AIHA or IMHA

cerberusdog

Maybe prices have decreased for it....

I was thinking the same thing when you posted your price.  The last time I got a price for Atopica was January.  But wow, that really is a drastic price cut.  I'm happy, both for you and for any other dog needing to take Atopica.  Not that 200 a month is cheap for me or probably for a lot of other people but it sure beats 800.  The Atopica comes in more sizes than the generic Cyclo that I get.  I have 2 choices, either 25mg or 100 mg.  So right now I get 6 boxes of the 25mg pills to last a month.  Each box of the 25mg pills is 25 dollars.  There is a little bit of a price break if you get them in the 100mg size.  

Thats the thing I like about us all coming together here is that we learn something new from each experience.

cerberusdog

Maybe prices have decreased for it....

Oh I hate to play the "cynical legal secretary" card but dang ... SUDDENLY generic cyclosporine is getting DO-ABLE.  Suddenly you can use it, and it works (and back when Billy was sick the unmodified -- man there was warnings all over boards everywhere NOT to use it because they said "It kills" because the body won't absorb it)

So suddenly -- the price comes down?  I'm betting you are absolutely right.

Yeah -- I believe it.  That happens, seriously, ANY time a pill has been on the market long enough for a generic to come out and be widely available -- and suddenly the brand name one isn't as valuable any more and the price plummets (think of what they used to charge for Claritin and Prilosec when it was all just prescription only and insurance was paying for it?  And now it's at Wal-mart).

It's about danged time the price of it came down to something normal people can afford (Callie being huffy).  I wondered when I spoke to you 'cos you were so comfortable about using Atopica but it makes sense that you are knowing this.  The cost of Billy's IMHA was in the high "teens" and the vast majority of that was the cost of the drugs.  My vet was giving them to me for his cost.

Like Mike says -- that IS part of the point of this huge thread ... so folks can know what to look for and what is available.

sl2crmeg

Cerberusdog, Callie can just be a little...well...bossy sometimes *grin*

Just a LITTLE????

But ... but ... I MEAN well ...

(and folks -- Megan and I are actually friends ... now ... if I were gonna carry tales I'd talk about this certain pirate in one of the back alleys' at Pirates of the Carribean at Disney World ... but ... well I didn't see much cos MY HUSBAND was pushing my chair fast as heck away from there)

Maiz

Thank you so much, everybody. I will come back and read these replies more closely (and probably over and over again) this evening, when I have a bit more time. I just got back from the vet and though Daisy's PCV is down 4 points (to 20) her vet wants her to stay the course of the meds he started her on last week. He also put her on a bland diet and wants her to come back in a week for another blood test, unless she appears to worsen in the meantime. He does not want to put her on cyclosporin because of side effects and, apparently, his experience with the drug has not been entirely positive. I did ask, though. Please understand that although I adore this dog and would love to see her live for much, much longer, I have sadly come to terms with the possibility (and probability) that this disease will be her last battle. She is, after all, twelve years old. I appreciate your concern, advise and experience with this awful illness. I wish none of you had to become the experts you so obviously are. Thanks again from Daisy and me, Maiz

Please feel free to contact me -- and please don't just "give up".  Yes, this can be tough .. but it can also be won. 

Have your vet contact Dr. Jean Dodds -- http://www.hemopet.com -- her email is right on there.  She's getting into the IMHA fight in a pretty big way and she's been going to university vet schools to help train them.  She will talk TO your vet -- she's an awesome lady.  She'll explain to him what to look for and not .... if your vet had a bad experience with cyclosporine, I have to wonder if he wound up with a client who tried to use the wrong form of the generic cyclosporine (look above at the discussion on price -- for a long time generic cyclo has been felt to NOT work well b/c it wasn't absorbed well enough and that's changed in recent months but the vet has to know the ins and outs of what to use).

calliecritturs

I have sadly come to terms with the possibility (and probability) that this disease will be her last battle. She is, after all, twelve years old. I

I thought that for a long time with Willow too.  But, just as quickly as they can go downhill things can suddenly look up.  One thing I've learned, immune disease is like a roller coaster.  Willow was near death one day, much better the next. . .and now a year later might be starting all over again.  So, keep fighting.  And, she and you will be in my thoughts. 

Lori

GratefulDawg

12 years is a pretty decent age for a dog, and lets be honest even if she lived to be 20 it would still be too soon, right?  

Mike, you are SO right. 

The body tries a million different ways to get rid of the toxic parts of these drugs.  Billy's skin broke out every way it could and then some.  I used to give him a bath occasionally in Benzoyl peroxide soap -- simply because it opened the pores to let the yuck out.  Not often but occasionally it was a good help -- warm water all the way is critical and then a rinse with either some lavender or tea tree oil in the rinse (sparingly but they are anti-bacterial and anti-fungal and help).

Willow UPDATE: Platelets are stable (on the low end of normal), WBC, RBC all normal!!! WOOOHOOOO!!!  Recheck in 3 months.  I'm grateful for every single day. 

Coopbay

Question: Have any of your dogs had blackheads in their ears?? I am guessing what this is. Several black dots in his ears. When I popped one a little bit of brown stuff came out. I clean Cooper's ears a few times a week and have never seen this before Cooper's been on all these meds. Any thoughts or answers?

She didn't have blackheads but her skin was flaking off in large pieces.  Our vet suggested frequent baths, 1-2 times per week in Selsun Blue or a shampoo called Sebulux (sp).  Hope he's feeling OK. 

Lori

willowchow

Willow UPDATE: Platelets are stable (on the low end of normal), WBC, RBC all normal!!! WOOOHOOOO!!!  Recheck in 3 months.  I'm grateful for every single day. 

That is AWESOME news! I am SUPER HAPPY for you and Willow

I am hoping for just a no decrease in Calypso's HCT on Friday, anything else would just be a bonus!

willowchow

Willow UPDATE: Platelets are stable (on the low end of normal), WBC, RBC all normal!!! WOOOHOOOO!!!  Recheck in 3 months.  I'm grateful for every single day. 

cerberusdog

I am hoping for just a no decrease in Calypso's HCT on Friday, anything else would just be a bonus!

Frisby's next check is Friday, as well (with a chest x-ray to check on the pneumonia, too). Fingers crossed for Calypso! Frisby's had a good day, even with the heat and humidity.

Thank YOU!!  We will have fingers and paws crossed that Calypso and Frisby have great results too!! 

Kisses for Cylops, I was thinking about her today for some reason. I think the Frizb is taking over my heart, what a CUTIE! Good luck for Calypso this Friday. Coop, are your blood draws still on Thurs? I keep forgetting when it is Thursday without Grey's :)