From:
Lynn Foster
Date: 2002-01-22 13:14:00 UTC
Subject: Insulinoma
Dear List Readers:
I am currently in the final stages of battling insulinoma with
my ferret Bill. This cruel disease is going to take him from
me probably before the end of this week. Bill has crashed
every afternoon since late last week. I have no idea why, I
am diligent in the feeding schedules and meds and can only
assume this is the march of this awful illness. I had made an
appointment for this morning with my vet to have him put to
sleep as yesterday was the day from hell. He crashed twice
from which I revived him with dextrose but it was clear he was
very uncomfortable and that I was losing this battle. So I
got him stabilized yesterday...called the vet and than forgot
about giving him his meds this morning as I figured what did
it matter now and he hated them anyway.
He has not had this good a morning all week!!!! Its like the
meds were causing the crashes. I took him for the appointment
but the vet and I agreed today is not the day. He is home with
his brothers and sisters and I will continue to do the feeding
and when the next crash comes I will take him to the start of
his wait for me at the Bridge.
The vet tells me that the University of Guelph in Ontario
Canada is having some good success with shrinking tumours in
cats with some kind of shot but it is experimental and they
are not looking at ferrets right now. Too bad because Bill
has never looked better.. His fur is beautiful his face is
expressive and the tumour growing out of control in his body
has given him a look of plump pleasantness as it take his
life. Maybe someone on this list is a vet or student at
Guelph who can fill us in on this tumour shrinking program. I
for one would like to know that the next time I face this
horrible disease that I might have some real hope and not just
a road of surgeries and stop gap methods to fight this horrid
insulinoma.
Wish me luck but know in your hearts I cannot win this one.
Lynn