The last couple of days have ben a bit of a downer; especially for the dogs. I've been battling with some kind of strange stomach bug, which means no more walkies and very few play sessions. Thankfully, Hermione and Otis have found ways to keep each other entertained, but I think even their games are growing boring.
Otis is still in his "I'm a puppy so I sleep most of the time" phase, but Hermione is certainly in her "I'm a teenager dog, what can I get in to"? phase. She's been pretty good considering, but there have been a few times where I've just wanted to put her in her crate with a peanut butter filled Kong and let her chill out for a while; let me chill out for a while. However, she has managed to leave me in stitches despite my sore tummy.
Just earlier today she practised her handy work on destruction and completely obliterated a tennis ball that was on a rope toy. There is nothing left except for tiny rubber bits that will have to be cleaned up via a vaccuum. She reminded me of Glacier with that little piece of work, but at least it took her at least over an hour or two whereas it would have taken Glacier ten minutes.
Her new and most favourite game has been running zoomies down our hall and back, launching herself on to the couch, flinging herself just as fast off, put on repeat. Poor little Otis's legs don't have a chance, but he tries his hardest to catch her as she zooms by. This went on for a good twenty minutes with a small intermission for Hermione to dig frantically in her bowl, in the hopes that water would magically appear at the bottom.
Sorry, Miss Priss, you do not get water at eight at night because that results in a puppy who needs to pee at ridiculous times in the middle of the night. Nice try though.
As for the mad zoomies, they have stopped for now, but I have no doubt our hallway/living room/couch will turn back in to a race track in no time.
I do feel bad that she hasn't been outside for more than "potty breaks," but at least she and Otis have each other and at least she has enough space to run like a maniac. Hopefully tomorrow this weird flu thingy will be gone and we can get out and get in our usual 1 to 2 hour Saturday morning walk. I think I need it as much as she does.
Zoom, zoom my little Princess.
Showing posts with label Get Well Soon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Get Well Soon. Show all posts
Friday, October 12, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Hermione is Home
It's been a few days since Hermione was able to come home. She spent a total of two nights in the vet hospital and was able to come home on Wednesday. Sorry I haven't posted sooner, but with her coming home, things have been crazy around here.
She was checked over by the vet again today and he gave her a clean bill of health. She had been scheduled for her Kennel Cough vaccination and a microchip in just over a week, but I cancelled that appointment, thinking that Hermione may need some rest. We'll probably get her microchip in when she is spayed and then contemplate Kennel Cough vaccination at another time. I feel like her little system needs a bit of a break.
Since returning home, she has been her crazy self. She is playing like she always did and eating like a horse. She is on a bland diet to help with her excessively soft poop and she seems to be doing well on that.
I think Glacier may have actually missed her. He was quite excited to see her and both he and Roscoe seem to be paying her a little more attention. It could also be because she is growing like a weed and she doesn't look like a wind-up toy anymore. Maybe they realise she is actually a dog now.
Hermione's little trip to the vet also taught us a bit about her personality. I always knew she was a diva, but her reaction to her bath and blow drying confirmed it for me.
The vet Tech, called a Vet Nurse here, gave Hermione a bath and blow dried her. She was quite stinky from living in a kennel for over 24 hours and they didn't want to return her to us smelling like a barn. How thoughtful of them.
When Hermione was handed over to me, all fluffy and smelling flowery, the Vet Nurse said that Hermione could be a show dog. Once the blow dryer was busted out, Hermione rolled over on to her back to enjoy the warm air and let the Vet Nurse blow dry her belly. She even let me clip her claws yesterday. So, it's official. We definitely have a princess on our hands.
Speaking of my diva, I better be getting her off to bed for her beauty sleep. She's had a very busy day going to the vet and then over to Tenie's flat for a girls' night. Roscoe and Glacier joined us as well and they have both already found a comfy place to catch some Z's. I think they have the right idea.
Thank you to all of you for your encouraging comments and good thoughts. :)
She was checked over by the vet again today and he gave her a clean bill of health. She had been scheduled for her Kennel Cough vaccination and a microchip in just over a week, but I cancelled that appointment, thinking that Hermione may need some rest. We'll probably get her microchip in when she is spayed and then contemplate Kennel Cough vaccination at another time. I feel like her little system needs a bit of a break.
Since returning home, she has been her crazy self. She is playing like she always did and eating like a horse. She is on a bland diet to help with her excessively soft poop and she seems to be doing well on that.
I think Glacier may have actually missed her. He was quite excited to see her and both he and Roscoe seem to be paying her a little more attention. It could also be because she is growing like a weed and she doesn't look like a wind-up toy anymore. Maybe they realise she is actually a dog now.
Hermione's little trip to the vet also taught us a bit about her personality. I always knew she was a diva, but her reaction to her bath and blow drying confirmed it for me.
The vet Tech, called a Vet Nurse here, gave Hermione a bath and blow dried her. She was quite stinky from living in a kennel for over 24 hours and they didn't want to return her to us smelling like a barn. How thoughtful of them.
When Hermione was handed over to me, all fluffy and smelling flowery, the Vet Nurse said that Hermione could be a show dog. Once the blow dryer was busted out, Hermione rolled over on to her back to enjoy the warm air and let the Vet Nurse blow dry her belly. She even let me clip her claws yesterday. So, it's official. We definitely have a princess on our hands.
Speaking of my diva, I better be getting her off to bed for her beauty sleep. She's had a very busy day going to the vet and then over to Tenie's flat for a girls' night. Roscoe and Glacier joined us as well and they have both already found a comfy place to catch some Z's. I think they have the right idea.
Thank you to all of you for your encouraging comments and good thoughts. :)
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Always Expect the Unexpected
So, yesterday I told all of you how good Hermione's general health was and that she had received her second set of vaccinations. Well, after I posted that post things got a bit weird and scary as the night progressed. Eventually, Mr. K and I landed in the emergency vet clinic at 1 AM with our little girl with, what we think, was a horrible neurological reaction to the vaccinations.
Upon arriving home yesterday afternoon, Hermione seemed a bit off, but I just assumed it was due to her shots. Most puppies get a bit lethargic and sleep. So, I didn't think much of her curling up on my feet and sleeping for two hours. If I had ben able to see, I may have noticed little strange things going on with her, but as I cannot and I didn't want to disturb her sleep by touching her, it wasn't until I fed the dogs their supper that I noticed something was not right.
First of all, Hermione loves supper time. Usually, she bounces around the kitchen while i prepare everyone's meals and tries climbing the cupboards. She can also be a bit vocal, which we are working on. Last night, I put her down in the kitchen as per normal and she went skittering off into the bathroom. I didn't take much notice as there is a puppy pad in there and I thought that perhaps she had to go. Vaccinations, after all, usually give puppies messy poop. She did come out for her own food, but only after I scooped her up and showed her that it was there. She sat as she always does, but she didn't eat all of her food until I pointed out to her that there was a bit left. She scarfed that down and I thought all was good.
I ran Glacier and Roscoe out to "park" and when I was finished, I picked up Hermione and went to sit on the couch with her. She sat in my lap, but wouldn't lay down. Her face was twitching and she seemed to be looking for something or maybe listening. It was like she was twitching from a caffeine high. I sat and petted her and she eventually lay down, but it was only for five minute periods. I told mr. K and although he was concerned, he figured that she was just having a hard time with the vaccinations.
The evening progressed with Tenie coming over and saying that Hermione's eyes were unfocused and again, that she looked like she was "tweaking." I tried to hold her, but she just couldn't sit still. I'd put her down and she'd run off somewhere and just sit and stare and twitch. By 9.30 I was getting worried and tried to take her to bed. I thought that if I could get her to relax a bit, she'd get better. Her heart had been racing and as I laid in bed with her sitting beside me, still twitching, I could feel it pounding away. That was concerning me.
How long could a little puppy's heart race for before there was permanent damage or something worse happened?
I slept on and off between the time I laid down and midnight when Mr. K came to bed. I kept getting up and taking Hermione out to go to the bathroom as she kept skittering around on the bed and I didn't want her to go there, but she wouldn't go. She'd just sit down and make little sad noises. My heart was breaking and I was so worried about her. Mr. K finally realised how bad it had gotten when he came in and Hermione wouldn't stay still.
I had made a make-shift crate for her on the floor with her bed and she just couldn't settle. Mr. K tried bringing her up with us again, but she was so unsettled there was no way any of us would sleep. He felt her heart and told me to call the emergency vet.
My first phone call was to describe her symptoms and ask if they had any idea what was going on. The vet obviously said she couldn't diagnose over the phone, but that I shouldn't feed her anything and that I should take her outside just in case she had a fever. Mr. K and I discussed it further, baring in mind that an emergency vet visit would set us back quite a bit financially. In the end, we decided that despite the 108 pound examination fee, Hermione needed to be seen. I called the vet back and we took a cab to the clinic.
Upon arriving the vet met us and showed us back to an examination room where she checked Hermione's eyes, heart and temperature. She wasn't running a fever, but her heart was definitely racing. She mentioned the potential for the heart murmur again. She placed Hermione on the floor to see what her response was and Hermione did what she had been doing at home; scurrying away and sitting in a corner, twitching. She wasn't very responsive to kissie noises or snapping, which is highly unlike Hermione. She would look at you if you called her name, but that was about it. The vet said she would give her a sedative to help her calm down and see if that helped. Originally, she was going to send Hermione home, but since Hermione's condition had gotten progressively worse over the night, she decided to keep Hermione in for observation.
Mr. K and I took a cab back without our little girl. I wasn't too happy about it, but it made me feel better knowing she would be watched over night and that she was in the right place if anything else should happen.
This morning, the vet called and said that she had settled down quite a bit. She still seemed a bit "buzzy," but that she had improved greatly; avoiding obstacles on the floor, eating her breakfast and seeking human attention. All of this sounded more like our Hermione. The vet advised that we should leave her in for another 24 hours since Hermione had been displaying neurological symptoms, but that he expected a full recovery. He had even called the vaccine company to see if any other dogs had had similar reactions to the vaccinations, but they said there hadn't been. He was concerned since we didn't know the origin of her symptoms and asked if we wanted to do blood tests. Mr. K and I discussed it and felt as though the blood tests weren't necessary at this time. There was a very specific cause and effect reaction that we noticed and we were pretty certain that something that had been given to Hermione had caused her tweaking. I also told the vet that I had forgotten to mention that I had given Hermione Benadryl to try to stop an allergic reaction. I also mentioned that I had no idea when I gave it to her that it was Benadryl Plus and he said he'd research it and get back to me.
