New to Cushings

Hi Karen,
I'm just catching up with everything going on with Annie. My goodness! I would be a basket case myself by now so to me your reaction is perfectly normal. Prayers rising for the very best news this morning. Please let us know when you can.

Oh! I wrote a post to you about Lyso usage and it's not here...or anywhere else that I can find on the forum. So apparently I did that while my mind was not with me but off on its own somewhere. I'm glad Marianne gave you the pertinent info!

Hugs,
Leslie

Hi Karen,

From experience… If you think that you're going crazy and should be committed, you are most likely perfectly fine and are acting entirely normal. The ones that are truly mentally ill, ofen believe they are perfectly normal. Weird huh? You are distraught to the point where it's hard to function, which is totally understandable under the situation.

Many of us understand the waiting and feeling helpless, with regard to our fur babies. Know that you are not alone. Please update us when you can.

Just a quick update on Annie. We are on the road to Chicago to hand the baby over for potential surgery tomorrow Will keep you posted. Please keep those positive vibes coming our way. We really need it now. Blessings to you all and your beloved pups. Karen

For sure, a multitude of positive vibes being sent! Drive safely, and know that we’ll be sitting right beside you the entire way...

We made it through the horrible Chicago traffic to the Blue Pearl specialty clinic in just a little over two hours. Annie slept all the way and we got her checked in but we won’t see the surgeon until tomorrow. They will do another ultrasound and all the blood work in the morning.

It absolutely killed me leave to her there. I just felt like my heart was being ripped out. Our regular doc at home did go ahead with the stim test but we were in and out of there so fast I grabbed the printouts and didn’t even try to look at them so I have no numbers to share. The clinic here in Chicago has copies of everything they need so I’ll ask the dr. tomorrow if I remember.

Oh, Julie....we are up here in Northbrook or maybe it’s Northfield. Jerry told me we are about a mile or so from Lake Michigan. You probably know where we are—I don’t have a clue.

The doctor we saw this afternoon told us all the bad stuff that could go wrong with this gallbladder surgery and displayed absolutely NO compassion for us whatsoever. Oh man, I thought I was going to come unglued! At some point, I will be having a serious discussion with whoever she reports to. We have worked with the surgeon before when we needed a consult for Gracie about 4 years ago and he a great guy with a lot of heart.Well, I ‘m exhausted and my feet hurt. Thanks for being here for us and our little pup. Blessings to you all. Karen

My heart is hurting for you guys but try to stay positive. I know...easy for me to say but Annie will need your calm energy today. I do know where the clinic is. If I didn’t have to go to work today I would head that way to lend some support and distract you for a bit. Sending hugs and prayers!

Thank goodness you’ve already met the surgeon! My heart will be with you guys all day today. When you see Annie today, please give her a gentle hug from all her family here. We’ll surely be awaiting your news.

Marianne

Sending prayers, hugs, and gentle belly rubs your way! Hang in there even tho I know how scary it is. You are doing the best you can for your precious girl and she knows it....as do we. Let us know when you can.

Hugs,
Leslie

Positive thoughts and healing prayers coming from my home too...sending love and hugs, Lori

Annie went in for surgery about noon today. She’s been in for about 30min and so far so good. No news is good news. Met with the surgeon earlier and he was very confident for her outcome but was also very realistic because she is such a high risk patient. I’m so grateful for all your thoughts today. Go hug a pup from me and Annie. Blessings to you all. Karen

Annie was out of surgery about one and visited with the surgeon. He was pleased with how everything went but reminded us that the real work was just beginning. We are now on guard for the next 72 hours. He was very glad that we got her here when we did. Evidently. Her little gallbladder had ballooned to the size of a small grapefruit and could have burst at any time.

We were able to go back into the ICU right away and she was already starting to regain her bearings. She has a special warmer in her cage, a feeding tube so they can get groceries in her as soon as they feel she’s ready. She recognized my voice and looked up at me. Tears of joy have been flowing all afternoon! We just gave her a quick pat on the head and then got out of everybody’s way so the techs could do their job. I ‘ve never seen that many people fuss over a pup. There had to be six people assigned to her at that time. We will have to mortgage the 4 grandkids to pay for this one but knowing that we were able give her a new lease on life was worth every penny. The alternative was not acceptable.

