Thursday, June 3, 2010

Note from Kira's Mom...

Thank you for all of the well wishes. I find I am going to have a very difficult time ahead. I have been diagnosed with ocular shingles. This means a lot of pain, and house quarantine for the next 3 weeks. ( It can be transmitted to people with immune problems , pregnant woman and some others)( I have lost the use of one eye and the doctors say it may be months before I regain my sight in it. As visual artist this is very difficult to accept. You lose all sense of perspective with one eye. I reach for something and miss. I have trouble walking on steps.( I have felt the need to smash canvas or throw things)  Instead of whining to the world and feeling sorry for myself, I have to find something positive from this.
It has been interesting watching the dogs. At first they could not figure out what was up, watching, waiting for walkies...I  know they are watching me. I feel them near, they started yesterday taking turns laying on the bed with me, (which is usually not allowed.)  One jumps down, nudges the other and he/she jumps up and lays down. When Kira lays with me, you can feel the whole bed shake with her panting, which is a rather soothing rocking feeling. I am going to try during this time to understand them more than I already do,  to learn to communicate by observing. (Since I can't do anything else) 
As a dog/ puppy trainer I am always reading and  learning.
 Dogs watch us all of the time. You can see that they pick up little things, like a hand movement before we say anything. They read our body language to figure out when it is time for a walk, time to play, time for training.
Dogs do not speak english (or spanish , french, etc) They figure out what we want by conditioning and training. They may understand that sit means to put your rear down , but it was conditioning that taught them that.The first step to good communication with your dog is: don't talk too much. Your canine friends do not spend hours in long verbal conversations with each other .Dogs are almost always communicating with each other and with their humans. The majority of this communication is through body language. Our problem is that we only understand some of the vocabulary.If you pay close attention to your dog, you will begin to understand more of what it is trying to tell you.
A couple of interesting blogs to read. 
 
 
Yes, Kira will be back! We have hundreds of pictures of her last boat adventure, as soon as I get the strength up to upload all of the pictures.  No more ramblings of Mom, just Kira The BeaWootiful.
Thank you for your friendship and the opportunity to vent a little....
-Kira's Mom

32 comments:

3 doxies said...

Oooooooh my golly, I am soooo sorry to hear bout this. It sounds quite dreadful. My mimi hads it befores and hers said it was da most awfullest thing to endure. I so hope you gets to feeling betters. Ummmm, and I hopes you still has a house left befores it's all overs. Try not to go smashing any windows...hehehehe!
Thank you also fur da ummmm, communication post...we sure did need it today. So we is off to check your linkies.
Puddles

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you. Our Mom has suffered from the shingles twice - once around the mid-section and once in the eye so she knows some of how you feel. Just take it a day at a time, an hour at a time, a minute or a second - sometimes we wonder why me must endure these maladies, but they happen and we find the strength to go on. You are very fortunate to have two wonderful canine nurses.

((((HUGS))))

XOXO
Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Ruairi

Two French Bulldogs said...

Oh my goodness...that is terrible. We know shingles could be very painful, ocular shingles must be worse. we will keep you in our thoughts and of course our paws are crossed.
Benny & Lily

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Dear Kira's Mom -

Thanks so much for the update -

We wanted to write BUT knew you needed to rest/etc -

We are glad to see this update -

From everything I've ever heard/read about any kind of shingles, day by day is the best plan - I can still hear David Letterman talking about his -

BUT we KNOW canine therapy is THE BEST there is!

Please know we'll be sending lots of Sibe AND GR Vibes to FL from PA!

My K tells your K to keep her mom under control!

(WHATEVER THAT MEANS)

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra's Mom (with special pants from Khyra and Khousin Merdie)

Tama-Chan, Benny, Vidock, Violette, Ollie, Heloise, Momo, Ryu said...

Gosh! That sounds very uncomfortable, painful and a giant nuisance. We send you all our best wishes, and know that you are in good paws as far as canine support goes!

booahboo said...

Hope things get better for you soon. I am sure things will. Be postive. Anger do not solve issues. I learn that from my dogs. I watch them too most of the time and we are beginning to understand each other more.

Spend more time with doggies and less time straining your one good eye. It will help with the recovery. God Bless.

BeadedTail said...

Thanks for the update and know that we are thinking of you and sending purrs and crossing paws that you get better soon! Enjoy the time observing the dogs and Bentley - they really are soothing and comforting so will be a great help. Take care!

Martha said...

We are really sorry to hear about your eye - we have never heard of ocular shingles!
We know shingles itself in a very painful condition and as you say losing the sight in one eye is not easy!
We are thinking of you and hope you get better quickly.
Some things you just have to accept and it looks like this is one of the unfortunately.
Sorry about your work.
love
Martha and Bailey xxx

Sychoberians said...

Wow, So sorry to hear of your problems. We are sure the BeaWOOtiful Kira and Scampi and maybe the evil thing living there will help you.

Get well,

Remy and Flash

Sychoberians said...

Sorry, we meant to say the evil Kat might even help.

Remy and Flash

D.K. Wall said...

Wow, so sorry about all of the challenges. We agree that canine therapy and alone time with them could be exactly the best treatment. Paws crossed for a speedy and complete recovery.

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

We hope you recover soon; but we're glad you have Kira and Scampi to keep you company.

XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

What a wonderful outlook you are keeping. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers as well. Thank you so much for the update and the wonderful references on dog communication.

We know that you are in caring, loving paws!

Smileys and Snuggles!
Beth (Dory, Jacob and Bilbo too)

The Life of Riley said...

I hope you get better soon - I'm sure your dogs are a great comfort to you as you recover (and in return they will enjoy this extra time with you).

Scout and Freyja said...

