Weekend from Hell

This weekend saw a really big long lasting a frequent cluster. Things actually started a couple of weeks ago. I had a single seizure and bounced back like nothing happened twice with a week in between each. There were also the occasional chompies which we thought we'd seen the back of. We thought it was the impending sign of a cluster and sure enough last Thursday evening it started.

Around every 4 hours through Friday they kept coming and then on Saturday it got worse to about every 2 hours and Sunday even worse, almost every hour. The only break I got seemed to be between midnight and 5am - which was the only time dad got any sleep.

With everyone out at work and college today I pretty much stabilised but there was no way I was getting up onto my feet. When Blaine got in there was plenty of mopping up to do as I just went to the toilet where I lay feeling sorry for myself.

Dad went to the vet to get some 10mg Diazepam tablets to see if this could help break the cluster. When he got in tonight he made sure I got up and got mobile. I walked like I was on ice for a while and out in the garden got a good hosing down in the sun to get me smelling nice again.

I was starving hungry and ate my dinner and went through a couple of bowls of water, and still looking for food now.

So now I'm up on my feet we've yet to see the Diazepam kick in and then no doubt I'll be super sleepy. Let's hope the seizures are done for this round. It's been a bad one.

Winning

Following on from Yesterday dad and I got a good nights sleep. Maybe that has something to do with my Diazepam and dad's exhaustion. Still feeling spaced out like first day in rehab, but a whole lot better than yesterday.

Dad got up to give me the last of the Diazepam this morning and found I'd left mum a big pile at the bottom of the stairs (don't know why it was for mum, but dad didn't want it). This isn't unusual as after a cluster and I'm in recovery I lose some of my training and forget how things work. Like going upstairs right now is out of the question, and getting in the back of the car - my favourite place in the whole world - needs some help.

But the good thing about this morning was two breakfasts - winning! Dad gave me my tablets and breakfast, then let me out. Then when mum got up for work she gave me breakfast too, and I didn't waste any of it.

Later we went off to the vets and dad had to lift me into the back of the car. I couldn't figure out how to get in. At the vets he had to help me out to as it seemed awfully high in the air.

The vet checked me over and spoke with dad and we arranged to go back next week for a blood test. The irony of which isn't lost on dad, since the previous Friday he refused to have one done at our usual vets because a) they aren't cheap, b) no one reports any of the results and c) the medication hasn't changed since the last three blood tests.

So the vet was very nice and I really think they must hate the Internet because it gives everyone access to so much information. The vet said they could do blood today, but dad asked about the effect of the Diazepam on the results as "Diazepam increases the serum levels of phenobarbital" and Epiphen (phenobarbitone) falls into this category. So instead we're going back on Tuesday night.

The vet also said she wasn't charging us for this visit, which was nice as it really was a flying visit. In, quick listen to my chest, a chat with dad and out again in 5 minutes.

So things are definitely looking positive. I'm in my usual recovery situation, timid, a bit confused and slow, but as expected. This being the biggest scariest most stressful episode, but not unique - we still remember back to January 2010, when we thought the Epilepsy had run it's course then too.

At Wit's End

This has been a terrible, terrible week... and it's still not over.

Dad had to go into work today. Three days off already is a bit too much. Luckily Blaine was off college so was able to spend the day with me. Which is just as well because I know dad's been fretting about me.

Last night nothing had improved. Still fitting every 2 hours, but still coming out of it reasonably well. Tired, timid and restless. But then late on a seizure sent me over the end and meant I was scared of the stairs again. This meant sleeping downstairs alone, dad was just too exhausted not to get some sleep after 3 days.

I still woke him up four times in the night. Once with just being restless and clumsy, walking into walls and doors until dad come and effectively barricaded everything I could walk into. Then three times with seizures.

This morning I was in a sorry state and dad had to leave me with Blaine.

Blaine sorted out the 4 x 10mg Diazepam at 3pm and after a call from dad reported that I'd not had a seizure all day since the one at 5:45am. I was just exhausted and didn't trust my own legs. That's the problem with having tiled floors downstairs. With all the pee and slobber it gets very slippy and now I walk like it's a frozen pond about to crack, legs all star-fished out and very slowly.

When mum and dad got home, dad made sure I got up and went out as I was lying in a big smelly puddle of wee where I couldn't get the energy to stand. Dad sorted me, got me up and into the garden for a wee and a quick hosing down and shampooing to get rid of most of the smell. I even ate my dinner lying down in the kitchen.

