There's been so much going on that I often find it difficult to get to my blog to post. There's been some really pawsitive changes in our fight against Lyme disease lately.
Though it will be a while before we run labs and can see this in black and white, I see the results taking place. Thane's energy will be something we have to deal with- finding ways of extinguishing some of it before he gets into harness. It is still a very positive thing because it by itself was a signal that Lyme was receding.
These other things are not as visual to folks who are not partnered with Thane so when they hear about them, their first response is to retire him right here, right now LOL That said, I find them rewarding (though not while taking place) because they show me his true self- they show me the dog that slowly slipped away from me- and that is well- beautiful!
Thane's desire to pick the route we are going used to be one of the most infuriating things I had to deal with in working with my little *hard headed redhead*. I will admit, when it all, but disappeared as Lyme took over, I found myself really missing his determination to do things his way. I don't have to miss this part of him any more because it has come back with a vengeance! This is definitely something we are working on and probably will be working on for a while. It is though a sign that Thane has the cognition he once had. It also helps show me when I am not giving him the amount of variety that he needs in his working hours.
Another area where there has been drastic improvement is in our home life. thane has been wearing an e-collar a lot at home. Spirochete's love collagen In an ideal situation, they would only take an amount that the animal or person can easily replenish. For the most part, especially prior to diagnosis, that has not always been the case when it came to Thane's skin health. Once I was able to understand what was taking place (after his diagnosis), it was so much easier to more properly address his skin needs.
Just understanding why he was being so self-destructive was part of the battle, but the other part required finding the right collagen supports for him. Through Stephen Buhner's research as well as my own further research coupled with my knowledge of homeopathy, I put together a protocol specific to Thane. Though some things did not pan out for his use, other things have worked really well. The result on this front is much more free time out of the e-collar
When people mention collagen, they usually think of one thing- joints. Collagen is so much more than joints though. It impacts joints, skin, hair (fur), and even the eyes. I began noticing visual changes with Thane's eyes about 1 1/2 years ago. No one but me seemed to notice what was going on. Of course the Veterinary Ophthalmologist locally is crap when it comes to thorough exams to diagnose an actual problem. Not only did she not thoroughly evaluate the retina's with dilating his eyes and all, but she turned around and put him on a supplement known to increase histamine response. You do not put a dog with known allergies on anything that increases a histamine response. Her reasoning for prescribing it was that it would fix his non-specific retinal issues. No, it did not. All it did was send his allergies into such overdrive. His issue was not non-specific at all. It was LYME.
Today though, things are looking brighter with his eyes. He has eye drops that I use as needed. They are difficult in the best of circumstances to do, but with my hands and vision- LOL I've found though that with all his improvements this month, his eyes are one of the best. When we have worked some of his energy down, his choices in his guide work are spot on. What I mean is that through the mini guide's vibrational cues to me, I agree with the choices Thane takes all the time once he has burned off some energy,
Where his work is concerned, we are doing a lot of backing up on some basic elements. It seems to lie in the fact that he is so full of excessive energy now, that he has to remember how to slow down and focus on his job better. There are also aspects (even full tasks) that he lost amidst the neuro Lyme symptom picture (which the symptom part is thankfully behind us) It's been over five months since Thane's last seizure and I strongly believe that they are a thing of the past. I've got a good solid history with canine seizures from my previous service dog. I am glad that for Thane, they won't be following him the rest of his life.
I don't know what tomorrow will hold for us, but if its anything like the present, these *guiding eyes* will be at my side for many years to come.
Something I am enjoying so much is watching Thane learning to play independently again. He can be so funny. Laughter really is one of the best medicines around!
25 December 2011
15 December 2011
Facing Lyme Each Day
Thane and I continue to work the journey of Lyme Disease. It has not been an easy six months, but the reality is that he is so much more the dog I knew two to three years back.
Its required a lot of patience over the years- testing one disease after another before Lyme was diagnosed. It's taken even more patience the past six months from diagnosis through all of this treatment- bringing him back from chronic late stage disease.
