How's this for a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week? My little dog has liver cancer and

[in_cog_ni_to]

Gallbladder blockage (they think it's blocked because a bio-acid test was very high) and in order to have her completely diagnosed, we'd have to do another $350.00 ultrasound (we've done 3 already and the last one was in June). If the ultrasound found a growth on her liver, we would have to go to U of I for biopsies and in order to do the biopsies, they would have to do clotting times to make sure her blood clots fast enough if they took some of her liver. The clotting time test is THOUSANDS of $$$$$$$ (so says our vet) and the biopsies are THOUSANDS of $$$$$$$$ (so says our vet) and all of that would lead to MAYBE major surgery, which is THOUSANDS of $$$$$$ or may be nothing they can do. SO, we have opted for liver meds and Gallbladder meds and are hoping for the best. The vet said a gallbladder that ruptures will be a VERY painful death after she has severe seizures. :cry: She will be 12 next month. :( I hope we're doing the right thing. She's so perky and not acting sick AT ALL. It's hard to believe she's actually dying. :cry: We found all this out because I had to take her in for a teeth cleaning because her body is allergic to the plaque on her teeth and she gets mouth ulcers. I was brushing her teeth and she flinched. I looked at the lips, and sure enough, she had ulcers again. :( Before they could put her out for the teeth cleaning, they had to make sure she was healthy enough. That's when we found out her liver and Gallbladder are bad. She also has a stage 5 heart murmur....which she has had forever. :cry: I'm so torn on what to do. She's NOT sickly. I just can't take a happy, perky dog in and let her go! I just can't do it. :cry: Yet, I would never forgive myself if her Gallbladder ruptures and she has seizures and dies in pain. :cry:

Shitty event number two:

I found out last week my brother has liver cancer. He went to Chicago yesterday to see if he could get chemo until a liver transplant is available (his ONLY alternative) and he was told there's nothing they can do because the cancer has spread throughout his entire body. :cry: He's not long for this world either and he's only 54 years old. He was a raging alcoholic in his youth, but hasn't had a drink in 20+ years. His youth caught up to him last week. We'll find out tomorrow, maybe, how long they expect him to live. :cry: I am not looking forward to that phone call.

Shitty event number 3:

Yesterday at 8:00AM, our bank called for my husband and had left a message for him on our answering machine and I forgot to tell him about it because I was busy at the time and totally forgot they had called. Well, it was a VERY important call!

Woke up this morning and received a phone call from our bank (Small Community Bank...thank G-d!) and they were questioning an IRS requested payment of $33,388.00. We don't have $33,388.00 in our account, so they were wondering what the hell was going on and THAT is why they called yesterday morning. We've banked here for the last 25 years and they know us very well. Apparently, when my husband filed his taxes via the telephone the other day, he entered $33,388.00 instead of $3,388.00! The bank paid the IRS the $33,388.00 after they didn't get a callback from my husband yesterday. The bank OFFERED to use our equity in our home to cover the $33,388.00 until the IRS returned it in 10 days (Do you think BOA would EVER offer to do that? HELL NO!). Then the President of the bank (who knows my husband well) called today and said they were going to just withdraw their payment to the IRS and just needed to send in a form to the IRS, so now my husband will only have to pay a 2% penalty for paying his taxes late (no overdraft fees)...but it beats paying $33,388.00! Tomorrow they can remove the overdraft on the account. THEN, a lady from the bank called to let my husband know that since our account is overdrawn by $33,000+, if any checks come in today or tomorrow (before the overdraft is removed) they are not charging him any overdraft fees. :) Is that kind or what? Needless to say, it's been a VERY, VERY stressful day today. THEN...

Shitty thing number 4:

About an hour ago I received a phone call from my son who is in college. His laptop crashed. He's hoping the Campus IT people will be able to help him, but that's doubtful if it was a hard drive crash. :(

Then he says, "Mom, I have some more bad news." Holy shit...NO!!!! Not anymore bad news, please?

