I'm hoping this doesn't get lost in the controversy of the week.
 
Please help me.  I'm at a loss of what to do.  I'll give you a quick
history of what has occurred in the past year or so.
 
August 2001:  Zinc has surgery. Dr. removed left adrenal gland.
 
October 2001: Pixie's BG was in the low 60s.  Pixie has surgery.  Dr.
removed left adrenal gland and 15% of pancreas.
 
April 2002: Pixie's BG is low again.  Pixie has surgery.  Dr. removed
right adrenal and 10% of pancreas.
 
August 2002: Zinc's BG is low.  Zinc has surgery.  Dr. removed right
adrenal (had to impinge on the vena cava during surgery) and tumor on
pancreas along with 10% of pancreas.  The pathology report on the
pancreas and tumor came back as: "No significant lesions, pancreas,"
and when re-read, "Additional sections of pancreas were examined.  No
evidence of neoplasia or other significant pathology were found." How
can this be, if a tumor was removed????
 
September 2002: Zinc's BG has continued to drop (59, 46, and 59).  And
now Pixie's BG was 81 and 68.
 
All BGs were done with a 4 hour fast.  We feed baby food four hours prior
to the appointment.  And they are placed in the travel cage without food.
 
My dilemma: My finances have been drained!!!  I cannot afford surgeries
every couple of months.  And it seems that, despite the statistics
regarding early surgery for insulinomas and removal of part of the
pancreas, my ferrets are requiring surgery at least every 6 months.
Plus, I have been paying for blood tests every week for the past 3 weeks.
The surgeries have cost between $800 and $1300, and I just can't continue
to do this every 4 months or so.  Where do I draw the line?
 
My ferrets are feeling fine, as far as I can tell.  Energy is way up.
No insulinomic episodes.  The only medications they are on are for the
missing adrenal glands, and lately, their electrolyte ratios have been
stabilized without Percorten injections.  They are happy and bouncing
around and very active.  However, on the other hand, if I'm going to do
surgery, I don't want to wait until their health is compromised, which
leads me back to surgeries every 4 months.  I want to do what's best for
my babies.  I will go into debt if I have to, but I'm beginning to
believe that no matter what I do, I'm not making much of a difference in
the long run.
 
The doctor will likely suggest surgery this Friday on Zinc.  He found
nothing wrong with the pancreas a month and a half ago.  Why would he
find anything now????  And if he finds nothing on the pancreas because
the insulinomas are microscopic or something, then what???  Should he
just pick a side, remove it, and hope for the best?  Should I put her
through a surgery so soon after her last one (I'm worried about the
impingement on her vena cava)?
 
How long will surgery be an option?  Should I just put each ferret
through a surgery every 6 months?
 
Please help me do what's best for my ferrets.  They are doing fine now,
but according to the numbers, they won't be doing fine for very long.
Any input is so appreciated.  I'm frustrated.  I'm stressed.  And I'm
getting discouraged.
 
Suzanna Donahue
[Posted in FML issue 3906]