Now I'm up and outside where the floor isn't slippy I'm gonna stand at the gate for a while and watch the world go by.

Tomorrow, it's back to the vet. Hoping I feel a lot better soon. This has been the biggest scariest episode to date. Let's hope it's over with.

Tough Times

Last night and today are taking their toll on both me and dad. Every couple of hours I have a seizure followed by a period of being totally unresponsive. Dad would try to rouse me and I'd just lay there and not move. He had to really persevere to get me up and moving. Offering some of mum's lemon drizzle cup cakes is what did it. I was so hungry for them I'd almost take dad's fingers off.

This morning the seizures were still coming, but at least I'd be responsive afterwards. So dad thought it best to take a trip to the local vets - we haven't been to a local one for years as I usually go to the one where dad works. They checked me over and after talking with dad have gone for adding 40mg of Diazepam three times a day, with 10mg of rectal Diazepam if it's needed.

Within an hour of getting home I went off into another seizure. So although when I went to the vet I was bright eyed and a bit hyper active this cluster isn't over yet.

We've got an appointment to go back to the vets on Friday to follow up on how things are going.

Me and My Big Mouth

Well that'll teach me to put good words into the blog.

22:20 I was laying in the doorway to the kitchen sleeping quite peacefully when a really big seizure struck. Not that it went on much longer than usual, but the ferocity of the head twitches after the initial chomping were much more noticeable and stronger than previous.

Dad got straight on it and figured as two diazepam weren't working let's try for three. Scary I know, but he was really worried by this seizure. Especially as it follows so close to the previous cluster.

It turns out that I'm not the only one suffering this weekend. Snickers and Gio have both suffered a visit over the past few days too.

Butchy & Snickers

Life is Better with Sheltie Hair

Sweet Tooth

On Tuesday dad was lying in bed reading when I heard the rustle of a packet. Being nosy I thought I'd check out what he had as it might be something nice that he'd share with me. Well when I say share, what I actually mean is use as a bribe to be left alone.

Turns out dad had a packet of wine gums. What really surprised him was that I liked the smell. I wouldn't leave him alone until he gave in and let me have one.

I kept putting my paw on the bed. Lying there with my chin on the bed giving him the big sad puppy dog eyes, until I broke him down and he gave me a sweet.

Eventually dad cracked and handed one over, expecting me to drop it on the floor once I found out that it wasn't something I liked. Instead, I LOVED IT! I couldn't get enough. If dad found me annoying before he gave me a sweet, now I was even more so. I went frantic pacing around trying to get his attention before pleading for another.

When bed time came mum kicked me out of the bedroom and relegated me to my bed in the kitchen. But that wasn't the end of it.

Next day whilst everyone was out at work or school, I snuck into the bedroom and found the sweeties. No one would find out surely? I'll just have the one... but then getting the bag open without an opposable thumb isn't easy and it tore open. So rather than leave any evidence I'd better dispose of it all.

Later in the evening mum found the empty torn up packet and put it into the bin. Wayhay! I'd gotten away with it... until dad went to read that night. For some reason he remembered he hadn't eaten them all. BUSTED!

What's Going On Today?

18:10 Dad was on the computer just typing up something for the blog whilst I lay snoozing behind him, having dictated it all to him of course, when I went into a seizure. Apparently it was a full on big scary one that lasted a while. So dad used two of the diazepams on me to see if they'd do any good.

Seems odd that on Monday I have one seizure and then 3 days later another.

22:50 I decided to go downstairs with mum and got a Bonio to chomp. Mid munch I fell into seizure. Looks like the start of a cluster.

A Visit from the Easter Bunny

Easter brought more that chocolate for me. It looks like my cluster's going to continue like the previous ones. Although the period in between seizures is longer than usual they are still coming.

Last night was a very sleepless night. I howled quite a lot, probably on 5 occasions. Which is unusual for me as once I'm told to be "quiet" and I realise there really is someone else around and I'm not all alone, I tend to go on back to sleep and not do it anymore.

I eventually came upstairs and lay down and slept on the landing. Again a little unusual as normally I'd wake mum and dad by scratching at the door to get in and sleep with them.

05:10 Dad had to get up and take care of me as I lay on the landing having a seizure.

10:50 I'd just been walking around downstairs whilst mum was in the kitchen and I started chomping and went into another seizure.

Later today we're having a barbecue so I hope this is the last of them for this cluster.

