Opinions, please? Is Flowerbelle having a mild asthma attack or a weird purr?

feralvr

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. There's nothing to do about it. Another "just Flowerbelle" thing.

:)
SUPER, SUPER update!!!!!!! And, nothing to do is even better!!!!!!!!! :bigthumb: :lol2: :high5: I am quite relieved to hear that the upper throat was included! :sweat: I was just as concerned as you on that one and was wondering the same thing as you. It is worse when we get these reports on the weekend and try to decipher them ourselves and have to wait until Monday to get the expert :lol3: to explain. THIS is just incredibly happy news about Flowerbelle and YES - she is ONE OF A KIND!!!!!!! :heart3: :rub: :heart2: :heart3: :heart2:

BIG GIANT HUGS TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!! :grphug: :hugs: :grphug2:
 
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ldg

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Yes, mild asthma.

But there is an update, now that we talked to the neuro.

We chatted with the neuro; she chatted with Stan, and Stan chatted with us again. :lol3:

Result? We are taking Flowerbelle in to have a sample of her middle ear fluid taken so it can be cultured. The neuro is also going to do an EMM - like an ECG for muscles - of her throat muscles and wants to test her respiratory response? We'll find out more when we take her in. Stan's really excited - only the neuro has this type of equipment, but he's surprised at himself for not thinking of this before (the muscle testing).

The neuro had suggested a spinal tap, but at this point given the risk vs reward, that has been ruled out.

The neuro told Stan she's probably going to talk to us about writing up Flowerbelle's case. She apparently posted on V.I.N., has done research, and has found nothing similar, and can find no one that has seen anything like this. Apparently research-oriented docs love a challenge. She did say this morning that she will not charge us for the muscle testing. Now we know why.

We'll call first thing in the morning to schedule the follow-up stuff.

I think I'm going to ask a mod to just merge this thread back into the old one. :lol3:
 

raintyger

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So glad to hear she's alright!

And it sounds like you're going to get some thorough testing for free!
 

feralvr

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I was looking for the other thread. :lol3: Makes sense to merge the two. :nod:

I am thrilled for you guys that you have such incredible vets working together - just beaming. :D :D :D :sun: Flowerbelle's case will be one for the record. We know how special and unique she is. :heart3: :rub: That is amazing that they will do the muscle testing at no charge wanting to get some answers. Guess they have "fallen" :heart3: for the little cutie pie. Certainly doesn't take more than one look at her. :happy3: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: for her next leg of this medical undertaking. :cross: ;)
 

goholistic

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So glad to hear everything was normal on the MRI except ear fluid!
Flowerbelle is so unique and special. 


How do they get the fluid out to culture? With a fine needle? 


I suppose the throat muscle testing would also help rule out partial laryngeal paralysis (which is damage to the muscles or nerves in the throat). I know this was already pretty much ruled out from all the other tests she's had, but I didn't even know they could do a EMM. Technology is crazy!


And I ditto the sentiments about the amazing team of doctors you are working with. A lot of brains concentrated in a small, but powerful, team. 
 
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ldg

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The procedure for the fluid removal is called a Myringotomy. They make a small incision in the ear drum so they can insert the needle. She will not have tubes placed in the incision to keep it open, they'll just let it heal (takes about 2 - 3 weeks).

If there's a problem with any of her muscles, apparently they will take a biopsy.

Oh - and the T. gondii test came back negative. ;)
 

feralvr

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Oh - and the T. gondii test came back negative. ;)
More good news!!! Continuing those vibes and prayers for her upcoming appointment. Flowerbelle is such a strong little girl. Guess she gets it from her momma. :bigwink: :hugs: :heart3: :vibes: :rub:
 
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ldg

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:hugs: :hugs: :hugs:

Ok. Her procedures are scheduled for Monday. We drop her off... and head home and wait. Bummer, because in traffic it is 1.5 hours from here. :rolleyes: We'll take off before traffic, because the latest she should be ready to come home is 5:00pm.

Flowerbelle had an interesting turn of events, let's put it. Sunday at dinner, she managed to nab a gizzard before I'd cut it up for her. Ever since the duck heart choking incident, I have tried so hard to make sure nothing that could choke her gets in her mouth. Well, she wasn't choking in the sense she couldn't get air, but she couldn't get it down, and she couldn't get it up. I did the kitty heimlich, and then exactly what I did when she was choking on the duck heart, to no avail. She finally got it down... but apparently it scratched her throat. She's been gagging from the irritation on the first few bites of each meal.

I took a video on ... Monday evening? Tuesday morning? Stan saw it, and given she was eating and keeping food down, felt there was nothing in her throat.

