Amanda & Shmee
Very Active Member
Previous condo
Hi L&L,
@JeffJ @Wendy&Neko and @Chubba (GA) thank you for your input the other day, I appreciate it. I feel bad sometimes that I don't totally grasp everything... it is just overwhelming and so much to remember.
Possible acro surgery
I have had an eventful last few days. I have been researching different options for Shmees acro and I got a call back from the neurosurgeon (Dr. McCue) at AMC in NYC yesterday morning. I called AMC because I had heard from the acro Facebook group that they had a large donation to their neurosurgery department and had paid for a cats surgery. I took a chance and called to see if there was any more money. Dr. McCue confirmed that yes, if I bring Shmee to him, the normally $20,000 surgery would be covered. I about fell to the ground. I talked to him for about an hour, and I just got done sending him an email with another long list of questions. To my understanding, they would be removing the tumor, or the entire pituitary gland. They have done this procedure at this particular hospital to only five cats (I think the fifth or sixth may be the one from the Facebook group, she just got it done last week so I don't know if he counted her. Last I update from her the kitty was having "a bad weekend" after the surgery. I need to send her a message to see how she's doing). The doctor said there has been one fatality, but that cat was older and had a very large tumor that was also encroaching blood vessels (I think that is what he said), so it was a difficult and last resort situation. The other four cats had "regular" sized tumors and "have done great after surgery" (I asked him on the email to clarify, how exactly they are doing, how long their recovery time was, etc.).
This is all still largely up in the air. He has gone down to 5U from 7, so he is doing well insulin wise... which is a little confusing. I asked my vet about the Cabergoline and possible Octeotide today too. She said she would look into it, and I am also waiting on an email back from the RCV diabetic remission clinic; about five days ago I asked them all the latest info they have on Cabergoline. I would not have really considered travelling with him before, but a free $20,000 surgery has definitely made me consider it... and I am overwhelmed trying to figure out the right course of action. I am so scared he would have a heart attack or something..... he just gets so scared in the car and at the vet. And driving in NYC on top of that?!
And this is definitely not all free, the largest costs would be both MRI's. To my understanding, they prefer an MRI here beforehand to make sure he is a candidate / see how large the tumor is, and another at AMC; I think because the tumor could have grown and they need to pinpoint where they would be going in for surgery. Since the doctor said cats with acromegaly often have heart problems, he wants me to have an echocardiogram too. I think this will be my first move, so I am going to call and schedule that with my vet tomorrow (I talked to her as well today and she confirmed they get someone to come in to do the eco). Although Dr. McCue said a heart condition would not rule him out, it would just be something they would need to be aware of. The cost estimate I came up with is about $5,500 (majority of that cost being the MRIs), so I would have to ask for a bank loan...
Insulin from Canada
Has anyone from the US drove to Canada for insulin? My cousin is going to Niagara Falls on the Canadian side, so she told me she can get some Lantus for me if I wanted. I just got this bottle like a month in a half ago and its already halfway gone... so I think I should take her up on this offer. I called a Pharmacy by the border and he confirmed a 10mL bottle would be $60 US dollars, and the pens (15mL) would be like $80 I think. I know the insulin is only good for six months, but that is only after its been opened... right? Should I stock up? I am thinking of having her buy two orders of the pens, and as long as I don't open them until I need them, they should be good, right?
Side note -- I am reading that bringing insulin back over the boarder is not exactly legal.... I guess its not highly enforced though and there's some loophole in the law that if you are using it personally (and not buying a lot to sell) they should have no problem crossing the border. Maybe this is a better reason to only buy one set of pens? I really wouldn't mind driving there myself eventually, or buying them online in the future. I am trying to figure out what is best for my cousin. I don't want to ask her to do this and her family gets stuck at the border!
Thoughts?
Many vines to those in need of them.
Thank you all for sticking with me, letting me vent, and giving your valuable advice. I hope everyone has a nice night / day.