This afternoon I called for an update and the vet said he'd looked into the Benadryl Plus. Apparently there is a stimulant in it that can cause quite a few of the symptoms that Hermione was exhibiting. He figures that with the Benadrl Plus stimulant, the vaccinations and all of the stress, Hermione's little puppy nervous system was overloaded and she reacted accordingly. He said he feels that he can sleep better at night knowing where the cause lies as he was concerned that her reaction was due to something wrong in her brain, which would obviously require further diagnostic testing. He said that she seems to be settling quite nicely and that I could phone back in the evening for an update.
I feel horrible knowing that I caused some of Hermione's troubles. If I had known that it was Benadryl Plus, I never would have given it to her. That said, what is done is done and the best part is that she is okay and that there doesn't seem to be any permanent damage. I definitely want her home sooner than later, but I think another night in a quiet, calm environment would do her some good. Not to mention, maybe I'll get some sleep tonight.
Moral of the story: no matter how much you think you know about something, there is always more to learn.
I am just so relieved that she is going to be okay. Hermione has only been with us for two and a half weeks, but that little fluff ball has already tied very thick strings to my heart.
Upon arriving home yesterday afternoon, Hermione seemed a bit off, but I just assumed it was due to her shots. Most puppies get a bit lethargic and sleep. So, I didn't think much of her curling up on my feet and sleeping for two hours. If I had ben able to see, I may have noticed little strange things going on with her, but as I cannot and I didn't want to disturb her sleep by touching her, it wasn't until I fed the dogs their supper that I noticed something was not right.
First of all, Hermione loves supper time. Usually, she bounces around the kitchen while i prepare everyone's meals and tries climbing the cupboards. She can also be a bit vocal, which we are working on. Last night, I put her down in the kitchen as per normal and she went skittering off into the bathroom. I didn't take much notice as there is a puppy pad in there and I thought that perhaps she had to go. Vaccinations, after all, usually give puppies messy poop. She did come out for her own food, but only after I scooped her up and showed her that it was there. She sat as she always does, but she didn't eat all of her food until I pointed out to her that there was a bit left. She scarfed that down and I thought all was good.
I ran Glacier and Roscoe out to "park" and when I was finished, I picked up Hermione and went to sit on the couch with her. She sat in my lap, but wouldn't lay down. Her face was twitching and she seemed to be looking for something or maybe listening. It was like she was twitching from a caffeine high. I sat and petted her and she eventually lay down, but it was only for five minute periods. I told mr. K and although he was concerned, he figured that she was just having a hard time with the vaccinations.
The evening progressed with Tenie coming over and saying that Hermione's eyes were unfocused and again, that she looked like she was "tweaking." I tried to hold her, but she just couldn't sit still. I'd put her down and she'd run off somewhere and just sit and stare and twitch. By 9.30 I was getting worried and tried to take her to bed. I thought that if I could get her to relax a bit, she'd get better. Her heart had been racing and as I laid in bed with her sitting beside me, still twitching, I could feel it pounding away. That was concerning me.
How long could a little puppy's heart race for before there was permanent damage or something worse happened?
I slept on and off between the time I laid down and midnight when Mr. K came to bed. I kept getting up and taking Hermione out to go to the bathroom as she kept skittering around on the bed and I didn't want her to go there, but she wouldn't go. She'd just sit down and make little sad noises. My heart was breaking and I was so worried about her. Mr. K finally realised how bad it had gotten when he came in and Hermione wouldn't stay still.
I had made a make-shift crate for her on the floor with her bed and she just couldn't settle. Mr. K tried bringing her up with us again, but she was so unsettled there was no way any of us would sleep. He felt her heart and told me to call the emergency vet.
My first phone call was to describe her symptoms and ask if they had any idea what was going on. The vet obviously said she couldn't diagnose over the phone, but that I shouldn't feed her anything and that I should take her outside just in case she had a fever. Mr. K and I discussed it further, baring in mind that an emergency vet visit would set us back quite a bit financially. In the end, we decided that despite the 108 pound examination fee, Hermione needed to be seen. I called the vet back and we took a cab to the clinic.
Upon arriving the vet met us and showed us back to an examination room where she checked Hermione's eyes, heart and temperature. She wasn't running a fever, but her heart was definitely racing. She mentioned the potential for the heart murmur again. She placed Hermione on the floor to see what her response was and Hermione did what she had been doing at home; scurrying away and sitting in a corner, twitching. She wasn't very responsive to kissie noises or snapping, which is highly unlike Hermione. She would look at you if you called her name, but that was about it. The vet said she would give her a sedative to help her calm down and see if that helped. Originally, she was going to send Hermione home, but since Hermione's condition had gotten progressively worse over the night, she decided to keep Hermione in for observation.
Mr. K and I took a cab back without our little girl. I wasn't too happy about it, but it made me feel better knowing she would be watched over night and that she was in the right place if anything else should happen.
This morning, the vet called and said that she had settled down quite a bit. She still seemed a bit "buzzy," but that she had improved greatly; avoiding obstacles on the floor, eating her breakfast and seeking human attention. All of this sounded more like our Hermione. The vet advised that we should leave her in for another 24 hours since Hermione had been displaying neurological symptoms, but that he expected a full recovery. He had even called the vaccine company to see if any other dogs had had similar reactions to the vaccinations, but they said there hadn't been. He was concerned since we didn't know the origin of her symptoms and asked if we wanted to do blood tests. Mr. K and I discussed it and felt as though the blood tests weren't necessary at this time. There was a very specific cause and effect reaction that we noticed and we were pretty certain that something that had been given to Hermione had caused her tweaking. I also told the vet that I had forgotten to mention that I had given Hermione Benadryl to try to stop an allergic reaction. I also mentioned that I had no idea when I gave it to her that it was Benadryl Plus and he said he'd research it and get back to me.
This afternoon I called for an update and the vet said he'd looked into the Benadryl Plus. Apparently there is a stimulant in it that can cause quite a few of the symptoms that Hermione was exhibiting. He figures that with the Benadrl Plus stimulant, the vaccinations and all of the stress, Hermione's little puppy nervous system was overloaded and she reacted accordingly. He said he feels that he can sleep better at night knowing where the cause lies as he was concerned that her reaction was due to something wrong in her brain, which would obviously require further diagnostic testing. He said that she seems to be settling quite nicely and that I could phone back in the evening for an update.
I feel horrible knowing that I caused some of Hermione's troubles. If I had known that it was Benadryl Plus, I never would have given it to her. That said, what is done is done and the best part is that she is okay and that there doesn't seem to be any permanent damage. I definitely want her home sooner than later, but I think another night in a quiet, calm environment would do her some good. Not to mention, maybe I'll get some sleep tonight.
Moral of the story: no matter how much you think you know about something, there is always more to learn.
I am just so relieved that she is going to be okay. Hermione has only been with us for two and a half weeks, but that little fluff ball has already tied very thick strings to my heart.
Monday, January 09, 2012
Baby Pictures
I've promised a few of you that I would post photos of our little Flying Monkeys. I'm not the photographer of the family; in fact, I'm sure some of you can attest to my non-photo taking abilities, but Mr. K seems a bit more talented in that department. If you are wanting to see our newest fur kids, you can see a couple of them on Mr. K's blog
here.
There is one labeled "Superman" and that is Yoda at the top of our blinds in our flat. Another is labeled "rockin' out" and that is Plato coming out of Mr. K's guitar. I missed all of the fun last night because I went to bed at 6 PM-thank you creeping crud-but it sounds like Mr. K and the babies had a good time.
As for Glacier, Roscoe and I: we spent the evening and whole night curled up in bed. I was so tired and felt so crummy, I fell under the covers wearing my clothes and woke up this morning still fully dressed. They did a great job of sandwiching me between them; ensuring I was warm and secure. Both boys left me long enough to have Mr. K take them out to "park," but came bounding back on to the bed once let back in. They promptly took up their snuggle positions and slept until I woke up this morning. I do feel quite a bit better-the pain in my head/face/neck has subsided-but I think I may be going back to bed for a while longer. Thanks for all of the well wishes and happy Glider watching. :)
*****
Blogville Valentine's Day PAWTY Update: the badge is almost ready. I will let you know once it is posted on the Information page. Once it's up, please feel free to take it to display it on your blog.
here.
There is one labeled "Superman" and that is Yoda at the top of our blinds in our flat. Another is labeled "rockin' out" and that is Plato coming out of Mr. K's guitar. I missed all of the fun last night because I went to bed at 6 PM-thank you creeping crud-but it sounds like Mr. K and the babies had a good time.
As for Glacier, Roscoe and I: we spent the evening and whole night curled up in bed. I was so tired and felt so crummy, I fell under the covers wearing my clothes and woke up this morning still fully dressed. They did a great job of sandwiching me between them; ensuring I was warm and secure. Both boys left me long enough to have Mr. K take them out to "park," but came bounding back on to the bed once let back in. They promptly took up their snuggle positions and slept until I woke up this morning. I do feel quite a bit better-the pain in my head/face/neck has subsided-but I think I may be going back to bed for a while longer. Thanks for all of the well wishes and happy Glider watching. :)
*****
Blogville Valentine's Day PAWTY Update: the badge is almost ready. I will let you know once it is posted on the Information page. Once it's up, please feel free to take it to display it on your blog.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Glacier's Grumblings
I said, "I would like to go for a walk please?"
What do you mean you need to drink water, sit on the couch and blow your nose loudly? Come on! Fresh air will do you some good; I promise...!
At least, I think that is what Glacier is telling me. If that is what he's saying, he's probably right. I haven't got him out to work for a couple of days, except for a ten to fifteen minute walk on Friday when a rep from the Guide Dog Association was around for their yearly check in.
It seems like, ever since we moved, I'm more sick than I am healthy. It's strange because normally I'm quite healthy; getting maybe one bad cold all winter season. This season though, it seems like every month another bug has attacked my system.
I think part of it is because all of these colds/flus are completely different strains my body has probably never fought off before. It's like I have to build a new immune system because of our move. I think another issue may be that the weather is so wonky. One day it's pleasantly warm out and then the next you're bundling up to your eyeballs just to take the dogs out to relieve. I've also noticed that whenever I've been away from the gym-either due to training outside, or because I took a week off as a break-I end up getting sick as soon as I go back. I don't know if people aren't wiping the machines off or what, but it's like clock work. I go to the gym and about five to six days later, I've got the creeping crud. It's more annoying than anything.
I do think, though, that it is relatively warm outside today-almost reaching 50 F-and so I may venture out for a short walk. Not only to get myself fresh air, but to let my big yellow fellow stretch his legs. For the last couple of days, he's been curled up next to me, patiently enduring my sneezing, nose blowing and groaning. I bet "snuggling extraordinaire" wasn't outlined to him as a part of his job description, but he's taken it like a champ. :)
*****
Side note: If you haven't noticed, two pages related to our Blogville Valentine's Day PAWTY have been put up. The "Pawsome Raffle Prize" page is still under construction, but feel free to take a gander at both and let me know what you think.
