Jack's update >>> Updated again from last night!

I think most of you have known Jack is back to having issues again. We went to the urologist and he was started on the anti spasm medication for his bladder. It has been about a week and so far no change.. I think in a way, it is worse.

Last night I literally without exaggeration was up with him every hour to hour and half. He had a soaking wet diaper, I took it off and he would go potty outside. I ran out of diapers..

Last night I was so tired I knew his diaper was wet but I didn't want to wake up, at least I was half asleep and not thinking clearly because of course I would jump up in a second for him.. Because I didn't get right up he started crying and trying to get the wet diaper off of him... talk about breaking my heart...

He does not do this during the day.. he can go a few hours without having to potty.

Today we got the results of his ACTH baseline test. This is the fist time they did this, He has had the ACTH stim test twice now and each time his cortisol level is low but he does respond just enough with the ACTH injection to move his cortisol up enough.

Now you have to remember, I don't claim to know a lot of things but Addison's disease I know, and I know it well, Primary, secondary and also ACTH deficiency ... I have Addison's and I went through holy heck to be diagnosed and I had many bad quality of life years (not including my other stuff) that I never should have had if I had been properly diagnosed.

Jack's cortisol is low.. the bottom line is when your cortisol is low you do not feel your optimum period, We all know Cortisol has a big job in your body's well being. His is low which would explain his lack of desire to play with Molly, his lack of desire to go for a walk when I call him for a walk and his overall decline in ability to jump on things..and could possibly explain his low weight. which is low normal.

These are all subtle symptoms but I am with Jack all the time and I notice them. In the early stages of Addison's disease your symptoms can wax and wane which is exactly what is happening with

Jack... I notice every detail about him... most dogs are not diagnosed until they go into full crisis because the symptoms are subtle...

So the bottom line is his internist, not his regular vet, who is very kind to me, very sweet and supportive of me, does not know enough about Addison's. Her overall feeling was if he has any ACTH he is good. WHich is totally incorrect. There is a reason there is limits and norms for a test and the normal level for ACTH should be over 20. My sweet son's is 4.2.. No wonder he barely makes cortisol

She did give us prednisolone because she was wondering if his overall non stop urination was due to inflammation.

The thing that made me know that she was not accurate in her diagnoses is that in the early stages of Addison's, a dog or human can hold their electrolytes. Also, a low cortisol is a low cortisol and a low ACTH at base means at the very least ACTH deficiency. She back peddled a lot in speaking to me and was confused about which hormone did which thing which immediately made me disheartened. Not that she didn't know, but her unwillingness to admit she was over her head.

I hate when people can't admit they don't know something, Big deal, no one can know everything.. Geeze..

That being said.. I talked to my local vet who agreed that we should start Prednisolone and if he had good effects with it then we would go from there.. The dose they prescribed is way to high for a replacement dose and it is more for an anti inflammatory dose..

Anyway, me being me, I researched and thank the Lord I found the best endocrinologist in the world. He is out of NYC and his name is Dr Mark Peterson and he own the Animal Endocrine Clinic. If you are bored you should google it, the things they do there for any type of endocrine disorder are outstanding.

I spoke with one of his nurses today and explained my situation and she can't give advice out over the phone but said if it was my dog I would do xyz including do the replacement dose like I thought he needed.

She gave me Dr Peterson's email and said he travels a great deal. I notice he has been all over the country and is considered not only a USA leader but a World leader in Endocrine disease, He can not do an over the phone consult without your vet being involved because it is illegal in the state of NY to give advice without assessing the patient, unless another vet is involved.

I emailed the doctor with all Jack's information, labs and vital results and I am praying to God he will email back. The nurse said he is a softie and usually does. if not he will for sure respond to my vet.

So if I don't hear from him soon, I will have my vet email him a PMH and go from there. From all his journals and I have spent a lot of days reading his stuff, Jack's next test should be an MRI because he does have adrenal function and it appears his Pitatuary gland is not sending the signal, which is known as secondary Addison's or he could also be in the beginning stages of Primary or it could be a tumor in the brain...

I will without a doubt bring him to NYC if I don't get enough answers here. after all, that is where I was diagnoses with Addison's myself.. I am so grateful I have Jack because I know enough about Addison's that I can and will fiercely advocate for him to have the best quality of life with optimal levels of hormones in his body.

For now, we started the Prednisone and he is still on the bladder spasm medication and I am still getting up with him all night.... He is peeing non stop....I am going to need a new house when this is over.....but he is worth it and a million more.