One of the hardest areas for me to be patient with right now, is the return of coat fur, coat health, and coat color to what it was originally. The process is beginning, but anytime my mom comes for a visit, I am destined to go through a funk because she always has a knack for pointing out the negative. He's either too thin or his coat is sparse or something. This isn't just since he got Lyme either, but it makes it especially hard when I am trying to focus on the improvements which are many and she always has to point out where there is a problem. I guess I am *the glass is half full* type of person while my mom is *the glass is half empty* type. I'm trying not to focus on the things she had to say too much, but it is hurtful when she is rarely around any more and when she is, absent as she has been from our daily journey, she says negative crap.
I will admit we are struggling. Thane's energy has come back and most symptoms have resolved, if not completely, they are pretty diminished. There are however still some symptoms that I really need to be on my toes with as we work through them. This kind of thing definitely makes one feel like they are back working a green dog again.
There has been a lot of positives with the collagen supports I have implemented with hopefully more to come as die-off continues.
There have been some negative times too. As we work on the right additional protocol for Thane, some things have not been good choices. Recently a very small dose of a good Lyme protocol ingredient had some tough side effects come forward. Its too bad that it caused heightened senses and acted like a diuretic. I was taken by surprise by these symptoms after how thoroughly I researched it. The diuretic effect was discovered only after Thane stood inside the door releasing his bladder all over the carpet while I was putting his turfs out for him to busy. Before anyone judges him or me, this isn't typical of Thane. I was shocked and pissed at the same time.
It had already been a very long day. Cleaning up his bladder dump and steam cleaning where the last thing I needed to be doing, but when you own a service dog, sometimes these are the kinds of things you have to deal with. While I was cleaning it up, I was thinking about how nice it would be to not have carpet.
Thane's journey is not over. The vets are getting impatient and my vet seems to have an attitude about my finances. If Thane is not negative when the med refills are gone this time, they are stopping his meds any way. That is scary stuff. Stopping meds when the disease is still there will just allow it to come back.
There are other things I can do if it is not gone and the meds are stopped, but it's a really uncomfortable feeling with all the knowledge I have on how this disease works.
For now, I am thinking positive where it comes to Thane's status with Lyme. I am nervous about some symptoms that have not gone away and seem to volley back and forth, but I continue to tell myself that with patience they too can resolve.
Its required a lot of patience over the years- testing one disease after another before Lyme was diagnosed. It's taken even more patience the past six months from diagnosis through all of this treatment- bringing him back from chronic late stage disease.
One of the hardest areas for me to be patient with right now, is the return of coat fur, coat health, and coat color to what it was originally. The process is beginning, but anytime my mom comes for a visit, I am destined to go through a funk because she always has a knack for pointing out the negative. He's either too thin or his coat is sparse or something. This isn't just since he got Lyme either, but it makes it especially hard when I am trying to focus on the improvements which are many and she always has to point out where there is a problem. I guess I am *the glass is half full* type of person while my mom is *the glass is half empty* type. I'm trying not to focus on the things she had to say too much, but it is hurtful when she is rarely around any more and when she is, absent as she has been from our daily journey, she says negative crap.
I will admit we are struggling. Thane's energy has come back and most symptoms have resolved, if not completely, they are pretty diminished. There are however still some symptoms that I really need to be on my toes with as we work through them. This kind of thing definitely makes one feel like they are back working a green dog again.
There has been a lot of positives with the collagen supports I have implemented with hopefully more to come as die-off continues.
There have been some negative times too. As we work on the right additional protocol for Thane, some things have not been good choices. Recently a very small dose of a good Lyme protocol ingredient had some tough side effects come forward. Its too bad that it caused heightened senses and acted like a diuretic. I was taken by surprise by these symptoms after how thoroughly I researched it. The diuretic effect was discovered only after Thane stood inside the door releasing his bladder all over the carpet while I was putting his turfs out for him to busy. Before anyone judges him or me, this isn't typical of Thane. I was shocked and pissed at the same time.
