Tipper - adrenal tumor/breathing issues

How is the hand today? I bet it is excruciating to try to use. :( Please take care of yourself, try to relax today and let the hand heal a bit. Curl up on the couch with Tipper and read a good book or have a movie marathon day and just let your hand rest. I thought about how difficult it would be to have one's hand impaired even just temporarily last night as I was preparing meals and changing bedding. We moms do SO much just as our daily routine that a hurt hand would be a real handicap at times...and I know you work yourself to the bone every hour of every day. ;) So take it easy today at least, 'k?

Hope our sweet Tipper had a good night and that you were able to get some rest.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Hi Everyone:
I have cried and blubbered my way thru all the postings today. the passing of 2 of our own was a bit much for me to handle. Also the poor kitty Karma was weighing on my mind. Yes Barbara I did get an email also that the Dr. had performed Karma's operation and she made it successfully. Thank God as that poor kitty had suffered more in her short lifetime than she ever should have. This has been an emotional few days for me, I am sorry to say. it brings my Tipper's mortality up to the surface and scares me to death. I am not ashamed to say I am scared for my girl's life. Tipper has started with that congestive noise I tell everyone she makes when she is not controlled. She also got hungry yesterday during the day. Some of this may be attributed to no lentils so I am not sure how much is caused by what. I called Dechra yesterday, but the person who usually handles Tipper's file was out. I made the decision not to give her the trilo last nite and give her the full dose of 27mg this morning. It is hard with 3 pills tricking her, but it is done. So now we will se in a few days if this is right or if we must go higher to maybe 28. I am inching my way up as I do not want the pre number falling below like it did before. I am eagerly awaiting Tipper's recipes today to see what I must get to cook for her. I will be glad to get her started as I am worried about her lately and I think this can help. We are having a warmer day today maybe some rain. Then later in the week really low temperatures. God Bless Everyone on the forum and all your sweet babies.
Patti

Take care of yourself, Patti and let us know how Tipper is doing.
Some days can be really hard here so take a break and maybe distract yourself with a book or movie, something you enjoy. We worry so about your pups. I admit I am afraid to put up Zoe's tree this year. We bought 4 new birds for it but now I am just afraid to put it up.:o:o

Do you like old movies? Sometimes this time of year there are some great old movies on TV. I watched the original Father of the Bride some time ago and just really enjoyed it!!!

Hi Everyone:
I was online with the dietician, and of course Dechra called. I got to talk to them anyway. They said I did the procedure correctly in withholding the evening dose and giving her the whole dose in the morning. They said I am going to have to inch my way up towards 30mg. If we get close and she is not controlled then it is back on the 30mg once a day. They said she may need a much lower pre number than they would like to see in order to control the symptoms of the post number. She would have to have ACTH's more frequently- are you kidding me she averages over one a month, I don't think I can do that to her. I am praying before we hit 30 mg she is controlled. They have it in their notes that every time she is not controlled she starts with this congestive stuff. I sent a letter to the IMS and I am actually able to fax her from my own house now!! I will see what she says about all this stuff rolling around in my head. I got one meal plan for Tipper. It takes an awful lot of supplements, minerals etc. which I have already ordered. I just need to get some sweet potatoes not yams and Buckwheat groats. I have the rest here. I am anxious to get her on this and get some weight off her and get her feeling better. She usually gets her evening dose of trilo at 5 she was waiting and is acting hungry, but she was ok today. I know it will take a few days to see if this is good for her. I hope she sleeps well tonite. She has walked 3 times today. We go for the Adequan shot and blood pressure tomorrow, then I go at 4 for the kidney stone scan. I am trying my hardest to help her beat this disease back. I pray to God it works out. Blessings
Patti

Hi Patti,

I agree the last couple days have been very hard and I have sobbed right along with everyone else on the forum. We hate to lose even one furbaby.

I'm glad you have a meal plan for Tipper, that should be interesting. That didn't come with any alternates that can be used if she gets tired of one thing, etc?

