Dr. Johnson really put me through my paces yesterday, examining me from stem to stern, and even swabbing my throat-yikes!! But I'm a very good patient because I know I'm in very good hands. Dr. Johnson always goes the extra mile to try to help me and everyone is so nice to me. I don't even fuss when I'm being handled, except for that throat swabbing thing.
I even got three injections, including two given by Tortoise Dad so he could learn how to give them in the muscle under my arm, parallel to my shell. I didn't even flinch. What can I say, he's a natural!
Dr. Johnson consulted with another top veterinarian in Tucson and they believe I have a version of myositis not usually found in tortoises. Dogs get it localized in their head and jaw muscles, but tortoises usually don't. It's an autoimmune disorder called masticatory muscle myositis, which is a long way of saying muscles that affect chewing are chronically inflamed. Since chronic inflammation causes muscle wasting (hence the dip on the top of my head from loss of bite muscles), it's a very big deal. Anyway we're trying a course of steroid injections to see if that relieves any symptoms. There's no real way to diagnose except by seeing how I respond to treatment so we're going for it. No guts, no glory!
Now I could get a CT Scan to see if I have a tumor causing neurologic effects on muscles or nerves, but there's no treatment available so we all agree there's no point in putting me through that kind of test.
I'm also getting antibiotic injections every other day because my mouth is red and I'm not feeling well so could have an infection too. And then once we have results from that throat swab, we'll know if I have mycoplasma. That's a respiratory infection common in tortoises, especially coming out of hibernation.
And for good measure, because it perked me up last time, I got a Vitamin E shot. The reason for all these injections is I'm not so good at opening my mouth to take oral medications. And at least we know I'm getting the full dose with the injections. Besides they don't hurt, or maybe I just don't mind.
Dr. Johnson said to soak me three times a week and offer Mazuri Tortoise Diet twice a week. Yum. If I could lick my chops, I would! I fairly lunge at the dish my Tortoise Mom brings for me, garnished with globemallow, grass, spurge, wildflowers, etc. The perfect salad.
This morning my right eye opened right up but it didn't blink at all even with my eye drops. Then I soaked and drank water but just sat looking around wondering what to do as I didn't feel like walking AT ALL. So my Tortoise Dad put me at the entrance of the new/winter burrow so I wouldn't overheat. I basked a little and then tucked inside for the day. I had such a big day yesterday with lots of new medications so I just needed to rest today. Tomorrow is a whole new day and I'm looking forward to it. Thanks, Dr. Johnson, and my Tortoise Dad and Mom, for all you're doing to help me feel better. I really am so lucky to keep getting second chances at life!!
