Ok, this is getting REALLY BORING!

The veterinary hospital like me SO much that they wanted to see me again today. Apparently I'm not recovering as quickly as I should be, so they wanted to poke and prod me a bit more and steal some more blood and peemail. Results back next week...

Other news: I have a skin infection which can't be treated as usual by steroids because of the other medication I'm currently taking for pain relief. Instead I've got to be washed in the stinky special blue shampoo that I'm sure many of you have also used. Bleurggghh.

My eyelids are inflamed, either from the skin infection, OR the eye drops that the Js have been tormenting me with. Hurrah, no more drops for me for a while until my eyelids are back to normal...

I've also been licking my lips. A lot. It's sorta discoloured my beard which I am NOT happy about. Apparently this could be either a sign of pain or nausea, possibly related to my neck problems. More tablets to try and sort this out. Won't bore you with the details but it's complicated and involves swapping tablets about a bit.

Then we get to my calcium oxalate crystals and stones. I'm going to try taking some potassium citrate to sort it out. Trouble is, too much potassium is VERY BAD so the Js have to find the right balance. They've got to monitor the pH of my peemail every day by using little stick things. Problem is that J2 is colourblind and can't read the chart too well. Guess I'll have to make sure J1 does it! I'll have to go back to the vet often to check my potassium levels.

So what with my bad neck, skin infection, possible stomach ache/nausea, post surgical pain, urine crystals/stones it's no surprise that I haven't been feeling too good. Here's hoping that this new regime works!

I promise that my next post won't be so boring. Got some more pawsome barkday gifts to show you...

More Tests and a Tomato Beard

Magnified calcium oxalate crystals

Some of the test results from last week are back and have confirmed the presence of calcium oxalate crystals in my urine. These can be quite painful and may go towards explaining my general lethargy. The other results are inconclusive which means I have to go back to the specialist veterinary hospital tomorrow for even more tests. One of the first things they will do is measure my ionized calcium level which could indicate whether the primary hyperparathyroidism and tumour have returned. I might also have to have another ultrasound to see if there are any more kidney stones rolling around inside me. Yada yada yada, I know this makes for pretty boring and gloomy reading. To cheer you all up, here's a nice slightly-out-of-focus-looming-close-up of me (pre-ear scar) with a bit of a tomatoey beard.

Mwah!

29th July 2009

Quick update: Jackson is staying overnight in the hospital for further tests, including an ultrasound and chest x-rays. Results back tomorrow. Thanks for your continued good wishes. J1