That’s the update. We’ll stay over one more night, go home late tomorrow and come back for the day on Sunday. Blessings to you all and your pups. Karen

I'm so relieved that she made it through the surgery. I have been trying to distract myself all day. Praying that she will continue to recover....

So glad to hear that Annie pulled throught the surgery. You are doing all you can for her. Baby steps now. Many of us have spent our family's inheritance and then some, on our fur babies. We do what we can.

Hanging with you as Annie continues to fight.

Thank goodness!!!!!! And now we take things one step at a time, but the first milestone is now behind us.

Oh, I also was able to visit with an internist today who was assigned to Annie’s case. She was supposed to get her Lysodren on Wednesday but that didn’t happen and she told me not to worry about missing the one dose and she will monitor Annie very carefully and may readjust her Lysodren days depending on when she starts eating on her own. She “promised me that I would not have to suffer a “reload” again, at least not on her watch. That made me feel much better. She also told me to ignore the stim test that was on Monday before she got sick because her numbers would have been all over the place.She did suggest that we have it repeated as soon as the rest of her numbers look normal.

Jerry and I got to visit her in their ICU this evening. We we able to get down on the floor and through all her drugs, she recognized our voices and stood up on wobbly legs and the vet tech said that was a very good sign. Once again, the tears of joy are flowing freely. We’ll spend some time with her, only if it’s for five minutes , before we head home tomorrow. Everyone enjoy a blessed weekend. Karen

Such good news! It sounds like she is in great hands and will be back home recovering soon. One day at a time...I have to keep reminding myself that I just need to tackle one day at a time.

Oh that is indeed such good news! And the internist is spot-on re: that ACTH test — the numbers will likely be quite unreliable given how ill Annie was at the time. So don’t even give them any thought at all. It’s great that the internist is on Annie’s case. That gives us all so much more peace of mind!

Marianne

What great news this morning!! Way to go, Annie girl! (and mom and dad!) The IMS is spot on....that ACTH is worthless and she doens't need the Lyso right now anyway...it might make her sick at her tummy and that is not what she needs at all right now. So waiting is good. Even if her cortisol does elevate a bit that can be gotten back under control pretty easily most of the time so don't worry about that. I am just so happy to read your updates. YAY!!! :cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:

Hi, Just a quick update on Annie. We visited her at the specialty clinic in Chicago this morning before making the two hour drive home. We expected to be taken back to the ICU to see her but low and behold, they led us into an exam room and shortly after, in waddles Annie on all fours lugging her little heart monitor power pack on her back and still sporting the feeding tube in her nose. We just cried for joy and spent a few minutes loving all over her on the floor before she was led back to her special cage. They are weaning her off the heavy duty IV pain meds and keeping all fluids and blood pressure in check.

She is starting to eat baby food and a few small bites of chicken. They are going to let her eat anything she wants and regulate her insulin as needed. Not sure when she’ll receive her next dose of lyso. I’m sure I ‘ll be given a boatload of instructions regarding her insulin and any changes in regulation of the Lysodren when she is released.

She will need to be on a very low fat diet once she is home. The doc said she eventually wanted her back on the Glycobalance which I was glad to hear.

Annie may be well enough to come home on Sunday or Monday. She has had no complications so far but I think we got her there in time and were very lucky. So far, she is our little miracle pup in spite of all the strikes against her. Blessings to you all and your pups. Karen

That is such good news, Karen. This is hitting so close to home for me that I am hyperventilating.

Great news indeed!

Oh Leslie, the surgeon told us yesterday after her surgery that he would be giving her something to actually give her a boost of cortisol to help her along. I’m just amazed at the level of care our little Annie is receiving. Yes, for many people it’s very expensive and I make no judgements on choices that have to be made—because whatever choice we make for our pups will always be the right one for you you’re pup and your family. I’ve been forced to make the tough decisions in my past and it’s gut wrenching hard. I just feel so blessed right now that she is recovering and if we should have her for only a short time post all this, it was still worth it. No regrets. Blessings to you all and your pups.Karen
I


I just want you all out there in whatever part of the world you reside, we all understand, their are no judgements and you will do the best for pups however you can.