I guess an old high school buddy was at his University a few weeks ago to spend the weekend. My son, his old friend and another young man went outside in front of the dorm to have a smoke and while they were standing there, the old high school buddy pulled out a brand new pot pipe he had just bought and the three boys were admiring it. Well, out comes the dorm RA. He had seen them on the video camera...CREEPY! He called the cops. The cops came, talked to the three boys and did nothing. No fines, no jail, no arrests, no ANYTHING. Well, I guess that wasn't good enough for the RA. He filed a formal complaint report with the University. Yesterday my son and his friend (NOT the high school friend who had and owned the pipe), who is also a student there, were told to report to the admins office. They were informed that even though the VIDEO TAPE OF THEM showed no one had been smoking pot and they were only LOOKING at the pipe, it still qualifies as the same offense. Smoking pot and having paraphernalia is the same thing ....WHO KNEW?! They were BOTH fined $150.00 each, must pay for and attend an 8 week drug course, submit to and pay for a drug test at the end of the year and they are both on University PROBATION for 1 year OR be expelled! How fucked up is THAT?! They LOOKED AT a damn pot pipe and it wasn't even theirs!
My husband called the University and left a message for a callback. I can't wait to see how this one ends. :(

There were even MORE shitty things that happened this week, but they pale in comparison to these things, so I won't bother boring you with them.

This is a week I cannot wait to end. :( It really has been a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week. :(

[Earth_First]

1. Oh dear...

:hug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. I know.

It's almost unbelievable it's been so bad. Thanks for the hug. :)

[joeybee12]

2. So sorry to hear that...good vibes coming your way...

:grouphug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. Thank you, joeybee. n/t

[a kennedy]

3. Holy crap....I don't know what to say....just know I'm so sorry for you

:hug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

23. Thank you, a kennedy.

I'm hoping the week gets better. It can't get much worse.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. Don't know if this will help but I don't think it would hurt to look at it

.... be warned there is an ad here:

http://www.petwellbeing.com/products/dog-liver-disease?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=canine%20liver%20cancer&utm_content=!acq!v2!s-b-7735389645-1826521965&utm_campaign=PWB+-+Search+-+Direct+-+USA&gclid=CKT5-qamvKwCFRAj7AodBw4yoA
The liver is essential for health, because it performs dozens of different functions in the body, including clearing out toxins. Yet liver disease (including cirrhosis) is one of the most common health problems in older dogs. It can damage all functions of the dog’s liver, with very harmful effects on their health.

Even dogs without liver disease may need support to detox prescription medications, which are often damaging to the liver. Milk Thistle is an excellent way for the liver to deal with this toxic load of medications., It is not contraindicated to any conventional medication and it is gentle enough for long-term use.

While the Milk Thistle sold in health stores is usually alcohol based and should not be given to dogs. PetWellbeing's Canine Milk Thistle is glycerine-based and safe for dogs.

Milk Thistle should be administered to every dog taking liver taxing medications and especially if the liver is damaged or diseased.

The active ingredients in Canine Milk Thistle are known collectively as silymarin.

These ingredients:

Help maintain the health of your dog’s liver.
Scavenge for harmful free radicals.
Help guard against toxins trying to bind to the dog’s liver.
Support the stability of liver membranes

Milk Thistle provides excellent health support when your dog isn't feeling well, to support his liver and help his recovery. As an anti-oxidant, silymarin is even more effective than vitamin E. It also helps support the production of new liver cells in dogs.

Milk Thistle is a especially useful health support when your dog is being treated with things like:

anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) and corticosteroids (Prednisone)
chemotherapy drugs
Cyclosporine (Atopica)
Actigal
Imuran (Anathioprine)
Phenobarbital for seizures

[in_cog_ni_to]

17. Thank you so much for this info!

I just ordered a bottle. I'll try anything at this point. Thank you!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

30. Something else of interest.... you may want to know that supplements

are not just for humans, even aging pets can benefit. Lipoic acid is extremely liver protective, much more so than milk thistle. You can look at the book The Lipoic Acid Breakthrough at Amazon to get an idea what it is all about.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070923202538.htm
ScienceDaily (Sep. 23, 2007) — These supplements, acetyl-l-carnitine and alpha lipoic acid, are continuing to be studied in work with humans, and scientists believe they may provide a new approach to the neurodegeneration and cognitive decline common with aging.

lipoic acid, are continuing to be studied in work with humans, and scientists believe they may provide a new approach to the neurodegeneration and cognitive decline common with aging.

The newest study was just published in FASEB Journal, produced by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, by researchers from the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, the University of Toronto, University of California/Berkeley, Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, and Juvenon, Inc.

And for the skeptics.......

