A Drug Free Life

Over the past few months dad's decided that we're going to come off the Epiphen and Potassium Bromide. We've gradually weaned it down to zero and for the last few months I've been drug free.

Why? Well the drugs obviously weren't doing anything they were supposed to at the dosages I was taking them. The seizures still occurred with the same frequency, duration and intensity with them. So by taking the medication I was no better off and without it I certainly don't seem any worse off.

If anything it means the effects on my liver caused by Epiphen won't exist.

It's an awkward decision and not one I'd advise anyone else to take. Just personal choice. In case you're wondering, no I have not become a Scientologist - I may be a  crazy, but I'm not THAT crazy!

We could have consulted the vet, but to be honest the expected answer would have been to stay on the profitable medication. So for now I'm living without the daily tablets and just getting on with living with seizures.

Tabasco Update

Dad took me out to the woods today. I know he was really tired from watching me all night and me still getting him up relatively early this morning.

Whilst we were in the woods we encountered a company of dog walkers with a pack of 14 dogs of all sizes. I've never been around so many so stuck close to dad to figure out what was going on. After we returned from the woods dad dried me off as it rained all the time we were there. Still it's all good, especially when it involves walking in the woods.

As lying watching some TV at 14:00 I had a Tabasco moment. Again dad shook me out of a full seizure. This happened again on two more occasions 15 minutes apart. Each time dad got to me in time and so far as of now (21:00) the seizures haven't arrived. It'll be interesting if this is the last of them this cluster.

Just in case anyone is thinking dad's going to give me shaken baby syndrome, the shaking involves him putting a hand around my head behind my ear and a more gentle shake than what the seizure introduces. It's more like a wake up call and isn't overly aggressive.

@Foster: Most of my seizures happen whilst sleeping, some few whilst relaxing but I have had two where I was active. One running off into the woods - which scared dad to death. The other whilst out in the snow, I ran in a circle then keeled over. So it can happen.

As for catching the Tabasco moment, well that's the luck of the draw. I suppose we could only do it because I was already in a cluster, dad was off work and had the time to have me close enough to catch it. It's an interesting phenomena though.

Something New

Being Friday the 13th we're hoping it turns out to be bad luck to be superstitious.

Dad spent the night looking after me and when mum went to bed he came downstairs with me as he knew this wasn't over yet.

But just after midnight I had a Tabasco moment. So dad was sure there was more to follow. Sure enough 20 minutes later I started to go into a seizure.

But the strange thing is dad got to me as I was in the early stage of chomping and head shaking (this is the Tabasco moment). He then managed to shake me to get my attention and I snapped out of it and didn't go into a full seizure. This happened twice more and each time dad managed to get me just at the right time to stop the seizure. However, we're not sure if this is stopping the seizure or merely postponing it.

04:40 Well the seizure finally caught up with me. Dad couldn't get to me in time, so I went into full fit in the kitchen. Afterwards dad went up to bed and I eventually followed.

At 8:30 I woke dad up three times with "Tabasco" moments and each time he drove off the full seizure.

It wasn't until 09:30 that dad missed the timing and off into full seizure I went. It's very strange that the seizure can be postponed. I just wonder if we manage to catch the Tabasco moment each time that eventually the seizure would not follow.

Another Rough Day :(

03:00 I woke mum and dad with a big seizure in the bedroom. Dad took me downstairs and let me out for a while. Then made himself comfortable on the sofa to keep an eye on me. I took pity on him though. About 10 minutes later I decided to go upstairs to bed so dad could come up with me.

10:00-15:00 With everyone at work and Blaine upstairs in bed with a bad cold/flu, he didn't notice that I'd been downstairs  on my own and had a seizure. It wasn't until I went up to find him that he could see my face was all foamy. Blaine even came down and cleaned up the poop I'd done as no one was there to let me out.

21:45 Dad knew this wasn't the end of the seizures as I'd been too hyper and bouncing around. Sure enough just before the news at 10 mum shouted dad as I started another seizure whilst downstairs. I made a bit of a mess and I don't think mum was too happy. Sorry mum.

Remeberance Day

Today we remember those who have fallen in battle to support and protect our nation. They have fought and protected our existence as we know it today and should be remembered for their valour and ultimate sacrifice.

Long may you be remembered. Maybe one day we can all put down our weapons and learn to be grateful for what we have instead of fighting with others for what we don't.

13:45 Looks like the seizure monster paid an early visit. Dad wasn't expecting it this week, must be something to do with him taking time off from work.

Eww, Gross!

Since the last round of seizures things have gone back to their usual selves. My hyperactivity calmed down and I was soon back under control and responding as I should. No one would even realise anything had happened.

On Friday I left mum to clean up a huge pile of hair that I barfed up. Dad said he'd take a picture but it was too gross and might scare people away. Dad reckons it looked like the hair from his head after mum has cut his hair there was so much of it. Apparently it's unusual for dogs to get hairballs but then again I'm not a usual dog of course.

This was probably the cause of all the slobber I've been dribbling everywhere the past few weeks. It seemed that I had a tap turned on in my mouth and mum would often scream and push me away as I was so slobbery.