Tipper - adrenal tumor/breathing issues

Hi Everyone:
Well Tipper had a decent nite, but as I said before moving all around the bed. Lots of swallowing and her mouth sounded sticky, and she was sticking her tongue out again repeatedly all nite. She was so restless that she kept me up a lot unfortunately. I am eagerly awaiting my vets return to get her an increase in her trilo RX. I am going to continue the research on the Reticulocyte and see what solution I can come up with. Tipper already walked, it was dark here so you have to use a flashlight because of skunks. We are both going to take it easy for the day, I am physically feeling the strain. I don't have to take her anywhere until Wednesday for blood pressure, and Thursday I have to take Elvis to get his semi annual trimming etc. So not too bad of a week coming up. Tipper was snuggling with the covers last nite like she used to do. It is so good to see them do things that they haven't done since being sick. She is definitely enjoying the cooler weather. She has quite a few of those little fatty bumps now. The one on her knee cap may have to get removed under a local as it is big like a quarter size and feels like it could burst. When I massage her I am finding all these new little bumps. Some could be calcium deposits. I am going to email the IMS about the Reticulocyte thing and see what she says about it. I never let anything go as I want to get things while they are small problems, so this is gnawing away at me. Blessings
Patti

I hope you manage to get in a relaxing day and that the weekend gives you some time to rest.

Finding the right balance for them is hard sometimes, I am going through that with Zoe. Parts of her needs a higher cortisol number and other parts need a lower one:o:o

Keep the faith.

Addy:
I know how busy you are thanks for taking time out to think of my girl. Hope Zoe is well. Blessings
Patti

Hi Everyone:
Another decent nite for Tipper and she has already walked today as rain is supposed to be approaching. I sent the IMS a letter asking about the Reticulocyte being high on Tipper's report and what to do in tic situation. I will see if she has any ideas. Tipper had good energy yesterday. In the afternoon a bulldozer came onto the property behind us and started digging. They are putting in a garage. Well Tipper heard the machine and started to shake. It is unbelievable, we are getting rid of the storms for cooler weather, and she won't have to worry about them, so now this. I hope it goes up quickly as it is near the part of the house where my office is and she loves it in there. I have a blanket and pillows on the floor for her. I don't want to have to contain her to the front of the house for God knows how long. She is just super sensitive to noise since being on Vetoryl. I sent for Lourdes water for Tipper from the famous spring in Lourdes France where many miraculous healings have taken place. Friends wanted to pay to send my dad there when her got sick, but her was too ill to make the journey. There is nothing I will not do to try to heal my girl, so I am going to try it. Blessings
Patti

Patti,
Just thinking about you and Tipper. My Tia was sensitive to sounds too. Even a cough would send her running. If I felt a cough or sneeze coming on, I'd get up and run to another room. Bless their hearts.

Anyway, I just wanted you to know I'm thinking about y'all.

Donna

Donna:
Yes it is terrible what this disease does and how it changes your baby. Tipper is always on the alert for any strange noise, her ears are always going like little radar. The Vetoryl has really changed her personality. If you make her mad, or she doesn't get what she wants when she wants it look out. She was never like that. She is also very impatient, which was not the case previous to all this. I love her no matter what, and will continue to fight for her. I am so sorry for the hard time you are going through. It has to be the worst thing in the world to lose you best friend. Blessings
Patti

Hi Everyone:
Well is poured here all nite but Tipper did well. As long as there is no thunder she seems ok. She was drinking a bit more yesterday, I can't wait until Monday to get an Rx from my vet for the 7mg trilostane. I hope that puts her where she needs to be. It is in the 40's this morning, next week we are expecting snow and rain all week. That is ok as we do better in the colder weather. I can really tell the difference in her from the Adequan shots. I was looking up some herbs yesterday that keep inflammation down. I do not want that tumor growing and want to keep her pain to a minimum. I am going to run them past Leslie and see what she thinks. I thought I would add this just in case anyone ever gets the idea to use Yucca, don't do it as it said it stimulates the adrenal glands. Tipper had to have her coat on this morning. Her hair is thin and she has none at all on her belly from all the shaving for the ultra sounds. My heat was coming on all nite. That is one bill I hate to pay. Tipper's Vetoryl went up from 34.95 to 41.95. That is quite a jump, and since I have to buy 2 boxes and trilostane on top of that, it is really getting tight around here. Blessings
Patti

Hi Everyone:
Well my vet will be back today and I can get a new RX for Tipper's trilostane part of her dosage. I have not heard any answer from the IMS on the letter I faxed her last week, she may be out and not working for a few days. it is freezing here this morning in the low 30's and we are to see snow flurries by weeks end. Last nite Tipper got under the covers for the first time in a long time. I have to put a jacket on her when I take her out first thing to potty because she is so warm from being under the covers to go out in 30 something degrees with nothing on would be asking for trouble. Her hair is sparse and she has had her belly shaved for Ultra Sounds so she has not real fur to stay warm. I know in this weakened condition of her immune system etc. I need to make sure she is taken care of well as we do not need other problems. She has a good nite, snoring and a lot of twitching and leg jumping, but did well sleeping over all. I am going to sprinkle some Tumeric over her food tonite as it is good for inflammation. Hope she eats it! Blessings
Patti

It is freezing here too, Patti. I am hoping it kills off the dang ticks for Koko. I had to wear gloves to walk the puppies this morning.

I hope the 7 mgs work for Tipper. Im in a similar boat with Zoe. Her 20 mgs at night seem too much for her but 10 mgs at night while she feels better, her urine becomes dilute.

Have a good day!!!

Hi Everyone:
Well after days of intensive research I finally found out what is causing Tipper's Reticulocyte count to keep going so high. It is called Endocrinopathy-associated erythrocytosis caused by hormones-adrenocortical hyperactivity. It causes hyperviscosity from increased RBC mass. Excitable dogs erythrocytosis is attributed to the fact fear and excitement cause splenic contractions which release more RBC. On retinal examination dilated, tortuous blood vessels may be seen, this is from hyperviscosity of the increased RBC mass.

In short Tipper is making to many red blood cells and her blood is thick, it can cause heart problems etc., and cause tiredness which she has been having. When the eye Dr. told me she had broken blood vessels in her eyes this is the cause. The fear and excitement is totally right on as I asked the eye Dr. if this could have been caused by her fear of storms, and he said yes.
The treatment for this is removing some blood, which requires a hospital stay, and drugs, which she may have to stay on for the rest of her life. The bad thing is it can mess with her white blood cells. I thank God I kept at this until I found the problem. I need to get my vet involved in this immediately. For right now she is in the normal range, but looking back at her values they have been high many times.
This disease causes so many underlying problems that it is hard to keep up with what is happening on a day to day basis. This seems to ruin or upset every system in their bodies. It is exhausting trying to stay one step ahead of this.
Tipper slept well last nite. Now I know why she is tired and not wanting to walk that much! I still feel strongly that when you tell your vet this stuff it should be incumbent upon them to search and find these problems, that is what they are being paid for, but it is never done. Unfortunately I am the one that always has to find the answers. As long as I help my girl that is all I care about, but it does make me hoppin mad. I am just thankful I have the resources to get the job done. I think I should get a huge rebate from my vet. Blessings
Patti