My dad came through the operation okay, although he was still very dozy when my mum saw him yesterday evening! I expect I shall hear more today. It was a long time before he got back on the ward from the theatre. Thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers. He'll be in hospital for the next few days, which I'm hoping won't be too difficult for him.
Charlie's visit to the vet was also fine; he has managed to gain quite a bit of weight in a week which is very good. We are to carry on as we have been doing and then revisit in a week. She doesn't want to put him under anaesthetic unless absolutely necessary. Charlie is happy as he loves eating, and this pro biotic stuff seems to be helping him do so! He is very obliging when taking his medicine. I offer him the syringe, he grips it in his mouth, and I sink the plunger, as it were. It obviously doesn't taste too bad! I have to remove it fairly quickly as he tries to bite the end off in his enthusiasm (he did this with the vet's little tool as well as she tried to look in his mouth - let go! she had to say, which made Andy and I exchange a smile).
Went for a skittles evening last night.
Yesterday: 4/10, medium - high
Today: 4/10, medium
Showing posts with label vets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vets. Show all posts
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
get well soon, Charlie
The vet's appointment yesterday didn't go so well. I've been concerned this past week about Charlie having a weepy eye, and a wet nose - on the same side - which from past tragic experience with the guinea pigs I know as warning signs, and the vet had the same concern (i.e. about his teeth and mouth). His weight has also been worrying me this year. Charlie has dropped a whole pound since his last checkup, which is a lot for a rabbit his size, and he still has his lopsided expression which I mentioned to the vet last time. (This time was our second time at that surgery, with a different vet this time, who really knew her stuff as far as rabbits were concerned.)The first thing she said was 'there's not a lot to him, is there?' and then 'He's lopsided,' - the first person to notice without me pointing it out. Although last time the other vet found a small spur on his teeth, but considered it not large enough to worry about, this vet couldn't even get to see the area because Charlie was in such obvious discomfort. She didn't give him his myxo jab because she felt he was in such a bad way. I have pro-biotics to sprinkle on his food to see if he can tolerate more food and gain some weight (which has always been the problem with Charlie's digestion) and some painkiller to administer orally to see if it enables her to have a proper look at the problem part of his mouth (and side of face) next week.
So he is not a very healthy bunny, and causing some concern. He may need putting under anaesthetic to check out what is really going on in his mouth - but needs to put on some weight in order to reduce the risk that comes with going under anaesthetic. But there is a risk, and he's not very well, so it's all a bit worrying. It's not cheap, either, of course. But hearing her talking about him and his state of health in the terms she did made me struggle to compose myself at times, as he sat meekly on the table while I stroked him.
I hope we can put some weight on him and bring him through.
Get well soon, Charlie.
Today: 3-4/10, medium
Yesterday:4/10, medium
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Saturday, 24 May 2008
pets and vets and...other things
Well, yesterday we took Charlie to the new vet I mentioned previously. It went very well. The interior felt airy and spacious; they have three consulting rooms with three vets in at one time (according to their blurb there are 6 in total). It was open surgery so we popped down when we liked and were able to go straight in once I'd given his details to reception. The vet we saw was very pleasant - I couldn't quite place her accent - she had a very distinct way of saying 'Charlie' (Charlie thought it sounded rather exotic). He behaved himself very well, was thoroughly examined and weighed and didn't flinch when he had the injection. He never seems to feel them which is just as well!
'He has very thick skin,' she said, and she wasn't speaking metaphorically! I think now how much easier I find Charlie to handle than in the early days, and he's much better at it too. At one point she had him dangled over one arm while she reached for something and he simply hung there looking sheepish (I think he liked her accent).
I asked to have his teeth properly examined because he's had this wonky expression lately. It makes him very photogenic (in a funny way) but I didn't want there to be a problem. Apparently he has got a spur on one of his lower back teeth but it is very small and unlikely to be causing him any trouble. If it gets bigger or he shows problems eating (Charlie?!! Problems eating?!! He has problems digesting but never ingesting...) they'll have to do something but it's all right for now. She asked me if we'd ever had anything done to his teeth and I replied that we hadn't, and she responded that they were in very good condition. So that's good.
Often I think, with both Charlie and the poor guinea pigs, if I knew then what I know now... I have to chalk it up to experience. Every now and then I come across photos of the guineas and it still gives me a real pang. They were such dear little creatures. I may, once the pang lessens, make a couple of scrapbook pages of them. I've actually started doing one (very slowly) of my old dog Misty, who died a couple of years ago. I wasn't there when she died and always felt an oddness in my sadness, an unfinished-ness. Doing this has helped me remember her and feel glad of her, if that makes sense. I've not got very far, but it's giving me practise in scrapbooking:
I'm not sure about using the silver brads for her name here. I may re-do that bit a different way at some point. This photo was one of the last before she died.
