Wet and Cold

Well that wasn't very smart! It's been cold here over the past week, so much so that every puddle is frozen solid. So today dad took me out for a walk and thought for a change we'd go around the canal. Well the canal was covered in a sheet of ice, not very thick at all. As we walked under a bridge where a huge mass of ducks  and morehens were sheltering they all scattered across the ice to get away from us. I paid them about as much attention as if they weren't there.

But a little further around the path dad turned around to see me showing off "Look at me I can walk on..." splash! I'd stepped fully onto the ice and stood there long enough for dad to turn around as I took a cold bath. He dragged me out by the collar and that pretty much ended the walk as it was then time to go home and get towelled dry.

A Wonky Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Hope you all have a great time. We're looking forward to the break. As I'm in the middle of a cluster right now it should mean that we go through the main Christmas holidays unmolested by another visit... although you can never be sure.

This cluster is particularly strong. Seems the thrashing about is very intense and then afterwards there's a really strong urge to jump up and run full speed into anything. When mum and dad see me go into one they have to pin me down afterwards to stop me from hurting myself.

I still don't understand what causes seizures to change.  So even though they are expected, the actual results aren't.

I get called wonky dog and the seizures are my wonky time on account of them sending me all wonky afterwards. Here's hoping for a non-wonky Christmas.

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Well it's coming up to Christmas and the family are getting together on the big day for turkey and goose. But the good news is there's not so many this year... which hopefully means more scraps for me!

On the seizure front, well this past few weeks have seen a turn around. Dad's so pleased that the daily chompies have left me alone at last. I'm back to myself and feeling fit. Loving life right now.

I had to take dad to the human vets this week for his annual check up and he's got good news too. Blood pressure is down to an all time low - 135/77 which is unheard of. Last year it started out at a staggering 230/140. So now we both take our medication at the same time each day. At least his seems to be working - mine, I'm still not sure it's doing anything at all.

Can't complain about the good days though. Happy to take as many seizure free days as I can.

Struggling On

This week's been no fun at all. Dad's been off work and that usually means lots of trips to the woods. But we only managed it a couple of days. The chompies have well and truly taken over. Every day has been at least two half hour chompie sessions. The only thing we're grateful for is that they aren't as draining or debilitating as last week. Afterwards I can stand up at least and am back to normal. So for much of the day I'm fine, but for those half hours there's head shaking and slobber flying everywhere.

The other day when I was in a chompie session mum noticed that when she gave me some ham that I'd immediately started chomping and couldn't eat until I'd finished. Then on Wednesday dad gave me some garlic bread (I've seen it, it's the future) and I went straight into a chompie. Afterwards dad gave it to me and again straight into a chompie. This happened about 3 more times, so I never did eat the garlic bread. Just seems strange that they seem to kick in when I'm happy or excited.

But we know it's a bad sign when I'm still scared of going upstairs. In some respects it's a good thing as at least I won't fall down them. But in the past sleeping on the floor upstairs was one of my favourite places.

All Time Low

Last week I started into a cluster on Mum's birthday. Wasn't good at all, but since then it's just been hitting even harder.

It started out as the usual kind of seizure where I'd thrash and paddle before going off for a nap. After a nap I'd get up refreshed and ready to face the world again. Over the next few days though things weren't getting any better and we figured we'd be in for a 48 hour cluster.

But we're still at it this weekend. Four days into a cluster of seizures that happen about every 6 hours. These ones today have been particularly nasty visits. I'd start off with a chompie and head shaking. Then five minutes later I'd go into the full twisting, thrashing and paddling. But I'd then not want a nap. I was all hyped up and wanting to run about, but my legs wouldn't carry me. Dad had to pin me down to stop me running off into things or falling and hurting my legs as I'd often end up splayed in all directions.

Following that only another 5 minutes I'd go into another chompie and head shaking. Afterwards I'm still unable to walk and another 5 minutes and I'd be having a shivery jaw that would rattle my teeth and curl my toes. So the seizure would last around half an hour, every six hours. But after that half hour I'm still not quite 100%, but I'm at least able to stand and walk. I'm just completely drained from the exertion of the seizure.

I'm really hoping this comes to an end soon... but is it a coincidence that Dad's off work agin this week?

Having a Tough Time

Over the past week things have been a bit tough. Since I've been having seizures they have always seemed to change in impact and severity. This past week has been full of chompies and head shaking. It seemed like it was never going to end. Every couple of hours I'd be chomping my teeth. Then a break of 5 minutes before chomping again. This would go on for at least 3 more times and then a break for an hour or two before coming back.

Through the night I might get some sleep and go without chomping for 6 hours or so. Often I'd wake dad chomping and falling over though. Today it seems it's come to an end or maybe just giving me a break.

The last seizures were also different. Previously I'd have a seizure and then jump up and charge around full of energy. The past few were completely the other way around. I was downstairs with mum when all of a sudden I jumped up and ran as fast as I could up the stairs into the room with dad. I then stared at myself in the mirror before falling over and going into a seizure. Afterwards I just slept a while and got up normally.