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21034330

Pharmacokinetics of orally administered DL-α-lipoic acid in dogs.
Zicker SC, Avila A, Joshi DK, Gross KL.
Source

Hill's Pet Nutrition Incorporated, Pet Nutrition Center, Topeka, KS 66601, USA. [e-mail]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:

To determine the pharmacokinetics of DL-α-lipoic acid in dogs when administered at 3 dosages via 3 methods of delivery.
ANIMALS:

27 clinically normal Beagles.
PROCEDURES:

In a 3 × 3 factorial Latin square design, 3 dosages (2.5, 12.5, and 25 mg/kg) of DL-α-lipoic acid were administered orally in a capsule form and provided without a meal, in a capsule form and provided with a meal, and as an ingredient included in an extruded dog food. Food was withheld for 12 hours prior to DL-α-lipoic acid administration. Blood samples were collected before (0 minutes) and at 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 minutes after administration. Plasma concentrations of DL-α-lipoic acid were determined via high-performance liquid chromatography. A generalized linear models procedure was used to evaluate the effects of method of delivery and dosage. Noncompartmental analysis was used to determine pharmacokinetic parameters of DL-α-lipoic acid. Nonparametric tests were used to detect significant differences between pharmacokinetic parameters among treatment groups.
RESULTS:

A significant effect of dosage was observed regardless of delivery method. Method of delivery also significantly affected plasma concentrations of DL-α-lipoic acid, with extruded foods resulting in lowest concentration for each dosage administered. Maximum plasma concentration was significantly affected by method of delivery at each dosage administered. Other significant changes in pharmacokinetic parameters were variable and dependent on dosage and method of delivery.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

Values for pharmacokinetic parameters of orally administered DL-α-lipoic acid may differ significantly when there are changes in dosage, method of administration, and fed status.

PMID:
21034330


Publication Types, MeSH Terms, Substances

[lunatica]

5. That really is a terrible week!

I'm sorry these things are happening to you and your loved ones.

[in_cog_ni_to]

27. I know!

It's gotta get better. Thank you.

[Fumesucker]

6. Godspeed..

:hug:

:hi:

[in_cog_ni_to]

28. Thank you.

:hug:

[Newest Reality]

7. I can only send

sincere and direct thoughts of loving kindness and wish you well being, peace, happiness with sincere hopes that the suffering of this day will be alleviated.

Please do take a moment to breath deep and let this all go for a few moments. It will pass, hopefully soon.

[in_cog_ni_to]

29. Thank you.

That was so nice of you. :hug:

[teenagebambam]

8. Sympathize with you on many fronts.

So sorry to hear about your brother. My own just passed from liver and subsequent systemic cancer, at age 61...also a case of his youth catching up.

I can't imagine how agonizing your pet care decisions have been and will continue to be. Haven't been in any kind of similar situation yet with mine, but I know the likelihood is that I will be someday:(

On the plus side, I am a college professor married to an administrator. I'm pretty sure the fine and probation are scare tactics- even if the University sticks to its guns, I wouldn't expect any kind of permanent black marks to follow your son around.

And, yes, Bank of America is the devil.

[in_cog_ni_to]

31. Thank you for that input!

We were worried this would end up on his transcript. He already paid the fine. He was so bummed because he was trying so hard to save what little bit of money he had and then he had to fork it over to the University. I'm anxious to see what happens.

Thank you for your well wishes and I'm very sorry about your brother. :( It's heartbreaking. He was so young too.

[izquierdista]

9. Sue

The university, that is. They need to explain, in court, by their lawyer'$ word$, how this is legal. Is the boy interested in law? This could be his opportunity to find out.

[in_cog_ni_to]

33. He use to be interested in Law.

Now he has no clue what he wants to be when he grows up. What kills me is the cops did NOTHING. Hello?! Yet the University sees fit to dish out a punishment AFTER the police decided it was nothing? *sigh* All over a damn pipe. Seriously STUPID.

[Piltdown13]

71. Obviously I don't know the specifics, but...

Often universities will have codes of conduct that forbid things that aren't illegal (for instance, some schools ban all alcohol from university residences, even for students who are of legal drinking age). So, even if paraphernalia like a pipe aren't illegal in and of themselves, the university may still ban such items from campus.

The part that surprises me is that it sounds as if your son was charged with the offense committed by his guest (possessing the pipe on university grounds). In my experience, a more common procedure in the kind of situation you describe would be for the student to be charged with something along the lines of "responsibility for guests," which basically just means that a guest of the student's did something against the code of conduct but does NOT mean that the student literally gets charged with whatever it was that the guest did.

On another note -- so sorry about your dog and brother! :-(

[The Wielding Truth]

10. Seems things come in threes. One more for credit. I think you are done

and the roller coaster will level out for a while. Here's a big hug.

:hug:

God, I've been there,too. Bless you and your brother. Every day is a gift. Even the bad ones.

