Bilirubin Count 8.4!!! Advice?

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Posted by Iguanamomma on July 19, 1999 at 13:43:35:

Our iguana's blood work came back today and the vet called me with this news. (She's the one with the tail amputation done on Fri.) Here is a copy of the notes I took:

Bloodwork on Lightning - Confusing because one test shows one thing and another shows another.
Bilirubin count very high at 8.4 (Normal high end is 1.0 as noted in Mader's; I had a copy of the blood panel norms I saved off from IML)
Indicates one of 3 things: liver problem, blocked gall bladder, or loss of red blood cells
Hemo count was high so it isn't loss of red blood cells (Note - I seem to recall that this count can be high due to stress)
SGT (?) count was normal indicating liver is normal but bile (something) count high indicates problem with liver.
Uric acid was just a little high but he's not concerned with it.
Calcium good and all other levels within normal limits.

Said safe to wait and see what the Baytril does for her overall.
Next step would be to take x-ray to look for gall stones.
Noted that the "meat" of the tail he took off was yellow.
Indicated that this "might" work itself out and maybe we should take a re-count on the bilirubin after some time passes.
***********

Has anyone been in this situation? Dr. Miller didn't seem overly concerned...as in "do something quick!" sort of concern. I'm a major worry wart, however, and I don't know if I should be comfortable with the wait and see. She's looking better every day; eating better; mood is better. (I KNOW I don't have to tell Sue1 & Joan about being a worry wart LOL)

In human infants they increase feedings to increase stools. The stuff is carried out through the fecal material. I can't help but wonder if I should up her fiber to cause more pooping. Then again I don't want to go too far and have a different problem to try to take care of...pace, turn, pace, turn

I did ask if I should up her water intake somehow and he did say to get her to take in as much as I could just the way I have been doing all along (misting food, etc).

*sigh* All help is appreciated....as are shoulders to lean on :o)

Follow Ups:

Have some more numbers now.... Iguanamomma 7/19/99 (3)
- Re: Have some more numbers now.... BabyHerp 7/19/99 (2)
  - Re: Have some more numbers now.... BabyHerp 7/19/99 (1)
    - Gina, take a breath and count to 10 LOL msg Iguanamomma 7/19/99 (0)
No norms is norm Desiree 7/19/99 (0)

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: Our iguana's blood work came back today and the vet called me with this news. (She's the one with the tail amputation done on Fri.) Here is a copy of the notes I took: : Bloodwork on Lightning - Confusing because one test shows one thing and another shows another. : Bilirubin count very high at 8.4 (Normal high end is 1.0 as noted in Mader's; I had a copy of the blood panel norms I saved off from IML) : Indicates one of 3 things: liver problem, blocked gall bladder, or loss of red blood cells : Hemo count was high so it isn't loss of red blood cells (Note - I seem to recall that this count can be high due to stress) : SGT (?) count was normal indicating liver is normal but bile (something) count high indicates problem with liver. : Uric acid was just a little high but he's not concerned with it. : Calcium good and all other levels within normal limits. : Said safe to wait and see what the Baytril does for her overall. : Next step would be to take x-ray to look for gall stones. : Noted that the "meat" of the tail he took off was yellow. : Indicated that this "might" work itself out and maybe we should take a re-count on the bilirubin after some time passes. : *********** : Has anyone been in this situation? Dr. Miller didn't seem overly concerned...as in "do something quick!" sort of concern. I'm a major worry wart, however, and I don't know if I should be comfortable with the wait and see. She's looking better every day; eating better; mood is better. (I KNOW I don't have to tell Sue1 & Joan about being a worry wart LOL) : In human infants they increase feedings to increase stools. The stuff is carried out through the fecal material. I can't help but wonder if I should up her fiber to cause more pooping. Then again I don't want to go too far and have a different problem to try to take care of...pace, turn, pace, turn : I did ask if I should up her water intake somehow and he did say to get her to take in as much as I could just the way I have been doing all along (misting food, etc). : *sigh* All help is appreciated....as are shoulders to lean on :o)

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