As a puppy, a pair of my dad's old socks were a terrific hit. She would run around with them partially obscuring her face. It was desperately cute!
Demonstrating the need for pond covers when any baby mammals are present! However to Misty this was just an extra thing to walk on.
Her paws looked huge on her as a puppy. We called them her 'lion cub paws'...
If this is a little unclear, she's lying upside down in her bed. She had no real concept of dignity... After her dinner in the conservatory she would often give a huge belch, and if my mum was in there she was seriously worried the neighbours would think it was her! Of course, there was the other end too...although Bonnie, our black Labrador was the other queen of those. She made herself look at her rear end in surprise sometimes.
Hmmm. I'm thinking I should change the subject now?!
Headache: medium high
'He has very thick skin,' she said, and she wasn't speaking metaphorically! I think now how much easier I find Charlie to handle than in the early days, and he's much better at it too. At one point she had him dangled over one arm while she reached for something and he simply hung there looking sheepish (I think he liked her accent).
I asked to have his teeth properly examined because he's had this wonky expression lately. It makes him very photogenic (in a funny way) but I didn't want there to be a problem. Apparently he has got a spur on one of his lower back teeth but it is very small and unlikely to be causing him any trouble. If it gets bigger or he shows problems eating (Charlie?!! Problems eating?!! He has problems digesting but never ingesting...) they'll have to do something but it's all right for now. She asked me if we'd ever had anything done to his teeth and I replied that we hadn't, and she responded that they were in very good condition. So that's good.
Often I think, with both Charlie and the poor guinea pigs, if I knew then what I know now... I have to chalk it up to experience. Every now and then I come across photos of the guineas and it still gives me a real pang. They were such dear little creatures. I may, once the pang lessens, make a couple of scrapbook pages of them. I've actually started doing one (very slowly) of my old dog Misty, who died a couple of years ago. I wasn't there when she died and always felt an oddness in my sadness, an unfinished-ness. Doing this has helped me remember her and feel glad of her, if that makes sense. I've not got very far, but it's giving me practise in scrapbooking:
I'm not sure about using the silver brads for her name here. I may re-do that bit a different way at some point. This photo was one of the last before she died.
As a puppy, a pair of my dad's old socks were a terrific hit. She would run around with them partially obscuring her face. It was desperately cute!
Demonstrating the need for pond covers when any baby mammals are present! However to Misty this was just an extra thing to walk on.
Her paws looked huge on her as a puppy. We called them her 'lion cub paws'...
If this is a little unclear, she's lying upside down in her bed. She had no real concept of dignity... After her dinner in the conservatory she would often give a huge belch, and if my mum was in there she was seriously worried the neighbours would think it was her! Of course, there was the other end too...although Bonnie, our black Labrador was the other queen of those. She made herself look at her rear end in surprise sometimes.
Hmmm. I'm thinking I should change the subject now?!
Oh, Liam came over this morning and fitted a new shower for us (hurrah!) and a mixer tap on the kitchen sink (double hurrah!). The shower's been playing up for ages, and since we had a new boiler put in last year the hot tap got so hot in the kitchen that you could actually burn your fingers when you touched it. Me turning it off went something like this: twist, 'Ow!', twist, 'Ow!', twist, 'Ow, ow , OW!' Not that I ever got grumpy with it or anything. Ahem.
Energy levels: 4-5/10Headache: medium high
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Monday, 12 May 2008
just a bit of blather
I haven't written anything the last couple of days - I've been dull and uninspiring! At least I would be if I wrote anything, I'm sure! Nevertheless, I need to update my ratings (sighs, rolls eyes) otherwise I will forget, if I haven't already...
Friday: 5/10, medium
Saturday: 5/10, medium low
Sunday: 5-6/10, medium
so far today: 5/10, medium.
Nothing much interesting there! When it comes to the energy levels this is actually what I'm supposed to be aiming for - that is, consistency rather than highs and lows. So although there is no fantastic improvement, it is a good thing at the moment when it stays the same. Then it can gradually increase - I hope! Headache wise it is very hard to say. I need to go back to the doctor soon to get more pills (sighs again, more eye rolling), and I can't see any significant improvement, but there you are. I hate to and fro-ing from the doctor.