19:50 Well today just keeps getting worse. Whilst mum and dad were next door Blaine banged on the wall which meant there was something wrong and dad came to find me in the usual unconscious post seizure state. I was jammed in behind the back door, my favorite sleeping place, so dad had to come in through the front door. Whilst unconscious dad gave me two tubes of Diazepam to see if this would break the cluster. He also cleaned me up and gave me some chicken so I'd calm down after the seizure.

The diazepam doesn't seem to have any obvious effect. Dad thinks maybe I was a little more drowsy than usual and as it would turn out didn't go as expected.

23:50 I was in a deep sleep behind the back door when dad heard me chomping and my collar jingling. I then went into full seizure and because unconscious. Dad shook me awake and as I came to the end I was more disorientated than previously. Probably as bad as it was after my first/early seizures. I was blind for a period, bumping into things, and so confused I couldn't find my way outside. I left mum to clean up where I'd wee'd (sorry mum) and went outside to pace for a while longer.

After an eventful day or so mum and dad let me sleep in the bedroom with them. I think dad wished he hadn't as I was restless all night. I kept him up by panting and then just as he'd drop off to sleep I'd go stick my nose in his ear or eye to wake him up.

Tonight - 16 March 2009

I guess this is a relatively old article now as the program was a week ago. But having watched the Tonight program - "Undercover Pets" on my "Generic Digital Video Recorder" I thought it worthy of a mention.

The program could have gone into much more than it did. I appreciate it focused on those vets deliberately fleecing their clients, or just plain abusing them. Most of the program seemed to deal with the issue of where a number of vets "played the system" and charged for unnecessary treatment.

The most interesting aspect for me though wasn't the abusing and bad behaving vets, but the savings claimed by buying drugs online. It really is true that huge savings can be made, and I've ranted on this before (see here) - but what the presenter completely skipped is the fact that even making these savings online will require you to pay a prescription fee. A fee that could heavily outweigh the savings.

My recent treatment suggested I take on some more Diazepam for emergency use. So rather than take 1 box of 5 10mg rectal tubes the vet recommended double that, to use 2 x 10mg at each episode. I guess dad fell into the trap of accepting the easy solution and not having found them at the regular online pharmacy, ordered the 2 boxes.

They said it would be a week before they had them in stock, which wasn't an issue as I still had a while before my next cluster, if it followed the current schedule.

So today dad went to collect the Diazepam. I guess he should have got the price first as they came in at £63.98, £31.99 for each box of 5. There was a thud and some smelling salts involved. But Dad being dad still took them and paid, after all he'd made the deal and ordered them.

After emailing the online pharmacy they said whilst it wasn't available online as it wasn't in their usual supply, they could source exactly the same product, with only a one day turnaround for £13.44 per box of 5!!! So even if we paid £12 for a prescription the total would be £38.88 (£13.44 x 2 + £12) a huge saving of £25.10 - and the vet still makes £12 out of the deal.

Now remember that the consultancy which recommends these drugs is being paid for. So now to get a prescription - which is just putting into writing what has been said in the paid for consultancy, I must now pay again. Which in real terms makes the consultancy £20 + £12. But now take a step back as this isn't a one off £12.

In my case I need 4 prescriptions - 1 for Epiphen, 1 for Potassium Bromide, 1 for Previcox and 1 for the Diazepam - and I need to pay for each and every one of them! Sure I get a discount from the £12 on each subsequent prescription (they aren't always at the same time so mostly £12 a time), but now I'm paying more for prescriptions than I am for consultancy... still a saving overall, but surely the RCVS must concede this is a foul practice?

Is this why pet insurance cost are rising?

Now what other industry could practice like this?

Let's say you have a car and it has a problem - you're no expert so you take it to a mechanic. The mechanic charges you £50 to look at your car and says you need 4 new tyres and some oil and he can supply them for £500. So you go and find the same brand tyres and oil and can buy them for £250. But the laws says you can't buy them unless the mechanic writes you a note - and he's going to charge you £100 for the note for your tyres and another £50 for the note for your oil.

You still have made use of his technical ability, his qualifications and knowledge - but you paid him for that. Do you think the car industry would survive, would the consumer stand for it? So, why is it different with pets? Because we are emotionally attached and in most cases will pay whatever to keep our loved ones with us, that's why.

There is a link to my current pharmacy on this site. I have no affiliation and make no revenue, nor make any gains from your clicking the link. It's there only to open your eyes and offer up a place for you to start.

