Dom is doing GREAT. Almost all of his mouth sores have disappeared. He can swallow without pain. They moved him from liquids to soft foods.... puddings, yogurts, mashed potatoes, etc.
Everything still goes right through him, though. He had 14 bouts of diarrhea yesterday! (Glad that he doesn't read this blog.... he'd be horrified that I'm telling stories about his bodily functions!)
They'll be taking him off of the Kepivance (?) once his ANC reaches 10,000. Get a load out of these newest numbers, gang:
Day +11
HCT: 29.5
WBC: 3.2
ANC: 2912
Platelets: 41
Day +12
HCT: 28.3
WBC: 5.9
ANC: ---------------
Platelets: 38
Day +13:
HCT: 30.5
WBC: 10.1
ANC: 8282
Platelets: 38
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Wow! Check Out These Numbers, Gang!
Day +10
HCT: 24.3 (got 2 units)
WBC: 1.0
ANC: 840 Should have read 300 yesterday...the nurse goofed.
Platelets: 45
Drs. Safah and Verghese are very pleased. They've upped the antibiotics for his bowel infection, but are otherwise happy. Man! What a flippin' emotional rollercoaster! He still can't eat or drink anything, but feels much better....and not nearly as stoned as he has been.
HCT: 24.3 (got 2 units)
WBC: 1.0
ANC: 840 Should have read 300 yesterday...the nurse goofed.
Platelets: 45
Drs. Safah and Verghese are very pleased. They've upped the antibiotics for his bowel infection, but are otherwise happy. Man! What a flippin' emotional rollercoaster! He still can't eat or drink anything, but feels much better....and not nearly as stoned as he has been.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
His Stem Cells are Cooperating!
Today is a great day, gang. Dom's stem cells are doing their thing. White Blood Cell and ANC count are beginning to rise:
Day +9
HCT: 26.0
WBC: 0.3
ANC: 300
PLATELETS: 47 got platelets to bring them up to 66
Our patient is finally able to swallow. He hasn't had the violent diarrhea for hours. He's still not allowed to eat or drink anything...just chew on ice chips. They began feeding him through his Pic Line. This might be the reason that his Sodium Level shot up..... making him a little "loopy" on top of the Morphine.
The weekend doctor came in and was pleased. He told us, "All that we've done is stick our finger in the dike, Dominic. Your white blood cells are fighting off the infection on their own!". There's still a team of surgeons keeping an eye on him, but things are looking good.
HAPPY Sunday, gang.... it is for us!
Day +9
HCT: 26.0
WBC: 0.3
ANC: 300
PLATELETS: 47 got platelets to bring them up to 66
Our patient is finally able to swallow. He hasn't had the violent diarrhea for hours. He's still not allowed to eat or drink anything...just chew on ice chips. They began feeding him through his Pic Line. This might be the reason that his Sodium Level shot up..... making him a little "loopy" on top of the Morphine.
The weekend doctor came in and was pleased. He told us, "All that we've done is stick our finger in the dike, Dominic. Your white blood cells are fighting off the infection on their own!". There's still a team of surgeons keeping an eye on him, but things are looking good.
HAPPY Sunday, gang.... it is for us!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Final Saturday Report.... our patient is higher than a kite...
Hey guys....
Rather than call Dom, I called his nurse a little while ago. He's been knocked out all day. I MIGHT call him this evening.... he needs his sleep.
Did 60 lengths in the pool today. Feel great.
Amy, best childhood friend in Ohio, booked a flight for Friday. Spending 4 nights- her husband is being a doll about it.
Here's today's numbers. BTW: Nurse Colleen told me that on DAY 10, we can start looking for an increase in his White Blood Cells. I told Dom to CONCENTRATE!!!!!!!
Day +8
HCT: 25.8
WBC: 0.1
ANC: 0
PLATELETS: 48 (getting more today....trying to keep him above 50)
Will head in tomorrow with a Sunday paper for him. Adios, gang....
Rather than call Dom, I called his nurse a little while ago. He's been knocked out all day. I MIGHT call him this evening.... he needs his sleep.
Did 60 lengths in the pool today. Feel great.
Amy, best childhood friend in Ohio, booked a flight for Friday. Spending 4 nights- her husband is being a doll about it.
Here's today's numbers. BTW: Nurse Colleen told me that on DAY 10, we can start looking for an increase in his White Blood Cells. I told Dom to CONCENTRATE!!!!!!!
Day +8
HCT: 25.8
WBC: 0.1
ANC: 0
PLATELETS: 48 (getting more today....trying to keep him above 50)
Will head in tomorrow with a Sunday paper for him. Adios, gang....
Bowel Infection, Antibiotics and Morphine
Hello gang.
Just returned from a visit with Dom. Spoke to the weekend doctor this morning. Confirmed that he has ulcers from his mouth, all the way down through his intestines. Appendix is OK.
He's developed a bad infection in the wall of his lower bowel. He's on a constant antibiotic drip. With any luck, he'll start developing White Blood Cells within the next 4 or 5 days to beat this thing.
The doctor has ordered a surgeon to be waiting in the wings... if this infection causes a tear in his bowel's lining, poison would leak into his stomach, calling for emergency surgery. He made it very clear that he doesn't expect this, but they have to have a "Plan B", just in case.
Dom's doped up with Morphine. His nurse was going to see about getting him a morphine pump. He's not allowed any food or water for another 3 or 4 days. I'd very much like him to sleep for the next couple of days.
His nurse, Colleen, told me just what Teresa said.... he might not remember any of this. At times, patients "lose" an entire week. Hope that happens in Dom's case.
When his eyes went to half-mast and he reported that "wow- everything in the room is such a pretty shade of green", I kissed him goodbye for the day. Hope he has pleasant green dreams!
Have a good weekend, gang. Will post new numbers later....about the same.
XOXO
Just returned from a visit with Dom. Spoke to the weekend doctor this morning. Confirmed that he has ulcers from his mouth, all the way down through his intestines. Appendix is OK.
He's developed a bad infection in the wall of his lower bowel. He's on a constant antibiotic drip. With any luck, he'll start developing White Blood Cells within the next 4 or 5 days to beat this thing.
The doctor has ordered a surgeon to be waiting in the wings... if this infection causes a tear in his bowel's lining, poison would leak into his stomach, calling for emergency surgery. He made it very clear that he doesn't expect this, but they have to have a "Plan B", just in case.
Dom's doped up with Morphine. His nurse was going to see about getting him a morphine pump. He's not allowed any food or water for another 3 or 4 days. I'd very much like him to sleep for the next couple of days.
His nurse, Colleen, told me just what Teresa said.... he might not remember any of this. At times, patients "lose" an entire week. Hope that happens in Dom's case.
When his eyes went to half-mast and he reported that "wow- everything in the room is such a pretty shade of green", I kissed him goodbye for the day. Hope he has pleasant green dreams!
Have a good weekend, gang. Will post new numbers later....about the same.
XOXO
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