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 |
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).
Grateful and so happy this all went well! He is a trooper! WTG Toe!
ReplyDeleteSue Bastiani❤️🦄🤗
Whew! It's "take-a-breath" time...
ReplyDelete