It had already been a very long day. Cleaning up his bladder dump and steam cleaning where the last thing I needed to be doing, but when you own a service dog, sometimes these are the kinds of things you have to deal with. While I was cleaning it up, I was thinking about how nice it would be to not have carpet.
Thane's journey is not over. The vets are getting impatient and my vet seems to have an attitude about my finances. If Thane is not negative when the med refills are gone this time, they are stopping his meds any way. That is scary stuff. Stopping meds when the disease is still there will just allow it to come back.
There are other things I can do if it is not gone and the meds are stopped, but it's a really uncomfortable feeling with all the knowledge I have on how this disease works.
For now, I am thinking positive where it comes to Thane's status with Lyme. I am nervous about some symptoms that have not gone away and seem to volley back and forth, but I continue to tell myself that with patience they too can resolve.
26 November 2011
Rough Days
Thane has had some rougher days- about a week of them in fact. He just acts real off for at least a couple hours after his antibiotic dosage. In case you are not in the loop, this is not typical. It was not until I gave him his regular generic from the pharmacy and he did not react like he had been that I realized he must have been dealing with some filler sensitivity.
I'm no novice when it comes to filler sensitivity. I deal with it in respect to certain groups of medications, but my previous service dog had it about as bad as one can. He nearly died when a pharmacist chose to ignore my and the vets warnings about not changing his brand. They knew I was visually impaired at the time and did it anyway- no notice whatsoever.
I was at home thankfully. It was a Sunday and there was no way for me to get him care. It was a living nightmare going through seizure after seizure with him because some idiot changed his brand violating the written prescription to begin with.
Needless to say, I learned to take filler sensitivity very seriously.
With Thane though, the changes have been subtle things- stubbornness, high strung behavior, refusal to follow commands, startling easily, restlessness I'm sure there are some things I am forgetting, but as you can see they aren't as concrete as it was with Met who began seizing out of control after getting just 30mg of the medication.
As soon as Thane got a dose from the pharmacy though, all of this went away. He has been great today and it feels so good to have him feeling more himself again. Some could argue the stress of the past week could be at play here, but despite my venting through the keyboard, I kept our home atmosphere very fun and laid back- so nope its not the answer.
Its nice to have those rough days behind us. I look forward to more *normal* days ahead as I research where to go from here with his care.
I'm no novice when it comes to filler sensitivity. I deal with it in respect to certain groups of medications, but my previous service dog had it about as bad as one can. He nearly died when a pharmacist chose to ignore my and the vets warnings about not changing his brand. They knew I was visually impaired at the time and did it anyway- no notice whatsoever.
I was at home thankfully. It was a Sunday and there was no way for me to get him care. It was a living nightmare going through seizure after seizure with him because some idiot changed his brand violating the written prescription to begin with.
Needless to say, I learned to take filler sensitivity very seriously.
With Thane though, the changes have been subtle things- stubbornness, high strung behavior, refusal to follow commands, startling easily, restlessness I'm sure there are some things I am forgetting, but as you can see they aren't as concrete as it was with Met who began seizing out of control after getting just 30mg of the medication.
As soon as Thane got a dose from the pharmacy though, all of this went away. He has been great today and it feels so good to have him feeling more himself again. Some could argue the stress of the past week could be at play here, but despite my venting through the keyboard, I kept our home atmosphere very fun and laid back- so nope its not the answer.
Its nice to have those rough days behind us. I look forward to more *normal* days ahead as I research where to go from here with his care.
