Last Thursday, before we went to the hospital on Friday, 9.27.2024, Lil’ Murph turned to stay in my hands when I attempted to place him inside of his enclosure. So, he went with me to three places. One place was to a gas station. The family owners are from India. The husband video-called India while we were there. Whoever they were speaking to wanted to see Murph and know his name. I had no idea what they were saying, except I picked up “customer.” The wife smiled so big and said, “They are happy!” People in India saw Murph live, and they thought he was so neat!
I’m home with him almost constantly. On Wednesday, Murph went with me to a consignment shop where I sell things. Murph doesn’t like long drives, but we want to be together (7 minutes is enough driving time for him). Afterward, he saw a pet store for the first time. I loved pet stores as a kid, and now they sadden me with unhappy animals in cruel-sized enclosures.
The song, “Happy To Be Stuck With You” was playing when we walked in.
In the morning, both eyes are bulging behind his eyelids. The actual ball of his left eye has been larger than the right since maybe the spring. I took a photo that compares the two simultaneously, but I didn’t share it as intended. It is now hundreds of photos back in the phone. Sigh. Not doing great financially, and this seemed a mild irritation (which I hated, and he more so) to our Murph, with no pain. My research pulled up nothing but a possibility of eye socket cancer, and then a photo of a beardie at the vet with an eye that looks exactly like Murph’s, who required no treatment and was sent home. Both eyes are now watering sometimes. Nothing icky.
I spoke to a doctor where Murph went. Called Tuesday, I think. I asked what could cause the bulging anterior OS, as stated in his check-up summary. She said maybe his “vitrium” (the gel in our eyes) is not draining properly, possibly because of his diagnosis of a gastric neuroendocrine tumor. She said “vitrium.” Something about internal pressure buildup from his belly area, nerves, and everything else eye-related ultimately travels through the skull, down the spine, and ultimately connects to the rest of him.
To which I asked, “Are you telling me this tumor caused that eye to begin to swell in the spring, then in just a few days’ time last week, his chin was slightly dark, then about to die on Friday?” She said it’s possible. Here’s the thing, I even asked her to spell “vitrium” so I could research the cause of this alleged lack of draining myself. The liquid of our eyes is not “vitrium,” although that means glass (basically), the gel in our eyes is the “vitreous body.” And the vitreous humor helps the eye to keep is shape.
She said his eye won’t rupture, but this woman has no anatomy major either. She asked if he was getting too much fluid & is bloating, basically. He is eating mostly alright and receiving occasional soaks. She agreed he is not getting too much water. Ugh.
A few mornings, including last Friday, Murph’s entire body was puffy, as if he were holding his breath. I took this photo today, I could be mistaken, but his scales look a bit lifted on his forearms. It reminds me of dropsy (a heartbreaking experience) in fish.
He has moments of his super sharp mind. He’ll eat decently and walk in the grass to poo nearly every day. Then he closes his eyes and most often looks exhausted. Then he might perk up, chin up & at least one eye open on his cage…
We are outside much of the day. We work on our online store and sometimes just sit and be. I’ve paused the SEO and keyword course I was taking because I don’t have the mental umph for that now. We hold each other inside a lot too (way better than SEO stuff), but I try to let him rest under his lights with his stuffed animals that he likes.
His pooing is frequent. Looks great. Urates are white, not discolored from a liver problem. His liver count was good as per the vet’s paperwork. Yet, the docs claim the alleged cancer is affecting the liver, which, high glucose of 512 is a symptom of this type of cancer affecting the liver. Yet, isn’t the pancreas involved in blood glucose levels? I just don’t know. His chin has not been black from pain or stress at all. Maybe the once daily as prescribed pain (anti-inflammatory) medicine is working. 🤔
He has eaten every day except Friday and Saturday of last week. However, on Tuesday, he only wanted a bit of baby food during his “spa time.” Other than that, he’s eating bell peppers, bok choy, apples, etc.!!
The support we’ve already received is amazing. We do not need comments. Please do not feel obligated. We’ve been off the radar for a couple of days and just want those who care about our Murphy to know how he is getting along.
If anyone knows anything about these symptoms, first, thank you for taking the time to read, and second, thank you for any suggestions.
“Give me Lizardry or give me Death!”
❤️ Murph & Dawn
LizardPlanet.com 
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