Just diagnosed with cushings AND diabetes

[DorothyGirl]

Hello! New to the forum but have been reading for weeks. So much great info and support. My 9 year old Schnauzer Dorothy was just diagnosed with cushings and diabetes and will start treatment for the diabetes first, tomorrow. AND in just the last two days has developed a seeping hard, wide, painful lump on her back towards the rump ( calcinosous cutis?) This all after having a huge amount of stones removed less than a year ago. Have read insulin will not absorb with such high cortisol levels so not sure what to do tomorrow. I have much faith in my lovely vet but want to make sure we are treating properly. Anyone in the same position? I am worried sick and my heart is breaking.

[Budsters Mom]

Hello and welcome:)
I am so sorry for the reason that brought you here but so glad that you found us. You have come to the right place! There are many K9Cushing's angels standing by to help and stay with you every step of the way. They love details, test results, any information you can get your hands on. The more the better. We will do all we can to help, but be ready for lots of questions! Others will be dropping in shortly to welcome you also. So again, welcome to you and Dorothy.:)

[DorothyGirl]

Hi Kathy,
Thanks so much for your prompt response. I will post numbers tomorrow after the visit. Fairly certain of the cushings, as was thought a year ago when stones were removed from her bladder. But the diabetes diagnosis along with the recent wound on back ( just two days) and just today vaginal cleaning leads me to believe an infection. Hopefully will get some answers tomorrow but so hard to wait in the meantime. She just seems to have done a 180 from a spunky baby girl to a sad girl in two days.
Thanks so much!!!

[Trixie]

Hi and welcome!
I'm so sorry to hear about Dorothy. My schnauzer is 9 too. She was diagnosed with Cushings last April. This board is great and there are plenty of really helpful people here to give advice. There is also a diabetes board which I'm sure would also be helpful to you.
There are people on this board who are dealing with both diabetes and Cushings, I'm sure they will post on your thread once they see it.

If you have (or can get) all the copies of your dog's blood tests and any other tests that were done and post the numbers here, it will help the "experts" make suggestions and advise you.
It's great that you have a good vet who you like and have confidence in-that's the first battle won. I hope Dorothy is feeling okay and that you'll feel better once you start treating and get used to the new "normal". Everyone here knows how awful and worried you feel, it's quite overwhelming. Others will be on to welcome you and help out. Love seeing Dorothy's photo..she's a sweetie. :)

Barbara

[DorothyGirl]

Hi Barbara!
Will get everything posted tomorrow. Trixie looks super sweet. I am a glutton for punishment. Had a Schnauzer previous to Dorothy for 16 years; got her when I was just a kid , and had problems with her as well. I knew of the predisposition they had to illnesses but just love the breed dearly. Thanks so much for your reply and will be doing some extensive reading on the diabetes threads.

[Trixie]

I had a schnauzer as a kid too... into my college years. She also had bladder stones and had a number of surgeries for them over the years.
I'm sorry to hear that Dorothy is feeling badly and not herself over the last few days. I hate waiting to get to the vet, so I understand how you want to get her there and get her feeling better.
Once some of these problems are addressed I bet she'll have a turn around and start to have her schnauzer spunk back. I know it's so hard to see her not feeling well.
Hope that tomorrow's vet visit will bring some answers for you and some immediate help for Dorothy. Let us know how it goes. :)

Barbara

[Jenny & Judi in MN]

Hi: My Jenny has diabetes and cushings also. I resisted taking her to a specialist for a long time and we wound up overdosing her with lysodren. You may want to seriously considering finding a specialist in your area right now.

Yes cushings, can cause a need for more insulin until the cortisol levels get regulated. I also hate to tell you that for some reason schnauzers can require more insulin even without cushings.

several of the schnauzers on our diabetes forum http://k9diabetes.com/forum/index.php wound up using Levemir insulin versus the normally used NPH because they had better results.

If your vet wants to start with NPH, it is cheaper at Walmart $24.99 per bottle.

Please come on over to our diabetes forum. both diseases at once is so overwhelming. We've been dealing with this since 2011 and my Jenny feels better now, 2 years later then she did back then. So it is manageable. hang in there! Judi

just wanted to add that Natalie, the founder and incredibly knowledgeable founder of the diabetes site often reminds us that there is no contest regarding amount of insulin. It takes what it takes. so whatever she needs for regulation will be fine. It's just some schnauzers don't always regulate on the NPH for whatever reason.

If you can learn how to test blood sugar at home that will help too. When Jenny's cushings was out of control she needed 7 units of insulin twice a day. suddenly we had some very scary low blood sugar incidents as her cushings got regulated and she wound up only needing 3 1/2 units twice a day.

[goldengirl88]

I am so sorry that you are worried sick and your heart is breaking. Most of us have felt that pain when we first came here. It will get better and thing will be ok as long as you are vigilant with watching your dog. The people on here have a wealth of knowledge about both diseases, and they will guide you. It will all work out as we all feel like this at times. Blessings
Patti

[frijole]

Please post the cushing's test results. It is common for cushing's tests to be false positives when diabetes is present. Treat the diabetes first as it is the most important thing. get us the test results and we'll take a look. Kim

[molly muffin]

Hi! I just want to welcome you and Dorothy to the forum.
I highly encourage you to also sign up on the k9diabetes forum, our sister site as they will be a wealth of knowledge and support for you, right along with all of us here. :)
We do have several dogs that have both and some that thought they had both, that ended up with only diabetes. It can be super tricky.
Just know that it can be sorted out, it can be managed and a good quality of life can be had. For both of you!! This all takes a toll on the human body too, the worry and anxiety.

Sharlene and Molly Muffin