I went to see Kate yesterday and feel much better though nothing was resolved or changed. Kate said she'd read up on aspergillosis to see if she could find out anything else for me. Not that I haven't been doing that myself, but I don't understand all the medical jargon and am relieved she'll be able to do some translating.
What I got from the consultation is aspergillosis is not that common although the fungus is everywhere. Kate felt that Lucy's symptom of one nostril being runny swayed her towards a tumor or some blockage other than aspergillosis or chronic rhinitis. She felt those would affect both nostrils. I don't know that that makes me feel better—a tumor versus a fungus?—but the progression of the fungus just sounds so sci-fi.
She also assured me if it was the fungus, Lucy's face wouldn't cave in. A silly fear, I know, but I was afraid if it eats away at the bone, that if she bumped her nose, there might be consequences we couldn't visually handle. She said it's more like periodontal disease, slow and invisible. I don't think that's any more pleasant, but I couldn't stand to see Lucy's face altered.
She also supported our decision to do nothing if it's cancer and to not do the ream and flush if aspergillosis. She can come to the house to put Lucy to sleep or prioritize us in a vet visit. That was helpful also.
So I came home yesterday feeling a bit better and thinking perhaps we'll put her through the CT and rhinoscopy just to see what is causing this. I remain conflicted on this because we've chosen not to treat either cancer or aspergillosis, but if it was a small irritant in her nose they could remove, then wouldn't it be worth it?
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