Abbifoot
01-06-2013, 02:33 PM
Hi
I have been lurking behind the scenes for a few months now since we first suspected Abbi may have Cushings. Not knowing anything about this disease, I set out to learn as much as I could. My search brought me to this wonderful family and I have been following many threads, as well as gone back and read some older ones.
Though I have not posted until today, I have found great comfort in the last couple of months not only in your words, but also in finding a group of people that share similar experiences. I have shed many tears when reading your stories, and prayed many prayers for you and your pups.
Nearly twelve years ago, I set out on a search for the perfect puppy. I am so thankful and honored to have been able to have found Abbi who quickly became my best friend. Since that day, she has gone everywhere and done (almost) everything with me. She even rode on my motorcycle with me during the time when I was without a car. She truly thinks she is a human and is quite insulted when she is not included in all that the family does. We have driven across country together a couple of times, exploring and making wonderful friends, both human and canine. She has this gregarious personality that has at times forced me outside of my shy nature with great reward. (imo) She is the best puppy in the world.
In August, Abbi had a couple of bouts of incontinance. After running a battery of tests, Cushings was suspected and we did an LDDS test, which she suppressed. On the Monday that hurricane Sandy hit the east coast, Abbi had an ultrasound which revealed bi-lateral adrenal tumors. The right mass, larger than the kidney, appears to be a fast growing mass and suspected to be a pheo. Without further testing, it is not known with certainty whether or not these are pheo, carcinoma, or adenoma. Our regular vet has little experience with Cushings and suggested we consider a consult with an IMS but told us the prognosis was poor. The IMS we met with merely confirmed the results of the ultrasound and presented three options - surgery to remove the larger tumor and biopsy the smaller, treat with Lysodren, or do nothing - none of which would be curative.
My entire world went into a spin and this was so difficult to comprehend. We continued to go running every day, after which Abbi would jump into her pool and play to cool off. Everything seemed so normal with her everyday behavior other than the minor geriatric signs that have been slowly showing over the last 18 months. I have cried, prayed, cried, read, researched looking for that miracle cure, and cried some more. After researching and much reading on the surgery, and with the added input of another vet, the risk and trama seem too great to put her through given that this would not even be a cure for her. And, where Abbi does not have any significant signs Cushings, there seems little value to treat with Lysodren. One evening shortly after her ultrasound when I was loving her and giving her a massage, I moved my hand over her shaven belly to the area of her kidney. She lifted her head, looked at me and let out a little cry as if to tell me 'that's where it is maMa, that is where the sickness is and it's REAL'. It is slowly sinking in and I am coming to accept the fact that we are beginning our last mile together. My baby, my best friend is getting ready to go to the rainbow bridge to be young and healthy again.
So, though I continue to read in hopes to find that miracle cure, I focus my time on loving her, spoiling her, and making her last mile as fun-filled and enjoyable as it possibly can be. I come to this board regularly and do thank you all for your words as they have brought me comfort, touched me, and thrown that splash of cold water reality to my face as needed even though you may not have realized I was here, reading in silence.
I have been lurking behind the scenes for a few months now since we first suspected Abbi may have Cushings. Not knowing anything about this disease, I set out to learn as much as I could. My search brought me to this wonderful family and I have been following many threads, as well as gone back and read some older ones.
Though I have not posted until today, I have found great comfort in the last couple of months not only in your words, but also in finding a group of people that share similar experiences. I have shed many tears when reading your stories, and prayed many prayers for you and your pups.
Nearly twelve years ago, I set out on a search for the perfect puppy. I am so thankful and honored to have been able to have found Abbi who quickly became my best friend. Since that day, she has gone everywhere and done (almost) everything with me. She even rode on my motorcycle with me during the time when I was without a car. She truly thinks she is a human and is quite insulted when she is not included in all that the family does. We have driven across country together a couple of times, exploring and making wonderful friends, both human and canine. She has this gregarious personality that has at times forced me outside of my shy nature with great reward. (imo) She is the best puppy in the world.
In August, Abbi had a couple of bouts of incontinance. After running a battery of tests, Cushings was suspected and we did an LDDS test, which she suppressed. On the Monday that hurricane Sandy hit the east coast, Abbi had an ultrasound which revealed bi-lateral adrenal tumors. The right mass, larger than the kidney, appears to be a fast growing mass and suspected to be a pheo. Without further testing, it is not known with certainty whether or not these are pheo, carcinoma, or adenoma. Our regular vet has little experience with Cushings and suggested we consider a consult with an IMS but told us the prognosis was poor. The IMS we met with merely confirmed the results of the ultrasound and presented three options - surgery to remove the larger tumor and biopsy the smaller, treat with Lysodren, or do nothing - none of which would be curative.
My entire world went into a spin and this was so difficult to comprehend. We continued to go running every day, after which Abbi would jump into her pool and play to cool off. Everything seemed so normal with her everyday behavior other than the minor geriatric signs that have been slowly showing over the last 18 months. I have cried, prayed, cried, read, researched looking for that miracle cure, and cried some more. After researching and much reading on the surgery, and with the added input of another vet, the risk and trama seem too great to put her through given that this would not even be a cure for her. And, where Abbi does not have any significant signs Cushings, there seems little value to treat with Lysodren. One evening shortly after her ultrasound when I was loving her and giving her a massage, I moved my hand over her shaven belly to the area of her kidney. She lifted her head, looked at me and let out a little cry as if to tell me 'that's where it is maMa, that is where the sickness is and it's REAL'. It is slowly sinking in and I am coming to accept the fact that we are beginning our last mile together. My baby, my best friend is getting ready to go to the rainbow bridge to be young and healthy again.
So, though I continue to read in hopes to find that miracle cure, I focus my time on loving her, spoiling her, and making her last mile as fun-filled and enjoyable as it possibly can be. I come to this board regularly and do thank you all for your words as they have brought me comfort, touched me, and thrown that splash of cold water reality to my face as needed even though you may not have realized I was here, reading in silence.