New Member with 3 years of Cushings "cured" (Update: Macroadenoma)-Jackson has passed

They can have radiation after surgery but they cannot have surgery after radiation. You say Tekno can't have radiation again. Too much debris left?? That's why you can't do surgery after radiation. They'd have to remove all of the scar tissue radiation leaves behind which means taking brain tissue. The pituitary lies near the Circle of Willis which is a very sensitive area of the brain.

I can't imagine what all of the post op concerns might be. Given what I saw in Macy I'd think physical therapy would be called for. I assume the vets would check hearing and vision in the hospital. It wouldn't surprise me to hear personality changes might take place. The tumor has an effect on personality so removing it might also have an impact. Given how far reaching "personality changes" might be I can only begin to imagine what that might mean. I was told Macy would continue to have diabetes insipid us but not Cushings.

The surgery caused Macy to have raspy breathing. I don't know how that would have effected her eating and drinking. Maybe I'm beginning to mercifully forget some things.

The vet Robin is using, Dr. Bruyette, isn't new to any of this so I'm sure he's got lots of answers. I hope Robin asks as many as she can remember and shares the answers with us!

I do have a question that keeps creeping back into my consciousness.... Before surgery they give prednisone but I don't recall being given pred to dose after surgery. I believe you're not supposed to suddenly withdraw pred are you? Will Robin continue to give Jackson pred if he's on it now?

Kathy

Sorry not to have posted sooner. It's Monday and I had some questions for the vet, but got no answers that made me stop vacillating. I am so conflicted. Jackson is so happy now, the tremors are very mild and not nearly as frequent (credit the Pred. or change in diet, not sure) Vet has not given me any info on the surgery, probably because I keep asking him questions. They've done surgery on 15 cushings dogs so far and none as small as Jackson--he's 4.2lbs--their smallest was 11lbs (and died after 6 days). If he wasn't so small, maybe I wouldn't be so conflicted. Yorkies have really small trachea and two of the dogs died of upper airway obstructions.
And to put him through it all and get a different dog ... oh dear. I almost wish surgery wasn't an option. Sorry to be so wishy washy--I've never had to make such life and death decision before

Hi Robin,

Don't apologize for wanting to be sure about your decision. We can't make up your mind for you but we can act as a sounding board if that will help. And we are always here to listen if all you need to do is vent. ;)

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Robin,
So sorry to hear of the bad news. Only you can deciede what is best for your baby. And then do what is needed.
Patty

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JacksonsMom

If he wasn't so small, maybe I wouldn't be so conflicted. Yorkies have really small trachea and two of the dogs died of upper airway obstructions.
And to put him through it all and get a different dog ... oh dear. I almost wish surgery wasn't an option. Sorry to be so wishy washy--I've never had to make such life and death decision before

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Robin,

This is a tough decision for you. Nobody can tell you what to do. This must all nearly take your breath away but try to relax and enjoy your love for Jackson. No matter what your decision and no matter what the outcome you will have made the very best decision you could. You love the little guy too much so I know whatever you decide - you'll do the right thing.

I think asking questions before a surgery like this increases the chance you'll be able to help Jackson survive. You mentioned that two dogs died of upper airway obstruction. I assume due to swelling? Is there a plan to control that? What have the vets told you about the change you might see in Jackson? You don't want to keep putting off the surgery to do research but they must know what it does to the dogs. I wish I'd gotten more info from Gina. Then again, will a change in personality effect your relationship with Jackson?

Kathy

Upper airway obstruction, I assumed from "something" (one cause did mention possible vomit.) I have to ask the Dr.

Sorry, reply misplaced

Robin - Its a decision no one ever wants to make so do not feel you are asking to many questions - you keep asking until you feel comfortable making a decision - we are all here to support you - love prayers support and strength to you each day xo

If it's not too painful, can anyone tell me, if I choose just palliative care, what the decline might be like?

I hope we are not 'confusing' you with all our questions and experiences - it must be difficult.

Can you talk to the vets who will be doing the operation rather than your regular vets; or is that who you will be talking to? When TEkno had his radiotherapy we had a consultation first, I took a whole notebook of questions to ask most of which they were happy to answer.

Do they think will be any particular problems with him being so small; or was it just bad luck re the histories with the other smaller dogs?

My Tek is different as mentioned after his radiotherapy; well actually he was different before and sort of never went back; but he is happy and here enjoying life in a different way (through food tinted goggles I think) - remember different isn't bad; he still has the same loving personailty and in fact is even more cuddly than before. He just enjoys different things in life and has mellowed out now; he is like an older more serious dog compared to his pre tumour giddy 'lovable idiot' - he still makes me laugh every day though - he is still Tekno.

I know when we went to the vets who diagnosed him (the spinal specialists for his spine problems) said that radiotherapy was pallative as it was not curative - it just buys time but to me pallative is just make comfortable and not treat, and the radiotherapy is treating? One thing they did however say was that as the dog cannot consent to any invasive treatments, its up to the vets to help determine what it is fair to put a dog through in terms of how ill they are, how much discomfort/ pain/ distress it may cause and and if the results would be worth it - they would not recommend anything that would not be fair on the dog.... and they would have no hesitation in recommending radiotherapy in our case as the results would far outweigh the treatment side effects.... so can you also be guided by your vets if you trust them.


With tek in the weekend he suddenly went down hill he kept getting lost in the night, I got home and he was just crying for no reason, shaking and cold and he wanted to cuddle but was unresponsive, and he was flinching alot too. He was very shut down and can only assume that things would have got worse from there and it would not have been long before I would have had to make that hard decision rather than see him decline more and more.

The steriods were like a miracle, he is about 19kg and had 20mg (I think) twice a day and an initial injection, he was like a new dog bouncing off hte walls, over the course of time they were reduced... I don't knwo how much time steriods buy or what pallative treatment would consist off.