What do you mean you need to drink water, sit on the couch and blow your nose loudly? Come on! Fresh air will do you some good; I promise...!
At least, I think that is what Glacier is telling me. If that is what he's saying, he's probably right. I haven't got him out to work for a couple of days, except for a ten to fifteen minute walk on Friday when a rep from the Guide Dog Association was around for their yearly check in.
It seems like, ever since we moved, I'm more sick than I am healthy. It's strange because normally I'm quite healthy; getting maybe one bad cold all winter season. This season though, it seems like every month another bug has attacked my system.
I think part of it is because all of these colds/flus are completely different strains my body has probably never fought off before. It's like I have to build a new immune system because of our move. I think another issue may be that the weather is so wonky. One day it's pleasantly warm out and then the next you're bundling up to your eyeballs just to take the dogs out to relieve. I've also noticed that whenever I've been away from the gym-either due to training outside, or because I took a week off as a break-I end up getting sick as soon as I go back. I don't know if people aren't wiping the machines off or what, but it's like clock work. I go to the gym and about five to six days later, I've got the creeping crud. It's more annoying than anything.
I do think, though, that it is relatively warm outside today-almost reaching 50 F-and so I may venture out for a short walk. Not only to get myself fresh air, but to let my big yellow fellow stretch his legs. For the last couple of days, he's been curled up next to me, patiently enduring my sneezing, nose blowing and groaning. I bet "snuggling extraordinaire" wasn't outlined to him as a part of his job description, but he's taken it like a champ. :)
*****
Side note: If you haven't noticed, two pages related to our Blogville Valentine's Day PAWTY have been put up. The "Pawsome Raffle Prize" page is still under construction, but feel free to take a gander at both and let me know what you think.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
"Santa Paws is Coming to Town!"
Hello there Blogging community,
It is I, Glacier, here to spread a little Christmas cheer. We at my house, or flat as my girl now calls it, love Christmas and my girl has said that Santa Paws is coming to town...very soon! I'm not sure whether or not to believe her, but today at the dogtor, my girl bought tasty treats and told me to cover my eyes. She said they were for Christmas.
Is it Christmas yet?
The dogtor said my leg looks like it is healing, but told my girl to keep an eye on it. I'm not sure how she's supposed to do that-I am her eyes! Anyway, I'll leave that up to her to figure out.
After the dogtor my girl and Auntie Carmen stopped to shop a bit and they bought things to put in Dad's stocking and also some shiny bags with Christmas pictures on them. My girl says that the bags are for gifts that she and Dad are making for the rest of the people in our flat building. I think those bags should be filled for me! I deserve treats; especially since she humiliated me by putting reindeer antlers on my head in the store. I am a dignified working dog! I wear a harness, not horns! ...Ahem...
When we got home, my girl snuck around the flat hiding things for Dad's stocking, telling me not to tell. I guess things that go in stockings are supposed to be a surprise? Hmmmm. I am thinking I may need one of these stocking things....Wait...she is telling me something...
Oh, right. I am supposed to be telling you about our Christmas decorating.
The flat is quite small, but we have a five foot, skinny tree. Dad bought my girl pretty shiny balls, stars and other things to hang on it. I thought that perhaps the bigger shiny balls were for me, but she said that they belonged on the tree. Dad was smart and bought all "shatter proof" decorations. Roscoe has a mighty tail and has knocked near to ten things off the tree already.
Dad also got her a Gingerbread house; whatever that is. She seemed very happy about that and they are supposed to put it together. It looks like you could eat it, but apparently it's not for eating. Why would you buy something you can't eat? Hmmm...you humans are strange beings.
Besides the tree and Gingerbread house, our house does not have anymore decorations. A box is supposed to arrive, hopefully before Christmas, and I am told that those weird stocking things are in it. Apparently Dad's is Jack Skellington-whoever that is-and my girl's is Tinker Bell: I think that is some shiny, flittering bug thing I'd like to eat. Then again, I like to eat pretty much anything.
My girl told me to make sure I have a nap this afternoon because we're going Christmas shopping tonight. Unless we're going to buy things that I can eat, I think we should stay home. It's crazy windy out there. My girl would have blown away today if she had not been holding on to me tightly. I don't think my opinion counts in this matter though.
My girl also said she's going to be busy making soaps and bath salts tomorrow. They are supposed to be gifts. Again, they are not edible and I say, why bother? She says they smell good. If something smells good, doesn't that mean you should eat it? I am so confused....Oh, well-moving on.
In the Christmas spirit, VIP has sent us a coupon that we cannot use since we are in the UK. Apparently VIP has added at least 50 new toys to their product line. Wow. That is a lot! If there is anyone out there in Canada or the United States who would like this 8 dollars off coupon, please let us know in this blog's comments by telling us about one of your favourite decorations in your house or traditions. The first person to comment, letting us know that they would like to be considered for the coupon, will be sent the email with the promotion code in it. We look forward to hearing about your decorations and/or traditions. :)
Anyway, that is all I have to tell you today. I should go take that nap so that I can be at my best for my girl when we go Christmas shopping tonight. Santa knows I'll have to move people out of the way for my girl and make sure she doesn't run into those silly displays everyone puts out at this time of year.
So, for now, this is Glacier signing off: reminding you that we only have 11 more shopping days until Christmas.
It is I, Glacier, here to spread a little Christmas cheer. We at my house, or flat as my girl now calls it, love Christmas and my girl has said that Santa Paws is coming to town...very soon! I'm not sure whether or not to believe her, but today at the dogtor, my girl bought tasty treats and told me to cover my eyes. She said they were for Christmas.
Is it Christmas yet?
The dogtor said my leg looks like it is healing, but told my girl to keep an eye on it. I'm not sure how she's supposed to do that-I am her eyes! Anyway, I'll leave that up to her to figure out.
After the dogtor my girl and Auntie Carmen stopped to shop a bit and they bought things to put in Dad's stocking and also some shiny bags with Christmas pictures on them. My girl says that the bags are for gifts that she and Dad are making for the rest of the people in our flat building. I think those bags should be filled for me! I deserve treats; especially since she humiliated me by putting reindeer antlers on my head in the store. I am a dignified working dog! I wear a harness, not horns! ...Ahem...
When we got home, my girl snuck around the flat hiding things for Dad's stocking, telling me not to tell. I guess things that go in stockings are supposed to be a surprise? Hmmmm. I am thinking I may need one of these stocking things....Wait...she is telling me something...
Oh, right. I am supposed to be telling you about our Christmas decorating.
The flat is quite small, but we have a five foot, skinny tree. Dad bought my girl pretty shiny balls, stars and other things to hang on it. I thought that perhaps the bigger shiny balls were for me, but she said that they belonged on the tree. Dad was smart and bought all "shatter proof" decorations. Roscoe has a mighty tail and has knocked near to ten things off the tree already.
Dad also got her a Gingerbread house; whatever that is. She seemed very happy about that and they are supposed to put it together. It looks like you could eat it, but apparently it's not for eating. Why would you buy something you can't eat? Hmmm...you humans are strange beings.
Besides the tree and Gingerbread house, our house does not have anymore decorations. A box is supposed to arrive, hopefully before Christmas, and I am told that those weird stocking things are in it. Apparently Dad's is Jack Skellington-whoever that is-and my girl's is Tinker Bell: I think that is some shiny, flittering bug thing I'd like to eat. Then again, I like to eat pretty much anything.
My girl told me to make sure I have a nap this afternoon because we're going Christmas shopping tonight. Unless we're going to buy things that I can eat, I think we should stay home. It's crazy windy out there. My girl would have blown away today if she had not been holding on to me tightly. I don't think my opinion counts in this matter though.
My girl also said she's going to be busy making soaps and bath salts tomorrow. They are supposed to be gifts. Again, they are not edible and I say, why bother? She says they smell good. If something smells good, doesn't that mean you should eat it? I am so confused....Oh, well-moving on.
In the Christmas spirit, VIP has sent us a coupon that we cannot use since we are in the UK. Apparently VIP has added at least 50 new toys to their product line. Wow. That is a lot! If there is anyone out there in Canada or the United States who would like this 8 dollars off coupon, please let us know in this blog's comments by telling us about one of your favourite decorations in your house or traditions. The first person to comment, letting us know that they would like to be considered for the coupon, will be sent the email with the promotion code in it. We look forward to hearing about your decorations and/or traditions. :)
Anyway, that is all I have to tell you today. I should go take that nap so that I can be at my best for my girl when we go Christmas shopping tonight. Santa knows I'll have to move people out of the way for my girl and make sure she doesn't run into those silly displays everyone puts out at this time of year.
So, for now, this is Glacier signing off: reminding you that we only have 11 more shopping days until Christmas.
Monday, December 05, 2011
Glacier Goes to the Dogtor
This morning was Glacier's vet appointment to have the cyst-like lump on his left, front elbow examined. I had made the appointment on Friday and although there was an available appointment Friday, I said I'd wait until Monday because I wanted to see if it would resolve itself. I had ben putting T-tree oil on it twice a day and even though the lump shrunk a bit, it did not completely disappear. So, we braved the cold and slippery sidewalks to get to the vet's office.
Glacier and I walked to Carmen's flat to meet her so she could walk to the vet's with us. I have only been there once before and I am not 100 percent sure about the route. So, to ensure we made it there, I asked her to go with us. Glacier did very well on the way to Carmen's flat. There is a bridge we cross over all of the time and I nearly fell on my butt this morning when I first stepped on it. Glacier and I walk at a very fast pace and the momentum we had nearly sent me skittering. I dropped his harness handle, stopping him in his tracks and a nice gentleman came over to me to show me that there was a hand rail that ran the length of the bridge to the next crossing. I didn't necessarily need the hand rail, but was grateful that someone was actually being helpful. He told me that the bridge was "very frosty" and I had to agree. His choice of words made me smile. In North America we would have said "icy" or "slippery," but not "frosty." I may have to use that some time.
The rest of the route was fairly ice free and we moved along at a good clip. At one point, we got stuck behind a mom and her two little children, but she pulled over to let Glacier and I pass. Her one child was completely enamored with Glacier; probably because this giant dog was staring him right in the face. I said, "excuse me sir," and the little boy moved over. We picked up Carmen and walked the rest of the way to the vet office.
The vet was different from the last time we were in, but she was very good. She was gentle and quite thorough, checking Glacier's weight, ears, eyes, heart and lungs. Glacier still weighs 33 kilograms and she was very happy with his health, aside from the lump. She looked at it and figures it's a cyst, just as I had suspected. It is red and there is puss in it though, so she gave me anti-biotics for Glacier and instructed me to bathe the lump with warm, salt water twice a day. If the lump resolves by next week, we're in the clear. If not, Glacier has another appointment to go back in and he will probably have to have it surgically removed. I really appreciate that she is attempting to clear the lump up with non-surgical procedures before putting him "under the knife." He has already had today's anti-biotic dosage and I'll be bathing it with the salt water shortly.
