Watty's Awakening

debtfreewannabe321

badmemory said:

Back i my teens I was anaemic & my mother fed me undercooked liver as per docs suggestion.  What finally cured me after the headaches & I must have eyesight problems (I didn't) was going on the pill which back then really meant waiting until you were getting married.  Miracle cure which lasted several decades longer than the marriage did.  I still wouldn't eat liver if it was the only food on offer.

I was anaemic all my adult life up until I went vegan oddly enough 🤔 but anyway my mother also cooked me liver, battered and fried with onions and bacon. 🤢 I remember having it so often because of my anaemia I feel sick at the thought of it now 🤣. It never helped the anaemia either.

KajiKita

The fact that liver doesn’t help with iron levels / anaemia is good to know … Don’t like it, don’t miss it, don’t want it! 😉 I’ve been trying a vegan (plant sourced) supplement and taking it with a vitamin c tablet at the same time for about a week now. I can already feel it’s helped a bit 😊

KK

dawnybabes

I was always anaemic until I went gluten free - couple of months off the gluten and my levels stabilised after many many years 

dawnybabes

Just seen this on FB ……. Wasn’t sure if it’s any good ? 

A new enzyme injection treatment for dogs with severe intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is now available at the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital (QVSH), offering a safe, less invasive, and more affordable alternative to surgery for some patients.

The treatment, called percutaneous intra-discal chondroitinase injection, involves delivering an enzyme directly into the damaged intervertebral discs. This enzyme dissolves the central part of the disc, potentially relieving pressure on the spinal cord.

The QVSH in Cambridge recently worked with colleagues from Texas A&M University in the United States, to run a clinical trial involving 54 dogs who had lost the ability to walk due to IVDD. The trial, now published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, showed that dogs receiving chondroitinase injections recovered the ability to walk at a similar rate to those who undergo other forms of treatment for IVDD.

Photo of a cute Dachsund breed dog

The procedure is now available at the QVSH as part of a low-cost IVDD treatment package including a full neurological consultation, MRI scan, and injections into multiple discs for a total cost of £1,750.  We are still accepting dogs for the original trial, where pet owners who are unable to afford traditional treatment may be offered the injections at a significantly reduced fee of £400, but with no MRI or CT scan.

Professor Paul Freeman, European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology at the QVSH, said:

“This is not a miracle cure, but it is an exciting new option for some dogs with severe spinal cord injury caused by a herniated disc. The injections are much less invasive than surgery and can offer similar outcomes for the right patients. Our aim is to give owners more choice, particularly where cost or other factors make surgery difficult, and ultimately to help more dogs get back on their paws.”

For further information about chondroitinase injections for IVDD or about the ongoing trial, contact Professor Freeman at pf266@cam.ac.uk or the neurology service at neuro@vet.cam.ac.uk.

https://www.hospital.vet.cam.ac.uk/news/qvsh-offers-new-injection-treatment-dogs-ivdd

LadyWithAPlan

Watty1 said:

Thank you @KajiKita, @Humdinger1 and @Cherryfudge

Having got excited about this venture some years ago I am trying  hard not to be hopeful this time.   I used to work for a man who often said keep throwing the balls in the air. The more balls that go up, the more likely it is that one will come good.  This is one of those balls.   Having thrown it up, I now need to get on with regular life. Monday and back to work .  

I love this throwing analogy and well done for persisting 

I am actually missing my whiteboards ! 

Sorry to hear re all your medical issues ! Glad WattyDog is holding up and having fun 

Watty1

thank you for the helpful comments re iron, I don't like liver, but could eat pate, so might buy some.  Not up to cooking own at this point.  Bought some oranges when I was out and have added an iron supplement as a short term option whilst waiting for appointment to discuss blood test results as there is clearly more going on and I really need a plan to tackle the fatigue and the cold I feel (thermals in August !!)

And @dawnybabes  thank you so much.  I'm really touched you thought of us when you read that and came here to post.    I'm not sure either, but, I've started writing an email so hopefully I will find out. 

I read through the comments before going to sleep last night and I must admit you all made me quite emotional chipping in with experiences of anaemia and then the post about IVDD for dogs.  The care for each other on these boards is a joy and an honour to be part of.  Thank you.  

badmemory

At least you know what is causing you to feel tired & cold.  Also have you had your thyroid checked, although that usually includes weight problems & I would expected to have been checked at the same time as the anaemia blood test.

ETA I suspect the liver pate would need to be home made to be of use.

Greying_Pilgrim

Watty - I'm clearly out of my depth talking about meat products, but following on from badmemory's point about the origin of the pate (and I have to say, I am apt to agree that HM would be probably more nutrient dense), but would 'second best' be from a butchers?  If they make such a thing? 

Have I remembered right that you have a 'proper' butchers in your locale?  It sprung to mind, as in the wee speck of a market town today there was a 'proper' butchers shop, on the main street.  Maybe butchers make more money from marinating meat and making up BBQ skewers these days, than from dishes of pate, but it was just a thought.  

Greying X

badmemory

I think my whole issue with pate is that really the liver needs to be rare to work - or according to my doctor of over 50 years ago anyway.  I am probably the odd one out here but I would rather take iron tablets & an occasional laxative than eat rare liver.

themadvix

badmemory said:

I think my whole issue with pate is that really the liver needs to be rare to work - or according to my doctor of over 50 years ago anyway.  I am probably the odd one out here but I would rather take iron tablets & an occasional laxative than eat rare liver.

You are definitely not alone in that!