Apollo fought with grace and dignity to the end, My little angel warrior

[apollo6]

this is the site that has Trilostane at $30.00. The trick is that it is for veterinarians only. So if you have a good vet maybe they will do for you.


http://www.shopmedvet.com/product/15...d=gmc-feed-mvi

[mypuppy]

Thanks for the link Sonja. I'm thinking my IMS may be holding out on me and ripping off her patients if her facility is aware of this website and charging her patients 100.00 per 30 tabs. That is what my IMS charged me when Princess started her treatment --I paid a whopping 200.00 for a months worth of pills only. It is an outrage! Thanks to the forum I am now able to get it for so much less. Thanks again but in my case I think asking my vet to purchase these for me would be asking the world of her. Xo Jeanette

[apollo6]

What disturbs me the most is being aware of a markup of 40-60% vets are charging us to help our angles. I was charged $111.64 for 28 tablets,30mg., only got 15 had to call 4 times to get a credit of $57.19 , so it cost me $54.45 ,$3.63 a tablet.
The IMS said 30mg was the standard to start with, yet as you pointed out on a link for 10lb dog or less it is 10mg.
Most vets are drug happy. These are just some of the drugs Apollo was given over the years, DEXAMETHAZONE, DIPHENPHYDRAMINE, METOCLOPRAMIDE, PREDNISONE(SIDE EFFECTS-RASHES, HIVES, WOUNDS THAT DO NOT HEAL) APOHMOPHINE, METHOCARBAMOL, CHORPHENIRAMINE.
All I know is he was always throwing up had butts of upset stomach(maybe pancreatitis). When I got him away from the drugs he stopped throwing up. But my gut feeling is the long term effects on his little body did the damage. Everyone on this website is trying so hard to save their little angels and many of the vets have this arrogant attitude that they have the degrees and what ever was in the past is to continue. Not bothering to see what has changed in treatment or realizing each case is different, caution, listening to us, being flexible. They should be reading this site for insight on what we parents and our little ones are having to go through. Yet when I read what all of you are going through experience , are they listening to us. Even the one IMS I have is saying I should not be listening to everything I read on the Internet, he is the expert and has been treating cushing's dogs for years with Trilostane. He said I need to trust him. He has called me back every time I call and explains everything. Well, I will continue with this website. You've been there, done it, and are still doing it. These vets aren't there when we see are little ones struggling, in pain.
I did finally purchase the 10mg, Vertoyl, on line. Scared to even start it. I really need your support. I am still upset about the IMS saying , I did not need to get the full Adrenal panel w/sex hormones, did not have a LLDS, nor the SEP/CP ? TEST. Said we could do test latter if needed?
My mother says I need to trust the IMS and God.
On the lighter side, I have to attend to Apollo. On Saturday's he share whip cream with his Mom, she puts it in her coffee, he puts it in his mouth. If I don't give him some he whines very loud. The whip cream is low fat and only a few teaspoons. He deserves something to look forward to.

[mypuppy]

We all can relate to your fear as you begin this new journey with your precious pup. The best possible advice I can give you from my own experience is to educate yourself as much as possible, and yes this forum is one of your best resources. As yours, my IMS denied me the full adrenal panel and I trusted her best judgment and now regret not pushing for it. And I can't well do it now because it would mean interrupting Princess's treatment and risk her cortisols increasing again, so for now I have to wait it out. I did insist on the LDDS because I learned I would be able to confirm which cushings she had, pituitary or adrenal and it confirmed pituitary. I also had an abdominal u/s to rule out adrenal. As for your IMS telling you not to listen to everything on the net is pretty funny. Mine said the same thing whenI told her I belonged to this forum. She blew me totally off and dismissed my questions and concerns as if they didn't mean anything and dr. Is always right. Meanwhile her communication with me was limited, did not reply to my emails and went as far as being downright rude to me when I called her about Princess's test results because she had already given them to my gp and blatantly told me she cannot waste her time talking to both of us. I finally fired her, not to say my new one is a prize but I am trying to be as patient as possible for my pups sake. Sonja I can't say it enough but I would not know where I would be right now without the support and knowledge of this forum. Darn right Im going to hold on to it for as long as possible because it has been instrumental to my baby's health. Now forgive me did you say you are starting Apollo at the 10 or 30mg? I am sure you are already aware of watching for any unusual side effects while on treatment, if not the most important ones are vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, inappetence, anorexia. I don't want to frighten you in any way but my first IMS never told me them. Ridiculous. Hang in there and I wish you a very smooth and successful treatment and please keep us updated on Apollos progress. you can do this Sonja. You are doing a great job. Warm regards xo Jeanette

[apollo6]

My discharge papers say to monitor for vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite. Call if notice these signs means Trilostane dose is too high.Apollo's blood panel did show AST, ALT, ALKALINE pHOSPHATASE , GGT- all liver functions( in reading the threads said common in cushing pups?) Also Bun/creative , Phosphorus,amylase,lipase-kidney function.
I want to get him started on milk thistle, L-gua? before he starts the Trilostane? Or should I wait?