After we went to the vet, we stopped in at the pet store and ordered Glacier and Roscoe boxes of their food to be delivered tonight. I also bought 150 biodegradable poop bags and a small bag of treats. The biscuits in the bag are even smaller than most kibble, so it is a nice, low fat reward for the boys when they are doing stellar work or just being good boys.
Our trip finished off with a stop in at one of our favourite cafes for coffee and a sandwich. Glacier behaved very well in the cafe, lying calmly by my chair. He had been a bit of a goober in the pet food store, continually sniffing everything in sight, but eventually settled into a very nice "sit stay" at the counter. He didn't even move from his sprawled position on the cafe floor when an unknowing customer stopped to pet him. The man was very apologetic when Carmen politely asked him to "please don't pet." Normally, I would have said something myself, but as Glacier didn't react to being fawned over, I didn't even know he was getting attention and therefore could not speak up.
Our walk home was mostly just cold. We did meet another guide dog user coming from the opposite direction. I didn't even know he was there until our two dogs stopped in front of each other. The other handler was the one to realise that we were both blind as I was busy telling Glacier to "leave it" and to "left, left," which means to move to the left without a sharp turn. We both laughed when we realised our dogs had stopped working because they wanted to be friends, but then encouraged our respective boys-his dog's name was Mitch- "forward" and we were on our way.
Aside from the vet visit being a bit stressful, it was a very nice outing. I was very proud of Glacier's work and am still in awe of the changes I have seen in him since we've arrived. He loves working and keeps good pressure on his harness, whereas before, he was unsure and would sometimes stop guiding entirely.
Good boy, Glacier.
Glacier and I walked to Carmen's flat to meet her so she could walk to the vet's with us. I have only been there once before and I am not 100 percent sure about the route. So, to ensure we made it there, I asked her to go with us. Glacier did very well on the way to Carmen's flat. There is a bridge we cross over all of the time and I nearly fell on my butt this morning when I first stepped on it. Glacier and I walk at a very fast pace and the momentum we had nearly sent me skittering. I dropped his harness handle, stopping him in his tracks and a nice gentleman came over to me to show me that there was a hand rail that ran the length of the bridge to the next crossing. I didn't necessarily need the hand rail, but was grateful that someone was actually being helpful. He told me that the bridge was "very frosty" and I had to agree. His choice of words made me smile. In North America we would have said "icy" or "slippery," but not "frosty." I may have to use that some time.
The rest of the route was fairly ice free and we moved along at a good clip. At one point, we got stuck behind a mom and her two little children, but she pulled over to let Glacier and I pass. Her one child was completely enamored with Glacier; probably because this giant dog was staring him right in the face. I said, "excuse me sir," and the little boy moved over. We picked up Carmen and walked the rest of the way to the vet office.
The vet was different from the last time we were in, but she was very good. She was gentle and quite thorough, checking Glacier's weight, ears, eyes, heart and lungs. Glacier still weighs 33 kilograms and she was very happy with his health, aside from the lump. She looked at it and figures it's a cyst, just as I had suspected. It is red and there is puss in it though, so she gave me anti-biotics for Glacier and instructed me to bathe the lump with warm, salt water twice a day. If the lump resolves by next week, we're in the clear. If not, Glacier has another appointment to go back in and he will probably have to have it surgically removed. I really appreciate that she is attempting to clear the lump up with non-surgical procedures before putting him "under the knife." He has already had today's anti-biotic dosage and I'll be bathing it with the salt water shortly.
After we went to the vet, we stopped in at the pet store and ordered Glacier and Roscoe boxes of their food to be delivered tonight. I also bought 150 biodegradable poop bags and a small bag of treats. The biscuits in the bag are even smaller than most kibble, so it is a nice, low fat reward for the boys when they are doing stellar work or just being good boys.
Our trip finished off with a stop in at one of our favourite cafes for coffee and a sandwich. Glacier behaved very well in the cafe, lying calmly by my chair. He had been a bit of a goober in the pet food store, continually sniffing everything in sight, but eventually settled into a very nice "sit stay" at the counter. He didn't even move from his sprawled position on the cafe floor when an unknowing customer stopped to pet him. The man was very apologetic when Carmen politely asked him to "please don't pet." Normally, I would have said something myself, but as Glacier didn't react to being fawned over, I didn't even know he was getting attention and therefore could not speak up.
Our walk home was mostly just cold. We did meet another guide dog user coming from the opposite direction. I didn't even know he was there until our two dogs stopped in front of each other. The other handler was the one to realise that we were both blind as I was busy telling Glacier to "leave it" and to "left, left," which means to move to the left without a sharp turn. We both laughed when we realised our dogs had stopped working because they wanted to be friends, but then encouraged our respective boys-his dog's name was Mitch- "forward" and we were on our way.
Aside from the vet visit being a bit stressful, it was a very nice outing. I was very proud of Glacier's work and am still in awe of the changes I have seen in him since we've arrived. He loves working and keeps good pressure on his harness, whereas before, he was unsure and would sometimes stop guiding entirely.
Good boy, Glacier.
Friday, December 02, 2011
A Small Worry
A few weeks ago, both Glacier and Roscoe were examined by their new vet to ensure they were healthy. The vet said they were in excellent condition and told the Guide Dog Association as much, so that Glacier and Roscoe could be considered certified guide dogs here in the UK. Everything is actually going smoothly with that process and all Mr. K and I have to do is head to the public library in order to pick up our bus passes that will allow us to ride public transit for free. However, Glacier has developed a strange lump on his left elbow and I'm a bit concerned.
Emily, AKA E, was over Wednesday morning after our 12 KM run and was sitting on the floor with the boys. She noticed Glacier had a bump on his elbow and he was not very happy about people touching it. I've also been fiddling with it and he still is not happy about it being touched. Yesterday it looked to me as though it had grown a bit, but with things like this it's hard to tell: did it really grow or is my imagination running away with me because I am worried? I put two rounds of t-tree oil on it yesterday in the hopes that it would clear whatever is in there out. T-tree oil has anti-bacterial as well as anti-fungal properties and I wondered if it was an infected area from something getting stuck in there. I haven't done any t-tree oil today, but I'll put another bit on and see if it makes a difference. I'm also going to phone the vet to see if they want me to bring him in today or to wait until Monday.
The bump is probably about the size of a dime in diameter, but actually quite raised. It moves with the skin, which is a good sign and is also quite hard. Both of these sequela indicate that it's not cancerous or anything serious like that, but your brain always assumes the worse.
Jetta developed a lump on her knee when she was still working and I remember being completely freaked out. I was so worried, I didn't sleep until I got her into the vet. Her lump was smaller than this and a bit more boggier feeling. They took a biopsy and she was fine. Eventually, the lump disappeared.
Some might say it's a fat lump, but it's on Glacier's elbow and I have felt fat lumps on dogs before; this is not a fat lump. That said, I kind of wonder, due to its positioning, if maybe he leaned on something when he laid down and it got stuck under the skin, causing the lump. Either way, I'll leave this one up to the experts. I am all for treating your animals naturally, but if the T-tree oil is not having any effect, it's time to call in the "Dogtor."
Emily, AKA E, was over Wednesday morning after our 12 KM run and was sitting on the floor with the boys. She noticed Glacier had a bump on his elbow and he was not very happy about people touching it. I've also been fiddling with it and he still is not happy about it being touched. Yesterday it looked to me as though it had grown a bit, but with things like this it's hard to tell: did it really grow or is my imagination running away with me because I am worried? I put two rounds of t-tree oil on it yesterday in the hopes that it would clear whatever is in there out. T-tree oil has anti-bacterial as well as anti-fungal properties and I wondered if it was an infected area from something getting stuck in there. I haven't done any t-tree oil today, but I'll put another bit on and see if it makes a difference. I'm also going to phone the vet to see if they want me to bring him in today or to wait until Monday.
The bump is probably about the size of a dime in diameter, but actually quite raised. It moves with the skin, which is a good sign and is also quite hard. Both of these sequela indicate that it's not cancerous or anything serious like that, but your brain always assumes the worse.
Jetta developed a lump on her knee when she was still working and I remember being completely freaked out. I was so worried, I didn't sleep until I got her into the vet. Her lump was smaller than this and a bit more boggier feeling. They took a biopsy and she was fine. Eventually, the lump disappeared.
Some might say it's a fat lump, but it's on Glacier's elbow and I have felt fat lumps on dogs before; this is not a fat lump. That said, I kind of wonder, due to its positioning, if maybe he leaned on something when he laid down and it got stuck under the skin, causing the lump. Either way, I'll leave this one up to the experts. I am all for treating your animals naturally, but if the T-tree oil is not having any effect, it's time to call in the "Dogtor."
Sunday, November 13, 2011
A Reading Fiend
I would have to say that most of my symptoms have cleared up. I'm a still a bit stuffy and a little weaker than I'd like, but I'm definitely on the mend. The thing about being sick though was that I needed something for my brain to do. If I was lying absolutely still, minus the one day I spent sleeping, I felt all right and couldn't turn my brain off. I wanted to be doing things, going places, seeing people...you get the point. I'm a "doer" and don't stay still well, even if I feel like death warmed up. A solution to my problem was a good book.
Books, especially audible books, that are read for pleasure don't take much energy. If it is a good book, then I am invested enough to forget that I have to lie still and heal. I have always loved books and I think it stems from a teacher I had when I was a kid. She taught me how to read braille and my treat for doing well on homework/tests was that she would read to me. Personally, I love books in braille and I think it is a very important skill for all blind people to learn, but that can be discussed elsewhere. Getting a hold of braille books though is a bit more difficult than going to a Chapters or Amazon online and picking out whatever you want. So, the next best thing is an audible book. The only problem with audible books is that a bad narrator could turn a perfectly good book into a cheesy piece of junk.
Luckily for me, Mr. K managed to find The Wheel of Time series in audible format, read by two great narrators for me. I have just started reading the first book about two days ago and am already more than half way through it. The book is incredibly well written and the characters are very well developed. If you are a fan of the Fantasy genre, I would say that this series is a must read.
In fact, I had heard that for a long time, but had refused to join the band wagon. I was sort of the same way when Harry Potter came out. A lot of the times, if a book/movie or anything like that is trendy, it is usually not very good. Okay, maybe not most of the time, but I think some times.
I finally buckled with Harry Potter and fell in love and the same has happened with Robert Jordan's "The Wheel of Time." I can't put the stinking thing down and the best part is that there are twelve more books to read after this one.