Hi L&L,
@JeffJ @Wendy&Neko and @Chubba (GA) thank you for your input the other day, I appreciate it. I feel bad sometimes that I don't totally grasp everything... it is just overwhelming and so much to remember.
Possible acro surgery
I have had an eventful last few days. I have been researching different options for Shmees acro and I got a call back from the neurosurgeon (Dr. McCue) at AMC in NYC yesterday morning. I called AMC because I had heard from the acro Facebook group that they had a large donation to their neurosurgery department and had paid for a cats surgery. I took a chance and called to see if there was any more money. Dr. McCue confirmed that yes, if I bring Shmee to him, the normally $20,000 surgery would be covered. I about fell to the ground. I talked to him for about an hour, and I just got done sending him an email with another long list of questions. To my understanding, they would be removing the tumor, or the entire pituitary gland. They have done this procedure at this particular hospital to only five cats (I think the fifth or sixth may be the one from the Facebook group, she just got it done last week so I don't know if he counted her. Last I update from her the kitty was having "a bad weekend" after the surgery. I need to send her a message to see how she's doing). The doctor said there has been one fatality, but that cat was older and had a very large tumor that was also encroaching blood vessels (I think that is what he said), so it was a difficult and last resort situation. The other four cats had "regular" sized tumors and "have done great after surgery" (I asked him on the email to clarify, how exactly they are doing, how long their recovery time was, etc.).
This is all still largely up in the air. He has gone down to 5U from 7, so he is doing well insulin wise... which is a little confusing. I asked my vet about the Cabergoline and possible Octeotide today too. She said she would look into it, and I am also waiting on an email back from the RCV diabetic remission clinic; about five days ago I asked them all the latest info they have on Cabergoline. I would not have really considered travelling with him before, but a free $20,000 surgery has definitely made me consider it... and I am overwhelmed trying to figure out the right course of action. I am so scared he would have a heart attack or something..... he just gets so scared in the car and at the vet. And driving in NYC on top of that?!
And this is definitely not all free, the largest costs would be both MRI's. To my understanding, they prefer an MRI here beforehand to make sure he is a candidate / see how large the tumor is, and another at AMC; I think because the tumor could have grown and they need to pinpoint where they would be going in for surgery. Since the doctor said cats with acromegaly often have heart problems, he wants me to have an echocardiogram too. I think this will be my first move, so I am going to call and schedule that with my vet tomorrow (I talked to her as well today and she confirmed they get someone to come in to do the eco). Although Dr. McCue said a heart condition would not rule him out, it would just be something they would need to be aware of. The cost estimate I came up with is about $5,500 (majority of that cost being the MRIs), so I would have to ask for a bank loan...Insulin from Canada
Has anyone from the US drove to Canada for insulin? My cousin is going to Niagara Falls on the Canadian side, so she told me she can get some Lantus for me if I wanted. I just got this bottle like a month in a half ago and its already halfway gone... so I think I should take her up on this offer. I called a Pharmacy by the border and he confirmed a 10mL bottle would be $60 US dollars, and the pens (15mL) would be like $80 I think. I know the insulin is only good for six months, but that is only after its been opened... right? Should I stock up? I am thinking of having her buy two orders of the pens, and as long as I don't open them until I need them, they should be good, right?
Side note -- I am reading that bringing insulin back over the boarder is not exactly legal.... I guess its not highly enforced though and there's some loophole in the law that if you are using it personally (and not buying a lot to sell) they should have no problem crossing the border. Maybe this is a better reason to only buy one set of pens? I really wouldn't mind driving there myself eventually, or buying them online in the future. I am trying to figure out what is best for my cousin. I don't want to ask her to do this and her family gets stuck at the border!
Thoughts?
Many vines to those in need of them.
Thank you all for sticking with me, letting me vent, and giving your valuable advice. I hope everyone has a nice night / day.
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). I also sprayed the inside of the carrier with Feliway. I now always use the Rescue Rememdy/Feliway combo for vet visits. You can try that out on the trip for the echo. Another thing that might help is something like a Thundershirt. When I took Neko on the plane 
