teri_d

I agree 100%. It's a hideous disease. There is no other way to describe it. [/quote it has been a hideous MONTH!!! my heart breaks for all of us - specially dana this evening -- hugs to you dana & run free john.

karen - i am so sorry chase is not doing well....remember we are here for you and we understand. NEVER appologize to us for being a downer - i think we are all entitled to feel that way -- just know you have "downer" friends here. hugs and prayers coming your way - teri

oh i am so very sorry to read this - i know your heart is broken - hugs & prayers coming your way - teri

jane - not another!! please let dr couto say it is not so - we are praying for you and joe.

oh i am SO SO Sorry to hear this dx. please stay in touch here on this thread - it is somehow comforting to know we all are going throught the same *&^&*%&%&^% thing together. hugs to puck and to his people. glad to hear that charlie is doing well this morning - and playing!!! and to the os devils :we do not want any more members to this group - do you hear this cancer - enough is enough - no more!!!!!!!!!! go away and stay away!!!!!

jen - thanks for posting precious pics -- she is BEAUTIFUL!!! time for monday morning update - how's everybody (skin & fur) doing today?? rivie had a rough end to her week - had biopsy sutures removed on thursday and vet added tramadol to her pain meds - he would like to see her every 2 weeks for check-ups/check-ins. don't know whether that stressed her or it was something else, but she had big d thursday evening -- we got meds for her sat am. i was really worried fri/sat - she just acted puny...but sunday she got up with a big roo and had a good day. is this the way it will be - a roller coaster??? she seems good this morning, too - she was up early and roo-ing for us to get out of bed!! the artemisinin finally arrived on saturday and she has had 2 doses. i am headed out to work and i HATE leaving!!! how's everybody else doing??

on this path there is no right or wrong way - only the way you choose to go - hugs coming to you - teri

How is everyone else doing? I hope you don't mind me hanging out in here - I tried to start a similar thread shortly after Neyla's dx but it didn't take off. jen - are you kidding??? you are our hero/example -- we are all looking to you for advice/tips/help!! actually, we don't want anybody in this little club - but since we have all wound up here, we NEED each other. it has always seemed on gt that os comes in waves - and boy was mid july a jumbo.....but i feel like i have a group of friends here that will laugh with me/cry with me/help me when i have a question! i think this thread will be so helpful to all of us that need it right now for updates & help. we none of us know what tomorrow brings right now - i am praying for all of these sweet pups and their humans! teri

shannon - so glad flash is having a good day!! to karen -- i think it is normal to WANT to stay home with chase right now!! for me: 1. i recognize that i am depressed and don't want to leave the house 2. i am selfish and want every second i can spend with her 3. when my children were small and were ill i always stayed home with them - just because this child has 4 legs and fur is it any different?? i normally work part time outside the home - my boss is out of town on a weeks vacation next week - i had told them that i would work all week while they are gone and now i am SO resenting that!! so i understand. rivie is also having a good day today - she woke up with a roo, ate every bite of her breakfast, took all of her meds, had a nice walk around the block. she had some big d the end of last week and i think she was a bit under the weather from that - we are glad to see her more herself today!

our greys don't care too much for kongs, but our daughter has a chihuahua that LOVES his kongs - she gets recipes off the kong website! she also has a 'kong machine' for him that she uses while she is at work - it looks like a little flying saucer and holds 4-6 (i can't remember exactly) kongs - she loads it in the am and sits it on the kitchen floor - then every so often it makes this sound - a door opens and a kong rolls out!!! it is hilarious! we have been there when he is playing in the living room - all of a sudden his ears perk up and he runs to the kitchen to retrieve his kong - very funny!!

we don't want to welcome anybody to this awful club - but come on in if the shoe fits -- drat!! so sorry for these latest 2 posts. the original "five" have decided we need to check in with each other once a week at least to update, console, pass on help tips info - so keeping this thread going is as good as anyplace. teri (rivie's mom)

many prayers for pilots people -- teri

hugs to john & his humans!! we too are on this path. rivie was diagnosed (via biopsy) right after flash and charlie. hers is a little different as the tumor is on her rib. we have no option but the pain control route. please keep in touch so we can have a little support. i have little advise at this time, but i totally understand all the emotions right now as we are in the same boat. keep in touch - and my prayers go out to you and john.

