Update (and previous posts) on VO use from Nina

[Nina]

Hello Everyone, First of all, thank you Lisa for the intro to the AC list.  It was you who posted the link, wasn't it?  I've joined, but haven't yet contributed.  The VO is expensive, it cost me $700 for 3 boxes (15 double vials).  If you wanted to try Paolo's protocol, you could just buy one box and dose for 5 days only.  Abbey Vet, the company my vet ordered from has a minimum order of 3 boxes, but I'm sure your vet will be interested in holding onto the VO you don't want.  It's been shown to help in many different diseases, including parvo in dogs!  My husband and I can't afford it either, but I'm going to put the 3 boxes I have ordered on the credit card and hold on to the 2 boxes left over, (it lasts for 24 months before reconstitution). Grace continues to do extremely well, she's perfectly healthy.  In fact my little "heart warmer", (dubbed that because she jumps on my lap and presses her body against my chest to hug me), has become quite the minx.   It's such a blessing to see her like this, especially since I was afraid she was going to leave us before I had a chance to try the VO.  As I've said before, I can't be sure what caused her turnaround; it could be the VO, the Dox, or both.  I have been cutting down her dosage of Dox.  She had been getting 2x daily. I went to 1x daily, and as of 12/22, we're down to 1x daily, every other day.  So far, I've seen no adverse reaction from diminishing the dose of dox!  Very good news, but of course, I've turned blue many, many times from holding my breath.  Jazz, however is not faring as well.  She had been doing so well when we began the VO, which is why we didn't give her the higher initial dose.  She's by no means in danger, but she's sleeping a great deal more than usual, has been congested the last couple of days and her gingivitis has been giving her trouble for the last week or so.  Lisa, did you ever apply for special dispensation to the FDA?  I would strongly encourage anyone who is the least bit interested to do so immediately.  Unless your vet is planning on charging you for applying, you have nothing to lose.  If you wait until you need it, it will probably come too late.  I've pasted my previous VO update postings below to help fill in anyone who's interested. I had decided to alter the original protocol (see 11/27 post below).  To use the first protocol, I would have had to "stretch" some of the VO vials for more than one day's use, (you're suppose to discard any VO not used immediately after reconstitution).  Whether the concern is deterioration, or contamination, I couldn't be sure that the "left over" would be effective, I can't even be sure it wouldn't be detrimental.   What I ended up doing is dosing Grace at .6cc and Jazz at .2cc for the first 5 days of treatment.  I waited 3 weeks and dosed both Grace and Jazz at .2cc for another 5 days.  I've been waiting for Jazz's FDA dispensation approval to come through, (it was approved, and has now been ordered).  I only have 3 vials left in my possession, and I need at least 5, for Jazz's final phase of protocol.  The plan had been to finish Jazz's protocol using the .2cc dose for the final 5 days, beginning Jan 5th (3 weeks from the 2nd phase).  Because Jazz is feeling so crummy, I've decided to up her dose to .6cc for the final 5 days.  If Jazz bounces back before we start her final phase, I may change my mind again.  I sometimes feel like I'm swimming in shark infested waters with a blindfold on! Thank you for the continuing prayers and support.  I don't know what I would do without this list! Much Love, Nina 11/9/04 (info about my vet willing to share FDA application info):           Hello everyone, I have what I hope turns out to be very good news.  I already posted that the special dispensation for VO came through and my vet is ordering it for Grace.  I had to bring my other FeLV kitten in yesterday to start the whole process over with her, (she wasn't yet their patient and they couldn't apply to FDA unless she was).  I talked to my vet's liaison about sharing whatever she put on the application to the FDA that worked.  She said to have anyone interested, ask their vet to contact their office and she would be happy to share information.   The name of my vet's office is Veterinary Medical and Surgical Group 805-339-2290, they are located in Ventura, CA.  The vet liaison's name is Michelle Rose.  She's already completely overwhelmed with her regular duties and I don't know how long her willingness to help will last if she gets bombarded with phone calls from patients themselves.  There's no way to apply to the FDA directly anyway, so you will have to go through a vet that's willing.  I'm praying that the VO is all that we hope it will be. Nina 11/27/04 (treatment begins and price): Hello everyone, I hope you're having a nice holiday so far. <>I brought Grace and Jazz to the vet Wed (11/24/04) and administered the first shot of Virbagen to both of them.  