I am so unbelievably sorry you are experiencing this in your eyes. My gosh, I remember my father having bouts of shingles on his body and that was miserable enough. Oh my gosh, I will keep you close in prayer that your sight returns. I just don't know what to say to you to comfort you other than I am so very sorry.

Biloxi and Siber-sibs said...

Woo Kira's Maw! We is so furry sorry to hear bout da diffy culties woo is havin. But woo will have a furry enjoyable time watching your furkids. We is so entertainin'.
Get well soon.

Husky kisses,
Biloxi

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Pam, my heart goes out to you. My husband had something very similar, it was a form of the herpes virus that attacked his eye and went undetected for months. He ended up with some major issues. I just asked him about it and he says his was not the same as yours but very similar. I won't go into a lot of details here, but his episode was the start of years and years of eye issues, not sure if they are all related, but I am very glad yours has been diagnosed and is being treated. I know you are in terrible pain. I pray that you are doing better soon.

Hugs, Kathie

Anonymous said...

OMD! I came over to poke fun at Kira about the kitty-sissy and ... I'm not in the mood any more. I'm so so sorry you have to suffer through this! I'm glad you're being soothed and all, but I sure hope you recover soon. You want positive, you got it. We'll keep up the fun and we'll entertain and send you virtual hugs and licks ... anything we can. The best news is that this is reversible. So, hang in there and do NOT hesitate to ask your friends for assistance. :)
Our best,
Twinkie and her mommy

Yas said...

Hello Kira and mom,
we are sorry to hear about your condition. We do hope that you will recover very very soon.
Keeping our paws and fingers crossed for you!

Take care,
Maxx and mommy

Tweedles -- that's me said...

My dear sweet new friends
I might have to bring you some chicken soup.
I have been worried about you- thinking of you everyday.
Since you are my friend- I will keep checking on you.
I am so sorry you got this owie.
Please do what the dr says and you will get betters.
You mentioned you train dogs.
I wonder if you could train me,
My moms think I am wild sometimes.
I will surround you with pug hugs
love
tweedles

Asta said...

Deew Kiwa's Mom
Mommi and I awe vewy vewy sowwy to heaw of youw awful owdeal. mommi is a paintew and can well undewstand how howwibull this must be fow you .
Thank dog fow Kiwa, Scampi and Bentley.
I know they will take vewy good cawe of you and i will be cwossing my paw fow youw full quick wecovewy.
Thnak you fow telling Mommi not to waste so much wowdses on me, youw advice is pawfect
smoochie healing kisses
ASTA

Lorenza said...

Hi, Kira's Mom!
We are so sorry to know about your health issue.
It sounds very painful. We hope you feel better soon!
Paws crossed and prayers for you!
Take care
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza and mom

Emma Rose said...

I am so sorry to hear this. My Duchess had shingles on her face and almost in her eye. But it never actually got on the eye. I cannot imagine the pain you are having. We will keep you in our prayers.

Kisses,
Emma Rose

Bella and Ollie said...

I am so sorry to hear so.
My family sends our best wishes and we are praying for you.
I hope Kira and Scampi take good care of you.

Love, Bella.

Maxmom said...

Dear Kira's mommy
I am so sorry to hear about your sickies. Shingles isn't fun at the best of times (I had it after my second child) but to have it in your eye must be devastating.
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. You might be right...perhaps its just time to 'be' with your dogs...they will help you along this road. There is so much more to them than we know.
Sending lots of love for a happy weekend.
MAXMOM IN SA

Cheryl, Indiana, Shingo and Molly said...

So sorry to hear about your ocular shingles. I've had regular shingles twice, and they were bad enough!!! Hang in there. We're all pulling for you!!

Cheryl AKA "Moms"
Woofs and Kisses!
The Fiesty Three

Mochi and Bali said...

We are crossing our paws and fingers for you! I think being with the dogs will help out a lot!

Mochi & Mommy

Steve, Kat, & Wilbur said...

Hugs to you! We hope everything works out and that Kira and Scampii keep you company while you are stuck at home.

Steve and Kat

Jesse the Westie said...

We are so sorry to hear of your diagnosis. Mom has myotonic muscular dystrophy and it's a struggle for her each day. Please know you are in our prayers.

xoxo,
Jesse, Blizz and mom

KB said...

This is my first visit, and I am so sad to read of your ocular shingles. It must be very disconcerting and painful. I do agree that it's very interesting to see how dogs respond to their human being sick or hurt. Watching, waiting, and finally trying to snuggle and help.

I love the same two dog training blogs as you do so our approaches must be very similar.

Feel better soon.

Those boat photos in the next post are amazing. I'll have to read more to figure out where they were taken!

The Oceanside Animals said...

Wow, sorry to hear about your diagnosis! I had never heard of this condition but it sounds like it would an especial affliction for artist. We hope you have a speedy recovery.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh. i'm catching up on your old posts (reading them cuz i haven't been visiting in a while) and i'm so sorry to hear this. Is ocular shingles life long? is it like a dormant chicken pox released in the eye? i've never heard of it. i'm floored. i hope you get better soon.

re: watching dogs and dogs watching us. i agree. we speak too much (especially me). i love it when i change my clothes, my GSD Loki comes in and puts his nose on the pants i put on trying to figure out what it means. they both know what my bike clothes eman and my yoga clothes. they get excited when i put on running shorts and certain jeans. other jeans, they know are not play out side jeans...they are going out jeans. they know the difference between them even if they're washed. its amazing. my last dog, the dingo was like that too.

i already read otherend of the leash. i'll have to go to that other one too.

feel better soon! Oh and is Kira learning to swim? I want to teach juno so badly. i would love it. no time right now.