Big Bertha Doing Great

[ZEROPILOT]

Good morning! I so hope you have found Bertha more awake this morning

Yes. She was responsive.
I leave for work at 3:45am. So it was very dark. Even in my lighted patio area where her outdoors pen is.
I wanted to keep her over night inside because she would have been vulnerable to a passing rat, etc.

 

[Pearly]

That's a great news! Hopefully Lactulose has worked as well, though (sorry for you) you may have a big mess to clean up

 

[Angel Carrion]

That's a great news! Hopefully Lactulose has worked as well, though (sorry for you) you may have a big mess to clean up

Yup. Huuuuuuuge mess. Get ready for the War of the Roses in her intestines.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

My wife texted me. She went home to walk the dog and saw Bertha out of her house and venturing out into the grass. She saw no poop still.

 

[johnandjade]

My wife texted me. She went home to walk the dog and saw Bertha out of her house and venturing out into the grass. She saw no poop still.

hopefully it'll help move things along

 

[Anyfoot]

My wife texted me. She went home to walk the dog and saw Bertha out of her house and venturing out into the grass. She saw no poop still.

You never know. There could be some poop and your wife just had a " mans look". Lol. Sounding better ed.

 

[johnandjade]

i can honestly say this is the first time in my life i've prayed for poo!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

i can honestly say this is the first time in my life i've prayed for poo!

She pooped a month or so ago. Before that it was about three months.

 

[johnandjade]

She pooped a month or so ago. Before that it was about three months.

poor queen b ... i'll send some of the girlfriends dodggy cooking, never fails for me! hopping the movement will help free things up

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I hope she is a little peppier. She gets another needle tonight.

 

[johnandjade]

bit of luck anyfoot is right and the 'royal stamp' has just been missed.

 

[DawnH]

Oh man. I have been gone and saw this headline and just about freaked out! Glad to hear she is still with us and fighting like crazy!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Yes Dawn. A lot has happened. But we're right about back at the beginning.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

She pooped.
Not much but it is very loose and I'm sure there will be more as soon as she has the strength to push.

 

[Merrick]

She pooped.
Not much but it is very loose and I'm sure there will be more as soon as she has the strength to push.

Yes exactly what we were waiting for!! hope that makes her feel better

 

[ZEROPILOT]

She is not eating today but she clearly is not very happy and in about an hour I've got to jab her with her antibiotic shot.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

When I bought her in and gave her her injection, I realized that the "POOP" is more or less just some nasty water pouring out of her rear. When I lifted her up, it poured out.
I washed her and let her soak in the utility room sink. (Changing the water several times.)
She is trying to poo again, tail up in the air, but nothing is really going on.

 

[Lyn W]

Poor girl! Hopefully this is just a precursor of things to come.

 

[Pearly]

When I bought her in and gave her her injection, I realized that the "POOP" is more or less just some nasty water pouring out of her rear. When I lifted her up, it poured out.
I washed her and let her soak in the utility room sink. (Changing the water several times.)
She is trying to poo again, tail up in the air, but nothing is really going on.

Sounds like her tummy is cramping. Lactulose tends to give cramps. If she needs to be on laxative for a while I'd check with the vet about switching to Miralax which is gentle and doesn't give stomach cramps. I'm just not sure if/how you'd give it. It's a powder that you mix with some liquid and drink. I know you said you were going to stay committed to Bertha for as long as she kept fighting, and that you liked the vet, but... Do you have any way to get a second opinion? It just seems strange that without any other apparent cause (major illness, metabolic or structural issue, overwhelming infection, or malignancy... etc) this poor thing is still miserable. Are you confident in the skill level of your vet? Or... Is she missing something? What is exactly her differential diagnosis and treatment plan? What's her prognosis? I'm sure you have been asking those questions all along but you are also the caregiver of the sick animal which is very draining and can be scary and overwhelming. I imagine you are having to fork out some serious dollars with each vet visit. Sorry for being devil's advocate and throwing my human medicine stuff in here. I just wish I could help somehow. This must be very frustrating for you

 

[ZEROPILOT]

It does feel as though my vet has a hit and miss approach, but she is still the best one I have found.
I O.K.ed any and every type of test to be done and there is still no diagnosis. Antibiotics for an infection not found, etc.
There IS the troubling matter of what was/is her original illness?
One day she stopped eating and didn't eat for over three months....She got a feeding tube and then began eating on her own again. Then had a major issue and almost died? What was that? Now she is crawling back to the point that she was originally at.....Certainly no better and nothing has ever been found to be wrong. No X ray. No blood test. No fecal test. No test has found anything. She has had test after test after test. Nothing is abnormal.
Maybe I do need another vet. I've used one in Marathon three hours to the south and in West Palm an hour north. This one is only 30 minutes away. Most "exotics" are clearly guessing when it comes to tortoises. At least this vet HAS a tortoise!
Yes, at this point, I've spent several thousand dollars on her care. She is not better at all. It seems like we should be a little bit further along than this.
Thanks for letting me vent.