hi everyone,

i'm new, and wondering if anyone has had any experience with chylothorax?
my 2 yr old cat was diagnosed with this recently, and i want to know what i might expect.

from what i do know, it is a build up of fluid-"chyme" in the pleural cavity in the lungs. if the pleural sac is too full of fluid- he can't take a breath, and can end up dying from it. or it can just go away.
when he was first diagnosed- we thought he had asthma, so the vet wanted to take an xray to make sure...his lungs were barely visable ther was so much fluid there...they tapped his lungs, and got 300cc's of fluid! (more than a soda can). i dunno how he made it that long!

he coughs a lot. i listen to his lungs everyday. i find myself sleeping with one eye open, worrying with every move he makes, but knowing i can't do anything to help him. he does take medicine, but the vet said most don't really respond to it.

i know clinically what this illness means, but i'd love to hear from someone who might know from personal experience.
i appreciate any stories, coping skills, advice...whatever. i'm feeling a bit helpless.

thanks in advance!
ozzlou