I do hope that this switch will help to control Tipper's cortisol. It is so hard to get under control and I think much harder when a adrenal tumor is involved.

Hang in there. You are doing so good. Dechra obviously agrees with what you have done, so you made the right call. Again. Sheezz..did you mention to them how expensive those ACTH test get and no way that anyone can keep up the pace of doing one a month even, without going broke? They just don't seem to think in terms of realistic somtimes.

Hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

I know Patti, sometimes it gets to be too much but I feel guilty if I don't come on here at least once a day.

I'm glad that Dechra agreed and hopefully this will help Tipper.

I have a question re the congestive episodes. It would seem like this is significant and I was wondering if you have videotaped them on your phone to share with the vet? It seems this stuff never happens when around a vet. I had to do that with Annie. I filmed it and put it on utube and sent the link to K State Univ. Get up close and turn up the volume so the noise that you talk about is clear in the audio.

I would be interested in seeing/ hearing that.

You had asked me about pheos and I remember reading that there is now a urine test that can be done. Perhaps someone with more knowledge than me can share how accurate it is etc. Sorry it wasn't offered to me or I surely would have done it.

I agree - during my long journey there were times when I was just plain exhausted and had to take a break from it all for a few days. Just to gather my strength and sanity and of course I did all that so I could enjoy the time I had with Annie. Be sure to take care of yourself and don't lose sight of the fact that both you and Tipper are very much alive and together. Enjoy each and every minute. I wish I could take your pain and worry away. I truly do. Big bear hugs, Kim

I've asked Gingers mom about the urine test, they mentioned as a possibility for Ginger to rule out a pheo.

hugs
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Patti, I haven't been keeping up with Tipper's thread and am wondering if something is going on that makes you think that Tipper may have a pheochromocytoma? I just went back to your firsts posts and reconfirmed that Tipper was diagnosed with cushing's, which was reconfirmed by Dr. Peterson. Tipper's acth post stimulated cortisol was definitely high so the adrenal gland(s) are over secreting cortisol. Pheochromocytomas don't secrete cortisol, they secrete catecholamines, epinephrine and nor-epinephrine. Some of the symptoms mimic cushing's and there is a possibility that a dog with a pheo can have concurrent cushing's but it is rare.

Glynda

Glynda:
Thank you for taking the time to go thru my girl's thread as I know how busy you are. I appreciate any and all input from you. The reason I kept thinking pheo was because for about a year the adrenal tumor was not know about, which could have been the poor imagery the vet used for an Ultra Sound. So we have no way of knowing if it was there when she was first diagnosed or it came later. It worried me because I knew a pheo could be a possibility. Because Tipper has many muscle contractions and tremors at nite I thought it was similar to Kim's Annie shaking. Tipper only does this when sleeping at nite- I have never seen it in the day, and when I call her name or wake her it immediately stops. Someimes it is so bad it shakes her side and abdomen. I have read that these things can be a side effect of Vetoryl. What do you think of this? Also because this has been on my mind I faxed the IMS some questions about Tipper. I asked what she thought about this being a pheo. She said although you cannot know for sure that pheos usually have a characteristic appearance on an Ultra Sound and Tipper's did not. She also said pheo dogs do horribly under anesthesia and Tipper does wonderful. She also said that in line with the pituitary cushings the ct scan was elevated for it. This has brought some sense of calm over me. Also on her recheck of her tumor it had not increased in size at all after 2 months. I am to have it checked again January 15th. What do you make of these terrible tremors she exhibits at nite? Do you think it is the Vetoryl? I also got Tipper a nutritionist and she gave me a recipe to start her on. I am wanting to know if you think this will help her health to be on a cooked diet rather than the dog food and chicken she has been on?? Thank you in advance for your help. So many of you have thrown me a life raft at the time I felt like I was sinking and revived me again. I appreciate it greatly as this dog means the world to me. I will post after my vet visit this morning. Blessings
Patti