Impromptu vet visit

I haven't been feeling as perky lately. Ok, I'll be frank: I haven't been able to poop at all in a few days and I was really struggling yesterday. I was opening my mouth, sort of like "talking," but of course I can't say what's wrong. But my tortoise mom has been keeping track so she called Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital. Stacey talked to Dr. Wright who said I should have a check-up pronto.

Emmy weighed me in and discovered that I'm gaining weight! This is good news for a gal who has been losing a lot of weight due to being so weak. That's why I never ever complain about tube feeding!

Then Dr. Wright gave me a digital exam. Yikes! But he found some leftover urate from the bladder stone and some poop that may have been irritating my lower tract so he removed it. I'm glad that's over! He increased the amount of food and water for my feeding tube and gave me some medicine to increase motility so my digestion will work right again. I'm back on antibiotics too, just to be on the safe side.

Now we're all on Poop Watch. Stay tuned....

Tortoise e-mail

Wow, I got my very first e-mail from one of my special friends who even took care of me for a while when we were moving. This really means a lot to me!

"Grandma,

It's very nice to hear you are doing so well! Your friends have been concerned about you. I must commend you on your spelling and picture posting; you do it so much better than I! Please continue to heal and to keep your many friends posted on your progress. All best, Ellen"

Feeding tube fine dining

I posed for a video last night while getting my dinner via the feeding tube. I have tape on my leg so my scales don't pull it out. It gives me that "Flashdance" leg-warmer look, don't you think?

They say I'm so photogenic that I might need an agent...

Here's the video, complete with background noise. I'm sure Spielberg made that mistake once or twice. Ok, quiet on the set!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZt3PzRQT8w

That's One Honkin' Bladder Stone

Boy, I'm glad I'm not hauling this monster around anymore. Dr. Johnson said this stone took up half my bladder and 10 percent of my body weight. Whew! Who knew uric acid could crystalize into a stone weighing nearly a pound!

We didn't have a baseball to compare, but this shows the bladder stone is larger than a tennis ball. Dr. Johnson had a hard time maneuvering the stone out of the shell opening because it's not totally smooth. It's funny, but the camera's face recognition technology zoomed in on these three dark spots. Smile, bladder stone, smile!

Look, Ma, no stitches!

10/6/09 I finished my pain meds yesterday so I'm more alert today--no more seeing "colors" and zoning out. I'm sure glad I'm not a dog or cat or I'd be wearing a cone on my head right now. Here's the resin patch on the bottom of my shell from my bladder stone surgery. I'll have to get the patch changed as my shell heals, and the basking light helps with that. Who knew UV rays make bone heal?

Glad to be Home from the Hospital

10/3/09 I got home from the hospital today. Now I'm living large in my own indoor habitat complete with a Powersun 160W basking light that's just like the sun. Seriously, it puts out actual rays! I have a box to scoot into when I need a cooler place to be or just want some privacy. I'm getting my medicines, food and water through a feeding tube that's taped to the top of my shell. I'm already feeling better, and I'm very glad to have a new lease on life!

Surgery Success!

9/30/09 News Flash: Dr. Johnson called to report that Grandma came through THREE Hours of surgery just fine today! He said the bladder stone and fluid around it accounted for 10% of her body weight and he had quite a time getting it out of the hole he cut in the bottom of her shell.

She has a new lease on life and will be coming home to Tortoise Sick Bay on Saturday. Sleep tight, Grandma, you made it!

Vet called with good news!

9/27/09 I'm a little nervous but it looks like I'm getting a second chance at life with surgery for a bladder stone on Wed., Sept. 30. Thank goodness I'm in good hands with Dr. Jay Johnson at Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital in Mesa, Arizona. He called with results of my bloodwork and says I'm well enough for surgery which is Very Good News.

Here's the x-ray he took yesterday. No wonder I've been struggling so hard to eat and get around.