So, even though it's not in my preferred format, braille, The Wheel of Time series is a hit so far and is a recommended read; at least from me it is. :)
Books, especially audible books, that are read for pleasure don't take much energy. If it is a good book, then I am invested enough to forget that I have to lie still and heal. I have always loved books and I think it stems from a teacher I had when I was a kid. She taught me how to read braille and my treat for doing well on homework/tests was that she would read to me. Personally, I love books in braille and I think it is a very important skill for all blind people to learn, but that can be discussed elsewhere. Getting a hold of braille books though is a bit more difficult than going to a Chapters or Amazon online and picking out whatever you want. So, the next best thing is an audible book. The only problem with audible books is that a bad narrator could turn a perfectly good book into a cheesy piece of junk.
Luckily for me, Mr. K managed to find The Wheel of Time series in audible format, read by two great narrators for me. I have just started reading the first book about two days ago and am already more than half way through it. The book is incredibly well written and the characters are very well developed. If you are a fan of the Fantasy genre, I would say that this series is a must read.
In fact, I had heard that for a long time, but had refused to join the band wagon. I was sort of the same way when Harry Potter came out. A lot of the times, if a book/movie or anything like that is trendy, it is usually not very good. Okay, maybe not most of the time, but I think some times.
I finally buckled with Harry Potter and fell in love and the same has happened with Robert Jordan's "The Wheel of Time." I can't put the stinking thing down and the best part is that there are twelve more books to read after this one.
So, even though it's not in my preferred format, braille, The Wheel of Time series is a hit so far and is a recommended read; at least from me it is. :)
Saturday, November 12, 2011
The Creeping Crud
Sick of me posting about being sick yet? Well, I'm sick of being sick. :)
All I want to do is drink coffee, get a good workout in and stay up past 8 PM. My sore skin has turned into a full blown head cold. Mr. K made a wonderful dinner of duck and mashed potatoes last night and I couldn't even taste it. I was so sad.
This morning I woke up to my nose dripping freely and some seriously watery eyes. Besides not being able to train, we're supposed to have a combination American/Canadian Thanksgiving supper today and I probably won't even be able to taste it.
I've decided I'm still going, but I'll just have to hope that some of this congestion disappears by then. I really want to be able to taste Tenie's pumpkin pie! I also think it will be good for Glacier to work over there and then have people other than Mr. K and I around to provide some stimulation. I thought that maybe I'd be better by today, but this one seems to be holding on. I guess the best thing is to accept my fate, keep snoozing on the couch, drinking more tea than I have ever in my life and hope that things will be better tomorrow. I am sure the vitamins and orange juice I've been consuming by what feels like the truck load will eventually kick in. Not to mention, the facial steam I've given myself with ukaliptus oil should also start moving this crud out. As one of my very perceptive readers pointed out: it's like your body has to break down, once you've started a heavy training regiment, in order to be stronger. This happened to me every time I came back from summer break to swimming. So, I suppose this is no different.
Anyone have a tissue?
All I want to do is drink coffee, get a good workout in and stay up past 8 PM. My sore skin has turned into a full blown head cold. Mr. K made a wonderful dinner of duck and mashed potatoes last night and I couldn't even taste it. I was so sad.
This morning I woke up to my nose dripping freely and some seriously watery eyes. Besides not being able to train, we're supposed to have a combination American/Canadian Thanksgiving supper today and I probably won't even be able to taste it.
I've decided I'm still going, but I'll just have to hope that some of this congestion disappears by then. I really want to be able to taste Tenie's pumpkin pie! I also think it will be good for Glacier to work over there and then have people other than Mr. K and I around to provide some stimulation. I thought that maybe I'd be better by today, but this one seems to be holding on. I guess the best thing is to accept my fate, keep snoozing on the couch, drinking more tea than I have ever in my life and hope that things will be better tomorrow. I am sure the vitamins and orange juice I've been consuming by what feels like the truck load will eventually kick in. Not to mention, the facial steam I've given myself with ukaliptus oil should also start moving this crud out. As one of my very perceptive readers pointed out: it's like your body has to break down, once you've started a heavy training regiment, in order to be stronger. This happened to me every time I came back from summer break to swimming. So, I suppose this is no different.
Anyone have a tissue?
Monday, October 24, 2011
Mr. K's Not So Pleasant Adventure
I've said it before and I am sure I'll be forced to say it again: there is never a dull moment. Just when I think things are settling in and we are establishing a routine, something happens. This is not always a bad thing, but this past week was a bit rough for Mr. K and consequently me as well. The unfortunate part was that this was his week off between terms in his semester and he spent it in severe agony.
About a week and a half ago, Mr. K started feeling a bit under the weather. He had a sore throat and swollen glands and we both figured he was fighting something off. He had been stressed from the end of term's assignments and we had been around other people sporting fabulous coughs and stuffy noses. It wasn't a big surprise when he woke up a week ago Saturday with a fever and the sweats, but we both thought it would pass. I scooted out to Boots, which is a huge drug store here, and came home with a plethora of cold and flu medicine.
By Monday most of his flu symptoms had subsided, but he was still feeling crummy. We had E, one of Tenie and Carmen's flat mates over, and she helped us put the sugar gliders' cage together. Mr. K had cooked lamb for supper, but didn't eat all of it and I suspected something was wrong. Mr. K is a good solid eater. If he doesn't eat, he is definitely not feeling well.
Tuesday things started to get worse. He was having severe pain in his stomach, but we thought it was leftovers from the flu. He spent most of the day sleeping and not really eating, but that is what people who are sick are supposed to do, right?
Wednesday came and he was in horrible pain. Mr. K has a very high pain tolerance and a knack of hiding when he is hurting, so I didn't know just how bad it was. He was cranky, and rightfully so, but at the time I didn't understand. I met E and she and I went to Boots again for some "trapped wind" medicine. We thought that the stress and the excessive amount of pop he had been drinking the week of his finals had caused big gas bubbles to get trapped in his stomach/intestine. He met E and I at a restaurant across the street from our flat, but didn't eat. He took his trapped wind medication and when we got home I gave him an abdominal massage to try to encourage the supposed trapped air to leave his body.
When Thursday came though and things weren't better, I was a bit worried. I thought that perhaps it took a while for the trapped wind medicine to get into your system though, so I didn't panic; yet. Again, he spent most of the day sleeping, but tried to make a trip out. When we reached the restaurant we were going to, he was in pain, sweating and wanted to vomit. Again, he is good at hiding these things so I didn't know just how bad it was. When he didn't finish his hot chocolate I knew there was really something wrong. Mr. K loves sweet stuff and for him to not down the mug of hot chocolate meant that he was not well. Upon returning home, he practically fell into bed and slept. We had thought his weakness was due to the lack of eating, and perhaps it was, but there was something else going on.
On Friday morning I started doing some research of my own, looking up his symptoms. Of course I read the worst case scenario and I started panicking. I looked up the laws for free health care in the UK for spouses of European Union citizens and discovered that Mr. K was covered under my status. With that in mind, I went after him to go to the hospital; he refused. Originally, we had plans to meet up with some friends for drinks and Mr. K stayed home. I left frustrated at him because the seriousness of the situation had really begun to hit me. I was so worked up walking over to Tenie's flat that I thought I was lost when I wasn't. Poor Glacier probably thought I was nuts. I did learn from my little freak out though was that I can be wrong and confused and it doesn't effect Glacier like it used to; very encouraging.
Once I had sorted myself out, I got to the flat safe and talked to all of the girls. I was concerned because I thought he had a partially obstructed bowel. That stuff is scary. He had started vomiting that day upon swallowing anything except small sips of cold water and I was about ready to call an ambulance. Partially or obstructed bowels if left too long can lead to the death of the intestine's tissue, which then causes a whole new set of permanent problems.
The girls listened to my ranting and E said she'd text him. I don't know if she actually did, but when I got home from drinks that night-quite early I might add because I was worried-Mr. K started looking up the phone number for the health line. This particular line assesses your symptoms and books you in for a scheduled appointment if they feel it is serious enough. If it's really bad, they call you an ambulance.
The nurse Mr. K spoke to was really sweet and listened carefully. She booked him in for an appointment at 2:20 AM and Tenie walked over to go to the hospital with us. It was just after midnight when we found out that he should go in.
I can't tell you how exhausted I was, but so incredibly relieved that someone else thought that my concerns were valid. There was no wait time in a noisy, crazy emergency room as this is a different part of the hospital and we had barely sat down in the waiting room when Mr. K was called back. Other nations with free health care should really consider taking a page from the NHS's book when it comes to night time emergencies.
We were in and out within an hour and we took a cab back to our flat. Mr. K was diagnosed with esophagitis and given pills that stop the stomach lining from producing stomach acid. The doctor thought that was what he had, but told us to come back in if the symptoms didn't start getting better in twelve hours. He warned Mr. K that it wasn't a magic pill and he would not feel better instantaneously. As much as we both wished they were magic pills, I think we were both glad to finally know what was wrong. We fell into bed close to 4 AM, completely exhausted, but slept soundly knowing that we had a diagnosis.
About thirty hours and six pills later, Mr. K was eating again. It still hurt, but at least it wasn't as bad and he was no longer vomiting. The dude lost way too much weight in a short time period due to his inability to eat. He has to continue taking the pills and has to have a check-up by a GP in the near future to ensure everything is going as it should.
It was a crazy week for both of us. I know he was the one going through it and I will not devalue that, but my goodness, being a worried spouse is stressful. I haven't had to deal with that before now and I'm hoping it's a while before I have to again. I really try not to take for granted the health that I have, since I am quite healthy, but something like this really puts things in perspective. I'm so glad the nurse told Mr. K to go in because leaving esophagitis can lead to a hole being burned right through it by the over production of stomach acid.
We're supposed to go out for a nice lunch this afternoon, kind of like a good start to a new week and I'm looking forward to it; just knowing Mr. K can eat his French Toast and enjoy it makes me very happy.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
The Inevitable
So, it's happened and there is nothing I can do about it. There's no denying it. That's right-I am fighting off the creeping crud.
I always get some kind of aching, coughing, shivering, fevering, thing every time I experience a prolonged period of stress. After every single Paralympic Games I got sick. The story was the same after my final exams in university; I often would collapse under a blanket and stay there for a few days. I thought that perhaps I had escaped it this time around, but no such luck. The funny thing is, I'm so happy to be here I really don't care. I've just taken some flu/cold medicine this afternoon, drank a bunch of peppermint tea and water and slept. I am feeling much better than I was this morning, so something I'm doing is working.
Tomorrow we're supposed to go to the zoo, so I'm hoping to kick this crud to the curb.
So, with that in mind, I'm off to drink more water and get some more rest.
I always get some kind of aching, coughing, shivering, fevering, thing every time I experience a prolonged period of stress. After every single Paralympic Games I got sick. The story was the same after my final exams in university; I often would collapse under a blanket and stay there for a few days. I thought that perhaps I had escaped it this time around, but no such luck. The funny thing is, I'm so happy to be here I really don't care. I've just taken some flu/cold medicine this afternoon, drank a bunch of peppermint tea and water and slept. I am feeling much better than I was this morning, so something I'm doing is working.