I will be very honest about Annie’s surgery. Yes, it was very risky and very expensive. Most people would have elected to put their pup down. We have never had official pet insurance but we always put money away in case we needed it—and wow, three angel pups later,we exceeded our limit. Annie may be our last pup,which is very sad for us, but somehow we were able to pull out all the stops for our little one and give her a second chance at life, for as long as we have her.

,

So, so, so grateful to read your updates, Karen! As soon as my eyes open each morning, I grab my iPad and rush here to see what’s happening. I pray that Annie will continue to grow stronger today, and that tomorrow you’ll be bringing her back home again. I’m guessing today may crawl by way too slowly for you, but we’ll be trusting that each hour that passes will continue to fuel your baby’s recovery.

Hugs of healing comfort being sent to you all three!
Marianne

Been thinking of you guys all day, and surely hoping that things are going as smoothly as possible.

Continuing hugs and prayers heading your way...

Greetings to all and good news to share. Our little Annie is finally home! The surgeon released her this morning and we drove to Chicago to pick her up and we were home by four this afternoon. We also came home with a full pharmacopoeia of goodies.

I was really worried because I was instructed to give her the Lysodren when I fed her this evening. She was also supposed to have a pain med, an antibiotic, and now I can't remember the last one....all with her food. She wobbled out soon after she heard the can opener. I started her out with just a quarter of what she normally eats and she basically inhaled it along with a couple of the pills. When she finished, she looked at her empty plate--looked up at me---looked at her empty plate, then looked up at me. Well, she got a second course along with her lysodren and that other pill. After she snarfed the second helping, her eyes looked up at me and said, "more mom". Well, I didn't want to overdo a good thing but she did get a small third helping and then I could tell she was done. I got her outside and she did her business, got her back inside before the pain med hit her and knocked her out for the evening.

She will have the staples out in 10-14 days by our regular doc so we don't have to go back to the clinic in Chicago unless something happens that he can't handle. We are not out of the woods yet but we're off to a very hopeful start. I don't think I could have made it through this without my new cushpup family. Blessings to you all and your pups. Karen.

Awww, what great, great news for sure!! ;):):):):)

Surely hoping that things just get better and better from this point onward. Please give our brave little girl some big pats from her family here!

That's such good news, Karen! I'm so happy for you!

Oh YAY!!! I was so hoping to hear from you today and the news is just wonderful! :cool::cool::cool: A healthy appetite after surgery is a good thing in my mind and I pray her recover is swift and uneventful from here on out.

Hugs,
Leslie

Oh, Leslie, I ‘ve been thinking about you. I think you are one of a handful of people on this forum who has experience with Lysodren. It seems like everyone else has their pup or pups on trilostaine(sp?). In fact, the internist at the specialty clinic in Chicago was trying to talk me into switching Annie to trilostaine. I was paying for her advice by the second so I didn’t get into it with her. So far and #1—- I’m just thankful that I could bring Annie home alive. This may sound morbid, but we took a large cooler with us in case she didn’t make it through the surgery and we would have to pack her in ice to bring her home for cremation. I know that sounds so morbid, but she was so sick and I was just planning for the worst

Basically, she seems to be tolerating the Lysodren ok and my vet is not comfortable with trilostaine. Any advice on the topic? Blessings to you and your pups. Karen

Hi Everyone,

I almost hate to say this but we’re having another good day. I felt so overwhelmed with all the drugs the clinic sent home with Annie, I wasn’t sure I could figure it all out.

The hubby had to go fishing this week and I’m sincerely happy that he finally got to do something for himself. He is the best doggie dad ever and doesn’t even blink an eye when I say the dreaded words,”we need to go to the vet”.

My little patient Annie is currently out cold on the Lazy Boy couch beside me. She has just been so good and seems to even understand her restrictions—-like no jumping, no running...the usual post surgery stuff. If she needs a drink of water and she’s on the couch, she will just sit up and look at me. That is my cue to gently lift her off and after her drink, if she wants back on the couch, she will walk toward it but not even attempt to jump and wait for me to lift her back up.

I hate e-collars but Annie has needed a soft one to keep her from licking her line of staples. She is slowly adapting to that. Before this emergency surgery, we had been preparing her for cataract surgery on May 17th. You won’t believe the phone call I received yesterday afternoon.

