Well my much anticipated meet with my consultant Dr B to discuss what procedure we try next was a bit of a non event.
As per usual i initially saw a registrar or alternative consultant ,a charming and very attractive young Asian lady,gosh my Cecilia would be slapping me by now lol.and as per usual within 5 mins of the consultation she shuffled off to find Dr B,i was tempted to read her computer screen,i tell a lie i did,and basically the MDT team had not yet put their input in so no decision had been made and then miraculously Dr B and the beauty(stop it ski's) returned ensemble and we thrashed out the options.
Sadly it would appear that fractionally i would not be a candidate for the new and as yet not fully sanctioned by NICE lung volume reduction treatment BTVA or steam cleaning as i call it,it is funded for trial purposes only and my hyperinflation is not quite of the dimensions best suitable to benefit from it ,also the complications for some candidates can be quite severe.
So the alternative of the butchers knife,oops sorry the skilled thoracic surgeons scalpel is the only alternative.I will be summoned to discuss how we do this with the said skilled person and not being a great fan of having my rib cage spread like a spatchcoc chicken i shall muse with him the benefits of video assisted and minimally invasive LVRS with fewer and smaller cuts and the chance to put it all on You Tube at a later date.
Dr B will have a chance to spend his not insignificant salary on a well earned vacation in sunny California whilst i research the most salubrious of cat hotels for her majesty Scruff's and on his return and once he has received the surgeons report and my confirmed suitability we will tick the boxes,sign the disclaimer and leap out of the aeroplane again hopefully with a fully serviced parachute.
Breathe well my lung buddie friends.
Love Ski's and Scruffy xx
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skischool
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I’m sorry to know you’re not eligible for the steam cleaning. Hopefully Dr Sunshine will be able to offer you the next best option. None of them are easy choices for you I suppose. The wrath of Scruffy Cat seems to be a threat that assists people in making good decisions, perhaps she’d be willing to lend her claws to enable your good doctor to choose wisely.
It’s too bad we live so far apart, I’d gladly give Scruffy a place to stay for free while you’re being turned into a chicken 🐔Or in fact hopefully not chickenised if you can get the video assisted procedure. 🤞
HH i love your sense of humour and i am glad it is back after the great fire at your secret location.Scruffy cat unfortunately was not in attendance,having a prior engagement at a fish wholesalers,but she did give me orders to bring back treats regardless of the outcome of the consultation and be very careful as she could easily be transported to your domain given the necessary passport. x
Carino, Welcome to my World, I believe they can do something to Help! I have been "given up" on, I was Just Told , Carry on till you Drop Basically,
I have my Loving Family arrive Today, Daughter, 2 Grandchildren, 2 Great Grandchildren. For the next Week, I shall be Nannyfied to my Hearts Content. Besos. C. XXX
Have a great time with your Spanish family, I imagine they will be pleased to escape the heat we are having here for a little while, and of course to see their lovely Nana. Love Carole 😙😙💝
Querida Carino,i am missing you,has that day arrived ,are they here now?i bet you are giddy with love and excitement and we can't wait for the photos and news.
On The Plane now Carino, should be here for 2 ish, Yes all excited, Couldn't sleep so got up at 2.30 am and had 3 Coffees. We are Ready and I am so Excited. Besos. XXXXXX
Thank you megs,Scruff's has an aversion to water and when i mentioned the word spar she was filled with terror and the last time i saw her she was heading for France,she may well meet up with your friend. xx
I am pleased to hear of his (thoracic super hero) California whereabouts as he enjoys his holiday. I can make the 72 hour drive to partake in a small discussion; you know the type of chat- pain relief, scarring, comfort levels, top rate care, etc. We (some dear pals of mine; quite discreet mind you) will thank him profusely as we remove the warning bricks of concrete from his neck and ankles.