I need to sort out a vet's appointment as Charlie is due for his booster (more sighing, profuse eye rolling) but I am thinking of changing vets to one slightly closer, and perhaps more sympathetic to my situation? But of course sorting out somewhere new is a bit of a chore-bore (bore-chore?) too. Hang on....
...looks in yellow pages...
Hmmm they do have open surgery hours at this practise which may well be easier for us - the other vet is appointment only so there's a lot of checking with diaries etc. Goody! I hate the hassle of making appointments (have I said this before by any chance?!!) So we could just take him in one late afternoon/evening and get him sorted, whenever's best for us. Ahh....that's good.
Blogging does make me do things! More specifically, it helps me remember. One of the most irritating symptoms (of which there are many!) of CFS, I find, is the memory problem. My short term memory can go completely at anytime. All those things people say are a 'sign of getting old' I've been doing since I was 14! I can walk upstairs and forget why I'm there, go back down, remember, go back up, do something else, go back down, then finally succeed to remember all the way up the stairs what I was supposed to do the first time. That is, if I remember at all. Many's the time I'm hit with sudden panic over what I've forgotten. I make a joke of it, but I hate it. I write things down, but there are things you think of on the spot and go to do - I forget on my way there. Sad, isn't it? I was, in a way, relieved to find this was a common symptom - that it wasn't just me. But it does mean I struggle with it frequently. However I am grateful that there isn't a more serious reason. It does make me more understanding, however, of those who do have more serious reasons.
Went for a nice little walk with Judy this morn. My stamina isn't great though. It takes very little to exhaust me. I know it sounds like I'm moaning; I'm not really. It's just what I'm having to deal with at the moment. I'm feeling reasonably content in myself, am enjoying friends' company when I can manage it, and there's a new theory that Vitamin D can help CFS symptoms. The sun can't be a bad thing, then! Though I did put some sun cream on this morning. These days the seasons shift so quickly. Theoretically it's still spring - but stepping outside is like stepping into summer.
Friday: 5/10, medium
Saturday: 5/10, medium low
Sunday: 5-6/10, medium
so far today: 5/10, medium.
Nothing much interesting there! When it comes to the energy levels this is actually what I'm supposed to be aiming for - that is, consistency rather than highs and lows. So although there is no fantastic improvement, it is a good thing at the moment when it stays the same. Then it can gradually increase - I hope! Headache wise it is very hard to say. I need to go back to the doctor soon to get more pills (sighs again, more eye rolling), and I can't see any significant improvement, but there you are. I hate to and fro-ing from the doctor.
I need to sort out a vet's appointment as Charlie is due for his booster (more sighing, profuse eye rolling) but I am thinking of changing vets to one slightly closer, and perhaps more sympathetic to my situation? But of course sorting out somewhere new is a bit of a chore-bore (bore-chore?) too. Hang on....
...looks in yellow pages...
Hmmm they do have open surgery hours at this practise which may well be easier for us - the other vet is appointment only so there's a lot of checking with diaries etc. Goody! I hate the hassle of making appointments (have I said this before by any chance?!!) So we could just take him in one late afternoon/evening and get him sorted, whenever's best for us. Ahh....that's good.
Blogging does make me do things! More specifically, it helps me remember. One of the most irritating symptoms (of which there are many!) of CFS, I find, is the memory problem. My short term memory can go completely at anytime. All those things people say are a 'sign of getting old' I've been doing since I was 14! I can walk upstairs and forget why I'm there, go back down, remember, go back up, do something else, go back down, then finally succeed to remember all the way up the stairs what I was supposed to do the first time. That is, if I remember at all. Many's the time I'm hit with sudden panic over what I've forgotten. I make a joke of it, but I hate it. I write things down, but there are things you think of on the spot and go to do - I forget on my way there. Sad, isn't it? I was, in a way, relieved to find this was a common symptom - that it wasn't just me. But it does mean I struggle with it frequently. However I am grateful that there isn't a more serious reason. It does make me more understanding, however, of those who do have more serious reasons.
Went for a nice little walk with Judy this morn. My stamina isn't great though. It takes very little to exhaust me. I know it sounds like I'm moaning; I'm not really. It's just what I'm having to deal with at the moment. I'm feeling reasonably content in myself, am enjoying friends' company when I can manage it, and there's a new theory that Vitamin D can help CFS symptoms. The sun can't be a bad thing, then! Though I did put some sun cream on this morning. These days the seasons shift so quickly. Theoretically it's still spring - but stepping outside is like stepping into summer.
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