One of the side effects to be watchful for is elevated temp, but Grace was already at 104 before we started.  So far, no diarrhea or vomiting (other initial side effects to watch for).  Grace has started sneezing again and is also once again lethargic.  I'm concerned for her, but am hoping with the dox and Virbagen, she'll soon bounce back.  Jazz who's only symptoms are mild gingivitis is doing fine.  I put them on two different protocols.  The Virbagen is administered SQ.  For Grace, .6cc every day for 5 days, then 7 doses of .2cc every other day, (my poor angel is also getting pilled in the morning and at night).  Jazz is getting .2cc every day for 5 days with a break of 2 to 3 weeks, then 5 more days at .2cc, break of 2 to 3 weeks and then a final 5 days of .2cc each day.  Now I know what Paolo was talking about with the potential for waste.  The Virbagen comes in two vials, one with dried interferon and one with saline.  You mix them together before administering and are suppose to discard whatever is not used at that moment.  For the first 5 days, it's just enough to dose both Grace and Jazz.  For the 7 alternating days I'll have to cross my fingers and use the left over, otherwise I won't have enough medicine to see me through.  My vet suspects that the manufacturers are concerned about contamination, not deterioration.  I suspect that's the case as well since the human interferon keeps for long periods of time after it's reconstituted.  I don't really have a choice at this point.  Jazz's dispensation application has been sent to the FDA, but my vet suspects that even if everything goes well, it will take a month before we get approval, and 2 weeks to order and receive shipment (Abbey vet in the UK). <>And of course there's the cost.  It's quite pricey.  My vets were kind enough to charge me their cost, plus shipping.  Even with that, 3 boxes, just enough to follow the protocols above, it was $700.  I'm going to contact the vet in Canada and see if we can order more through her, and if so, how much it would cost. I haven't contacted anyone about conducting a study on Virbagen yet.  I'm waiting to see how my angels respond.              Well, that's the update.  Keep praying. 11/30/04: Hi Everyone, Just a quick update on how Grace and Jazz are doing on the Virbagen.  We're now into our 7th day since starting the protocols, and Grace is doing much better.  I'd give her a 6 on a scale of 1-10, pretty good considering last Monday I would have rated her a 2.  I can't be sure it's not the Dox I started her on last Monday, but she is doing much better, I guess time will tell.  When I'm brave enough to stop the Doxycycline again, we'll see if she relapses the way she has in the past.  Jazz is a 9.  I can't be sure it's not my imagination, but the red at her gum line from the gingivitis seems to be paler! Paolo wrote to tell me that the unused reconstituted portion of the Virbagen is to be discarded because of deterioration, not contamination.  If it's really that fragile, I'm going to have to end up wasting some of this liquid gold.  Also, I won't have enough to dose Jazz for her full protocol unless we are able to get approval from the FDA in time. Aaarrrgghh!  I left a message for my vet's liaison to call Virbac directly and get someone on the phone to go "off the record" and let us know if it's possible to use the remaining portion after reconstitution.  It would be really stupid to go through all this and then jeopardize the results because we don't have enough medication! Thanks for the good wishes and prayers, Nina 12/2/04: I had to post just one more time tonight.  I got up from the computer and was greeted by the sight of Grace racing through the house!  She's acting like a kitten again.  She hasn't felt this good in what seems like a very long time.  I'm so thrilled!  I just watched her swipe at our huge "street cat" Kimba, and then throw herself on the ground and roll with abandon.  It's hard to believe she seemed at death's door just two Mondays ago.  Could it be the VO?!  I'm so happy, I just had to share.  Keep up the prayers, they're working! Nina Nina,   Forgive me if I have just completely missed this as of late but could I get an update on the kitties that are on the feline interferon, is it helping, any side effects, and I never saw the cost of it?  How much did it end up costing you?  You can email me privately if you dont want everyone to know..But I would love to start the process of Akira, but dont want to go through it if I know 100% I can afford it....   Lisa and fur-brats Akira--FeLV miracle baby www.geocities.com/anzajaguar Indy-- Truley Indian Jones as a cat..FEARLESS Lance- Mini wire haired dashchund Bow-Tie- 2yr old (ssshhhh he doesnt know he is 15 :) ) jack russel cross Bennie Bird-- Vampire cockatiel Anza-- sexist Senegal parrot..deffinantly a ladies bird :)