Tomorrow we're supposed to go to the zoo, so I'm hoping to kick this crud to the curb.
So, with that in mind, I'm off to drink more water and get some more rest.
Friday, March 11, 2011
"There's No Place Like Home."
Hiya
This is Balloo the baby and I have returned from the sugary. I am thinking they took something that beeeelonged to meeee, but I am not very good at thinking right now. Maybeeee I will think better tomorrow. The doctor gave meeeee veeeery good medicine and I...
fjadljasdlkjflksadjfiwreukjadsflksajfnfjflaksjflkasfj
Oops, soreeee. I am thinking I just falled on the keyboard and shut my eyes for a minute. I should go now so I can cuddleeeeee with Mama 'cause she is the best cuddler ever and I neeeed some cuddling right now.
love
Balloo the very sleeepeeee baby.
This is Balloo the baby and I have returned from the sugary. I am thinking they took something that beeeelonged to meeee, but I am not very good at thinking right now. Maybeeee I will think better tomorrow. The doctor gave meeeee veeeery good medicine and I...
fjadljasdlkjflksadjfiwreukjadsflksajfnfjflaksjflkasfj
Oops, soreeee. I am thinking I just falled on the keyboard and shut my eyes for a minute. I should go now so I can cuddleeeeee with Mama 'cause she is the best cuddler ever and I neeeed some cuddling right now.
love
Balloo the very sleeepeeee baby.
Monday, March 07, 2011
Massage Monday: Breast Cancer Awareness
Before you read on, just know that today's topic may be sensitive to some.
Breast cancer is something that can effect everyone. There is a common misconception that men cannot get breast cancer, but this untrue. It is true though, that men do get it less frequently than women. In October you can see the pink ribbons of Breast Cancer Awareness month everywhere, but is this something we should only think about once a year? I don't think so, so that is why I have decided to make breast tissue health the focus of today's post.
There are several preventative measures that people, particularly women, can take in order to reduce the chances of getting breast cancer. The first most important one is communication and awareness. When I was a young teenager-I think they are called Tweenies now-my Mom sat down and talked to me about breast cancer and what I needed to do in order to either prevent or catch it before it was too late. I feel that this openness on my Mom's part made me comfortable in discussing it and even in researching breast tissue health. I remember broaching the subject with friends in university once and many of them being uncomfortable talking about it. Me being me, kept pushing the subject and it soon came out that most of the women who were uncomfortable, had not had the opportunity to talk about it when they were girls. Not talking about breast tissue health does not make breast cancer go away. It's not one of those things where if you don't talk about it then it doesn't exist.
The next important preventative measure is something that most women have been introduced by physicians, nurses and maybe even their Sex Education teachers; the self examination. Not all breast cancer can be caught through self examination, but it definitely improves the odds. Who else knows your body better than you? If you're uncomfortable with it, that is fine. It's not a subject you need to bring up at the dinner table,
"So I did my monthly self exam today..."
It doesn't have to be that blatant. The bottom line is, just do it.
The next preventative measure is still under going research, but it's something to consider. Some research would suggest that the under wires on bras restrict the lymphatic system, clogging it and contributing to breast cancer. The lymphatic system is a very sensitive system that can actually be addressed through lymphatic drainage techniques that a massage therapist can perform. The therapist would most likely have taken a course specific to lymphatic drainage. The lymphatic system is incredibly important in immunity and protecting the body from foreign organisms that would otherwise make us sick. The system is so sensitive that feather light strokes moving towards the heart can get the fluid moving and remove any lymphatic blockages. There are a lot of lymph nodes in and around the breast tissue, right where the under wire of bras would compress. If the system is so sensitive that feather light strokings can move the fluid, can you imagine what a bra's under wire does to the lymph vessels squishing it 10 to 12 hours a day?
As I have said above, this is new research and it may not be a belief you subscribe to, but it is something to think about. I personally agree with the research and switched to wireless bras. Victoria Secret and La Sensa carry very nice wireless bras that you could even wear under party dresses. Wireless does not mean sports bra or unsexy. :)
When you are exercising, or sitting in a sauna sweating it out, experts suggest wearing wireless bras or workout tops with the built in bras. Exercise and even sweating in a sauna, are ways to get your lymphatic system moving. If you are wearing a restricting bra, the breast tissue is not able to flush out the old lymphatic fluid and bring in healthy, new lymphatic fluid. Some even go so far as to say that you shouldn't wear a bra at all when exercising, but for some people-me included, especially if I am out in public-that is not an option. Ultimately, it comes down to what you are comfortable with.
Using a Rebounder-or mini trampoline-can actually also be helpful in flushing lymphatic fluid throughout your body. All that is reuired is you standing on the trampoline and bouncing: you don't even have to jump! The bouncing contracts your muscles which in turn squishes the lymphatic vessels and nodes. This on again off again pressure assists with the flow of the lymphatic fluid. If you someone who holds a lot of water, this also helps with that. By shunting the lymphatic fluid along, your breast tissue is again receiving that new lymphatic fluid.
The last preventative measure that is extremely effective, but the majority of women will not be comfortable with this, is breast massage. I bet you were wondering when I would get to the massage part right? Well, here it is. At the college I attended, we were taught the proper technique for breast massage. The students had to learn the theoretical aspects, but were not forced to perform or receive breast massage. I opted to do both. I was nervous and a little weirded out, but I figured that if it was ever something a client asked me to do, I wanted to know what it felt like and how to do it properly. I picked two of my classmates that I was comfortable with and who were incredibly professional. They were also both women. Strangely enough, once the massage started, I relaxed more and even almost fell asleep. There are many ways the breast massage can be performed and it is all up to the client's preference.
The massage can be performed over the sheets or without sheets. The therapist is never to touch the nipple and the client can also purchase "nipple covers" if that makes them feel more comfortable. One of our classmates was extremely nervous, but wanted to participate for the same reasons I did, so she got smiley face stickers and covered up with those.
If you opt to get a breast massage the massage therapist should have a separate consent form for you to sign. This form protects both you and the therapist. That said, this form and your signature, does not give the therapist license to do whatever they want. As I have said, breast massage, and massage for that matter, is for your benefit and should be performed within your comfort zone.
Breast massage can also help women, or men, who have had removal of breast tissue. Scar tissue forms after surgery and can restrict arm movement and also damage or constrict the lymph nodes in the breast/under arm areas. Massage can reduce scar adhesions and keep lymph fluid moving despite damaged lymphatic vessels. The breast massage will not completely remove scar tissue or regrow lymph nodes. It is a therapy not a cure.
If you are a woman who gets very sore breasts before menstruation, breast massage can be incredibly beneficial for you. The massage basically moves the congestion out of the tissue and brings nutrient rich fluid into the area. This congestion is what causes the tenderness. If you are a woman whose family has a history of breast cancer, then breast massage can be beneficial for you.If you are someone whose shoulders roll forward, then breast massage can help you as well. There are strong muscles under the breast tissue that pulls your shoulders forward. Having those muscles released can reduce pain and muscle tension. If breast massage is a little bit too out there for you, the mini trampoline and wireless bras may be more fathomable alternatives.
In conclusion, breast tissue health is important whether it is October or not and taking preventative steps-whether it is breast massage, wireless bras, self examination, bouncing on mini trampolines-will all improve your breast tissue's health.
Breast cancer is something that can effect everyone. There is a common misconception that men cannot get breast cancer, but this untrue. It is true though, that men do get it less frequently than women. In October you can see the pink ribbons of Breast Cancer Awareness month everywhere, but is this something we should only think about once a year? I don't think so, so that is why I have decided to make breast tissue health the focus of today's post.
There are several preventative measures that people, particularly women, can take in order to reduce the chances of getting breast cancer. The first most important one is communication and awareness. When I was a young teenager-I think they are called Tweenies now-my Mom sat down and talked to me about breast cancer and what I needed to do in order to either prevent or catch it before it was too late. I feel that this openness on my Mom's part made me comfortable in discussing it and even in researching breast tissue health. I remember broaching the subject with friends in university once and many of them being uncomfortable talking about it. Me being me, kept pushing the subject and it soon came out that most of the women who were uncomfortable, had not had the opportunity to talk about it when they were girls. Not talking about breast tissue health does not make breast cancer go away. It's not one of those things where if you don't talk about it then it doesn't exist.
The next important preventative measure is something that most women have been introduced by physicians, nurses and maybe even their Sex Education teachers; the self examination. Not all breast cancer can be caught through self examination, but it definitely improves the odds. Who else knows your body better than you? If you're uncomfortable with it, that is fine. It's not a subject you need to bring up at the dinner table,
"So I did my monthly self exam today..."
It doesn't have to be that blatant. The bottom line is, just do it.
The next preventative measure is still under going research, but it's something to consider. Some research would suggest that the under wires on bras restrict the lymphatic system, clogging it and contributing to breast cancer. The lymphatic system is a very sensitive system that can actually be addressed through lymphatic drainage techniques that a massage therapist can perform. The therapist would most likely have taken a course specific to lymphatic drainage. The lymphatic system is incredibly important in immunity and protecting the body from foreign organisms that would otherwise make us sick. The system is so sensitive that feather light strokes moving towards the heart can get the fluid moving and remove any lymphatic blockages. There are a lot of lymph nodes in and around the breast tissue, right where the under wire of bras would compress. If the system is so sensitive that feather light strokings can move the fluid, can you imagine what a bra's under wire does to the lymph vessels squishing it 10 to 12 hours a day?
As I have said above, this is new research and it may not be a belief you subscribe to, but it is something to think about. I personally agree with the research and switched to wireless bras. Victoria Secret and La Sensa carry very nice wireless bras that you could even wear under party dresses. Wireless does not mean sports bra or unsexy. :)
When you are exercising, or sitting in a sauna sweating it out, experts suggest wearing wireless bras or workout tops with the built in bras. Exercise and even sweating in a sauna, are ways to get your lymphatic system moving. If you are wearing a restricting bra, the breast tissue is not able to flush out the old lymphatic fluid and bring in healthy, new lymphatic fluid. Some even go so far as to say that you shouldn't wear a bra at all when exercising, but for some people-me included, especially if I am out in public-that is not an option. Ultimately, it comes down to what you are comfortable with.
Using a Rebounder-or mini trampoline-can actually also be helpful in flushing lymphatic fluid throughout your body. All that is reuired is you standing on the trampoline and bouncing: you don't even have to jump! The bouncing contracts your muscles which in turn squishes the lymphatic vessels and nodes. This on again off again pressure assists with the flow of the lymphatic fluid. If you someone who holds a lot of water, this also helps with that. By shunting the lymphatic fluid along, your breast tissue is again receiving that new lymphatic fluid.