I love my boy to the moon and back...I am so grateful there are doctors in this world that are so experienced in unusual cases and diseases. So grateful

MY GRACIOUS I WROTE A NOVEL LAST NIGHT... SORRY.. SO YESTERDAY JACK RECEIVED HIS FIRST DOSE OF REPLACEMENT STEROIDS......LAST NIGHT HE ONLY GOT UP TO POTTY ONE TIME AND THEN AGAIN EARLY MORNING.... SO HE MADE IT A FEW HOURS AND WHEN I GOT UP WITH HIM HIS DIAPER WAS DRY...... NO CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR OR ENERGY YET...WHICH I THOUGHT I WOULD SEE.. NOT SURE IF THE URINE THING WAS A FLUKE SINCE HE HAD GONE SO MUCH THE NIGHT BEFORE... BUT I AM CHOOSING TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION... .. HE ALREADY HAD TODAY'S DOSE OF STEROIDS.. KEEP YOUR PAWS CROSSED ...

THANKS FOR THE LOVE AS ALWAYS

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Permalink Reply by Jarka, Monty & Auggie on September 26, 2012 at 3:02pm

Hope it turns out for the best and Jack feels better. Huggs!

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Permalink Reply by Nicky, Riley & Boris on September 26, 2012 at 3:29pm

Just seeing all this now. I don't know how I missed all this. I do hope Jack is on the right path now. Everything crossed here for both of you as always.

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Permalink Reply by Donna K & Quincy on September 26, 2012 at 3:36pm

Jennifer, I have everything crossed (except my eyes, I need to be able to read) that Jack gets better with the meds and you both get the rest you need. Wishing for happy day and nights ahead for both of you. Hugs

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer and Jack on September 26, 2012 at 7:31pm

You all sure know how to make someone feel so love and cared for. I so appreciate it... It means more then you know....I am hoping for another good night with Jack... I will say today I left him for about two hours.. I have had to gate him off in the kitchen because I don't want him to wear a diaper while I am not home, just in case, I have visions of him getting it stuck on his head or something if he was trying to get it off.

Tonight when I came home much to my huge delight and surprise, Jack for the first time in probably two years was on the other side of the gate. My boy jumped the gate!!!! When he was a little puppy, he was very hard to contain in a play yard or anything because he could jump double his height!

I pray with all my heart this means my angel gift is feeling better and well enough that he keeps jumping gates....

I did not hear back from the endocrinologist yet.. you know I have so many blessings in my life sometimes I just expect that I will get things that are not normal and I have faith I will be able to connect with this doctor............I don't think I will rest until I know he has an MRI or Catscan of his Pituitary gland to make sure there is not a mass because with secondary addison's or ACTH deficiency that is often the case.......

But for now I am pleased my boy was naughty and jumped the gate.... He was probably so confused when I walked in the door and started squealing and saying good boy.. when he was naughty!!!

I am so praying for a peaceful nights sleep for him and I both.

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Permalink Reply by Diane Margetts on September 26, 2012 at 8:42pm

Karen--I too am so sorry that you and Jack are having to go through yet another health issue. BUT, JAck is the luckiest boy in the world to have you for his Mom. I totally get how you feel and understand your passion. We'll be watching to hear the response from your endocinologist--I'm sure you'll hear soon OR I'm sure you'll figure out what it takes to get his attention . . . All of our body parts are crossed for JAck's speedy recovery--hope he keeps jumping over that gate!! Dakota sends woofs and wiggles to Jack!

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Permalink Reply by Cheryl and Finnegan on September 26, 2012 at 8:18pm

I just saw your post and I'm so sorry that you and Jack are having to deal with this. But Jack couldn't have a better advocate or someone who loves him more. It broke my heart when you said he was crying to get out of his wet diaper.

I'm so glad to hear he's doing better with the replacement steroids. It makes all the difference in the world to have a world class specialist involved, but I don't have to tell you that. You're a warrior too :) I hope Dr. Peterson gets in touch soon.

We're putting Jack in our nightly doodle prayers and sending good thoughts your way. ((Hugs)) and paws crossed!

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer and Jack on September 26, 2012 at 8:53pm

Thank you .....don't be sorry.....it will be okay..this is all stuff that is fixable as far as I know. I will get to,the bottom of it....

I just got a phone call from my mom, my cousin who suffered horrible from cancer just passed away tonight. He lived in NJ......I thank God he is in Heaven because his last few months on earth were as hellish as one can get...

That being said, I may need to bring my mom to NJ for the funeral. We would drive upmwoth both dogs. i believe I am healthy enough to,drive with her up there and while there we can hopefully corrdinate a trip to see Dr Peterson in NYC...I know he is about to travel soon...I am praying if my doctors let me go to NJ that it will coordinate with Jack being able to be seen in Manhatten.....
We will see....but again I am not disheartened because he is very stable.....I am just determined ...

Here's to a no peeing night!!!