JIM IN SURGERY

Off to see him in a minute. Vet said he actually looks good for what he's been through - I know that means he'll look like **** but at least it's promising ****! Talking of which I'm told he's done three piles already!
 
Well I've been to see him & he actually looks a hundred times better than I expected. He called when he heard me walking over (I'm a little bit lame & he recognises the footfalls), was full of kisses, hooking his head over me for cuddles & begging for sweets (not yet). Yes he was tired but considering he's on minimal pain relief so they can monitor him I was amazed & the surgeon says she's really pleased with him so far. He's going to be scoped this afternoon just in case there's a problem with ulcers & then he can have some food. He's on precautionary anti-inflammatories for his feet & they're all supported & taped & he's being monitored for pulses. Even if there's no problems he's going to be in hospital for some time but I'm feeling marginally less desperate now & the people there are absolutely lovely with him.
 
Aw that is good news
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it must have been such a relief for you to have seen him looking relatively bright x
 
Thats fantstic news. I know how worried I was when Josie had surgery 5 weeks ago, and that was elected. I can only imagine what you went through last night.

Continuing <<<<<<<<vibes>>>>>>>>>> for you and your boy x x
 
Ellies_mum2 I don't know how long he'll be in, they want him eating normally & off drugs before he comes out so I'm guesing it will be a while. Luckily the hospital is just up the road so I can visit easily.

wasjosiejo in some ways I think an elective would havebeen even worse because I'd have blamed myself if anything went wrong. As it was I had very little choice, yes there was the option of seeing if it would resolve but realistically he was going down in front of me & we couldn't keep him pain free.
 
I'm just back from seeing him again, I didn't stay much more than an hour because although he was very pleased to see me he quickly looked tired & sleepy so I figured he was best left.

He's had a busy day, bless him. He was scoped & that did show low level ulcers. Not enough to cause this but it may well explain some problems we had a few years ago before the U-Gard. He's been for a short walk. He's now getting a little bit of hay which is cheering him up. He does look a bit uncomfortable - he's standing with his hind legs well under him & at times he looks tight in his face & nostrils - and he gets tired quickly but the surgeon is still very happy with him & she knows a lot more than I do.
 
Hope Jim continues to recover well. I went through the same late night/early morning colic surgery nightmare March 2008. My horse was in Rossdales for a total of 8 days, that was without complications post surgery. He too looked rough the first day I saw him but by the next day was back to his usual bolshy food seeking self. Bet you will notice a big difference when you see him tomorrow. All the best to you both.X
 
Thanks vetsbestfriend, I hope he looks better this morning because he did have a fewspells yesterday afternoon when I wasn't so happy with how he looked. Mind you I suppose he'd been doped again to be scoped, doubtless was sore from the tubes & as the long suffering surgeon pointed out he wasn't yet 24hours out of surgery! Everyone there keeps telling me he looks good. As far as I'm concerned I'd rather he stayed a little bit longer than is strictly necessary - I know the trip back will knock him as he stresses travelling, I don't have anything like the facilities & stabling they do & although I desperately want him well enough to come home I'm also scared stiff of having to cope & something going wrong. Silly. aren't I?

I'm off to see him as soon as I've finished my coffee, I'll update here for any news.

Thanks for the ongoing support, it helps.

I'm
 
I had exactly the same worries as you about bringing him home, but the box rest/recovery time flew by and before I knew it I could start turning him out for short periods of half an hour building up a little each day. Before this and with this I was in-hand grazing several times a day (good job I have a very understanding employer so I could have very long lunch breaks!).

I won't say it is not hard work, especially as I have another horseas well, but as each day/week goes by and you see the improvement your horse is making that is a reward in itself.

My own vets came out 2 days after he came home to check him and then again the following week to remove the staples. He did have a minor colic set back about 6 weeks after the operation but vet said this was due to everything settling back down. A shot of painkillers and some potassium iodide to help prevent lesions forming, and he was o.k.

Keeping fingers crossed for a smooth speedy recovery.X
 
Turnout for half an hour? Dear God, if he's been on box rest I won't get near him after half an hour!

He was so much brighter this morning. Much more like himself & quite confident that he wasn't going to get told off so pushing his luck a bit!

He's been out for walks & some grass in hand. He's turned his nose up at their hay but is happily eating sloppy fibre bucket feeds & trying to scrounge seconds. I've been to get some HorseHage for the vet to try him on, her idea.

Obs still a little bit up and down for gut noises but heart rate etc good, he's now classed as "bright & alert" ie screaming, shouting & kicking the doors!!!!
 
I had a bit of a bad moment when he seemed very quiet this afternoon but apparently his droppings had gone a bit too runny so the poor lad had been doped up again for yet another stomach tube to get something in him to help. But bloods etc still good. I suspect he'd stuffed a bit too much grass down himself earlier, theirs is much better than the stuff he gets even as an in hand treat at home, so I did mention that to the vet. She's also started him on some proper ulcer meds. They're still happy with him.

He wasn't keen on the HorseHage (the green bag was off & he's not so fond of the blue) plus it isn't ideal for post-colic surgery so I drove to the yard for a couple of slices of his usual dusty, none too pleasant smelling hay. He was quite happy to munch a couple of handfuls of that (often turns his nose up at it at home) & that in turn started him drinking. He wasn't so bothered about me then either! Oh well, at the moment if it keeps him happy & isn't going to do him any harm then he can have it, I'm sure he'll be all over me again as soon as he wants something else
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