Day started at 9:30 in HIPOP – Our Nurse for the day was Lovina. New face – a very nice girl. Took Don’s weight – took blood work. Didn’t take them long to start hydration as BP was already low. I don’t know what it was as I had gone for coffee. Met a very nice lady whose husband is at Johns Hopkins for leukemia. I’ve met a few ladies and all here for a different reason. I knew there were a lot of cancers out there but meeting these different women and hearing bits and pieces of their stories just make you realize there are so many people out there just like them and now us and it’s heartbreaking to say the least.
Blood work was done and blood pressure taken – hydration started due to low blood pressure and after blood work came back Potassium was given as well.
Nurse Practitioner Kelly came – we hadn’t seen her in awhile because of Don’s recent stay up in 5B. She was happy to see Don. Asked her normal questions and did her checking of breathing and swelling. Don had told her of his problem sleeping – she suggested we try another pill Ativan which we had from before. Let’s hope this one works a bit better for him. Don told her he was having trouble going to the bathroom – what a switch from last week when it was non-stop. He has this herbal medicine call Senekot that he’s taken before with results so she said sure it was fine to take this. He will try this tonight or first thing in the morning. A CT scan is ordered for next week – they need to check on the spots they found on his lungs from previous CT scan. He was given an anti-fungal medication for this but it was causing a spike in his liver counts so they discontinued the medication. The counts are getting better but they want to redo the CT scan to keep an eye on the spots.
1:30 p.m. Still here in HIPOP – was hoping for an early in and out but that didn’t happen. As we were sitting there Dr. Borrello came in – Myeloma Specialist. We had been trading emails as we had some concerns and he said he would stop by which he did. He could see that Don was totally and completely wiped out. Last week surely took its toll on him. He said with Don’s counts the way they were, IF he was feeling better he would be ready to go home. The counts are going up up up!! Unfortunately that doesn’t seem likely for awhile L. Dr. Borrello said if Don could start eating a bit more, sitting up and trying to walk more it might help speed up his recovery process. AND if he could get some sleep that would definitely help. I told Dr. B of the CT scan ordered for next week – he said it was just a precaution and he wasn’t concerned with the liver spike because the numbers were coming down and he was glad he wasn’t taking the medication anymore. I think the goal is to get him OFF as much medication as they can – I can’t help thinking this will help make him feel better. (My personal opinion). Dr. B is hoping this all goes away in a week or 2 at the most. GOSH I sure hope so. He also said he thinks there is NO issue with a fungal problem on his lungs – I think he’s felt this way all along but says we should wait and see what the next CT scan shows.
2:20 p.m. – took his blood pressure again – sitting and standing. Still low, VERY low so they drew blood again.
3:55 p.m. - Due to blood work results he was given Calcium.
5:00 p.m. – We left to go back to Apartment.
Needless to say – it was a long long day. If it’s possible Don is even more tired. After lying on the bed for almost 8 hours I guess anyone would be. He tried to eat some potato soup when we got back – not right away – he did lay down for a bit. But anyway, he tried and said it was awful. Nothing tastes good to him – hoping that changes soon and quickly.
It’s past 9:00 p.m. now – he’ll be taking something soon to help him sleep. I pray it works.
Tonight Don said “I want to go home” – first time he’s actually said it – I’m sure he’s thought it but never said it. He’s just sick of feeling sick. I wish I knew what to say about all of this right now. I know his body has been totally messed up past few weeks with diarrhea and not sleeping. Well the diarrhea has stopped but he still isn’t sleeping. Now he has the low blood pressure. That started in the 5B and now 2 days going over to IPOP and HIPOP. I pray pray pray hard this doesn’t continue. If it does – I just don’t know.
Keep the prayers coming – we need and appreciate them all.
Until tomorrow…….
Love you all!
Don & Muffin
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