Tipper - adrenal tumor/breathing issues

[doxiesrock912]

Patti,

how ridiculous these pharmacies and drug companies are!!! That makes me MAD!

I don't blame you for wondering about the Eucalyptus. With Tipper's allergies, I would be concerned. Another use for Eucalyptus is to put in behind the shower head and the steam and smell of the plant helps with breathing problems.

I hope that the meds help you avoid surgery!

[Trish]

What surgery are they planning, ureteroscopy and laser? If the stone is small they can usually just go up the ureter and grab it or break it up with a laser which pass easily as gravel, most of them are day stay procedures. If it is small they do not usually need to do an incision. I am presuming they think it is a uric acid stone if they think meds will help dissolve it, something like Ural?? Or maybe they have given you an alpha blocker to help relax the tissue in the urinary tract to help expel it.

If you do manage to pass it Patti, try and catch it (listen for a splash/tinkle!) or even pee into a container so you can strain it. As a recurrent stone former it would be really helpful for it to be analysed so they make recommendations for you on diet etc to help prevent any new ones forming. I can tell you it is much better to be in for one day/night than have it get stuck and infected, as urosepsis from stones is extremely dangerous!!

[goldengirl88]

He Everyone:
I am still shaken to the core about Simba. I pray for Letti that she can get thru this. We got another good blood pressure this morning and a little more weight loss, so we will stay with the lentils. I am so glad as I have been watching her weight nugget by nugget. It is so hot and miserable here already this morning. Only one walk for Tipper, she is in for the remainder of the day. I am very concerned and have been for some time about Tipper's girth. Wen I have to lift her up the steps I hear her moan, like it is hurting her. I had thought of a full body ultra sound, as I am really worried about tumors etc. now that Letti's Sim had them also it makes me very nervous. I am not sure, but maybe that could have been part of poor Scoop's problem also. I know Addy said maybe you there are things you do not want to know, and I am with her on that. My concern is if there is something small and can be taken out I would want to know. Then again is she in any shape to remove things?? I know my last dog that died from cancer had to have her spleen removed and she died shortly after having it done. I am scared not to know, but would be more afraid to remove something. I would like some opinions on what others think about this please. It has been months since her last ultrasound to check her adrenals. Also I am wanting an opinion on whether Denamarin is better than Hepato Support (Milk Thistle) for the liver or can you give both?? Thank you all for your help in advance. Blessings
Patti

[Scarlett'sdad]

Also I am wanting an opinion on whether Denamarin is better than Hepato Support (Milk Thistle) for the liver or can you give both??

Patti, Scarlett took Denamarin, which contains a standardized extract of milk thistle seeds, and SAMe. Her liver values went down towards normal, and she felt great for a month. Then, her neurological symptoms from GME overwhelmed her. I was impressed with how well the Denamrin worked for her. I do not think they can be used together.

[Squirt's Mom]

I have a friend who's baby has liver cancer and she is on both. Animals studies with MT have found no toxicity even at very high doses and no warnings are issued concerning pregnancy, nursing, etc - it is a very safe herb. Now there are those like Squirt who seem to have a allergy to it but as long as the pup can handle the herb, I would feel fine using Milk Thistle with Denamarin.

However, Hepto Support is not just Milk Thistle - it contains quite a few other things so I would ask the vet or an herbalist about using this product along with Milk Thistle. There may be one of the other ingredients that wouldn't work well with the Denamarin.

[goldengirl88]

Leslie:
As usual you come to my rescue when needed. I am going to have to put Dr. in front of your name! Well on second thought no not a good idea since you know more than they do!! Thank you again. Hope Squirt is doing better. Is the walking ok? It is terrible when these babies hurt, it makes us miserable too. Blessings
Patti

[Trixie]

Patti,
That prescription stuff makes me crazy mad too!! This is what's wrong with the whole healthcare mess! It's ridiculous what goes on with insurance and the costs of simple medications. It's like when your in the hospital and they charge $25 for a tylenol. I don't get it.

My dermatologist prescribed a type of hydrocortisone ointment and she gave me a coupon and said this makes it "free" at the pharmacy. I didn't have to pay anything but the papers that came with it in the bag said "your insurance co has saved you $478!! So somewhere the retail price of this "free" tube was $478??? What?? I'm pretty certain my drug coverage did not pay that much for anything! It was just for an allergic reaction, nothing serious. It's insane...all mumbo jumbo so we can't understand what's going on.

Anyway...Trixie is on Denamarin for her very high (and scary) liver numbers. Before diagnosis she started it and right away it lowered the numbers quite a bit. Trixie hasn't had any adverse side effects from taking it. I recently bought it online at vetinternetco.com for $38 with free shipping. That was for the non chewable tabs. It was the best price I could find but maybe someone knows something better...if they do I hope they'll post. I shopped around and $38 was the lowest I found.
Hope Tipper is enjoying the a/c and keeping cool.

Barbara

[goldengirl88]

Barbara:
I will check and see if it is cheaper anywhere. Tipper's alk phos was always really good at 35 then it went to 150 in a month. I know that is really low compared to some of the values I have seen in the 1000's, but I like to get things right away before they get worse. She has been on Hepato Support, but I thought this may be better. I will let you know as I see the vet on Monday and we will go over all this. Blessings
Patti

[molly muffin]

Molly is taking the Hepato support, but I know my vet said one or the other. I opted for this one, but it did take a long time to see a difference in the numbers. If at some point it stops helping with the liver values, in my case the ALT in addition to the ALkp, then we'll think about switching. Here in Canada it isn't Denamarin though, it is another one. I can't remember what it is called but I did put it on my thread when my vets office got it in. (for anyone in Canada reading this).
Leslie definitely knows her stuff.

Trish is a wonder isn't she. Full of all kinds of useful information. I hope you get rid of that nasty stone soon!

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

[Trish]

Quote:
Originally Posted by goldengirl88 View Post
Hi Trish:
Thanks for all the help on the kidney stone. Yes the meds are to help me pass the stone. I think Flovent if I am not mistaken. Glad you told me about the laser I can't imagine a normal surgery. The stone is too small to do Lithotripsy, so I am on these meds for a week. May have to use meds to dissolve it if that does not work. Getting an xray and blood work after a week on the meds. They gave me a strainer and container to go in on the potty. I have been straining my urine, I saw what looked like 2 small tiny crystals, so tiny I could not get them into a specimen bottle. Either they were others in there or maybe pieces of the other one. It is hard to believe something this small can cause so much misery. It has been 15 years since my last one so I am lucky. He said he will find out, but is guessing uric acid crystals. Worried about taking this drug when it comes as he said it can affect your heart. Do you know anything about that?? Thank you for your help and I hope Flynn continues to do well. We are suffering in the heat and humidity we are in the mid to upper 90's. Blessings
Patti

Hi Patty
I do not know that drug, I wonder if you mean Flomaxtra? If so, it does not affect the heart as such but it can in some patients drop your blood pressure. There really is not too much problem with it though. IF it is that drug it won't dissolve it but may help pass it. He might be guessing uric acid, the big thing we notice with those stones is that they do not show up on plain xray but you can see them on ultrasound. Hopefully you will get rid of it on your own!
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