Glynda:
Thank you for your help I really appreciate it since I am in the dark on many of these issues.
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Glynda:
Thank you for your help I really appreciate it since I am in the dark on many of these issues.
Has anybody heard from her lately? I hope everything is ok.
Hi Patti,
How is Tipper doing? and you? We haven't heard from you in awhile. You know we are worry warts. :)
Hope you are both doing okay.
hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin
Hi,
Just checking in to see how things are going for your baby?
Everyone:
Thank you all for inquiring about Tipper. We have been spending some intense time together. I cherish every second of it. Tipper has been doing very well. So well in fact that it is scaring me. I am so afraid that this " grace period" will come crashing to an end. Tipper has been pretty much symptom free for the most part. She does however still have a ravenous appetite. I called Dechra as her last stim test was an 11, and I was concerned. They had the Vet there call me. He explained many things to me that I did not know. He told me to give her another month and the hunger should subside. He said he was not in favor of upping her meds right now. I hope I am doing the right thing listening to him. What do you all think? What would you do??? I am worried if her number is not low enough, that this could be doing more damage inside of her??? I have just been living every day scared to death that this good period will end. I do read the entries on the forum, but get depressed when I hear of others having so many problems, and of their dogs passing. I am scared to death that this will be my Tipper's fate. I think I am actually borderline paranoid from watching every little thing she does, in an effort to catch anything that is going wrong. Nobody said this was easy, but it can and does give me a lot of anxiety. Of all the dogs I have shared my lifetime with, she is the most precious and special to me. I pray to God to keep this miracle going for her, and that she remains symptom free. This disease is so scarey that even though she doesn't exhibit symptoms, I am still petrified of what is going on inside her. I am naturally a worry wort, so this has kicked into high gear with me. I am trying to manage it day to day, as it effects my Lupus badly. Tipper is very energetic, walking sometimes 5-6 times a day, plays ball, jumps up on her hind legs like a spring, and has a good quality of life. She has no skin issues, just her allergies, eats well, and is resting better, but still snoring loudly, and having the muscle contractions. She has become very frightened of noises, anyone having this problem?? If so what is causing this? It is hard for me to reconcile that all this can be snuffed out in a heart beat. I pray for you all, and all your babies as this is definitely a life changing experience for us all. Sorry to ramble on, but some of these things are hard to hold inside, and better let out with understanding friends. For better or worse we have all been brought together for the same reason, the love of our companion animal. I still wish we could all get together, and become a positive force in finding a cure for this disease. I want to get some entity interested in studying this disease, and stopping it ,so others do not have to go thru this. There are many funds for researching other diseases, but I have not seen any for this. I think this is the best way to honor our babies, think about it, maybe we could initiate something and get the ball rolling. God Bless Us All
So glad to hear from you! Even better is know that Tipper is doing A-Okay. I'd keep Tipper just where she is as that was the recommendation from Dechra and she appears to be doing very well on it.
Now don't go borrowing trouble that you don't have by worrying so much. I know we all tend to do that, but you need to think about how it is not good for your health to do that either. Enjoy the now, as you are doing, while Tipper is feeling good. That is what is important. Hugs!
We know how hard it is sometimes to read of peoples problems and the furbabies and understand that. Comment when you want to or ask any questions. Just know that we tend to be worry warts, so don't be surprised if we start looking for you. :)
Not sure what would cause the noise fright. I just have the thunder/lightening fear to deal with.
Sharlene and Molly Muffin
I know so well how you are feeling. Squirt is my heart-n-soul dog, she literally saved my life, giving it purpose when I had no hope left. She is the light of my world and I cannot fathom one single day without her. We have been together since she was 5 weeks old and she will be 15 in Feb. She was 10 when we started this Cushing's journey and I prayed for 6 more years, just 6 more.
There are times when anticipatory grief takes over and I can barely function. I look at her, knowing she is getting old, knowing our days here are numbered, and the air doesn't want to come into my lungs, my chest constricts, my throat tightens and burns. Tears will start flowing unchecked then she will roll over and look at me with such love and joy in her eyes along with the promise that she will never really leave me, that she will always be with me no matter what, that we will never be truly apart. Her eyes remind me of my faith, my belief that all life is a circle, that there is no ending without a beginning, that the physical will change but the Spirit remains constant, that our Souls are bound together for eternity. And I can breath again.
I have to remind myself constantly to take every minute as it comes, to find the beauty and joy each offers, and to hold on to that with all my might. Everything is more precious, even the things neither of us enjoy, like trimming nails and washing the face. Everything makes another memory to store and cherish against "that day". I remind myself that her Light will always shine, she will always "be" in one form or the other, that we will always be together. A friend once told me we are all made a promise - a promise that even though things may change those we love never really leave us; a promise that we will be reunited with them one day; a promise that separation is only temporary. I cling to that promise and find a great deal of comfort.
Keep your chin up, honey, keep the faith, remember that promise. Our babies know they are loved more than words can express and that is all that really matters.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
Leslie:
Thank you so much for all the kind words, and encouragement, I needed them badly. Tipper has been acting strange the last few days. Very paranoid behavior, pacing and listening for whatever, with a distant look about her. Yesterday when we went for her blood pressure check it was up at 170. She had constantly been 160 then 2 weeks ago went down to 125 in a matter of 8 days. She stayed at 125 for 2 weeks. I was told the 125 is a good number?? Now we are at the 170 which is scaring me since her behavior has been so odd.The Vet said she was really anxious and that could account for it- but rising 45 points??? She is still contantly starving, and cries when I get her food ready. Last night she was very restless. Her last stim was in October. She is not supposed to get another one until January. Do you think I should get another one done to see what is going on or wait? She gets her blood pressure checked every week on Wednesday. Should I wait till the next BP check? When she got up this morning she had lots of white mucus in her eyes- both of them. Not sure what this has to do with anything. She has never had this before. This is so scarey not knowing what to do. I appreciate the time you took, and the beautiful things you wrote. They all sum up my feelings for Tipper too. Living every day being scared is not easy to do. I am trying to keep my anxiety down, but it is not easy. Anyone have any suggestions I would greatly appreciate them. Thank You again, and God Bless Us, and all of our babies.
Hi Patti,
At the time of Tipper's last stim test, you mentioned that all of her symptoms had resolved. You now mention that she is starving all of the time now. Has that symptoms recently returned? Since the post stimulated cortisol was high (11 ug/dl) on the last stim test done over a month ago on 10/10, I would definitely want another stim test done to see where Tipper's cortisol levels are now. It's possible her cortisol is higher now or it may still be hovering around the 10/10 levels, but in either case, an increase in dose may be necessary.
Glynda
Thank you Glynda- Tipper never really had the ravenous appetite. All Jack Russells love food, so she always did want food. It has become very pronounced now, and she can't wait to eat and cries when we eat anything. This is the only symptom that has cropped up. The rep at Dechra told me to wait another month and see if it subsides, but it is becoming a problem as she will jump all over you and beg an hour before it is time for her to eat. It does seem to be getting unmanageable, as she cannot eat all day long or we will have weight issues. I hate to put her thru another test, but I am torn at what to do. Is the hunger issue controlled if the cortisol is where it should be? She is getting super upset going to the Vet's all the time, and that is a bad thing also. What would you do? Thank you for your help.