[apollo6]

this is the supplements and diet I have Apollo on. Being a dachshund he has back problems, probably arthritis, and supplements for his pancreas.

March 4, 2010 CURRENT MEDICATION REGIMENT
MEDICATION DOSAGE SPECIAL NOTES
CANINE THYROID SUPPORT-100G 1/8 TEASPOON TWICE A DAY

SUPPLE SPINETABLETS- USE ONLY AS NEEDED-½ TABLET TWICE DAILY WITH FOOD

REHMANNIA-TEAPILLS -1 TEAPILL TWICE A DAY

PANCREATROPHIN PMG -TABLETS ¼ TABLET TWICE A DAY

CAINE ADRENAL SUPPORT-25G 1/8 TEASPOON TWICE DAILY

COLOSTRUM POWDER-¼ TEASPOON TWICE DAILY

SOLID GOLD SEALMEAL-MINERALS/VITAMINSPOWDER-1/8 TEASPOON TWICE DAILY

KAL BONE MEAL POWDER-1/8 TEASPOON TWICE DAILY

NORWEIGN SALMON OIL OIL-½ TEASPOON

COSEQUIN DSTABLET-½ TABLET DAILY

CUSHEX(PETALIVE.COM) DROPS 2-3 DROPS,2-3 TIMES A DAY-PROMOTE ADRENDAL GLAND BALANCE


RXBIOTICPOWDER-1 SCOOP DAILY

DIET
A.M-low fat cottage cheese, Greek nonfat yogurt, egg white
, low sodium turkey slice, supplements

NOON- long WHEAT grain rice, cooked chicken, teaspoon canola oil,
Lite salt-potassium chloride
ADDED PURRED BROCOLLI,CARROT

AFTER 4P.M-cooked potatoes with skin, chicken
Nutri Deni minichew or Greenie
Halo-Live N Little skin & Coat treat with Salmon
Slice apple, sometimes blue berries, honey melon

Have alternated with organic baby food-summer veg, turkey with veg, spinach.
Stopped whip cream (on weekends only)
GREENIE/NUTRI DENTAL CHEW-MINI-TWICE DAILY

[frijole]

Sorry but the Cushex drops have not proven to be effective. I'll let Glynda post her response from them when she asked for proof of results. It was very telling.

But anyway,... I am pretty sure that there was something in those drops that should NOT be used with the chemo drugs (lysodren and trilo). Maybe I am confused .... but I had to post just to be safe. I am sure someone will comment.

What are the ingredient in the Cush drops? What are the ingredients in the adrenal support medicine? I worry that some of them will not mix well with the trilo. How long have you been using these supplements and this diet? Because I would not add all of these AND trilo AND a new diet at the same time.. because if something happens you won't know why (diarrhea and vomiting)

Kim

[apollo6]

this is the diet he has been on since September 2009. All are to help Apollo with his pancreas, and support his immune system,and stomach, and the hair loss. For a while the hair loss did stop and grew some back on his tail, and legs, but stopped . The numbers on his Neutrophils and Lymphocytes did improve. But I know this is not a cure , just a support. this is the website showing the ingredients in the other supplements.
http://www.standardprocess.com/displ...log.spi?ID=336
ingredients in Cushex-all herbs
Dandelion
Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous)
Arsenicum
Hepar sulph
Merc sol
Sulphur
everything else is Chinese herbs. I did show and give copy to IMS and he said not to change anything at this time?
All was done under supervision of my holistic Vet/acupuncture, who finally said get the tests and treatment.

[AlisonandMia]

Hi Sonja,

I can't comment on the supplements (Cushex etc) but if the IMS is aware of them and not worried then they should be ok.

The one thing that I would worry about with trilostane is the Lite salt-potassium chloride. Trilostane treatment tends to raise potassium levels somewhat and I'm not sure you'd want to be actively supplementing with potassium while using the drug. It might be a good idea to specifically ask the vet about this and make sure that he is aware that you are giving potassium. With medications that have the potential to raise potassium levels there is often a warning about avoiding potassium supplements, "lite" salts, and even foods very rich in potassium (more a problem with humans eating tomatos and lots of banana etc.)

Alison

[apollo6]

thank you so much . I ordered the Trilostane yesterday. But I hardly ever give the Lite Salt, so I can just stop now. But I want all my bases covered before I start this drug.
I insisted on starting only at 10mg. (Apollo weight is normally between 9.8 and 10.2-now 10.6)
I still feel uncomfortable about not getting an LLD and the UNIV TEN. TEST.
I am really going to need your support when I get the medication. It took me two days just to order.
Can I ask, everyone says I should Prednisone on hand for emergency. Why , for what and how much, if I can even get.

The diet my vet put me on was a low fat diet because of the pancreatitis, upset stomach, in September. I noticed someone else was asking about that. I sometimes wonder if the vets even look at what you give them , or hear you.
I plan on going to the ocean(La Jolla, Ca) with Apollo and my mother Sunday to try and switch the worry and obsession with all of this, off for awhile. Watch the seals, listen to the waves, and watch the sea gulls) Makes me think about the poor people in the Gulf-what a tragedy. My husband is worried about how I am handling all this.