Zoe By My Side- Our Journey with Cushings

Hang in there my friend. Don't beat yourself up. You're doing what you feel is best for Zoe.

Are you considering increasing Zoe's dosage to 15mg, or are you going to keep her on the 10mg?

Take the night off and just relax. (((HUGS)))

Thank you Leslie and Terri,

I think I am worried that she has super adrenals and I am going to have a time of it. I had hoped that if I got her down between 7 and 9 I could allow her cortisol to run a bit high and keep her there. Now I am worried that I won't be able to and she will just creep right back up again over 9. I did not see this one coming as she seemed fine. I was worried her stim was coming back at 10 and then what would I do? I did not expect her back up again like last time.:eek:

Look at the history:

she was 44 ug/dl in January we did not retest before starting Vetoryl in June.

10mgs took her down to 7.7 pre 11.2 post after 10 days
at 30 days she was pre 9.9 post 16.9

raised dose to 15mgs which took her down to 5.8 pre 9.9 post after 14 days.

now retested 14 days later and here we are climbing again 6.4 pre 14.9 post

so we go to 20mgs tomorrow. she will probably go down to 6 or 7ug/dl in 14 days which I would normally take but I worry she is just going to bounce right back up again after the next 14 days.

My point is she keeps dropping and then starts going back up.
Can anyone explain that?

That is bizarre. And I have been living bizarre so I know. ;)

Couple of questions.. did you ever have an ultrasound done to rule out an adrenal tumor? Could there be a non adrenal illness that is causing the fluctuations. Remember Annie had 5 false positives on the acth so they aren't golden. Maybe something else is causing the cortisol to rise? I hope others chime in with thoughts.. this is interesting... and frustrating. Hugs, Kim

Hi Addy,

Corky's cortisol level has kept fluctuating. Everytime his dosage has been increased, his level goes down, and increases in time. He started with 20mg a day, and then went to 25, 31,40, 51, 60, and now 72. His IMS said that it's harder to control the cortisol level when there's an adrenal tumor.

If Zoe hasn't had an U/S done, I would definitely have one done to see if there is something going on with the adrenal glands. Hang in there. You're doing a great job of caring for your precious Zoe.

Dear Addy
You are doing the right thing. Zoe has enough issues which you are on top of so going slow is okay. Like me , you are so overwhelmed with all that is going on in your life , you have one hose(you) to put all the fires out. Apollo was off the TRilostane last year from November through March, his cortisone went up again, but he is still here after putting him back on it. You are so on top of it that you are stressing yourself out. We are all going through this.
Sometimes I worry if I gave Apollo his pill because I am giving him other supplements for all the other organs and his immune system, some are once a day, others are twice, different dosages. Sometimes I just stare at the container I put it all in and hope I haven't forgotten something.
My dear friend you are your worst enemy.
Remember the add I earn the bacon, cook and clean it . Well I can't do it all anymore. And to top it off we are dealing with this awful disease. When is the next check, when do I change to dosage, what else is going wrong, etc. We all need to give our selves some slack. We are great Mom's and Dad's to our fur balls and they know it. Ya for all of us.:p
All we have is one day at a time. Enjoy every simple part of it. Enjoy the little miracles we still have with our furballs.
Hugs Sonja and Apollo

Dear Addy -

Sonja is right! It seems we can ALL see what good care the others take of their fur babies, but are most critical of ourselves. It is terrifying to have to make decisions which really seem to be crap shoots most of the time. There is no magical fix for this and so many variables. You know Zoe so well and you continue to make good decisions for her. Don't second guess yourself. Had you have increased too fast, you may have had an even bigger set back by upsetting her colitis. Sometimes the numbers aren't the whole story, either. If she is acting and looking better, you ARE going in the right direction.

As for her numbers going up and down...can they develop a tolerance to the drug?

Hang in there!

She had an ultra sound done and it showed no tumor. I am thinking she has super adrenals. Her cortisol was sky high to start, like Renee's Snoppy.

I think she is going to have to go to twice day dosing to try to keep that cortisol in check. I have thought about this all night. I'll hit her with the extra 5 mgs once a day this time because that should bring her down again and then when it starts to climb again I will have to add a dose in the evening I think. We are finally at a hair over 1mg per pound. I think any further increase may need to be added at night.

What do you think? I may just email Dr. Allen but I am guessing he is going to tell me to go to twice day dosing. I am a bit worried I maybe should have stayed at 15mgs am and done 10 in the pm. I was afraid that was too much for her.

IMS will most likely not be there in 2 weeks and will have to start with a new one:(:(:(

Yes Sonja and Mary Beth, too many fires to put out right now, not just with Zoe.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Love ya,
Addy

(((BIG HUGS))) I think it might be time for a group hug also!!!

Hang in there like everyone has said you are the worst on yourself--you are doing a great job!! :p But there are so many variables. I would think I had Maddie in the right direction and darn if those numbers would change even when we didn't do anything different. At the end I thought I would have to increase her dosage again, but her numbers came down even though I thought there wasn't a change in her symptoms, but at that time it could have been the cancer.

When was the last time she had a blood panel done to check everything else now that her numbers are down?

Please take care of yourself so you don't get sick with everything you are doing!!!!:o

I emailed Dr. Allen, have not heard back yet. I am like a dog with a bone, I'm afraid:rolleyes::rolleyes: I can't let go once I get started.

I just want someone to explain why she drops and then starts climbing back up right away like within the next 2 weeks she is already climbing higher, does not wait for the next 2 months.:eek::mad:

Yoooohoooooo Marianne, yooooooohoooooo Marianne:):):):)

Thoughts on this so I can give it a rest?

Bullheaded Addy

I hope you hear back soon. These Doctors really need to get back to us right away!