The last preventative measure that is extremely effective, but the majority of women will not be comfortable with this, is breast massage. I bet you were wondering when I would get to the massage part right? Well, here it is. At the college I attended, we were taught the proper technique for breast massage. The students had to learn the theoretical aspects, but were not forced to perform or receive breast massage. I opted to do both. I was nervous and a little weirded out, but I figured that if it was ever something a client asked me to do, I wanted to know what it felt like and how to do it properly. I picked two of my classmates that I was comfortable with and who were incredibly professional. They were also both women. Strangely enough, once the massage started, I relaxed more and even almost fell asleep. There are many ways the breast massage can be performed and it is all up to the client's preference.
The massage can be performed over the sheets or without sheets. The therapist is never to touch the nipple and the client can also purchase "nipple covers" if that makes them feel more comfortable. One of our classmates was extremely nervous, but wanted to participate for the same reasons I did, so she got smiley face stickers and covered up with those.
If you opt to get a breast massage the massage therapist should have a separate consent form for you to sign. This form protects both you and the therapist. That said, this form and your signature, does not give the therapist license to do whatever they want. As I have said, breast massage, and massage for that matter, is for your benefit and should be performed within your comfort zone.
Breast massage can also help women, or men, who have had removal of breast tissue. Scar tissue forms after surgery and can restrict arm movement and also damage or constrict the lymph nodes in the breast/under arm areas. Massage can reduce scar adhesions and keep lymph fluid moving despite damaged lymphatic vessels. The breast massage will not completely remove scar tissue or regrow lymph nodes. It is a therapy not a cure.
If you are a woman who gets very sore breasts before menstruation, breast massage can be incredibly beneficial for you. The massage basically moves the congestion out of the tissue and brings nutrient rich fluid into the area. This congestion is what causes the tenderness. If you are a woman whose family has a history of breast cancer, then breast massage can be beneficial for you.If you are someone whose shoulders roll forward, then breast massage can help you as well. There are strong muscles under the breast tissue that pulls your shoulders forward. Having those muscles released can reduce pain and muscle tension. If breast massage is a little bit too out there for you, the mini trampoline and wireless bras may be more fathomable alternatives.
In conclusion, breast tissue health is important whether it is October or not and taking preventative steps-whether it is breast massage, wireless bras, self examination, bouncing on mini trampolines-will all improve your breast tissue's health.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Massage Monday Number Four: Hot Stone Therapy
If you are a person who likes heat, or if heat relaxes you then hot stone massage is for you. It basically is a relaxation massage performed with rocks in the therapist's hands. Sounds uncomfy? Just wait, I'll explain and you may change your mind. For those of you who have had one, you probably don't need convincing that hot stone massage is the best thing ever!
Hot stone massage is done in a massage room that is a bit warmer than normal. Your therapist will probably also cover you up with not only the sheet, but a nice fluffy blanket as well. The massage starts out as any other massage does with the therapist using various techniques with their hands only, but as the tissue becomes warmed up the therapist will begin using the stones. The room is kept warmer than a regular massage room for a couple of reasons. First of all, the stones are in the room heating up in a Crock Pot, in dishes placed on a Grittle or some other heating device. The steam coming off the stones themselves and the heat from the heating appliance makes the temperature rise. The room has to stay warmer to also ensure that the stones hold on to the heat. Cold stone massage is a type of therapy as well, but when you are expecting hot stones, a cold one would be a rude awakening. Secondly, the room is kept at a higher temperature to keep the client warm. Once the hot stones are being used, the client's core temperature could drop quickly, or you could feel cold because the stones are hot and the room is not. In order for the massage to be helpful, the client needs to be relaxed and shivering is not relaxing.
So what about these stones? They are rocks of varying sizes. Anything from a fist rock to a stone the size of your pinky finger or smaller. The various sizes of stones serve different functions. Even the different shapes have their own purposes. For example, a fist sized stone could be placed on a client's lower back for heat and weight, while a stone that is about half an inch long could be gently inserted between the toes. I know, between the toes made me squirm a bit too until I had it done. It is heavenly if done properly. Stones being placed between the toes or fingers should be done so gently and patiently. Hot stones should also be dragged from the hem of the draping onto the skin as not to surprise the client. The slow movement from the sheet's edge onto the skin allows the client to get to used to the temperature change and let the therapist know if the stone is too hot. It should not burn you.
Not only are the shapes and sizes important, but the surfaces and colours of the stones are important. The surface of each stone must be smooth without sharp or rough edges. This keeps the rock from inuring the client; makes sense right? The stones I have are a set of rocks that were shaped and smoothed naturally along lake shores. I have a set I bought, but then also picked perfectly shaped and smoothed stones from Lake Superior's shore. They are also the right colour, and yes, you can have the wrong colour. Stones that are used with heat are supposed to be dark; brown, black, grey. White should not be present on the stone. That white part would be weaker and risks exploding the rock when it is heating or if it is placed on a client's body-obviously not safe. So, when we picked the rocks from Lake Superior, I had to keep checking with my Mom that there wasn't any white on them. White rocks can be used with cold treatments, but remember, not heat.
Now that we understand the stones a bit better, let's discuss the actual massage and its impact on the human body. Hot stone massages are more expensive than regular massages. There are a couple of reasons for this. The biggest reason is because it takes more preparation for the therapist. We have to clean the rocks, heat them up, heat up the room and when we're done clean the rocks again. Getting massage oil off of stones is possible, but it takes a little more work. It also costs more for the therapist to heat up the room and keep the stones heated. And on the marketing side of things, the hot stone massage has been presented as a very special spa treatment. I'm not diminishing the wonderfulness of the hot stone massage, but it kind of has a mystical or pampering vibe attached to it. In that sense, therapists can charge more for it. That said, this type of massage definitely has some great health benefits.
You know the phrase "you get what you pay for?" That is true for the hot stone massage. It may cost more, but you get "more bang for your buck," as Mr. K likes to say. For every one stroke with a hot stone, you would have to do ten strokes manually. That is how much the heat and weight of the stone improves circulation and muscle relaxation. It is a bit easier on the therapist because we don't have to dig in as hard to get results. I had a hot stone treatment performed once by a therapist who, if I had gotten a regular massage from, wouldn't have been very good, but the hot stones made the experience worth it. I could hardly walk after due to mushy muscles and was very sleepy. I felt so good. I used to get them all of the time when I was competing because I could get a lot of relief without having an exhausting, deep, painful massage. At first I was worried that the stones would hurt, or would feel hard and clumsy against my body, but besides the heat, you can hardly tell the therapist is using stones.
For those of you who have never had a hot stone massage, let me walk you through a standard treatment. You would start on your tummy with the cozy covers pulled up over you. The therapist starts by placing a stone on your sacrum, which is basically just above your tailbone. The back is done first with the therapist leaving the stones they have used along the spine. The heat and weight of the stones, although they are quite light, soak into the muscles and relax the client as the therapist continues to work up the back. After the back, the backs of the legs are addressed. The therapist may tuck stones into the sides of the thighs as they work along the legs. Again, letting the heat from the stones relax the muscles. After the legs are finished it is onto the backs of the arms. The therapist may place hot stones into the palms. Then all of the stones are removed, including the one on the sacrum and you turn over. Front of legs are addressed and tiny warm stones are tucked between your toes. If you don't want this, of course tell your therapist. A cylindrical stone is placed behind the neck, right where the head attaches to the neck. This is probably one of the best feelings, especially if you are someone who wears glasses or relies heavily on your eyesight for your job. Some of the muscles that move your eyes are located back there. Warm stones are placed on your sternum and along your abdomen. Again if you don't want these, you can tell your therapist that you don't like them. The front of your arms are massaged and your face as well. Again, if there is any area that you don't want worked on, like your face, let your therapist know. The treatment usually ends with three small cool stones being placed on your forehead. The stones are usually room temperature, but because you are so warm from the increase in circulation and the hot stones lining your body, the stones feel cold. They feel very soothing. There are variations on this treatment and each session can be tailored to the client's preferences and needs.
Hot stone therapy is incredibly relaxing and is beneficial for a lot of different conditions. It is good for athletes during training periods; for people with Arthritis during a non-flare up; people with muscle spasticity; people who need a lot of work done, but can't handle the pain of deep tissue massage; and people who are in chronic pain because it is relaxing and non-invasive. It's also good for people who are stressed and just need to relax. If you fall asleep, or nearly fall asleep, you know you had a great hot stone treatment.
Hot stone cannot be performed by just any massage therapist. In Ontario, you have to take an extra course that teaches you how to massage with and care for the stones. If someone is offering hot stone therapy, feel free to ask them to see their certificate or ask them where they were educated. If they can't fulfill either request, you may want to get a hot stone treatment elsewhere.
I hope this was helpful and perhaps made hot stone appealing. I know just talking about it makes me want to go get a treatment.
As always, leave me any questions or comments. If there is anything you want me to address in a future post, please let me know and I would be more than happy to. And since it's Monday, it would be a great day to go get a massage. :)
Hot stone massage is done in a massage room that is a bit warmer than normal. Your therapist will probably also cover you up with not only the sheet, but a nice fluffy blanket as well. The massage starts out as any other massage does with the therapist using various techniques with their hands only, but as the tissue becomes warmed up the therapist will begin using the stones. The room is kept warmer than a regular massage room for a couple of reasons. First of all, the stones are in the room heating up in a Crock Pot, in dishes placed on a Grittle or some other heating device. The steam coming off the stones themselves and the heat from the heating appliance makes the temperature rise. The room has to stay warmer to also ensure that the stones hold on to the heat. Cold stone massage is a type of therapy as well, but when you are expecting hot stones, a cold one would be a rude awakening. Secondly, the room is kept at a higher temperature to keep the client warm. Once the hot stones are being used, the client's core temperature could drop quickly, or you could feel cold because the stones are hot and the room is not. In order for the massage to be helpful, the client needs to be relaxed and shivering is not relaxing.
So what about these stones? They are rocks of varying sizes. Anything from a fist rock to a stone the size of your pinky finger or smaller. The various sizes of stones serve different functions. Even the different shapes have their own purposes. For example, a fist sized stone could be placed on a client's lower back for heat and weight, while a stone that is about half an inch long could be gently inserted between the toes. I know, between the toes made me squirm a bit too until I had it done. It is heavenly if done properly. Stones being placed between the toes or fingers should be done so gently and patiently. Hot stones should also be dragged from the hem of the draping onto the skin as not to surprise the client. The slow movement from the sheet's edge onto the skin allows the client to get to used to the temperature change and let the therapist know if the stone is too hot. It should not burn you.
