Possible loss of colony

Thank you all so much! You have no idea how much the responses are helping me.
I've have Hepburn since January. I haven't ever had a case of mouth rot, or RI and have lost exactly 2 pythons since I started with them about 10 months ago. One escaped(a baby female) and committed hari kari in a saltwater bin. No, I don't know why. The other was the female that aborted her follicles, or eggs, or whatever that actually was. She did have a huge belly scar, so perhaps that had something to do with it. So I haven't had any illness prior to this, and for it to hit not only little Hepburn, one of my very favorites bc she is so pitiful with the wobbley head, but that it could indeed wipe out all the rest too.. it is really a stunning blow to me.
Add to this that I lost my husband 2 years ago, and the snakes have been my major distraction that made everything seem like it would be okay.. well.. I'm just not in really good shape.
Again I TRUELY appriciate all the responses. Thank you all.
Wolfy

Quick update:
It is now after 6:30pm.
They still say the stain test still isn't done.
I'm still waiting while trying to not hyperventilate.
Wolfy

You know we're all holding our breath for you! :hug:

I am so sorry to hear this. Our best wishes and hopes for a good result from the tests.


Neil

Theresa, I hope you know we are all pulling for you, your ill BP and in fact, your entire collection. Even if the worst news comes remember you have a large group of friends here to support you through it. As much as we can all goof around sometimes, you won't find a better support system of caring, concerned fellow herpers. Hopefully though the news will be good and with your vet's good care Hepburn will recover completely from this mouthrot issue. That's what I'm hoping will happen for you.

OK> The UF finally called.
Now.. the vet said, they did NOT find "many" inclusions in the blood stain test. They expected to find LOTS. She also said that they still would think she has it, since it might be in her liver, with the blood being only "spillover" from the liver. The disease is typically in the liver tissues.
*I* found a paper online that said something was showing inclusions in the blood making it seem like IBD when it was in fact something else. Frankly I can't find that paper right now, but my friend read it too, just two nights ago when we were both scouring the internet for anything related.
I doubledchecked and the last snake to be brought into the collection was brought in in late march, meaning the snakes have been all in the snake room for five full months. No where have I found anything stating a BP has ever been exposed and survived more than 3 months. Boas yes, ball pythons no. I've never owned a boa, nor handled one, nor had someone else bring one into my house. No other snakes have come in. No people have carried snakes in, and very few people have ever been in my snake room.
I am now daring to hope slightly that it might not be IBD. Now I have to figure out how to pay the bill for htem keeping her over the weekend, and for the tests today. They want to do a liver biopsy, as the next step, so it could still show IBD then.
The vets continue to think it is, while everything else I have seen everywhere tends to say it isn't. At any rate, I'll find out more tomorrow. If I can work out the bill balance with them somehow, then I can get them to do the liver biopsy tomorrow too.
Keep hoping for me!
Wolfy

I'm Keeping You And Your Guys And Gals In My Thoughts While Crossing Fingers And Toes Over Here!!!!!!!!!!!

I think we all have grown a few extra gray hairs this past weekend from the stress and concern for you and yours;) .Well we all are still pulling for you and your snakes to come out looking great after all this.:hug: :hug: Of course all fingers,toes and eye balls are crossed waiting for the results.

Wolfy, here's hopin that the UF vets are wrong and its not IBD. Thoughts and hugs coming your way tonight.:hug:

New news today. The bill for the liver biopsy is ONLY going to be $180! The Mythbustersfanclub online members have donated $115 towards Hepburn's vet bills. I cried.
SO today they will do the liver biopsy, and either by tonight or tomorrow they should have a more definative result. IF it shows only SOME inclusions, she comes to the shop to be quarentined(rem my snakes are at HOME) and I treat her for mouth rot and see if she dies in the next month from IBD. IF it shows a significant high number of inclusions, then we may be putting her down to do a full necropsy. IBD is a bad way to go, but I am a little bit hopeful still. She has not gotten any worse since friday, and that is a good sign.
Wolfy(thanks for all the support!)