From:
"April Armstrong Campbell"
Date: 2005-05-18 16:36:07 UTC
Subject: Insulinoma Treatment with only meds
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Cc: <remytemytrue@aol.com>
Message-ID: <2091149.1116444502529.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>
First of all, I don't understand why an initial quote (barring any
complications during the surgery itself that might make a surgery more
expensive) for a partial pancreatectomy would be SO expensive; I work
with a board-certified surgeon and it wouldn't cost you more than
$1000-1500 tops unless something went horribly wrong. Granted, I get a
discount, but my complicated right adrenalectomy with a blood
transfusion, before my discount was applied, was under $1000. And that
is at a hospital with a boarded surgeon; and I feel our hospital in
Massachusetts is certainly not the cheapest out there.
Secondly, I have had two insulinomics:
Marley: Diagnosed in March of 2002. Partial pancreatectomy in May of
2002; needed, unfortunately, to restart pred in July 2002. However, he
was on a fairly low dose (0.25mg BID) for the first 1.5 years, and he
lived until lymphoma took him in Dec. of 2004. I doubt he would have
made it that long on pred alone.
Bandit: Diagnosed January of 2004 during an adrenalectomy. The
adrenalectomy was a 1.5 hour surgery with a lot of blood loss due to the
tumor's horrible involvement with the vena cava (it required $500 suture
and a blood transfusion). Due to the length of surgery and blood loss,
we did not do the partial pancreatectomy till March 2004. Bandit was
completely asymptomatic and off meds until Dec 2004, a week after Marley
died, and I do not think that is a coincidence-he is a very sensitive
little guy. He is now on pred (currently 0.45mgf BID) and it is hard to
say how well he is doing from the insulinoma itself, b/c he is having
other problems, but I definitely think the surgeries for these two were
worth it and bought them, especially Marley, quite a bit of time.
My friend's 7-year-old ferret was diagnosed over two years ago, had the
surgery then and just started prednisone therapy about a year ago; she
is still doing great.
I think that if the animal is stable enough for surgery, that it is
worth it to start with that and do medical management when you
absolutely have to.
-April
"Date: Sat, 14 May 2005 00:06:24 +0100 (BST)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
From: remytemytrue@aol.com
Message-ID:
<2290016.1116025584252.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I would like to hear from people who have choosen to have surgery vs.
those who have not with insulinoma. Has anyone had a great long-term
response with just meds and diet changes? I know surgery is the best
option, but I was just quoted $2,500 +/-and I'm completedly freaked out.
My guy is 6 1/2 in great health otherwise and responding very well to
the pred. and high protein diet. I need some advise. I will get him
the surgery if that is his only option, but it would be pretty hard on
me financially. Since he is older, could he live out his normal
life-span without it? Any advise, diet tips, ideas is welcomed Thanks -
Catherine C."