Boggle- USA bound!

My friend just reviewed the videos. She said it’s absolutely textbook EPM symptoms. It’s left front and left hind now and that asymmetry she said is very consistent with EPM.

She also said sometimes the titers can show a false negative as they can take time to appear so I shouldn’t rule it out if they come back negative.

Clearly, despite what I wrote, I can’t not give him a go so here goes the $1400 a month medication cycle for now.

He’s such a dear little chap I will do my best for him. It’s not fair to let my recent trauma/experience with ataxia dictate what I do or don’t do for this guy. He deserves the full help.
 
You have the meds you may as well give it a go.

Forgive me i have a shocking memory, was it ever confirmed if dear bog had epm or not?

How’s mum?
 
Equi said:
You have the meds you may as well give it a go.

Forgive me i have a shocking memory, was it ever confirmed if dear bog had epm or not?

How’s mum?
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He had a titer for it so I treated at huge expense, and at one point we really thought that was it but then it became more obvious it was his neck.

Mum is good thank you, I think she’s relieved there’s a boy around to make it better!
 
Michen said:
My friend just reviewed the videos. She said it’s absolutely textbook EPM symptoms. It’s left front and left hind now and that asymmetry she said is very consistent with EPM.

She also said sometimes the titers can show a false negative as they can take time to appear so I shouldn’t rule it out if they come back negative.

Clearly, despite what I wrote, I can’t not give him a go so here goes the $1400 a month medication cycle for now.

He’s such a dear little chap I will do my best for him. It’s not fair to let my recent trauma/experience with ataxia dictate what I do or don’t do for this guy. He deserves the full help.
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You are a good person. Nobody would blame you for just saying no, you won't do it again. You don't owe him anything, but you really have to be at peace with the decisions you make. FWIW I'd probably try as well, with an end point in mind, to save your sanity. He might have similar symptoms, but it doesn't mean the end result will be the same.
 
Michen said:
I could never be at peace with euthanizing him without trying. The success rate for the drug is actually fairly good to improve them hugely even if not completely so there’s a good chance I could get him totally fine to be a pasture pet. And I may well have a job for him as that.

If it’s EPM that is.
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I'd be there spending my last $$$ on drugs too xx
 
Michen said:
I could never be at peace with euthanizing him without trying. The success rate for the drug is actually fairly good to improve them hugely even if not completely so there’s a good chance I could get him totally fine to be a pasture pet. And I may well have a job for him as that.

If it’s EPM that is.
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Just catching up. I'm so sorry to read this update, poor you and poor Atlas.

Take each day as it comes at the moment, you don't need to plan out his future yet. Get through the next week or so, fingers crossed for swift improvements and answers from some of the tests. Atlas is being well cared for at the barn, so try (!!!) to take care of yourself. Enjoy time with your mum and new 'friend', enjoy that there are so many lovely people who want to help you.

Thinking the worst for the next week isn't going to make any outcome more or less likely, so try and think the best instead. Have this week of hope, even if it's not to be.

Sending you both much love ❤️
 
Michen said:
My friend just reviewed the videos. She said it’s absolutely textbook EPM symptoms. It’s left front and left hind now and that asymmetry she said is very consistent with EPM.

She also said sometimes the titers can show a false negative as they can take time to appear so I shouldn’t rule it out if they come back negative.

Clearly, despite what I wrote, I can’t not give him a go so here goes the $1400 a month medication cycle for now.

He’s such a dear little chap I will do my best for him. It’s not fair to let my recent trauma/experience with ataxia dictate what I do or don’t do for this guy. He deserves the full help.
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Atlas is a lucky horse to have you, @Michen. Nothing I can say apart from I really, really hope this works out for you both.
 
@Michen you are such a strong person who it clearly having the sh*test of times.

I am in awe of your dedication to your horses. Look after yourself as well as you look after them. I truly hope for some positive news for you in the future x 🙏
 
Nothing useful to add except I'm so so sorry you're going through this, it's so unfair and I really hope Atlas some how pulls through and is ok.
 
Hey sorry everyone I kinda wrapped myself in a bubble for a minute! My plan at the moment is to do Atlas meds later (I didn't see him this AM but nothing from barn so assume no change). Tomorrow I go to Oklahoma for work and then I'm going to go on my already planned ski trip in Colorado with the girls. That may sound like the most selfish thing ever but I don't think I can stay away from Atlas if I'm in Tucson, and I think I really need to. By early next week I should know either way which way this is going to go.

@Equi I could write about all the many awesome things he's done/and is but I guess most importantly anyone who can successfully shield you from crawling into a hole from a horrible situation is worth keeping around ;) And usually I'm a suffer totally alone type. Plot twist though, he's doing an MBA at Oxford uni so will be spending a lot of time in the UK, ha!
 
How very international you both are! Enjoy your time away, I’m already jealous of the photos of the scenery that you haven’t taken yet.
 
Just catching up. Sorry you're having to deal with another equine related crisis so soon. That's so tough. Keeping fingers, toes and everything else crossed for a good response to the meds
 
F***. The epm is negative. That leaves a possibility of a false negative, so I need to decide whether to continue to treat and test again in a week or two.

Wish I had more grace than this but I guess I’ve gone from shock to sadness to anger. I want to scream and scream and scream. The rage bubbling in me is unbelievable.

To think I called Atlas that because it means strength and enduring.

Sorry… know it’s ridiculous and there are worse things. But I’m all out of both of the above at this point.
 
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Anger is an absolutely normal emotion after all you’ve been through! I honestly can’t even begin to wrap my head around how unfair this all is. I’m so sorry M.

What’s the next step from here? I know you weren’t keen to go down the X-ray route but it might offer some clarity. How’s Atlas in himself now? Whatever your decision, know you have the full force of HHO right behind you all the way xx
 
Nothing else came up in bloods? Just thinking as he's recently moved he'd be more susceptible to random virus etc.

Absolutely understand how frustrated and upset you must feel. It's very, very unfair xx
 
Sorry you’re not getting a clear answer. How common are false negatives? If there are relatively common, the view you’ve had re symptoms would suggest re-testing? You really do deserve a break here - your frustration and anger is more than understandable.
 
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