[in_cog_ni_to]

34. Thank you.

:hug:

[livetohike]

11. I am so sorry in_cog_ni_to

:hug: and sending you the strength to deal with all these trials. Sending good vibes to your brother, too.

I would do exactly as you chose for your dog's troubles. Why subject her to all those tests when there might not be anything different to do other than give her the meds?

There are so many dog owners here, I'm sure there will be good advice :hug:.

[in_cog_ni_to]

38. Thank you.

Little Miss Isabelle is such a sweetheart. Happiest little dog in the world. She loves everyone and everything. We've been blessed to have her in our lives.

Thank you. :hug:

[K8-EEE]

12. UGH!!! ALL VERY HORRIBLE AND NOT VERY GOOD!

buy a Lotto ticket cuz you are due some luck......!!

[in_cog_ni_to]

40. I told you so!

I wish it was Sunday. The week would be OVER.

That lotto ticket is a good idea. ;)

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Oh my heavens! *hugest of hugs* What a crazy week! The IRS and drug things are so... bizarre! I

hope that they will be quickly and easily resolved, and soon forgotten!

But the health problems of your pup and brother, how utterly devastating! :hug: Our Pickles didn't seem really all that sick for the last few weeks of her life. She was off her feed but still a spry old kitteh. It was only this last week when she stopped eating entirely that I finally caught a clue. Her kidneys had shut down and it was time to let her go. Like you I hated the thought of putting down an animal friend that might still have some good months or years yet. In our case, our kittehs were kind enough to choose ailments that were pretty black and white. The vet told me that our animal friends aren't thinking about lost tomorrows. They only know today and how well they were loved. For me that made it a little easier (just a wee bit) to let our Pickles go last week. I hope that you can come to a decision one way or another as easily as possible with your pup.

And your poor brother! After all he had been through as a young man to now face this. :cry: I lost my MIL to pancreatic cancer, so I know how devastating and quick-moving cancers can be. I am so very, very sorry. Do you live near enough to see him?

You will all be in my thoughts and prayers! *vibes of strength, comfort, and clear thinking coming your way*

[in_cog_ni_to]

42. Thank you. Yes, he lives nearby.

You would never know his body is full of cancer. He was told yesterday it is in every organ and his bones. He has almost no pain at all and the pain he does have is caused by the liver tumors. He hasn't lost weight. He looks fine, but is VERY, VERY sick and we know things are going to change very soon for him. :(

I am so sorry about your little Pickles. It is one of the most difficult things to do...letting a pet go. :hug: I've had to do it more times than I care to remember. You love them as a family member. It's so hard letting them go, but sometimes, for them, you must.

Thank you for your kind words and positive vibes. :hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

68. Please let me know how things go for you all. I can lend an ear if you need it! *hugs*

[geckosfeet]

14. Jeez. My thoughts are with you and yours. Be there, Be well as you can be.

[in_cog_ni_to]

43. Thank you!

:hug:

[MissDeeds]

15. Oh crap!

I am so very, very sorry. Mine has been the pits, too. My mom had a stoke a month ago and is in a rehab/nursing home. Today is her 86th birthday. She formerly was a geriatric nurse who took care of the aged and infirm, but is now fighting and resisting all means of rehabilitation. I don't know how to reach her or to meet her needs. She is combative and refuses to acknowledge me. She lashes out at me and says that I am not her daughter and that she doesn't know me. She says vile and hateful things that will haunt me to my grave. I have cried oceans over the past month. My relationship with her has never been positive, but she's my mom, and I love her.

That said, you are not alone. I am so sorry for what you are going through, and please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

[in_cog_ni_to]

44. Thank you..

My mom had a stroke a few years ago, but recovered completely from it. I hope your mom gets better very soon. Strokes can do terrible things to some people. Some lose their filters of how to behave and what not to say. Hopefully your mom will improve with time. Try not to take what she says now personally. She doesn't mean it. :hug:

Thank you for your well wishes. I really do appreciate them. :hug:

[applegrove]

16. vibes to you.

[in_cog_ni_to]

45. Thank you.

:hug:

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. OMG!!! I don't even know what to say. Sending good vibes your way

:-(

[in_cog_ni_to]

46. Seriously.

I know.

Thank you. :hug:

[whistler162]

20. Not much can be said.... my thoughts and prayers

go out to you and your family.

A little Jimmy Dickens to maybe lighten the mood.