And I know dear Cecilia would insist on your smiling while in the discomfort of medical facilities. . Who do you think, dear brother, is organizing these 'coincidences'?
mrmelley,the man with the knife is not vacationing with my consultant,at least his wife hopes not?and i imagine he is busy sharpening his blade should i be a suitable candidate for his chopping block,but like all good bits of meat he will be advised i don't come without a hefty price tag. x
Your humour does you proud. However, I am of the opinion that there is a NHS memo going round that if you are over a certain age / have lung problems there is a directive of delivering bafflement and the fear of god bulls$hitt bingo to the unlucky punter. Which means in a nutshell - basically do nothing and hope that you will go away into a dark corner and disappear. They don't know us do they? Meanwhile leave Scruffs a few hints about the joys of Shady Pines, feline comfort care with moggalicious food, private scratching posts and personal sun puddles to bath in. Fully plumped up cushions, and on tap cat mint nibbles. Its just of the A12 near Romford dog track and a geezer called Sid owns it. Tell him I sent you
Thank you ledge,the secret is to research your condition and possible treatments for it well.fortunately my consultant and i bat on the same wicket so to speak and he knows he can't bamboozle me so it was a team decision.Scruff's thanks you for the directions to Romford heaven but has some concerns about the racing dogs?
Well my friend I will need to read this procedure up as I know nothing about it, but if it will help your breathing then it seems like a good option. You have a good sense of humour to see you through this, although if the lady in question is going to be looking after you in the ward us good ladies may have to give you a slap as warranted by your lovely Cecilia. If there is anything I can do to help then please let me know. Please keep us updated. Irene x
Irene my love you already help by being a friend,when i have the time i will explain to you the two procedures but i sincerely hope you will never need to have either of them.
Seriously Mike , you are not far from me, so if you need anything just say and please let us know when this procedure is booked, you know what a worrywart I am x
Oh skis, sounds like Hobson’s choice to me but what do I know? I just hope the right decision is made. Who will take care of the stunning scruffy? Think long and hard, you have to get it right.
Seriously though, I’m thinking of you, even on my hols.
Cassy think not of me on your holidays,though that is rather nice of you and spend the rest of your vacation having fun and relaxation in the company of your lovely fella.
Lol..Always best to check metaphorical parachute first! Hopefully you will get the result you want. My consultants now turn the screen towards me as I walk in. It saves time as it stops me asking a long list of questions prepared for the consultation. I would offer to look after scruffy but Dolly our family cat hates everyone be it human or animal. Her reputation for ambush and unprovoked attacks is notorious within my family and friends. Even my 40 kg great English mastiff gave her a wide berth. She may be only 4kg but rules "HER" house with claws of iron!
Good day to you Badbessie,Scruff's thanks you for your kind sentiments,as brave and ferocious as she is the thought of gentle sparring with a massive mastiff inclines her to the more gentle passtime of leaping out of aircraft with her slave,with or without the chute lol
Oh dear Skis just when you thought you were ok for your steam clean- hope you get sorted soon - yourself and the mighty scruffy. Any family near by to look after him? x
The idea of being a pioneering guinea pig in the world of steam was appealing but at least the perils of the knife are well documented Anita and Scruff's would more likely prefer to join me for the short stay in hospital than enjoy the company of a well meaning bro near by whose track record of owning cats is rather poor and his garden is like a pet cemetery .
Omgosh I haven’t heard of this but actually I’ve not been on the site much for the last couple of years having trained in a new profession and now working for myself from home (the ideal job)!
So scruffy can come and stay at ours we have plenty of catnip for pawtys and she will be loved- although my three may not be happy haha.
So I’m keen to read more on this - I’ve lost touch since finishing lots of clinical trials for Copd I’m out of the loop 🥳
Peppars,your offer to accommodate the Scruffy one is most kind,unfortunately unlike many cats she hates catnip and gets her karma from tuna and i imagine there would be a ding dong battle with your three companions as to who gets the best cut.
Oh wicked one of the wandering eye, although it is not quite what you hoped for the team is obviously giving a lot of thought to your case, and that always feels good. Will they remove your bling? Or is it just an extra twinkle in the mind’s eye?
Seeing my LLC next Tuesday. I am fearful in case he says there’s nothing more to do so b****r off.