It's Thursday, and was still going on... Gary couldn't take it any more. We took her to the vet to make SURE there was nothing in her throat. :lol3: There isn't. But the vet (not Stan, a different practice) had an excellent suggestion: powder sucralfate, mix it with water into a slurry, and syringe feed it. Sulcralfate is the stuff that coats the stomach to heal ulcers. I did that 20 minutes before dinner, and it helped, a LOT. So our nutty little strange-throat-problem girl is in less discomfort.

I'm now REALLY curious as to how her throat muscles test out... and I want to go look up the duck heart choking incident and the timing of that in relation to this purr thing.
 

goholistic

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Aww...poor Flowerbelle! That must have hurt going down! 
  And I can only imagine the panic of thinking she could be choking again. I'm glad the other practice had a solution that helped sooth her throat. Definitely good to know, right?!

Any chance you and Gary can make a day trip out of it so that you don't have to drive back and forth so many times? Are there things to do near the vet? Just a thought. 


You may be on to something. I'm curious, too, as to what you discover. So you say the choking incident was in August or September 2012. Was this around the same time everything started happening? 
 

feralvr

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SUCH a relief that your little strange-throat-prob child ;) is recovering well from that episode. How scary :sweat: and I am right there with ya on waiting to hear results from the muscle test. :cross: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: for Monday's long day.... and that traffic won't be a problem. Monday is Columbus Day so you may be in luck with lighter traffic. :cross: :bigthumb:
 
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ldg

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Thanks Lauren, you're right about traffic! It's 5:01pm and we are 75mph on I-80 :lol3:

OK, no real news. She definitely had infection on both sides, much worse on right side. :( All the fluid was removed, she probably was in discomfort. Our concern was could this have been going on for years? "Forever?" No. Thank goodness. But it could be for "some time." Her weird purring started in January. It is possible it is connected to the ear infection, her equivalent of trying to "pop" her ears. The ears, nose, and throat are all connected... so we're all going to be interested to see what happens after treatment for ear infection.

She does have impaired muscle function on the muscles of the right side of her larynx. It is only a "slight" weakness. It is on a different nerve system than ... something, LOL, so not cause of purring issue, and unrelated to her being a spaz in swallowing sometimes. That is just Flowerbelle being a spaz. :lol3:

We start her on Baytril tonight, because infection was bad. If culture indicates a different antibiotic, then we switch. I also have ear drops for her, because it takes a few weeks for the small incision in her ear drum to heal.

I think I covered everything... :)

:rub: Thanks to everyone for the vibes and support on this journey. :hugs: With any luck, this will be the end of all the vet trips and testing for precious princess Flowerbelle (or as we often call her, little whitey cat, or Whitey T.). :heart2:
 

goholistic

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Oh, wow....an infection?! I would have never suspected an infection. Poor Flowerbelle! She's been such a strong girl this whole time! And the need for Baytril, it must be bad.

I suppose only a slight impairment of muscle function is good news.

Gosh...finally you got to the bottom of this, and hopefully Flowerbelle will be recovering very soon and feeling much better.  


Tons of vibes! 
 

feralvr

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AWWW, Laurie. :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: I am sorry to hear about her ear infection. :( But relieved to hear that you are getting answers. :nod: I bet Flowerbelle IS the one most relieved. Ears, nose, throat - yep - all connected. All of the diagnostic tests are giving you the answers to be able to help Flowerbelle get better and feel better. :heart3: BE GOOD TO YOURSELF!!! :heart3: Flowerbelle is one lucky (AND SPECIAL :rub:) (OH, and UNIQUE) little princess.

Give her a big, giant loving hug from me today. And, one for you too. ;) :hugs: :grphug: :grphug2: :rub: :heart2: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: I hope she feels better very, very soon.
 
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angels mommy

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 I know you are so glad to finally have it all figured out, & that it wasn't anything to serious.  Hugs & love to Flowerbelle as she gets better & Hugs for you too Meowmy!
 
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ldg

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I know, right?

....aaaaaannnnndddddd....... none of the revved up purring in the past 24 hours. It seems the neuro might have been right about that being Flowerbelle trying to "pop" her ears.

Of course, this means that poor Flowerbelle has been suffering since AT LEAST January. :bawling:
 

feralvr

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:cross: for NO revved up purring today, too! :cross: Hope it is a Good Morning for Flowerbelle and that she may be feeling much better. :sun: Just sending out those daily vibes your way. :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: LOVE :heart3: LIGHT :sun: and HUGS :hugs: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. I edited out all of my annoying and curious questions in my last post. :rolleyes: You don't need to be bombarded with questions right now. :doh3: :lol3:
 
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