So next time - THINK BEFORE YOU BUY. Don't rush into taking your vets offer before you've checked online for the product your vet is offering. Not only can you save money but you could even learn more about the medication and question why the vet has prescribed that particular product. Something cheaper or with less ill effects may be available. The Internet is a wonderful resource that is free to use - so invest your time to save your money.

Bear the Rottweiler (as featured on the Tonight program) what a gorgeous dog and so fortunate to have Tamara Baker his owner so driven to do everything she could for him. We're sorry for your loss and know that Bear has nothing but love and gratitude for your efforts.

Another Seizure

21:00 Mum and dad had just finished supper and were watching TV and I was lying behind the sofa when I started fitting. Dad wanted to try to stop me going into another cluster so soon so he used some of the Diazepam on me.

I got to stay upstairs in the bedroom all night and it past without further seizure. I did misbehave though. I found a carrier bag with something in, and I just can't resist investigating. So I spent a while rustling it until dad woke up and put it out of my way.

Then I found some paper I thought I'd tear up and again dad woke up and put it out of reach. So I thought this was a good game so them I started gnawing on the laundry basket until dad got up again.

I'm hoping this seizure may be related to me getting sick and throwing up my tablets. Maybe I no longer had enough in my bloodstream to hold off the seizure.

The Seizures Continue

This has been another day and night of seizures. Dad says they are a little different from the previous ones. Just as bad but different. Afterwards I no longer pace about bumping into things. Instead I lie there hyperventilating and unresponsive for about 60 seconds. Then when I come out of that I still want food and the toilet.

19:20 I was upstairs lying behind Dad when his alarm went off to tell him it was time for my pills. Whilst he was downstairs getting them I started fitting - the schedule appears very predictable now. In an effort to try to break the cycle dad used one of Diazepams, but I doubt it worked as I immediately had to empty my bowels and dad caught it just in time in the bin.

10:30 I was l downstairs lying behind the sofa whilst mum and dad watched the new series of Minder on telly (Apparently it's not so good without Arthur and Terry, whoever they are). Then all the usual process chomping and paddling started.

Start of a Cluster?

20:00 Almost to the schedule another seizure started 5 hours after the last. The pattern seems to be 4-5 hours between them when they start.

Dad decided to try out the Diazepam to see if it would break the cycle and to learn just what to expect when administered. Not having done it before means finding the right spot isn't as easy as you'd think.

Afterwards it seems like it just really calms me down. Doesn't exactly make me sleepy just slows things up. It also seems to have a strange smell that lingers.

This evening I get to sleep in the bedroom just so if another happens dad can be ready for it.

01:30 (Monday) Almost predictable now. I woke mum and dad with a seizure early in the morning. After that dad left me downstairs to sleep - but being restless I had to come upstairs and sleep on the bedroom floor.

Now it may have been the effect of the Diazepam but I couldn't sleep and was very restless. Getting up moving, lying down... getting up etc. Eventually dad took me downstairs where I polished of another half tin of food before finally going to sleep in my own bed.

Dad didn't do so well though. He ended up sleeping on the sofa to keep an eye on me, and I didn't move at all until...

07:00 Dad was upstairs in the bathroom getting ready for work when I had another seizure. I'm sure we must have both looked an odd couple me with my mouth all foaming from slobber and dad with his face all covered in shaving foam!

Well today I'm due at the doctors again for a blood test so let's see what they have to say.

Emergency Measures

Dad got a call from the vet today to let him know that the prescription was available for collection. Now this is something that we're both hoping is a last resort treatment! Rectally administered Diazepam (Valium).

As it is illegal for dad to inject me with drugs using a syringe, the only emergency measure we can take is to administer the drug rectally. The Diazepam should only be used if I have a seizure that goes beyond it's normal 2-3 minute period. Beyond this continued fitting or a close recurrence of another seizure could be very damaging to my brain.

The Diazepam should be absorbed pretty quickly and minimize the impact and risk of further seizure. It may not be pleasant, but necessary.

Diazepam Patient Information Leaflet

Whilst there dad also got me some Epi-Otic Ear Cleanser to see if it can help shake off this annoying itch in my left ear. The irritation has been driving me mad! Mum and dad do their best to stop me scratching it, but it needs a little help if I'm going to get rid of it.

Now dad knows how to clean my ears properly it makes all the difference. The annoyance of shaking my head or scratching is far from my thoughts as "I Love getting my ears cleaned!" I practically pass out with the pleasure of it - how strange is that?