Dear fellow ferret lovers, I have returned from yet another vet visit. More bad news. Seems my Zinc has insulinoma. I've been pretty lucky in terms of dealing with these illnesses. Both Zinc and Pixie (my eldest of four) have had previous surgeries for adrenal, IBD, insulinoma, and mast cell tumors. It was only with IBD that either of them showed any symptoms. All the other diseases have been caught *very* early. In general, neither had obvious symptoms of any illness, except IBD. Well, I take that back. Each *did* have rat tail, but I'll get to that later. I'm just so frustrated! Last August, Zinc had her left adrenal gland removed. Then in October, Pixie had her left adrenal and 15% of her pancreas removed. In March, Pixie gets 2 mast cell tumors removed, only to return again in April to remove the right adrenal gland and 10% more of the pancreas! So, Pixie is on Percorten and pediapred for the remainder of her life. (I had planned to post to the FML about that whole situation, but I was so overwhelmed with confusion and concern...and panic...) Now, if that weren't enough, Zinc will now be undergoing surgery for insulinoma this coming Friday. Already, since last August, I've spent over $5000 for just these two ferrets, just for these surgeries and meds and rechecks related to them. I'm not complaining about the money really. Thankfully (and I cannot say that enough), I can afford it at the moment. It seems, though, like my Pontiac when it turned over 100,000 miles, these two girls are determined to die and leave me. And all I'm doing every so many months is pushing it off just a tiny bit further, but not enough to give them a decent break. My poor little girls. I'm getting frustrated and pissed off, but it won't stop me. I'll do whatever it takes and whatever I can to keep them healthy. But I worry. In know both will be back on the table. Insulinoma seems to always return... Like I said, I've been lucky. We've always caught the diseases early with continual rechecks of blood glucose, blood profiles, and x-rays and such. I'm so thankful that neither of my girls have yet had an insulinomic episode of any sort. I am very aggressive when it comes to treatment. Once I know it's there, I want it out ASAP. The surgery cannot happen soon enough. I don't want their health compromised when they go under the knife (or laser, actually). There's no such thing as "let's wait and see" or "let's keep an eye on it." Thankfully (again), I have one of the most competent ferret surgeons in the nation, and I haven't *yet* had a ferret not make it. There will come a time when surgery won't be an option, and all I will be able to do is make them comfortable. And, eventually, insulinoma will probably take them from me. I do not wish to see a convulsing, screaming, drooling ferret. I do not want to make that difficult decision regarding where quality of life ends. (Who does?) And I'm getting bitter and pissed off about it. I just needed to rant. I needed to vent to those who have either been there or can understand my frustration. My other two are doing just fine. But their turn will come, I'm sure. It's all a matter of time, I suppose... As for the rat tail. Pixie had rat tail pretty bad for a couple of years. It finally went away after her last surgery this past April. Zinc also had rat tail prior to her last adrenal surgery, and it, too, went away afterward. Oddly enough, Zinc's rat tail is beginning to return. I had noticed that last month. I'll let you know whether it goes away after her surgery. And just in case, please send good vibes her way if you happen to remember this Friday. Much thanks. Suzanna Donahue [Posted in FML issue 3858]