This song always brings me a smile - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfYFx6MOTYU&feature=related

[in_cog_ni_to]

25. I cannot remember the last time I heard that song!

It made me smile too. Thank you. :) Thank you for the well wishes also.

[LiberalEsto]

21. So sorry you're going through all this

sending you good vibes

:hug:

have you considered taking your dog to another vet for a second opinion?

[in_cog_ni_to]

26. I want to do that.

We just paid $500 last visit for the blood work, meds ($1.11 a pill! for the Gallbladder pills which she will be on for the rest of her life...3 a day required + liver meds + heart meds), her teeth cleaned without being anesthetized and office visit. The vet did call in the Gallbladder meds to their compound pharmacist who gave us a slight discount....60 pills for $67.00 (the vet charges MORE). That's a 20 day supply. If next month gets any better, I may take her to a Homeopathic Vet here and see what she says. We just can't afford it this month. :( Maybe next month if she's still healthy enough.

Thanks for the good vibes. :hug:

[a la izquierda]

24. Mer-CY!

I'm so sorry you're having such a monumentally horrible week :(
:hug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

47. Thank you

:hug:

[Ken Burch]

32. That is one sucky week, my friend.

I'm so, so sorry.

:hug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

48. Thank you, Ken.

:hug: It really has been awful.

[Raine]

35. I'm so sorry

wish I had more to offer but all I have is a :hug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

49. Thank you.

:hug:

[easttexaslefty]

36. You, indeed, have had a very bad week.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

50. Indeed.

Thank you for the hugs. :hug:

[Odin2005]

37. That sucks!

:(

[in_cog_ni_to]

52. Totally

sucks.

[ellisonz]

39. Good Vibes.

Bob Marley - Three Little Birds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LanCLS_hIo4

:grouphug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

53. *sigh* Bob Marley

:loveya: LOVE that song. Thank you.

:hug:

[ellisonz]

60. You're welcome.

The restorative power of music can be amazing. :thumbsup:

[phylny]

41. So sorry.

[in_cog_ni_to]

54. Thank you.

:hug:

[City Lights]

51. Good grief, in_cog_ni_to!

You need a big 'ol :hug:! So sorry to hear of all your rotten news! I do hope there are brighter days ahead for you. :hug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

55. Thank you.

It's just gotta get better, right? :hug:

[TeeYiYi]

56. (((((((((((( in_cog_ni_to ))))))))))))

TYY :hug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

63. Thank you.

:hug:

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

57. Man, I been having a bad week too... two cases of breast cancer, diabetes and two broken down cars!

In the last 6 days...

My grandmother and mother both had lumps/masses discovered after mammograms.

My mother in law got diagnosed with diabtes - if shes lucky she may not need insulin shots.

And then I had both of my cars die - one transmission ($$$) and the other won't start (???). I can't do either myself.
We live paycheck to paycheck and can only afford to have one fixed... even then, we'll have to finance the fix.

You know what say... when it rains it pours!
Hope your brother gets the care he needs. And Im sure the university would rather keep collecting tuition than enforcing a bad policy. ;)
And your dog... it makes me saddest when pets get sick. Sadder than people for some reason. :-(

[in_cog_ni_to]

62. What is it?

Are the stars misaligned or something? I pray your mom and Grandmother will be OK! Are their lumps cancerous? How awful for both of them! And for you. :hug:

Thank you for your well wishes and I send mine to you. I wish your family a speedy recovery.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

67. One of them is cancercerous... but it has not spread. The other is waiting on biopsy results.

[in_cog_ni_to]

69. I wish them both the best!

:hug:

[lonestarnot]

58. I am so sorry my dear in_cog_ni_to.

:hug: Things will work out one way or another. :hug: I am so sorry for all the bummers. Really has been my experience in life that when it rains it pours. I could be a commercial for Morten's Salt. Hang in there. :hug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

64. Thank you, lonestarnot.

:hug: You gave me a chuckle with "I could be a commercial for Morten's Salt" :) That's how I feel. :hug:

[The Straight Story]

59. Hugs for you, somewhat of a bad week here but nothing like yours :) You made me feel better

Hope next week is a better one for you!

[in_cog_ni_to]

65. Thank you.

I hope yours gets better too!

[Sabriel]

61. And it's only Wednesday

Here's hoping that your week ends early. Like at 9:00 on Wednesday night.

Stay strong! We're thinking of you (and your bug).

[in_cog_ni_to]

66. Thank you.

:)

[riderinthestorm]

70. More than half way through the week. Almost done! Hugs and vibes of strength coming your way. nt