nurse entered the order as 500 mg, not 5 mg, user error. What saved this patient? Her husband he was there when the nurse was pushing the 500 mg and he called nurses in the room because his wife became unconscious and the nurse just kept pushing the med like she was in la la land, not there in the moment treating the patient.

I use this example when people ask the exact type of questions you are asking, never be afraid to ask and never be afraid to ask the same question 1000 times when you are the one giving medication. Besides you are paying the vet so he and his staff are ready to hear questions all the time. And like this example, the nurse was not paying attention and almost killed a patient. Her defense, blame it on the system because she realized her mistake and yes she felt horrible about it. Her nursing license was suspended because it was such a gross error.

So ask, ask, ask!!!

 

[SennieSlave]

Wow, Taw - what an awful mistake. Such a good job her husband was there.

I always think I'm being a nuisance, or people must think I'm rude to question what they've told me. I still do it though.

 

[Scott]

I support hospital systems and was called in to explain why the system had instructed a nurse to give a patient 500 mg of morphine and not the 5 mg the doctor had written down. For a nurse with more than 10 years of experience, why would she think giving a patient 100 times more than a typical dosage of morphine was OK and not question it? I looked at what she had received from the doctor and looked at her activity in the system, and showed where the Dr had written 5 mg, and the nurse entered the order as 500 mg, not 5 mg, user error. What saved this patient? Her husband he was there when the nurse was pushing the 500 mg and he called nurses in the room because his wife became unconscious and the nurse just kept pushing the med like she was in la la land, not there in the moment treating the patient.

I use this example when people ask the exact type of questions you are asking, never be afraid to ask and never be afraid to ask the same question 1000 times when you are the one giving medication. Besides you are paying the vet so he and his staff are ready to hear questions all the time. And like this example, the nurse was not paying attention and almost killed a patient. Her defense, blame it on the system because she realized her mistake and yes she felt horrible about it. Her nursing license was suspended because it was such a gross error.

So ask, ask, ask!!!

Advocate, inquire, whatever it takes! Great post!!

In my profession we have two adages that reflect a legacy of carnage: "It's not who's right but what's right" and "Our procedures were written in blood." Nobody should fear belittlement or retribution when they question the actions of superiors. It is incumbent on the system to encourage input from all levels, and the impetus must start at the top of the organization. I know many of our tenets from Crew Resource Management have been welcomed by the medical community. There is no shame in being human and a good many folks have been saved with a move away from blind obeisance. Subsidiary factors include fatigue, distractions, workload management, etc.

 

[Scott]

I always think I'm being a nuisance, or people must think I'm rude to question what they've told me. I still do it though.

Please continue your tireless advocacy for Ri! Those of us actively participating in this thread can only begin to comprehend how close a bond you and Ri share. Aside from the vet's expertise, you are the sole human being responsible for Ri's well being.

Nebulization is an active medical procedure, and there are guidelines that dictate the frequency, degree of wetness, etc. Perhaps the vet can demonstrate to you the procedure and give guidance toward constructing a home-made system.

 

[SennieSlave]

Thanks Scott.
I'm always surprised how little info I get really. The nebulising was my idea and he just said that it couldn't hurt but, if his breathing got worse, then to stop. I had to ring and ask the dilution and how long and often.

I have a tank, so shall put him in there while I'm doing it. I'm terrified actually - but am getting a lot of advice from the forums I belong to and from people who have had to do it.

Nebuliser has just arrived, so am going to have a read up and make sure I understand it.

 

[Psittaciformes]

I'm so sorry you guys are going through this. I hope it all goes well!
If you don't mind me asking, how did your sennie fracture his spine?

How do you monitor his breathing? Oh, and how do vets listen to the lungs, with a small stethoscope?

 

[SennieSlave]

Thank you.
This is a carry on from my other thread "Something's Wrong" - more details of how he did it on there. New neighbours were moving in and there was lots of banging. There was a huge bang against the wall and he startled and flew into the mirror on the wall, then fell back onto the clock. The vet said it's more about the angle he hit, rather than the force. My fault for misjudging the situation. I should have put him back in his cage but thought he'd be ok, as he's usually fine with noise.

I monitor his breathing by watching his chest/stomach going in and out and whether his tail is bobbing with each breath. At the moment his breathing is still laboured.

The vet used a stethoscope, just under his wing. But it wasn't a small one.

 

[Hawk]

Hi Senni,

The buck thorn and burdock is a very small amount in the lily of the valley. Again, the concerns over these two products would be in conjunction with a 100% dosage in it's purest form. Buckthorn is a blood purifier that helps fight inflammation. In your Senni, any help he can get to relief from the spinal pain is always welcome.
When my Senni had the broken ankle, I used the lily of the valley at two drops a day for 8 days. My Senegal is the smallest Senegal the vet has ever seen. He's petite, growth was stunted perhaps by the meds. But never the less made a very good recovery.

Thanks Hawk - that's good to know. Your boy is very handsome.