thank you so much for the reply. rivie did get her suctures out this morning (from the biopsy). and the dr did add tramadol! he was really pleased that she was eating so well (loves the chicken breasts) and taking her meds good. the artemisinin still hasn't come - i was so wanting to start that this week! thanks so much - please keep in touch!! teri

prayers for pilot - i am so sorry they have gotten this diagnosis. pm me with private e-mail info if they would like to get in touch with somebody just starting down the same road....we all need each other right now. although rivie's is a bit different since her tumor is on her rib - i have a feeling we will face many of the same things in the days to come. we are headed to the vet today for suture removal from her biopsy and to "visit about things" -- again, my heart goes out to pilot & family. teri

jen -- thank you for starting this thread. how is neyla doing? of course, we are not near there yet and i was hoping when i started reading that you were offering your advise here. i am MOST interested in your experiences, advise, help. i know rivie's is a bit different since it is on her rib not a leg - but i would love any help as we progress. we have a vet appt in the morning to remove her biopsy stitches (it was 2 weeks ago today) and he said he has some things to discuss with us, so i'll let you know if he has anything of interest. i did order the artemisinin, i look for it to arrive this week (i hope). rivie is eating very well - i boil chicken breasts in boullion then process in the food processor, mix with a little evo, and then anything else i think she might like - cottage cheese, green beans, etc. she is taking 300 mg gabapentin both am and pm for pain. is this routine ok? do you think exercise/walks are ok? any help you can offer to the rest of us is so appreciated. our prayers are with neyla and you, jen. thank you for helping the rest of us.

so glad to see that charlie is home - he looks GREAT! beautiful boy!!!

I really hate to tell you this, but figs are quite high in iron - they contain about 50% as much as beef liver. Peanuts contain 'a significant amount' but cheese is low. Hot-dogs are actually lower in iron than figs, believe it or not! Table of iron-rich foods Another aside, I honestly don't think it matters at all. I would think the amt of iron in one fig newton would not be devastating to Arte's effects. The main point is don't give it with a big old meal. Of course, having said that, when it dawned on me that I was giving Neyla's nightime meds the same way as all of her others - in raw meatballs - I totally freaked out and switched immediately. I don't feed dairy though (the recommendation is usuallyt o give it in cottage cheese) so I am using PB, knowing that there is some iron in it. I also give mine with fish oil as there are studies that suggest it increases the arte absorption. Anyway, all somethig of an aside, but perhaps helpful for Charlie when he's recovered from surgery. thank you so much - those of us just starting down this path appreciate all of your tips/advice for us! so glad charlie is getting out today - look forward to hearing about his homecoming- teri

adding our prayers for subway --

so happy to hear this - rivie is loving her ck breasts as well (if i process in the processor - lol) good boy flash!!

so glad to read the update shannon - that sounds good to me - keep in touch - teri

oh so happy to hear charlie is doing well and already making headway!! we're cheering for him! teri

thanks for the update - we're really pulling for charlie!! good boy to eat all of your dinner, charlie!!!

oh kyle that was beautiful -- and i have the same exact thoughts. yes, my heart is breaking right now....but what i have gained from rivie is so much more than i ever gave. yes, she will take a piece of my heart, but she will leave a bigger piece of hers here with me to fill the hole.

Yup, the fight mode is where you need to stay awhile. Hugs to everyone in this thread. Believe me, I know exactly how this feels. (5 osteo diagnoses this year for us, as most everyone knows.) If I can help anyone in any way, please get in touch. I have done the amp route and the pain management route. any help appreciated -- pain management (rivie's is on her rib - so no surgery) -- any tips/advise/help appreciated. any experience with it on the rib cage? thanks in advance!