24 November 2011
Looking for Answers
Following the results coming in, I did not hear back personally from the specialist. In its place, I got a fax from my vet that Dr Franklin wants Thane to be treated for three more months- then if his titer has not improved to stop treatment. Now anyone that has had Lyme or understands Lyme knows all too well what will happen if you stop the treatment before the bacterium has been eliminated- yup we will wind up right back where we were in June and July. This battle we have gone through will all be for naught without anything learned from the experience
With my finances frazzled at best, this is NOT the answer. Not to mention that Thane should not hve to suffer because even the specialist is being impatient/ expecting changes to happen overnight in an individual who was presented to him in end stage chronic Lyme. sigh
It was bad enough when it came time to getting his meds refilled this time with the specialist having turned his case back over to his regular vet. In most situations she is quite affordable, but her resistance to calling the meds into Bi-Mart was surprising to me. I've been paying eighteen bucks a month for his meds- affordable because I budget for them. The vet thought I was going to hand over the plastic and pay her seventy-five dollars a month- oh yeah and they had the gol to call that inexpensive! Of course I refused so in order to get his meds, I had to go out by myself in horrible weather conditions, as Thane can't work in that kind of weather yet nor would I have asked him to anyway, pay the vet ten dollars and sign some waiver nonsense, in order to get them to call the prescription in to Bi-Mart. This med is not anything unique. It is your typical GENERIC Amoxicillin! I'm still shaking my head at the stratosphere that dollar tag was in for just 60 doses.
But this all aside, I'm very uncomfortable with this treatment plan- ie the part where we will stop treatment if his titer has not gone down. I've finished the Healing Lyme book I was reading (other than the index which I don't need to read grin) so have been putting feelers out for more Lyme books to learn from. I stumbled across this one, which is right up my alley: The Homeopathic Treatment of Lyme Disease by Peter Alex. I'm not nieve enough to believe that homeopathy all by itself is the answer for Lyme Disease, but it's an avenue to research and add one more Lyme book to my collection and Bookshare's. This next book also sounds really good: Insights Into Lyme Disease Treatment This last one also sounds quite good written by someone who suffered from Lyme for 8 years before getting a correct diagnosis The Lyme Disease Solution
Realistically of course, I can't buy all these books right now, nor could I scan them quickly with my chronic and often times excruciating nerve pain, but hopefully I can implement some protocols or individual aspects of protocols from Healing Lyme as well as choosing the best book to tackle next. My head is saying to choose the Homeopathy one since I have so much knowledge in that area.
Irregardless of what takes place when Thane's labs are run again in a little under three months, if his titer does not place him in the Lyme negative range, I will not stop the supplemental protocols which I have plans of implementing for him. I'm being a bit vague here because I want to research the items more thoroughly before I make my final decision on implementation.
I am nervous about it all, but not as nervous as I would be each and every day if his antibiotics are stopped before he is Lyme negative.
With my finances frazzled at best, this is NOT the answer. Not to mention that Thane should not hve to suffer because even the specialist is being impatient/ expecting changes to happen overnight in an individual who was presented to him in end stage chronic Lyme. sigh
It was bad enough when it came time to getting his meds refilled this time with the specialist having turned his case back over to his regular vet. In most situations she is quite affordable, but her resistance to calling the meds into Bi-Mart was surprising to me. I've been paying eighteen bucks a month for his meds- affordable because I budget for them. The vet thought I was going to hand over the plastic and pay her seventy-five dollars a month- oh yeah and they had the gol to call that inexpensive! Of course I refused so in order to get his meds, I had to go out by myself in horrible weather conditions, as Thane can't work in that kind of weather yet nor would I have asked him to anyway, pay the vet ten dollars and sign some waiver nonsense, in order to get them to call the prescription in to Bi-Mart. This med is not anything unique. It is your typical GENERIC Amoxicillin! I'm still shaking my head at the stratosphere that dollar tag was in for just 60 doses.
But this all aside, I'm very uncomfortable with this treatment plan- ie the part where we will stop treatment if his titer has not gone down. I've finished the Healing Lyme book I was reading (other than the index which I don't need to read grin) so have been putting feelers out for more Lyme books to learn from. I stumbled across this one, which is right up my alley: The Homeopathic Treatment of Lyme Disease by Peter Alex. I'm not nieve enough to believe that homeopathy all by itself is the answer for Lyme Disease, but it's an avenue to research and add one more Lyme book to my collection and Bookshare's. This next book also sounds really good: Insights Into Lyme Disease Treatment This last one also sounds quite good written by someone who suffered from Lyme for 8 years before getting a correct diagnosis The Lyme Disease Solution
Realistically of course, I can't buy all these books right now, nor could I scan them quickly with my chronic and often times excruciating nerve pain, but hopefully I can implement some protocols or individual aspects of protocols from Healing Lyme as well as choosing the best book to tackle next. My head is saying to choose the Homeopathy one since I have so much knowledge in that area.
