Sorry to make this so short but we are exhausted and the bed is calling my name.
Made it to Stanford today. Doctor was wonderful. They stuck a camera down his nose to visualize his vocal cords. I didn't have to be a doctor to see something was very wrong. One side of the muscles that control his vocal cords collapses all the way over to the other side. They are also very swollen and inflamed. The most likely cause is injury from the knee surgery in January and then to add insult the acid reflux is assaulting them.
We now have three choices. Botox in the cords, this would leave him without a voice. Tracheotomy, we don't even want to consider that yet. Nissen Fundiplication, this seems the most reasonable approach. Problem is with the recent pulmonary embolisms he cannot go off the blood thinners for a while and you can't do surgery while on them.
The doctor is referring him to the GI team at Stanford. It looks like we'll be hanging out there a lot over the next months. In the meantime we need to try and be aggressive with the reflux with diet and sleep positions {anyone got an extra recliner laying around?}
Then there is still the question about why all the reflux and everything else is happening. They are still looking at the carcinoid. We have an appointment with the surgeon on Tuesday. Hopefully more of our questions will be answered.
So we don't have absolute answers but it's getting closer. Steve slept the entire way there and back. And then went to bed as soon as we got home. I'm trying not to worry but it's hard to watch.
And Bruno continues to do well. The vet called today and said he has stopped vomiting and is alert and active. We are hoping he can come home tomorrow.
Thank you for all the prayers! Now I'm off to bed.
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