I would really appreciate any advice possible about a problem Merritt
has been having.
 
First, a quick background.  Merritt is about 5 1/2 years old.  He did have
his spleen removed about 3 years (or so) ago, has had several mastcell
tumors removed, has had surgery for insulinoma, and was diagnosed with
lymphosarcoma about a year ago.  He is on .2 cc's of predisone every other
day to suppress the lymphosarcoma (he has been since diagnosed) and that
seems to be working okay.  Basically, he seems to be doing well,
considering.
 
About 1 1/2 months ago, I took him in for adrenal surgery.  He had the
typical hair loss and lack of energy, but was also having problems
controlling his bladder.  His doctor did do a urine test, but it came back
as okay, so she hoped the surgery would take care of his constant urinating.
Since the surgery, he has been much more active and eating more, but also
seems more aggressive when playing (sometime he bites *very* hard, which he
has never done before).
 
Since the surgery, he has not started to grow back any of his hair, and from
what I have read that does not seem normal.  But, could that be because of
the predisone he is taking?  But my biggest concern is that he is still
having a lot of bladder control problems.  (He will go to his litter pan,
but then within 10 minutes or so, he has to go again, and he's not always by
a litter pan, so...wherever he is, he goes.  Also, it seems as if sometimes
he tries to go, but can't.) Also, he has never had bladder problems from the
predisone prior to all of this starting about the first of the year.
 
So my questions are, does anyone have any ideas/suggestion on 1) what
may be causing the constant urination, 2) the aggressive behavior and
3) why he has not started to get any of his hair back yet?
 
Thanks to all for your help!  You're a great group of people!!
 
Mary Allen
Omaha, NE
[Posted in FML issue 1509]