Irregardless of what takes place when Thane's labs are run again in a little under three months, if his titer does not place him in the Lyme negative range, I will not stop the supplemental protocols which I have plans of implementing for him. I'm being a bit vague here because I want to research the items more thoroughly before I make my final decision on implementation.
I am nervous about it all, but not as nervous as I would be each and every day if his antibiotics are stopped before he is Lyme negative.
19 November 2011
Results are Here
I got Thane's results yesterday afternoon. The lab changed their format though so it took me a while to be able to read them. Where would I be without my good friend John!
The news is very good from my perspective. Though the journey is not over, there is indeed reason to celebrate. In just five months time, Thane's Lyme titer has been cut in half. When looking back at just how sick my special boy was, this is truly a magnificent thing.
I look at it this way (even though its probably not an accurate analogy): It took Thane two years to get as ill as he was. In the past five months the titer was cut in half- therefore we cut one year of spirochetal invasion from his system. Now theoretically that's probably not exactly how its interpreted, but it helps me- so who cares how its really analyzed smile
I knew realistically before the labs were drawn that we were not done with the treatment phase. There were still symptoms that had not subsided. The checklist is long though of those that have been resolved in this first phase of treatment.
We opted for a much more intensive tick borne disease panel this time around. I have learned just how common co-infections are when one has Lyme. His test this time included eleven co-infections and all of those were negative. This is really encouraging because from what I have heard through some canine TBD sources, not all TBD's can be cured through Amoxicillin. Lyme happens to be one that can though.
For now, we continue on as we have been. I was rather looking forward to having the ability to sleep in on cold mornings which his med dosing prohibits, but one day we will get that ability back. For now, we celebrate this huge step forward at conquering such a tenacious disease.
But really, why must my dogs all have *MEDICAL* lessons to teach me? LOL
The news is very good from my perspective. Though the journey is not over, there is indeed reason to celebrate. In just five months time, Thane's Lyme titer has been cut in half. When looking back at just how sick my special boy was, this is truly a magnificent thing.
I look at it this way (even though its probably not an accurate analogy): It took Thane two years to get as ill as he was. In the past five months the titer was cut in half- therefore we cut one year of spirochetal invasion from his system. Now theoretically that's probably not exactly how its interpreted, but it helps me- so who cares how its really analyzed smile
I knew realistically before the labs were drawn that we were not done with the treatment phase. There were still symptoms that had not subsided. The checklist is long though of those that have been resolved in this first phase of treatment.
We opted for a much more intensive tick borne disease panel this time around. I have learned just how common co-infections are when one has Lyme. His test this time included eleven co-infections and all of those were negative. This is really encouraging because from what I have heard through some canine TBD sources, not all TBD's can be cured through Amoxicillin. Lyme happens to be one that can though.
For now, we continue on as we have been. I was rather looking forward to having the ability to sleep in on cold mornings which his med dosing prohibits, but one day we will get that ability back. For now, we celebrate this huge step forward at conquering such a tenacious disease.
But really, why must my dogs all have *MEDICAL* lessons to teach me? LOL
17 November 2011
Phase One of Treatment Comes to a Close
On Monday, I sent a fax to Dr Franklin, Thane's Lyme specialist. He is about to finish his last refill of his antibiotic treatment. I thought (incorrectly, mind you) that he was supposed to finish the meds and then testing would be done. With just three day of meds left, I felt panicked when I learned I had misunderstood the process. Dr Franklin was awesome and so was Dr M at our regular vet practice. Not only did she see us first thing the next morning to draw labs and evaluate Thane, she gave me some substantial discounts (including a week of antibiotics free of charge)
Dr M was really happy with Thane. She said just his attitude and energy changes were remarkable from when she had last seen him five months earlier. She had not seen him since drawing labs that brought about the Lyme diagnosis- not after he collapsed completely, not after he reacted horribly to the Doxycycline- not since that fateful day when we were gearing up for the possibility that Thane could very likely have this tenacious spirochetal activity destroying his insides.
