Message Number: YG11639 | New FHL Archives Search
From: sukieferret
Date: 2002-03-03 21:59:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Addison's after unilateral adrenalectomy?

> world Addisonian, and my vet did a sodium/potassium ratio
> and found it to be 24.5. Sodium was 143, potassium was
> 5.83... I So, why would the remaining gland have shut down
> normal cortisol production? I think I remember someone
> (Sukie?) having one years and years ago that was similar...

Yes, Hjalmar had his remaining adrenal shut down. Florinef
saved his life. A short while afterward the remaining one
restarted; can't recall if it took days or weeks.

Hjalmar may have been the first ferret on Florinef. The research
in CO seems to have begun around the same time, but I don't
know which was first. Hjalmie was sent home to die, but you
know how there is always a certain critter with whom there is
always a very special connection? Hjalmar and i were like from
day 1. So, Steve and I begged for anything -- absolutely anything
-- that might have any shot at all of bringing him out of his crash
and one of the non-ferret-vets there suggested Florinef. Steve
(who is one of the most peaceful souls I have ever known)
actually yelled at a pharmacist who wanted to wait for the next
day to prepare it. Hjalmie was dying. Within hours of his first
dose of Florinef he perked up incredibly.

One of our little ones now, Ashling, has been on Prednisone and
Florinef for about 2 years. She THRIVES on them -- absolutely
thrives. You can find her climbing clothing to the shelves about 8
feet above while dragging a sock with a tennis ball in it, and she
is the one who recently scaled a piece of furniture which has
stumped ferrets for 20 years.