The call was from Annie’s ophthalmologist’s office. We have had to postpone this surgery twice and now I was going to have to do it again. The universe always has it’s own plans.

The Doc had to have foot surgery last week and had run into some complications. I told the receptionist what had happened with Annie and she almost couldn’t believe it because the specialty clinic where Annie was and the hospital where her eye doctor is are jut a few miles from each other. Anyway, we will tackle the cataracts in the future.

This morning, after Annie’s breakfast, She had to go outside. I carried her down the one step and placed her paws on the wet grass. She didn’t move for probably 3 minutes as. I shivered in my bathrobe watching her. It rained last night and I’m just guessing that the cool damp grass felt good on her feet.

Joan and I have a discussion going on my gratitude thread regarding the value of a really good poop in a pup so I won’t rehash that here. Anyway, after Annie did her business, I got my phone and went out to take a pic to show the vet on Thursday.

We have been through some major struggles lately, but I can’t help but think that our angel Gracie has had a paw in the extraordinary recovery of her baby sis.

I’m getting ready to call the specialty clinic in Chicago to see if they have any results from the biopsies they took during the surgery. Thank you all again for keeping us in your thoughts. You have no idea how much it means—-well, I take that back because you do know. Blessings to you all and your pups. Karen

Sorry for the delay in replying and I don't have long now sadly but I am among the oddballs that prefers Lysodren to Vetoryl and don't see anything changing my mind. I have used it in both my dogs even tho the second one didn't actually have Cushing's as proven by her necropsy (autopsy for animals). Lysodren works ONLY on the adrenal glands while Vetoryl (Trilostane) works on the axis, or loop, between the pituitary, hypothalamus, and adrenal glands...and many other things operate along that axis such as those that have to do with stress responses, glucocorticoid responses (in addition to cortisol), and hormones for example. Since Annie's vet is more comfortable with Lysodren that is the drug you want her to have - the vet's comfort level is very very important. When I moved back home and started looking for a new vet for my Squirt every single vet told me they would switch her to Trilostane and I walked out the door. She was doing very well on Lyso and I was not changing her for anyone or anything. I ended up choosing a vet who knew nothing about Cushing's, educated him with the little I knew and told him where to find the rest of the information he needed to learn about Lyso and Vetoryl as well as the disease itself. He now has many cush babies and uses both drugs. Some vets still fall for the hype that Vetoryl is "safer" than Lyso - it is not. Both have the exact same risk factors up to and including death if not properly prescribed and monitored. But both are life savers in the right hands. Annie's vet is comfortable using Lyso so that is where I would stay no matter what anyone had to say. You are a great mom and I know you watch her like a hawk -which is a critical factor when using either drug so I have complete faith you will do just fine with the Lyso.

Hugs,
Leslie

First of all, Leslie I totally agree with you on everything.

Now for my update on Annie......she’s doing too well but I wouldn’t have it any other way! I think she has eaten enough at home and she has more energy and thinks she can leap tall buildings in a single bound. I could not even take a bathroom break today without worrying where I would find her when I came out.. She has jumped, barked at the neighbors, tried to play with her favorite toy, jumped in her favorite chair.....the list goes on and on all with her e-collar on, and I’ve had very little sleep in 48 hours. Her dad is fishing the Detroit river this week for Walleye....so I’ve been here with my post-op baby by myself.

Actually this is much better for me because now I only have one “Baby” to care for instead of two. I love the hub but sometimes I need a break and he needs to go fishing. End of story.

Thursday is Annie’s Lysodren day so I’m already a mess and trying how to figure this in with all of her other meds.

I can do it, i’m her mom. Blessings to you all and your pups. Karen

Annie and I both overslept this morning. She inhaled her Lysodren along with all her other drugs while I was standing in a corner of the kitchen holding my breath. I really hate Sundays and Thursdays. I gave her a pain pill about 30 minutes ago and she is passed out cold in her bed where I can see her. We have an appointment with doc’s other doc this afternoon at 4pm for a check up. I’m just glad the Lysodren is over until Sunday. Blessings to you all and your pups. Karen

Good luck with the doc appointment, let us know how it goes, please!

You're doing a great job!!!!

