what an experience...

Zeppelin's surgery went well, but she's had some complications since then. She seemed to be in alot of pain from the time I picked her up from the vet and all through the night. She was constantly panting, shaking and whining. And I mean constant. I took her to the emergency vet at 10pm and they gave her more pain meds. When we got home, she finally slept from 1am to 4am, and then woke up again with the same symptoms. I waited until 5am to give her a pain pill and it made no difference. We were up until we could get to the vet at 8am. They wanted us to wait to see the doctor since her not reacting to the pain medicine could mean something else was going on. So, the vet prescribed more pain meds and said it was a blood clot in her lungs, a complication from the anesthesia during surgery. It would take a few days for her body to absorb the clot, and it would just be managing the pain for that time. Her surgery incision wasn't even sore to the touch, so that was not the problem. I felt alot better at least knowing it wasn't the incision. So we went home and the same symptoms continued and only seemed slightly better. It wasn't until about 8pm that the whining started to slow down, and she would lay down and nod off for a minute. At this time I was trying to decide whether to give her the injection she was due for... would it help her or send her back to the anxious panting shaking whining state? I wanted more than anything for her to rest and sleep (she'd only laid down and slept for the three hours). At 10pm she was quieter and laying down more and started to sleep for a few minutes. I decided at that point that I would not give her the shot and hoped she would continue to get more relaxed and sleep. And, I could sleep also. She then slept through the night, from about midnight through 8am!! I have not given her the injection this morning either, but did give her the pain pill that is more for neurological/nerve pain and is supposed to make her a little groggy. She's seemed ok with pain, and is now (it's noon) sleeping! So, my conclusion is that she was having a negative reaction to the pain meds. And, we just kept feeding it with more pain meds. She was having an anxious nervous reaction, especially when she really needed to sleep. I'm suprised the vets (the emergency vet and especially our regular vet) didn't even think of that. Only yesterday afternoon when I called the vet asking if anything worse could happen- if I needed to watch for anything more- did she say some dogs have different reactions to pain meds, and one dog she saw rescently got depressed with pain meds. ?? So, in the end, after all of that, and the $300 extra vet costs, she's feeling better, and my guess is there is no blood clot. I'll still wait and see how she is, and treat her for pain if she needs it. Most of all, I'm so happy and releived that she is finally resting. It has been a crazy experience being with a loved one in constant pain. It's been exhausting physically and emotionally. Thank you for all of the loving thoughts and prayers for her (and our) well being.