Quick update -

Yeah My little guy is very healthy now, I swear by the lily of the valley, he gets very playful, and sometimes looses his grip, maybe forgets he is a bit limited in that right foot. My wife and I tried in vein to determine just how he broke his foot/leg and we ended up finding out. He would pull or push the main cage door open when not locked and must have gotten his leg wedged in there as it closed. Since then, the doors, when my birds are out, are either shut when they are on top of their cage or have a heavy duty clip that keeps door open...parrot proof. Can't have that happen again.

 

[SennieSlave]

What a horrible accident. They're such a worry, aren't they?

So glad he's doing well now.

Edited to add - Just took this pic (ignore time on clock - doesn't work). He's a little scruffy and skinny at the moment but I think he's looking ok considering. This is Ri saying thank you to everyone for your prayers and good wishes.

 

[miloslave]

He is such a pretty little bird! I hope all goes well.

 

[SennieSlave]

Ah, thank you.

Just want to say again (because I can't say it enough) how much me and Ri appreciate your prayers, good wishes and knowledge.

Forgot to say - he laughed earlier for the first time in nearly three weeks. We were playing peek a boo and, as I put my face near his to "boo" him, he kissed my nose and laughed. I've missed that noise. He always does it in context too, which makes me smile.


One more pic taken earlier, on his small playstand. I love the mischief in his face.

 

[kimn818]

This update made me smile! He does look very mischievous in that photo, but also so cute (I'm sure he knows how cute he is, too) LOL

 

[SennieSlave]

Ha, he sure does know it (he's such a narcissist). Thank you.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Thank you so much for the continued updates, they are so appreciated!!

And yes, that photo of your super cutie put a HUGE smile on my face, as did the story that he laughed for you.

Continued good wishes, good vibes and prayers for you and your sweet Ri.

 

[Taw5106]

He is so handsome. I would love to see and hear him do a raspberry kiss, lol. His update pic lifted my spirit today. I had a rough day at work, my babies lifted my spirits and Ri lifted them more. Thanks for the update pic.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Your update really brought a smile to my face and brightened my day.

You have a very special boy♡♡♡.

 

[Scott]

He's a very handsome bird, and looks full of personality!!

 

[RainbowRose]

Omg I'm so glad he is doing better. I am so happy for you. See I knew miracles could happen sooo glad he is on the road to recovery!!!!!!! and a huge relief for you too I'm sure!!!

 

[SennieSlave]

Thank you everyone for your lovely words about my boy.

I just read them out to Ri and he's looking smug, haha.

I didn't have to check under his covers, on whether he was still with us this morning - as he was making rude noises at me at 7.30 am.
Hes lost another 2g but am hoping, now he's off the antibiotics, that he will start gaining again. I don't understand how he's losing, as he's eating like a pig (no offence to pigs).

Just nebulised him and it was a bit more of a success. He panicked for the first 10 seconds but then sat in the air stream, like a good boy. I didn't even have to put the lid on - just covered with a towel. Just did 8 minutes. It's still freaking me out though - I feel like I'm gassing him. He seems a little sleepy after I've done it.

His breathing wasn't great this morning but will have to see how he does, now his antibiotics have stopped. Don't seem like they did much anyway, apart from make him sick. Hoping he won't have to go on new ones.


Once again - thank you for all your comments. :heart:

 

[SennieSlave]

Hope it's ok to update.

Back at the vets today to see how he's going.

Was better than last week but I'm still trying not to get my hopes up - as he was sick this morning, just after his pain meds. I'm wondering if it was because he'd had a big drink of water just before, as that's all that came up - wasn't regurgitation, or vomiting - just a kind of blurgh and it went all down my front.

Well he was quite feisty and wouldn't step up onto the vet's hand today and kept running and jumping off. He even did a roll onto his back, on the table, to get away - which sent my blood pressure through the roof. Vet listened under each wing with the stethoscope and even held him up to his ear to listen and said he can hear no more crackling - so thinks it may have been injury related and has healed now.

He felt his back and said there seems to be no real sensitivity with pain there - though Ri is double hard and wouldn't show if there was.

He said his breathing may be an ongoing thing now - slightly laboured and I told him how it's worse after he's eaten a lot and he said it may be because he has less abdomen space now, being as everything has been pushed over.

He also said he thinks we're out of the woods regarding injury but there could still be an infection set in, because his immune system is weakened. So, he's to stay on the antifungals for another week and also the Metacam (pain). He thinks he can probably come off the antifungals next week, as that will have been 4 weeks then - as a precaution. He will probably stay on the pain meds for a bit longer than that. He can still be nebulised twice a day.

He weighed him and he was the same he always is there - 155g. I suppose because he'd been eating before we went. I was worried because he seemed to be losing a bit of weight here but maybe my scales aren't accurate.

I asked whether I can put him on milk thistle (in case the antibiotics have caused any liver damage) and he said yes - so I will have a look at dosage and everything for that. He said to give that 2 or 3 times a week, same as his calcium drops.

He said he must have hit the mirror really hard to get such an injury but I told him that he's hit things harder than that before and it didn't seem that hard really - that's what I can't understand. Unless it's when he fell back onto the clock. Vet said it could be the angle he hit, rather than the force.

I'm back next Monday - hopefully he will still be doing well.

Thought I'd add a pic of him yesterday - just after he killed his munch ball.