Alfie's surgery is over
First things first: all went well, all is well with Alfie Cat!
But what a ride that was. *shudder*
We expected Alfie to have nasal polyps or something of that kind removed. But then the CT showed that he's got an rare condition called "retropharyngeale stenosis". The doctor explained that there's a membrane in the throath with an opening allowing snot, saliva etc. to drain off. Usually, this opening is between 2 - 3 cm, but in Alfie's case, it's only 2 mm. So all fluids collect in his throat; that's why he's constantly wheezing and sneezing, a bit like never-lasting drowning... an absolutely horrible thought.
She explained that there is surgery for this condition, needing two surgeons. A deflated balloon is inserted in the 2mm opening and then slowly, slowly inflated, to stretch it to a normal width. In 60% of all cases, that would fix the problem, the other 40% would need a second round of treatment.
Well, that was completely not what we had expected. But there was good news as well; unlike polyps, which can regrow, this op would fix Alfie's problem forever and ten days, and he'd never have problems again. Great! Of course, costs would be higher, but we didn't hesitate a moment: if this would guarantee Alfie a life without problems, we'd do it. Six months living on noodles seemed to be a fair deal.
Yeah... and then they started the "45 minute op". One hour - no news. 1 1/2 hours - no news. You can imagine I was sitting on coals and worrying about my Alfie; I just knew something went wrong!
Finally, in the late evening, the exhausted doctor called me. Alfie had just finished a gruelling three hour (!?!?) surgery. The original plan wasn't working, once they got to the membrane they realised that there was no opening at all! So they had to open the palate and throat (insert hysteric screaming from yours truly here) and open the membrane surgically.
We now know that Mother Nature must have been drunk when Alfie was created. The jawbones are misaligned. Teeth are in the wrong place or completely missing. By all rules of nature, Alfie should never have lived in the first place. It's impossible to live with this condition. But yet here he is, five years old, and at least the 1 1/2 years he's lived with me, he's been a happy cat, running around, playing. Which, I repeat, isn't possible. That's what I call "will to live". And "impossible" is sometimes really only a word.
Alfie was supposed to stay at the clinic until Monday (I wasn't sleeping a second Friday night, I was so worried!), but he was already so well on Saturday morning that we could take him home. And here he is now, recovering and re-learning everything - breathing, eathing, drinking, because he's not used to do any of these things without choking.
For me, it is a new thing to get used to as well - the silence. I'm used to Alfie snorring during the night, and now - nothing. But you know what's so fantastic about it, all medical issues aside? For the probably first time in his life, Alfie's purring. I can't tell you how happy I am.
I'd like to thank again all of you wonderful people who helped Alfie to get through this. Blessed be! *big hugs*
And now for some pictures!
Last day with a blocked nose...
Waiting for Godot...
10 seconds before Alfie bit the radiologist's thumb...
Weighing for the anesthesia (3.2kg)
And the return! Alfie's still a bit weak and wobbly, and you can tell that the two anesthesias and monster-surgery have drained him, but this doesn't keep him from walking around and being curious.
Pablo is still a bit suspicious about the new, silent "Alfie 2.0", and follows him everywhere.
Alfie's eating well, though in small portions. He's even interested in his favourite - pizza!
But most important at the moment: cuddles and sleeping!
Last but not least: finances
I've uploaded all receipts to this gallery on the betterplace.org page. The final invoice of the clinic is yet to come, as we don't know the exact costs for the control examination yet (which will need again a light anaesthesia). I've uploaded what we have so far.
Donations: CHF 1'983.60
Expenses: CHF 2'054.50
(Pre-examination: CHF 44.50, CT: CHF 710.00, pre-payments for biopsie, surgery, control examinations etc.: CHF 1'300.00)
Molly originally posted this entry at http://joyful-molly.dreamwidth.org/434812.html. You can comment on LJ or DW, using OpenID.
But what a ride that was. *shudder*
We expected Alfie to have nasal polyps or something of that kind removed. But then the CT showed that he's got an rare condition called "retropharyngeale stenosis". The doctor explained that there's a membrane in the throath with an opening allowing snot, saliva etc. to drain off. Usually, this opening is between 2 - 3 cm, but in Alfie's case, it's only 2 mm. So all fluids collect in his throat; that's why he's constantly wheezing and sneezing, a bit like never-lasting drowning... an absolutely horrible thought.
She explained that there is surgery for this condition, needing two surgeons. A deflated balloon is inserted in the 2mm opening and then slowly, slowly inflated, to stretch it to a normal width. In 60% of all cases, that would fix the problem, the other 40% would need a second round of treatment.
Well, that was completely not what we had expected. But there was good news as well; unlike polyps, which can regrow, this op would fix Alfie's problem forever and ten days, and he'd never have problems again. Great! Of course, costs would be higher, but we didn't hesitate a moment: if this would guarantee Alfie a life without problems, we'd do it. Six months living on noodles seemed to be a fair deal.
Yeah... and then they started the "45 minute op". One hour - no news. 1 1/2 hours - no news. You can imagine I was sitting on coals and worrying about my Alfie; I just knew something went wrong!
Finally, in the late evening, the exhausted doctor called me. Alfie had just finished a gruelling three hour (!?!?) surgery. The original plan wasn't working, once they got to the membrane they realised that there was no opening at all! So they had to open the palate and throat (insert hysteric screaming from yours truly here) and open the membrane surgically.
We now know that Mother Nature must have been drunk when Alfie was created. The jawbones are misaligned. Teeth are in the wrong place or completely missing. By all rules of nature, Alfie should never have lived in the first place. It's impossible to live with this condition. But yet here he is, five years old, and at least the 1 1/2 years he's lived with me, he's been a happy cat, running around, playing. Which, I repeat, isn't possible. That's what I call "will to live". And "impossible" is sometimes really only a word.
Alfie was supposed to stay at the clinic until Monday (I wasn't sleeping a second Friday night, I was so worried!), but he was already so well on Saturday morning that we could take him home. And here he is now, recovering and re-learning everything - breathing, eathing, drinking, because he's not used to do any of these things without choking.
For me, it is a new thing to get used to as well - the silence. I'm used to Alfie snorring during the night, and now - nothing. But you know what's so fantastic about it, all medical issues aside? For the probably first time in his life, Alfie's purring. I can't tell you how happy I am.
I'd like to thank again all of you wonderful people who helped Alfie to get through this. Blessed be! *big hugs*
And now for some pictures!
Last day with a blocked nose...
Waiting for Godot...
10 seconds before Alfie bit the radiologist's thumb...
Weighing for the anesthesia (3.2kg)
And the return! Alfie's still a bit weak and wobbly, and you can tell that the two anesthesias and monster-surgery have drained him, but this doesn't keep him from walking around and being curious.
Pablo is still a bit suspicious about the new, silent "Alfie 2.0", and follows him everywhere.
Alfie's eating well, though in small portions. He's even interested in his favourite - pizza!
But most important at the moment: cuddles and sleeping!
Last but not least: finances
I've uploaded all receipts to this gallery on the betterplace.org page. The final invoice of the clinic is yet to come, as we don't know the exact costs for the control examination yet (which will need again a light anaesthesia). I've uploaded what we have so far.
Donations: CHF 1'983.60
Expenses: CHF 2'054.50
(Pre-examination: CHF 44.50, CT: CHF 710.00, pre-payments for biopsie, surgery, control examinations etc.: CHF 1'300.00)
Molly originally posted this entry at http://joyful-molly.dreamwidth.org/434812.html. You can comment on LJ or DW, using OpenID.