Zebra says he would miss his trips to Leeds and snuggling down on LLC’s lap.
Dear Kate,had the good lady mentioned cared to have examined that wandering eye i am sure the prognosis would have been far worse.
The bling,the only shiny bit of a tired body sits within the airways of my diseased lung so it will be a metal on metal encounter and it will end up in the tray with the garbage they remove i imagine.
I am sure,although you are weary of investigation that your LLC will persevere with you and Zebra will continue to enjoy the delights of Leeds and many other foreign locations.
I love your humour in everything you deal with. Joking aside, I'm sure your doc will do the best they can for you. I wish you all the very best with everything. Choose wisely the cat hotel for Scruffs, 5 star at least, the wrath to follow otherwise will be worse than anything the doc can do! Take care of yourself and Scruffs.
Lemon thank you for your kind wishes and i will continue to take my laughing medicine as it is a cure all for events that life throws at us.The scruffster needs 5 star companionship so i shall indeed try to locate a kind person who tolerates her strange behaviour.
maggie,i am sure that the MDT have your best interest at heart and the margins of acceptance for these procedures is quite fine and i imagine should i have been in worst health or had other comorbidities they would have shown me the door.
i do hope they can still maintain the best quality of life possible for you as i am sure they will do for hacienda carolina.
Hola Carino, I thought I would re-read my letter from Amy re, My last appointment...The MDT was Unanimous that replacing the valves would carry a substantial Risk with low Likelihood of Symptomatic Benefit. The Deterioration in Carol's Lung function over time, with her gas transfer now being 16%Plus her Echocardiogram now shows Features of Pulmonary hypertension. The explanation is any procedure would be very High Risk and we don't feel would get any significant lasting Benefit. SO, As she is maintaining a Good Healthy Exercise regime, her Quality of Life, Is Down to her and her having a Good Attitude. Focusing on her Quality of life for the Future. Someone here said, you get to an Age and they do not Consider you for These Procedures. maybe That is the Truth, Though I don't think So. I know in Body & Mind I am strong enough for a Procedure , But, at the end of the day, it is in their hands. I do Hope and Wish for you Carino, that you get the correct Procedure, otherwise we will have to gang Up Together with our Placards Collecting everyone who would support us in an Orderly Procession and March to Downing St. Mr Boris. Listen to Us.......... Besos XXXXX
Carino,i think like me that you have an honest consultant and i think in both of our cases there is no trickery or sleight of hand and that they are genuinely giving a truthful opinion,as you know i have done loads of research on these procedures and their possible complications and believe me,although i know you are deeply disappointed your positivity just wouldn't outweigh those risks.
But and hear me well that positivity and healthy living you maintain along with that never ending smile and humour will maintain you for some considerable time to come,now bounce off in your usual fashion and prepare for that family gathering.
Gracias Carino Oh Wise One, Always There to Offer Good Advice. Go for the steam,( With Sedation) I had it and it does make a Difference. I now have 4 Valves having a Good swim about never to be Retrieved. ha Ha/ Yes all my Strength right now is for Holding a 6 month old Wriggly baby when she gets here. I shall upload Photos, said to Hubby I will put Red Lippy on to Kiss her all over, it will say "My Great Nana has been here" XXXXX
Ooooh! Hacienda, today is the day. I am sure the excitement in you is bubbling over, have a fantastic time with your family, will be thinking of you xx
Kittykat,as one door closes another potentially opens,i have done endless research on all possible procedures and i am sure this is now the best option for me.
I hope something can be done to alleviate your difficulties and enable you to amuse the rest of us, as well as keeping Scruffy in the luxury to which she has become accustomed. My wonderful surgeon has kept me going for more than sixty years but then he had the advantage that I was only 17 at the time! Another ten in reasonable health would be good though! I hope all goes well for you, and that Scruffs enjoys a luxury break at your expense. xx
A very kind and thoughtful reply Carnival,it is good to know you are in good hands and i hope that 10 yrs is more than doubled and is as comfortable as a pampered cats.
i shall discontinue my lung procedure investigations and research cloud funding for moggies?
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