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Oh Patti,
this is not good news.
I know what you mean about Tipper being persistent! That is why Daisy's middle name is "monster". She bangs the food dish around when you're not fast enough with the food. I ignore her. Dachshunds gain weight easily and she doesn't need to add back problems to her list.
I know how aggravating this is. I'm sorry that all of us are going through this.
Take care sweetie.
Sharlene:
You are right I did have a consultation with Dr. Peterson. I just want to say right up front it was not cheap. I called his clinic in New York and left a message. His secretary called me back and we got the ball rolling. Be fore warned he will not do any consult or talk to your Vet without the fee being paid in advance. It cost me 400.00. I am now not so sure the money was spent wisely as I got much better help on here. When you are scared to death you do anything in an attempt to save your dog. My personal opinion is an IMS would be just as good, unless there are a lot of problems. Hope this helps. God Bless Us All and all our babies.
(Administrative note from Marianne: I've also placed a copy of this reply in Nicole/Chester's thread)
Mel:
So glad to hear from you. Glad you are making it alright. I barely slept a wink last night thinking of putting Tipper thru this ACTH today. It breaks my heart to have her go thru all this. I am going to call Dechra and set up a time on Wednesday to go over Tipper's results, and get some guidance. I need to know if her cortisol level will be ok to go under, and if she should have her pill that day etc. If not I will be calling and cancelling with the hospital for Thursday and rescheduling. I have gotten to the point I am so depressed I cannot stop crying. It is just overcoming me all day long. I have no family for support they are all passed on. I am alone in this and very afraid for my baby. All I have is the support of the wonderful friends I have made on here. I am so scared the diagnostic tests will cause other problems for her, or they will tell me something really bad. I am trying to be strong for her. I am going to have to find some type of work I can do from home as this disease has taken all my savings and then some. I need to be able to pay for Tipper's bills, and it is becoming extremely hard to do with my income. If anyone knows of any work at home that you can do please let me know. I will not leave her, so I must work from home. Sorry to ramble on, I am so tired I am just not well today, but I will go on for my precious baby. God Bless Us All and all our babies.
Patti
Patti, Thinking of you and Tipper. Praying all goes well for both of you. Believe me. I know exactly how you are feeling. It is so hard.
Hugs to you both.
aww patti i so understand what you are going through right now.we try everything humanly possible to help fix our babies.the last year with milo was exhausting and very taxing.i wish you some peace and quiet with your tipper and also pray that you can find some work to help you out with those bills,this is truly an expensive crap disease...sending you love,light and xoxox patty(milo)meka
Hi Patti,
I so understand your fears and pray all goes well today, that Tipper does well, and you have some answers and a plan soon. You will be surrounded today by your family here, lending you our strength, faith and hope.
Finances at my house are precarious to say the least. For several years I have often passed up refilling my own meds and going to the doc so I could pay for vets visits and dog meds. Where we live, there is a utility program for those under a certain income level that will pay your bill if you can't. When you participate, your utility bills are rounded up and the differences go into this fund every time you pay your bill. I have had to let them pay my bill twice - and it is humiliating but I am grateful this program exists. I also qualify for a program that exempts you from having to pay personal property taxes. You might check into programs like this in your area that might help with your bills.
For over a year I have tried to find something I could do from home to bring in a little income but it can't be reported income or I lose programs through SS that help with prescriptions and doctor bills that I cannot do without; I haven't found a single viable option yet. So, I have set up a page on Facebook where I am selling treasures that I have collected over the years, my own things, my grandmother's, aunts, mother's as well as some of my daughter's things - which is killing me. I have been blessed with a modicum of creative talent and will be adding ceramic pieces I am painting to this page to sell as well. Until this Monday, I was seriously considering selling my truck since keeping it insured and maintained is almost beyond my ability and takes funds my babies need. But the thought of having an emergency and not being able to get to the vet quickly made me decide to keep it for now.
I've talked with our PG vet and he understands my situation. He can look at the size of Squirt's file alone and know it's not that I don't want to spend money on them, it's that I no longer can afford to as I once could. He has said he would allow me to work off payments if necessary. Doc has been very good to us.
I don't know what your skill sets are but take a look at them then start looking into areas where those skills would be valued and see if someone might need an extra hand with something you can do on your computer, or phone, etc. If there is a university or such near by, post a flyer that you will type papers for a fee or help with research, etc. If you are like me, you will lose all pride and beg on your knees if needed.
Keep your chin up! I hope it helps a little bit to know you aren't alone in this struggle either.
Let us know how today goes and remember we are right by your side.
Hugs,
Leslie and the gang
Leslie:
I am blessed and comforted by your words. I will do whatever I have to to keep my Tipper going. I to thought about selling my car. How would I get her some where in an emergency though? I will figure something out if it kills me. I will let you know if I come upon anything to do from home. It is so sad that we have to deal with all the ramifications of this disease, and then worry about money too. This disease is merciless. I am waiting for the IMS to call about Tipper's appointment- I called them and explained the situation, and waiting for Dechra to call me back. Hope I can get her results tomorrow then I can formulate a plan easier. The IMS jsut called and said to fax over Tipper's results as soon as I get them and she will also give an opinion on whether or not to keep the appointment. God Bless You and your precious babies.
Patti
Hey Patti
Just wanted to know I am with you in spirit right by your side holding your hand today. Am supposed to be working but couldn't let this conversation pass by without you knowing this
Fingers crossed for decent ACTH results so you don't have to worry about that. If not for the strength and guidance from all those professionals to do the right thing for sweet tipper
Big hug, love
Mel
Xxxxxx
Patti,
there are organizations that may help with vet bills.
Please read the information on the following links:
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals...nary_care.html
http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/fi...vet-bills.aspx
Praying for you and Tipper.
I'm unemployed (soon to run out of benefits) and have exhausted what little I had. I know exactly the position that you're in sweetie.
Since I've been taking care of my father, I have yet to be approved or reimbursed from the VA too so I don't know what we're going to do after this.
xoxoxoxo
Hi Everyone:
I just came back with Tipper from the ACTH. We did an early detection blood panel, and a urine also. The Vet came in special as Tipper needed these results by Wednesday. I so appreciate him doing that for me, not something he would normally do. It seems he had some empathy for me today. He said aren't you well and I said my Lupus was acting up, and I can't sleep. I asked him if I could pay half her bill now and half on the 17th and he said yes. That will help me out as I have to pay the hospital everything when she goes. Tipper was very upset and just really dragged out, & panting, when I got her. These tests are really taking a toll on her. She has just about had enough. I guess we will have to tweak the meds if the cortisol comes back high. I guess after the hospital procedure we will get on that problem as Addy said she will need a little extra cortisol for her procedure, and I don't want her goin into Addisons. I still have 2 boxes of 10 mg Vetoryl left from her previous dose, so she will probably go to 40. So I have 30's now. At least I won't have to buy any for a month or so. I am trying to pull money from anywhere I can to make it work for my girl. I just hate to tweak meds as that means another ACTH in a month. I don't know how many more tests she can do. Her body is so misshapen from the cortisol wasting her muscle. It is heartbreaking to see knowing how muscular and strong she was. I am praying for that miracle for her. She has done all that I have asked of her with much grace. She is such a wonderful and intelligent girl, I must forge on for her sake. God Bless You All and all your babies.
Patti