Charlie -- faster than I thot (Callie)

Wow!  Great news!

Wooohooo!  Charlie we cant wait til we hear your mom in detail about the first time you see your family!!!

This is exciting news!  I hope you can have a video camera ready the first time he "lays good eyes" on you so his reaction can be recorded.  I suppose he might be a little startled with so much visual stimulation all of a sudden -- but his nose and ears will let him know he's in familiar territory, even if it looks scary to him at first.

Can't wait for the updates and reports next week!

 That is so exciting!

 My RB Sugar had cataract surgery, both eyes.  But they were done 3 years apart. She had age related cataracts, and was completely blind in one eye, could see shadows in the other (so that eye was done later).   We paid the extra $200 to have the new lens implant, each eye. They use the lens to see close up - food crumbs, bugs in the grass, ha haa.   I still remember that day 5 years ago when she had the first eye done -- brought her home about 4:30, standing out in the back yard, and she tracked a bird flying from one tree to another!  WOO HOO!!

The dog's eye and the human eye are so similar, the procedure and the drops regimen is also similar.  So this surgery really has a long history of success.   Do keep up with all the drops, before and after.  Keeps the dog comfortable, aids in healing, etc.  This surgery is a true miracle, IMO - the gift of sight!

Thanks for the encouragement -- when the tech rattled off all the drops yesterday and handed me this BAG with 5 boxes/bottles in it even *I* was a tad overwhelmed.  And giving meds is no big deal to me.

THEN they found out I home-cook and uh oh .... they were SURE that was horrible, terrible and awful and could NOT be done.  ummm... nope ... it will be fine.

Way to go Charlie! Callie, this is so exciting! Prayers for a very speedy recovery.

calliecritturs

even *I* was a tad overwhelmed.  And giving meds is no big deal to me.

I cant imagine you being overwhelmed by anything med related, lol.

calliecritturs

THEN they found out I home-cook and uh oh .... they were SURE that was horrible, terrible and awful and could NOT be done.  ummm... nope ... it will be fine.

shadowsgin

I cant imagine you being overwhelmed by anything med related, lol.

That was kinda my point -- David and I both came out of there with our heads swimming (and he's as good at this as I am -- he's the "morning meds" guy)

He heard her contradict herself twice -- so it's no wonder and we both had to collaborate on the "list" I post in the kitchen so we both know when to give what. 

But the look on that tech's face when I said I home cook -- you could tell she believes the whole "uh oh a nutcase who gives her dog leftovers every night".

Then when I told her NO, I wasn't going to throw $60 worth of food in the trash and go BUY him kibble for a week she said "WHAT?" and I told her I cook ONCE a week, it is balanced and portioned out for each individual dog daily.  I cook on Sunday-- that was "yesterday" -- no, I'm not going to give him something "different" and waste a week's food!

It never occurred to her that someone who 'cooks' for their dog might actually PLAN it.

It was obvious that the techs had never had anyone bring 'treats' to make their job easier.  They're so used to dodging scared dogs trying to nip and by the time they brought him back everbuddy had truly had a nice time and "what a nice dog".

Well -- MANY dogs can be nice dogs if you just give them a chance.  But just try walking in somewhere, you can't SEE< they don't talk TO you and all the smells are scarey and someone grabs your head and puts burney stuff in your eye?

 Ah yes -- we shall learn LOL

calliecritturs

Thanks for the encouragement -- when the tech rattled off all the drops yesterday and handed me this BAG with 5 boxes/bottles in it even *I* was a tad overwhelmed.  And giving meds is no big deal to me.

THEN they found out I home-cook and uh oh .... they were SURE that was horrible, terrible and awful and could NOT be done.  ummm... nope ... it will be fine.

They are specialists, home cooking is not in the realm of their day to day practice, don't sweat it, lol.

Most of the drops, you just want to wait at least (5 or 10 can't recall) minutes in between.  Waiting extra time is fine, just don't go shorter, let the eye absorb the one before you add another.  

Do what you need to do to keep track of the drops - I found using the stove timer was great, as it wouldn't stop till I shut it off.  Using the timer on my microwave was not helpful, as it beats three times and that is it.  Life is always hectic around here!   If you need to make a chart, do it.  Knowing it is all for a short time makes it easier to keep up.

Now, funny story:  Two years after Sugar had her second, my Dad had HIS eyes done.  That week, Lacey had conjunctivitis in BOTH eyes, Willy had his usual lifetime requirement of artificial tears every 2 hours, cyclosporine morning and night, plus he had an infection in one eye and had terramycin morning and night in that eye.  PLUS all the drops for Dad's eyes.  I was DREAMING about giving drops at bus and train stations by the end of the first week!  LOL

Freedom

I was DREAMING about giving drops at bus and train stations by the end of the first week!  LOL

Freedom

I was DREAMING about giving drops at bus and train stations by the end of the first week!  LOL

 LOL, I hate when that happens

ETA: sorry dont know why this posted 2x's

Made the chart -- that's where David and I realized she had said conflicting things. 

David's big concession -- he HATES eye drops.  But in order to get 4 times a day in for this one drop HE will have to give them to Charlie when HE gets up.  Oy!!!  Poor man almost choked on that one.

thanks for the reminder about leaving time between them. 

 That's great news!!!  This is so exciting; I hope everything goes smoothly.

Thanks -- we're excited too altho this weekend won't be fun.  STarting tomorrow he's got to have the pred drops four times a day -- and he's NOT liking them ONCE a day (I'd imagine they burn). 

Then Saturday we start the antibiotic eye drops -- also 4 times a day (and at least 5-10 minutes off from the pred drops.)  Then on Sunday we start the atropine to dialate his eyes (and he's just gonna LOVE those!!   I hate having my eyes dialated).

He really likes to be out in the sun which of course is a no no with the atropine.

He's a trooper -- he LETS you do whatever you have to do.  (and treats make that much easier)