Happier Sinuses

This was Toe's first surgery since he was a baby. He had PICC lines put in each time he was admitted to the hospital for an exacerbation, but those were put in while he was awake (although highly sedated). This was the full enchilada.  He was anesthetized. He had a three hour surgery. The surgeon cleared out all of his sinuses. When she came to speak with us after the surgery, she said that his sinuses had been "really bad." Apparently they were inflamed, with many polyps. It was a major job to take care of everything. The ear, nose, and throat surgeon (ENT) likened the surgery to Ms. Pac Man. At the time, I thought she meant the tool she used took tiny bits off polyps like a chomping machine, but now I know it ALSO meant that she was going through maze-like cavities, removing junk.

The surgery afforded us the opportunity to have samples taken from his sinuses and his esophagus so that the CF team can see what bacteria are growing in there and compare that to the regular throat cultures they take. This helps them prescribe antibiotics specifically targeted for the bacteria growing in his body when he needs antibiotics.

Toe went to sleep enthusiastic for the surgery and woke up groggy but amiable, immediately asking to continue the "chat pack" question game we were playing while waiting for the surgery to start. We had to wait a couple of hours until a room was ready for us in the hospital (we stayed overnight) and around 6:30pm we finally moved. Toe, understandably, was very hungry. He ordered steelhead and roasted potatoes for dinner and ate it all, licking the plate. He said he wanted to eat the same thing all day the next day. The first thing he said the next morning was, "FISH." He had to settle with pancakes for breakfast, but we managed fish for lunch and dinner (thanks to my mom who made her special "salmon packets" for us to roast at home).

Yummy steelhead and roast potatoes

Waiting to go home

We're on round-the-clock pain meds for the next few days, so we have had interrupted sleep... Sometimes needing snacks in the middle of the night as well. We arrived home to a sick dog (we had a fantastic sitter staying with her... Sasha is just an old dog) and have been dealing with getting her to the vet for assessment just in case.

Toe is in good spirits. He is a little grumpy that his sinuses are inflamed (from the surgery), but understands he will feel better each day. He is taking meds and doing nasal rinses like a champ. The ENT had said, "Those CF kiddos are so tough, they seem to manage pretty well after surgery." I'm inclined to agree, at least about this one.

Toe has regained his sense of smell (lost gradually due to the stuffed sinuses) and is having some drainage. This mostly manifests as stuffiness and sniffing. He has energy in the morning, but wilts over time. I wish I could get him to nap, but I think that's unlikely. He mostly seems like he does after a long day of school. Certainly his sense of humor is intact.

J and I are feeling a little ragged around the edges. We took shifts for the round-the-clock meds last night, and that helped. J has gone to help with a necropsy today on a beached sea lion (yes- you never truly leave the aquarium) and Toe and I are home, waiting to pick Sasha up from the vet. Medical equipment is unpacked, laundry is in the wash, nebulizers are boiled, a schedule is set up to accommodate the new meds Toe needs for the time being (in addition to the regular CF ones).