Thane was bouncing around like a silly man and excited to see her when she came in the door. Thane loves the vet, but last time he went off in the corner of the room and just laid there- let her examine him, but was not into the playful activity he normally participates in with her.
Tuesday was very different. He was back to his own bouncy self with her. I had been going through a funk with regards to where things stand symptomatically with Thane- especially regarding his coat. I really felt encouraged by getting Dr M's perspective. With all the new dark hair growth coming in- albeit slower than I'd like, things really are positive.
After my communications with Dr Franklin, I already knew that the med course is not over. The goal from his perspective is BOTH symptom free (which he is not just yet) and negative TBD test results (which we are waiting on results from).
I'd love to have him done with antibiotics and ready to take on the world Lyme free, but I also know I have to be patient a while longer. We have come through multiple system symptoms- leaving so much behind us, but we still have some skin, coat, and eye symptoms to make it through. There is definitely marked improvement in these symptoms as well and one day I will be writing that Thane is in remission from Lyme, but right now I have to keep being patient.
Gosh Patience is one of the hardest things to come by when you've been dealing with a journey that has taken months out of your normal partnership already. Yes, we are working well together most days, but we are not the team we were before Lyme took over just yet. I am for the most part optimistic about our future, but with the noticeable issues present on overcast days, I do at times wonder what the future holds for the two of us.
I'm not giving up- just being a realist. grin
Dr M was really happy with Thane. She said just his attitude and energy changes were remarkable from when she had last seen him five months earlier. She had not seen him since drawing labs that brought about the Lyme diagnosis- not after he collapsed completely, not after he reacted horribly to the Doxycycline- not since that fateful day when we were gearing up for the possibility that Thane could very likely have this tenacious spirochetal activity destroying his insides.
Thane was bouncing around like a silly man and excited to see her when she came in the door. Thane loves the vet, but last time he went off in the corner of the room and just laid there- let her examine him, but was not into the playful activity he normally participates in with her.
Tuesday was very different. He was back to his own bouncy self with her. I had been going through a funk with regards to where things stand symptomatically with Thane- especially regarding his coat. I really felt encouraged by getting Dr M's perspective. With all the new dark hair growth coming in- albeit slower than I'd like, things really are positive.
After my communications with Dr Franklin, I already knew that the med course is not over. The goal from his perspective is BOTH symptom free (which he is not just yet) and negative TBD test results (which we are waiting on results from).
I'd love to have him done with antibiotics and ready to take on the world Lyme free, but I also know I have to be patient a while longer. We have come through multiple system symptoms- leaving so much behind us, but we still have some skin, coat, and eye symptoms to make it through. There is definitely marked improvement in these symptoms as well and one day I will be writing that Thane is in remission from Lyme, but right now I have to keep being patient.
Gosh Patience is one of the hardest things to come by when you've been dealing with a journey that has taken months out of your normal partnership already. Yes, we are working well together most days, but we are not the team we were before Lyme took over just yet. I am for the most part optimistic about our future, but with the noticeable issues present on overcast days, I do at times wonder what the future holds for the two of us.
I'm not giving up- just being a realist. grin
29 October 2011
From Baby Steps to Leaps and Bounds
The title says it all. For some time it felt like progress was so slow and that this journey may never end. Though when the end might be is still anyone's guess since new tick labs won't be done for at least a few more weeks. I am definitely seeing signs that point towards good things though. I am determined to believe that they are just the first signs of many to come.