Well I had the experience of a lifetime this afternoon when I took Annie in for her check up. I have non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy in my feet, so just to be on the safe side, I called the desk to let them know we were there and all of a sudden three of Annie’s favorite people were at my car to help me in but most importantly to carry Annie inside. Jerry is on his way home from fishing and I know Annie is going to rejoice in her dad being home.

Back to my story, once she was weighed and we were in an exam room, all of a sudden everyone in the clinic was there to greet Annie and welcome her back. There were probably 25 people in this small exam room—- and then they brought in her boarder buddies— there was cupcake and all her small dog friends. Even dr, Elizabeth’s pup was there to greet Annie. I was surrounded by people and pups who truly cared about my little miracle. Poor Annie was overwhelmed and spent her welcoming by my legs.

Everyone there thought she was a dead dog when they handed her off to us last week.for our 2hr race to the specialty clinic in Chicago.

Finally ,the results of the check up........she is OK...........and is the proud owner of 33 staples! A new record for our local clinic. She is a small pup who has also lost weight and could be a poster child for starving refugees The doc and I looked at her diet and decided to double her grocery basket and she was a happy hungry baby tonight.

I have to say right here right now, never give up on your pup until he/she gives you that look (we’ve all been there before
that tells you it’s their time. Annie at age 10 now has a second chance to chase robins and to live her complete life, however long that may be. I just feel blessed for our local clinic—she’s a celebrity in our little town. More than that she is my hero....she never gave up on herself and we never gave up on her because she never gave me the “look”. Blessings to you all and your pups.

What a sweet story! That's the way it should be.

It reminds me of when our six year old Saluki, Isis, who had canine lymphoma, had to stay over at Manhasset Animal Hospital way back in 1996. She had gone into remission after the first round of chemo, but it came back a few months later and she was severely dehydrated and needed to be hospitalized. She had been getting the chemo there so everyone knew her. They wanted to know what she would eat. Now my Isis was very spoiled, did not like dog food at all. The one thing she especially loved was roast pork fried rice. Her vet, Dr. Hendrickson went out and got Chinese food for dinner that night and got Isis her fried rice and sat with her and ate his dinner. Now that's what I call excellent service. Isis died a few months later, one week before she turned seven, and they were all devastated.

When we moved away, we started using the vet we have now, and I don't get that level of care. They are good, but that personal touch is just not there. Sometimes I wish I had continued to use my other vet. They are like a half hour away, instead of 10 minutes down the road. I wonder if Lee would have lived a little bit longer. He always met me at the office, no matter what time or day it was, and he had someone living upstairs so I wasn't afraid to leave them. This vet has no one there at night and I would never leave any of them there.

There are times that I wonder if I should go back to them....

Your vet sounds wonderful and you are lucky to have them.

What a great story! I love it and love how everyone rallied around our sweet Annie! (and came to help you!) A compassionate, caring staff like that is hard to find and a true treasure when one does find them. What a blessing to Annie and to you. I am so glad she got a good report and KNOW she is gonna enjoy that increased food!!! What cush pup doesn't DREAM of that?! LOL :D:D:D

Continued prayers for sweet Annie and her mom and dad!
Hugs,
Leslie

PS I hope hubby brought home a lot of good CLEANED fish ready for the freezer! :D

Oh my gosh...I need to send instant hugs out to ,Marianne, Joan and Leslie. I know you take your responsibility as a moderator seriously. You have been there for me and my little baby,Annie from the be beginning of our journey. And you all are still here,not only for me and Annie but for everyone who has a pup in need. I’m personally grateful for your collective knowledge and dedication to this forum.

To everyone else who is watching, reading learning....you have come to the best place on the internet. No question Is a ‘stupid’ question....ask away and you will learn. Blessings to you all. Karen

So glad to read that Annie's check-up went well! And WOW, 33 staples!!!!

Hey everyone out there, it’s just me having a little panic attack. It is cool outside, it’s cool in the house and Annie is panting up a storm. I have given up on trying to keep her from jumping on or off anything....but right now she just had a big drink of water and she is sleeping beside her water bowl. What am I supposed to think, what do I need to do? Now she just flopped over on her side which tells me she is comfortable. She is due for a pain pill in about 40 minutes—does panting in a Cushpup indicate pain? Help somebody! Blessings as always. Karen