July 10, 2013 CAT Scan

Have you ever had anyone put their hand on your head and pulse their fingers while saying 'this is a brain sucker.  What's it doing?"..........."starving".    That is the image I have for Glamis this morning only the brain sucker is on the inside and it is gorging.

CAT scanner

I am really questioning if trying the anti-seizure drugs was a good choice.  Dr. Mike said it may take a week for him to acclimate to the effects but I am not so sure this is all drugs.  Dopey and tired I expected.  Loss of motor control I didn't.  I suspect that is more of an attack of the brain tumor than the drugs. My CAT scanner is outside hunting chipmunks so I have not been able to do any tests.

When on tile or wood floor - forget it, the boy is going down.  He fights it but sometimes gravity beats determination.  His feet slide out from under him.  He is constantly getting his back legs crossed.  In 30 minutes, I think I uncrossed his legs to help him stand 10 times.  Then he will stand with his back feet right next to each other, like they were one leg.  Only, he doesn't do so well on one leg - like watching a palm tree in a hurricane....hips sway one way and then correct to the other direction.  His brain doesn't seem to know he needs to spread his legs apart or he is trying to communicate but the cell towers are down.  I try to get him to lay down but he refuses.  Sure the dumb dog still can fight me on that but not spread his legs in order to keep standing.   Maybe I need to hold his legs together and he will fight to spread them out.

If I had to pick a moment out the next few to buy a train ticket,  now would be the time because the rest of the week would be horribly inconvenient. Terrible to say but that is the reality.  I don't get the option to call in sick when deadlines are due.  And brides are not happy if their cakes are 2 days late.  Unfortunately, Tim is in training and I have no way to reach him.  We will talk when he gets home. Maybe, like yesterday, Glamis  will be much more alert in the afternoon.   At the moment, Glamis looks just like Arri in the last few hours.  He did just get his Keppra so that could explain his sleepiness.  He is restless right now.  There is something he wants to do but can't do it.

Dr. Mike called with the biopsy reports.  It is as we suspected.  All the blueberries I have found are Hemangiosarcoma. It is July in Michigan....blueberry season. It is only appropriate for Glamis to be covered with them.  I find more each time I touch him. (Stop touching the dog)

I didn't fall here.  This was where I wanted to be.

Late morning, I wake up Glamis to go outside.  It is miserable out there.  The humidity is horrible and temperatures are only in the 80's.  The mosquitoes are out in force.   I have the sling under him because he was slamming into walls and falling down just trying to get outside.  Glamis doesn't do anything but stagger around.  He flops on the ground whether he really wanted to or not, that was as far as his feet were going for the moment.  I go back inside for cookies and the camera.  After a few pictures, we have had enough of the heat.  On the way inside, I learn the secret to walking a straight line.  Glamis had his eye on the prize....my (empty) hand held in front of him.  This was a good thing to learn.  The other thing I learned is that I now need a chain mail glove.  Glamis used to be a gentle giant taking treats so nicely.  He is now possessed by the evil cookie monster.  He may only have one fang but he knows how to use it.

I know there was a cookie here somewhere....

Early afternoon brings a shift in attitude.  He is much more alert and steady although he still qualifies for being 'tipsy' and would be asked to take a breathalizer had he been driving.  For the first time in days, his eyes sparkle.  A wind has kicked up and it is not nearly as stifling outside.  He does his business....Yea!  we still have control of that.

I am picking up on a trend I think.  For 4 hours after a dose of Keppra, Glamis is completely zoned out, confused and unsteady.  The last 4 hours before the next dose are much better.  Maybe 80% of perfectly healthy but the first 4 hours he spends at about 30% of healthy.  Now I have something to trend.  The video is of a good moment walking.