A lot of the positive things are coming through Thane's work. With the benefit of the addition of Ester-C which supports collagen repair, a number of my concerns about the future of our partnership are just slipping away. This is a very positive thing that has given me back hope for our future.
Recently I thought Thane was bruising again amongst other changes that were not so good. I was dashed but remembered my readings in Healing Lyme about biofilm and cyst forms and tried to assure myself that this was just part of the process. When I pointed a bruise out to a sighted person however, it turned out to not be a bruise at all. but darker hair beginning its growth back in. This was on his hip but the same could be said for the other places of supposed new bruising! I was ecstatic.
That night as I groomed Thane, I spent some moments stroking the new hair growth. This may sound silly to some, but Thane has had skin color single coat hair on that hip for almost a year now. Some of it I believed was caused by a flea product I used for bathing while the rest I suspected to be from his staph infection. Of course at that point we had no idea he had this infection because he had Lyme. I had come to face reality that this hair on his hip may never be what it once was even after Lyme was behind us. Then here I was stroking the reality that healing may come in all forms for Thane. It may not be completed in lightening speed, but given time his coat may be just what it was before that tick devastated our lives.
Recently we went through a period of Thane being outright stubborn about where we were going. He wanted us to go the route he wanted us to go. Most teams would have looked at this as a huge headache and I am sure at the time it was occurring a part of me wished it was not happening. That all said, when it surfaced another part of me was thrilled by its appearance. Go ahead and laugh, but this is a side of Thane that has made me a better trainer and handler. It's also a side of him that I had not really seen since Lyme took over so I was reveling in its return because by it returning it felt like one more area had been released from the stronghold of the spirochetes. It's all about how one looks at things.
The last few days, I have seen a return to a lively bouncy Border Collie boy whether we are at home playing or out walking or working, there is an extra pizaz in his step and actions that had been lost. Now it's back and I am loving it!
Our work has shown just how much progress has been made in conquering Lyme. He is just really into whatever we are doing. We even went back to the nature trail for the first time since his Lyme diagnosis. We were finally home.
A lot of the positive things are coming through Thane's work. With the benefit of the addition of Ester-C which supports collagen repair, a number of my concerns about the future of our partnership are just slipping away. This is a very positive thing that has given me back hope for our future.
Recently I thought Thane was bruising again amongst other changes that were not so good. I was dashed but remembered my readings in Healing Lyme about biofilm and cyst forms and tried to assure myself that this was just part of the process. When I pointed a bruise out to a sighted person however, it turned out to not be a bruise at all. but darker hair beginning its growth back in. This was on his hip but the same could be said for the other places of supposed new bruising! I was ecstatic.
That night as I groomed Thane, I spent some moments stroking the new hair growth. This may sound silly to some, but Thane has had skin color single coat hair on that hip for almost a year now. Some of it I believed was caused by a flea product I used for bathing while the rest I suspected to be from his staph infection. Of course at that point we had no idea he had this infection because he had Lyme. I had come to face reality that this hair on his hip may never be what it once was even after Lyme was behind us. Then here I was stroking the reality that healing may come in all forms for Thane. It may not be completed in lightening speed, but given time his coat may be just what it was before that tick devastated our lives.
Recently we went through a period of Thane being outright stubborn about where we were going. He wanted us to go the route he wanted us to go. Most teams would have looked at this as a huge headache and I am sure at the time it was occurring a part of me wished it was not happening. That all said, when it surfaced another part of me was thrilled by its appearance. Go ahead and laugh, but this is a side of Thane that has made me a better trainer and handler. It's also a side of him that I had not really seen since Lyme took over so I was reveling in its return because by it returning it felt like one more area had been released from the stronghold of the spirochetes. It's all about how one looks at things.
The last few days, I have seen a return to a lively bouncy Border Collie boy whether we are at home playing or out walking or working, there is an extra pizaz in his step and actions that had been lost. Now it's back and I am loving it!
Our work has shown just how much progress has been made in conquering Lyme. He is just really into whatever we are doing. We even went back to the nature trail for the first time since his Lyme diagnosis. We were finally home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)