This is certainly a very strange condition. Nothing is ever the same, but at least we're at the point where nothing is unexpected anymore.

Time to Splash the Cash

Turns out it's that time again. Time to go pay for the vets Audi again.

This month we'll need another prescription drawing up and that means a trip to the vets. Because they won't do repeat prescriptions without seeing me and getting a consultancy fee. So dad makes the booking and we arrange to go in.

The good thing about it is that I get a day out. Dad takes me to work and I get to stay with him all day. Dad's got a new boss who's moved into the offices with him and this is the first time I'll have met him. I got in and did my usual sniff around then just lay down behind dad. It was probably an hour later before dad's boss even realised there was a big dog in the office. Well it didn't cause a scene or anything. I was as well behaved as usual and kept myself to myself all day until dad took me to the vets.

We got there and the first thing dad did was weigh me - 48.3kgs, so I've lost a kilo and a bit. Which dad thinks is good. I'm a bit trimmer and could probably do with losing another one really. This wouldn't have been so bad, but right after I got off the scales they bought another dog in who'd gained a bit. Right away there was a new member of staff who piped up that she was the vets new nutritional expert. Not bad, but I felt bad for the lady owner. The nutritionist was very condescending and the lady was really embarrassed. Good job she didn't start on dad - I think they might have refused to see me if he'd got fired up!

So we get our compulsory £1 per minute, 20 minute consultation. Thankfully the vet decided it's not necessary for a blood test. I've had a few now where they don't even bother giving us the results. We just go in and let them do it to get the prescription. The prescription is our only goal in this. A blood test just means more cash and times are tight.

After the consultation we get the bill for £20 and then another £20 for the prescription. I think the vet should really be wearing a black and white stripey top, an eye mask and have a bag marked swag. It's day light robbery to charge for time and then for signing / writing something that was done within that chargeable time.

Welcome to Autumn

Well it's officially autumn now and I welcome it with a couple of seizures.

Mum's got a new job that involves working shifts. So she's out early in the morning some days and back late others. I make the most of this by getting double breakfast at every opportunity. Mum gives me my breakfast then when dad gets up I pretend I'm really hungry and rather than phoning mum at work he feeds me too, hooray! But I think they're on to me.

I had a seizure last night at about 1:30am just after dad had gone to bed. He thought we were being burgled as I went off in the front room and rattled the table and chairs. He soon found it was me though as he stood in a puddle of warm wee in bare feet.

Mum didn't even know I'd have a fit. She was so tired from working that she didn't notice dad get up and tidy and mop up then bring me up to bed. Even when I kept getting up and wanting to go out she slept through it. Back downstairs with dad on the couch  I paced around a while then went back up to the bedroom and mum still fast asleep didn't notice a thing.

So today we waited on the return visit. It wasn't until after 7:00pm that I got another. Dad figured I wasn't myself. He knows I',m clumsy at the best of times. But not long before that I managed to knock over a full glass of red wine, and break the glass he was enjoying with Sunday dinner.

Mum makes an awesome Sunday dinner. It's the one day of the week where I have to wait long after 5:00pm for food, but it's worth the wait, yum! It's not really classed as leftovers as mum saves it especially for me.

Beside the Sea Side

Dad took me out his weekend. Was a massive long drive of 3+ hours in the car to go see some of his car club friends down in Chichester. Now Chichester isn't far from the sea so dad thought he'd make the effort and take me along for a swim.

First off we stayed overnight and slept outside all night. When everyone else had pt up their tents dad said the weather was too good to sleep indoors so didn't bother with a tent and we slept out under the stars.

The rest of the people had a party with a smoke machine and a laser light show. So dad had to take me away from that because I was becoming fixated with the green light and trying to chase it or just watch mesmerised by it. Not specifically related to the epilepsy but dad knows I get fixated on laser pointers and torch light, so better off out of the way a bit.

But here's me in the sea! It was great. A bit out of my depth and having to catch a wave and surf back in to shore.

And chillin' at the camp site.

I Really Should Learn to Shut Up...

Last week things were going pretty well. The seizures hadn't been particularly bad for quite a while. A few here and there and easily manageable. Well I managed to write that on a friends blog and made myself look pretty silly for doing it.

That night a cluster seizure kicked in big style. All night was spent seizure after seizure about an hour apart. I kept dad up all night. Then even after he went to work I still had three more seizures during the day and into the evening when he got home.

At 3am on the Friday the last one of the cluster kicked in and dad was so glad to get a full nights sleep on Friday night.

So what's changed?... Nothing! It seems there is not going to be any pattern of seizures - just sporadic and random in terms of both frequency and duration. Even their voracity is random. The seizures can be as mild as a series of blinking to full on thrashing around.

We're just learning we have to just live with it. Take every mild event as a blessing.

A couple of weeks ago dad took me out with him to one of his car club meets. One of the guys there has a decent camera and some skills. Here are some photos he took of me whilst there.

 

This was me after dad gave me some mushy peas! I was scrounging for food so dad thought he'd show me there was nothing to be had but mushy peas. He really didn't think I'd eat them. Well I surprised him by wanting more and eating them all.