Not only are the shapes and sizes important, but the surfaces and colours of the stones are important. The surface of each stone must be smooth without sharp or rough edges. This keeps the rock from inuring the client; makes sense right? The stones I have are a set of rocks that were shaped and smoothed naturally along lake shores. I have a set I bought, but then also picked perfectly shaped and smoothed stones from Lake Superior's shore. They are also the right colour, and yes, you can have the wrong colour. Stones that are used with heat are supposed to be dark; brown, black, grey. White should not be present on the stone. That white part would be weaker and risks exploding the rock when it is heating or if it is placed on a client's body-obviously not safe. So, when we picked the rocks from Lake Superior, I had to keep checking with my Mom that there wasn't any white on them. White rocks can be used with cold treatments, but remember, not heat.
Now that we understand the stones a bit better, let's discuss the actual massage and its impact on the human body. Hot stone massages are more expensive than regular massages. There are a couple of reasons for this. The biggest reason is because it takes more preparation for the therapist. We have to clean the rocks, heat them up, heat up the room and when we're done clean the rocks again. Getting massage oil off of stones is possible, but it takes a little more work. It also costs more for the therapist to heat up the room and keep the stones heated. And on the marketing side of things, the hot stone massage has been presented as a very special spa treatment. I'm not diminishing the wonderfulness of the hot stone massage, but it kind of has a mystical or pampering vibe attached to it. In that sense, therapists can charge more for it. That said, this type of massage definitely has some great health benefits.
You know the phrase "you get what you pay for?" That is true for the hot stone massage. It may cost more, but you get "more bang for your buck," as Mr. K likes to say. For every one stroke with a hot stone, you would have to do ten strokes manually. That is how much the heat and weight of the stone improves circulation and muscle relaxation. It is a bit easier on the therapist because we don't have to dig in as hard to get results. I had a hot stone treatment performed once by a therapist who, if I had gotten a regular massage from, wouldn't have been very good, but the hot stones made the experience worth it. I could hardly walk after due to mushy muscles and was very sleepy. I felt so good. I used to get them all of the time when I was competing because I could get a lot of relief without having an exhausting, deep, painful massage. At first I was worried that the stones would hurt, or would feel hard and clumsy against my body, but besides the heat, you can hardly tell the therapist is using stones.
For those of you who have never had a hot stone massage, let me walk you through a standard treatment. You would start on your tummy with the cozy covers pulled up over you. The therapist starts by placing a stone on your sacrum, which is basically just above your tailbone. The back is done first with the therapist leaving the stones they have used along the spine. The heat and weight of the stones, although they are quite light, soak into the muscles and relax the client as the therapist continues to work up the back. After the back, the backs of the legs are addressed. The therapist may tuck stones into the sides of the thighs as they work along the legs. Again, letting the heat from the stones relax the muscles. After the legs are finished it is onto the backs of the arms. The therapist may place hot stones into the palms. Then all of the stones are removed, including the one on the sacrum and you turn over. Front of legs are addressed and tiny warm stones are tucked between your toes. If you don't want this, of course tell your therapist. A cylindrical stone is placed behind the neck, right where the head attaches to the neck. This is probably one of the best feelings, especially if you are someone who wears glasses or relies heavily on your eyesight for your job. Some of the muscles that move your eyes are located back there. Warm stones are placed on your sternum and along your abdomen. Again if you don't want these, you can tell your therapist that you don't like them. The front of your arms are massaged and your face as well. Again, if there is any area that you don't want worked on, like your face, let your therapist know. The treatment usually ends with three small cool stones being placed on your forehead. The stones are usually room temperature, but because you are so warm from the increase in circulation and the hot stones lining your body, the stones feel cold. They feel very soothing. There are variations on this treatment and each session can be tailored to the client's preferences and needs.
Hot stone therapy is incredibly relaxing and is beneficial for a lot of different conditions. It is good for athletes during training periods; for people with Arthritis during a non-flare up; people with muscle spasticity; people who need a lot of work done, but can't handle the pain of deep tissue massage; and people who are in chronic pain because it is relaxing and non-invasive. It's also good for people who are stressed and just need to relax. If you fall asleep, or nearly fall asleep, you know you had a great hot stone treatment.
Hot stone cannot be performed by just any massage therapist. In Ontario, you have to take an extra course that teaches you how to massage with and care for the stones. If someone is offering hot stone therapy, feel free to ask them to see their certificate or ask them where they were educated. If they can't fulfill either request, you may want to get a hot stone treatment elsewhere.
I hope this was helpful and perhaps made hot stone appealing. I know just talking about it makes me want to go get a treatment.
As always, leave me any questions or comments. If there is anything you want me to address in a future post, please let me know and I would be more than happy to. And since it's Monday, it would be a great day to go get a massage. :)
Friday, January 28, 2011
To Train Or Not To Train...
Remember that "hitch" I was hoping wouldn't happen? Well, a small one has popped up. Now to some it wouldn't be a big deal, but it sort of changes my already revised plan a bit more. :)
The Great Dane Guy is sick with Pneumonia! First of all, I wish him a speedy recovery because having Pneumonia is not cool. But now I am stuck trying to figure out if I want to train with a new trainer or not. Remember me mentioning how open and helpful The Great Dane Guy is? Well, now I'm worried this trainer that is filling in for him won't be as open and we'll have "blind" issues. Wasn't I trying to avoid that by doing things this way?
There is an intermediate class that starts on Wednesday and there is room to put Aria in. I could wait for The Great Dane Guy to come back, but as of right now there isn't another intermediate class scheduled until March 19th. So, do I wait for March 19th and pray that The Great Dane Guy is better and is teaching the class, or do I just suck it up and start on Wednesday? I mean, who's to say this new guy will have a bad attitude? He might be fine, but part of me doesn't want to deal with it if he does.
Then again, maybe I should just get over myself and do it. Since when do I let people's insecurities and discomforts around disability stop me? ...When it costs me money and jeopardizes mine and Aria's chances of success. Grrrrr.
I am aware that there are much worse fates and people dealing with much tougher life decisions out there and I think I'm just going to do it. If things aren't working, I'll just ask for my money back and wait for The Great Dane Guy. I guess I am having a hard time as well because I really enjoy The Great Dane Guy's teaching methods and I know that he would do everything possible to help us succeed. And I'm comfortable with him.
Oh well. Time to step out of my comfort zone...again. lol
Mr. K's having a nap so I'll pass this new development by him and see what he says. I know he'll be disappointed too. The good news is that there are only three other dogs in the class-so it won't be too big or busy. I've heard a time or two that everything happens for a reason, and maybe this is one of those times. All right, that is enough griping from me-it's really not a big deal. I just might have to give someone an attitude adjustment-politely of course. Then again, maybe I won't have to. I may go in and talk to him face to face and see what he's like and gauge his reaction to us joining the class and then make a decision.
Thoughts anyone?
The Great Dane Guy is sick with Pneumonia! First of all, I wish him a speedy recovery because having Pneumonia is not cool. But now I am stuck trying to figure out if I want to train with a new trainer or not. Remember me mentioning how open and helpful The Great Dane Guy is? Well, now I'm worried this trainer that is filling in for him won't be as open and we'll have "blind" issues. Wasn't I trying to avoid that by doing things this way?
There is an intermediate class that starts on Wednesday and there is room to put Aria in. I could wait for The Great Dane Guy to come back, but as of right now there isn't another intermediate class scheduled until March 19th. So, do I wait for March 19th and pray that The Great Dane Guy is better and is teaching the class, or do I just suck it up and start on Wednesday? I mean, who's to say this new guy will have a bad attitude? He might be fine, but part of me doesn't want to deal with it if he does.
Then again, maybe I should just get over myself and do it. Since when do I let people's insecurities and discomforts around disability stop me? ...When it costs me money and jeopardizes mine and Aria's chances of success. Grrrrr.
I am aware that there are much worse fates and people dealing with much tougher life decisions out there and I think I'm just going to do it. If things aren't working, I'll just ask for my money back and wait for The Great Dane Guy. I guess I am having a hard time as well because I really enjoy The Great Dane Guy's teaching methods and I know that he would do everything possible to help us succeed. And I'm comfortable with him.
Oh well. Time to step out of my comfort zone...again. lol
Mr. K's having a nap so I'll pass this new development by him and see what he says. I know he'll be disappointed too. The good news is that there are only three other dogs in the class-so it won't be too big or busy. I've heard a time or two that everything happens for a reason, and maybe this is one of those times. All right, that is enough griping from me-it's really not a big deal. I just might have to give someone an attitude adjustment-politely of course. Then again, maybe I won't have to. I may go in and talk to him face to face and see what he's like and gauge his reaction to us joining the class and then make a decision.
Thoughts anyone?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
On The Mends
Aria is now at home with us after her little visit to the vet yesterday. We dropped her off around 8:30 AM and brought her home around 4:00 PM. The poor little thing was so doped up that she was acting like a bobble head. She tried to jump up on the couch twice and just fell back on the floor with a little "thunk." She didn't really try after that and would wait for me or Mr. K to lift her up.
This morning she drank water and ate her breakfast, which is good. She didn't want any water last night. She also took herself out to "potty" twice this morning as well. I just made sure to put her coat on as miniature dachshaunds are temperature sensitive at the best of times and having surgery would make her even more so. She's a little trooper.
Balloo is so confused as to why his sister won't play with him and growls at him when he jumps on her. We have tried to minimise this behavior, but he still gets near her sometimes and is a bit too enthusiastic. I just keep telling him to wait until he has to go in.
This morning I sat on the couch and read my book with Aria and Balloo both tucked in with me. When I went off to make myself some breakfast, I fluffed the blankets around Aria, covered her up and tucked a teddybear in next to her. I'm such a mom! I was slightly horrified at my actions, but then reminded myself that these guys are my kids. lol Mr. K and I probably aren't having any and so Aria and Balloo are as close as we're going to get-so I will tuck her in with a teddybear if I want to. :)
Anyway, hopefully our spunky little "Fluffers" is feeling better soon.
This morning she drank water and ate her breakfast, which is good. She didn't want any water last night. She also took herself out to "potty" twice this morning as well. I just made sure to put her coat on as miniature dachshaunds are temperature sensitive at the best of times and having surgery would make her even more so. She's a little trooper.
Balloo is so confused as to why his sister won't play with him and growls at him when he jumps on her. We have tried to minimise this behavior, but he still gets near her sometimes and is a bit too enthusiastic. I just keep telling him to wait until he has to go in.
This morning I sat on the couch and read my book with Aria and Balloo both tucked in with me. When I went off to make myself some breakfast, I fluffed the blankets around Aria, covered her up and tucked a teddybear in next to her. I'm such a mom! I was slightly horrified at my actions, but then reminded myself that these guys are my kids. lol Mr. K and I probably aren't having any and so Aria and Balloo are as close as we're going to get-so I will tuck her in with a teddybear if I want to. :)
Anyway, hopefully our spunky little "Fluffers" is feeling better soon.
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