Anne called me at home around 8am, and she was sounding better. I was fixing to get chores done, pets etc., and head back into Maine Med. She asked for her cleanin stuff, some clothing, and a bagel. Did you notice she didn't ask for her toothbrush, we'll neither did I, oh well....
Too bad I didn't bring the cribbage board in today....
Anne is being given 2 anti-biotics today, Vancomycin and Aztreonam. She actually wants to come home (doesn't want to be here), but she can't because her white count is only up to 1100. It is rising, but...... The on-call oncologist today is Dr. Dugan. He says best case Anne could be released tomorrow (Sunday), and maybe Monday. Anne is discouraged with this news having to hang here for awhile, but we'll just try and make the best ot this day day that we can.
Dr. Dugan also informed us that Anne may have a urinary or bladder infection. We just need to treat with anti-biotics and wait for blood counts to come up.
It's a beautiful day today. Looking and thinking back, we've been blessed to have had zero ice and snow storms during late Jan, Feb and March so far (knock on wood) considering all the driving we have had to do so far this year. I too am looking forward to the rest period that lies ahead before surgery.
I want to thank and recognize Laurie, Adam, and Dana for helping so much with Dixie and Beasley while I've been spending so much time with Anne in Portland these days. It helps so much to know that these guys will work together to help us out. Takes a load off of our minds to know they are there. Thanks you guys, and we love you very much.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Day 51, Friday, 9pm
Ready for this ?
At 3pm I was trying to convince that we should be out taking a walk. She was wiped out however and not up to it. I put Dixie's leash on and Anne was considering going with us after all.
But wait,,,,,,,
About 3:30 now Anne began to shiver, and couldn't stop. She asked me for pain and nausea meds. At about 4pm I asked Anne to call the CMMC emergency number and she did. They advised that we take Anne's temperature, and it was 101.2. The emergency folks said it was critical, could be an infection, and we must rush into Emergency at Maine Medical. The girl on the phone (Tammy) would let the on-call oncology doctor (Dr. Devon Evans) know. She also said that Anne would probably be admitted to the Gibson Pavillion. Anne was able to get up and move around just fine, so we didn't need the ambulance this time.
At 5:30 we were being admitted to a room in the new Emergency area at Maine Medical. At 7:30 they took blood and told us it could be tested in a half hour. they told us how important it is for Anne to get some anti-biotics, but they didn't know what kind to use since Anne has so many alergys.
At 9:30 the supervisor of ER doctors came to our room and told us Anne's white blood count was low, that it was 800 and it should be 10,000, and that her immune system was compromized. He said this is when we don't even think, rather we just give anti-biotics thru the IV. That's when I lost it. I blew up because had been being told startin starting at 4pm about the possible infection, and the need for anti-biotics, and none were forth coming. This is when this supervisor (Tamas) turned the case over to the oncology Dr on-call to determine which anti-biotic would be safe to give to Anne. Dr. Evans was on his way in from home to do this, and to admit Anne to the Gibson Pavillion (cancer wing) once again. Soon Dr Evans was with us and he quickly prescribed Vancomycin. He said the condition with the low white blood count is called a "neutropenic" condition. It's scary because Anne's body cannot defend itself right now. I asked if he thought Anne would be able to have her final 2 R/T's on Monday and Tuesday and he said 'yes'. He is a good doctor, I can tell. All of the oncology staff here has always been fantastic.
Shortly Anne was feeling somewhat better and she was taken to room 565 at Gibson. I headed home after midnight.
At 3pm I was trying to convince that we should be out taking a walk. She was wiped out however and not up to it. I put Dixie's leash on and Anne was considering going with us after all.
But wait,,,,,,,
About 3:30 now Anne began to shiver, and couldn't stop. She asked me for pain and nausea meds. At about 4pm I asked Anne to call the CMMC emergency number and she did. They advised that we take Anne's temperature, and it was 101.2. The emergency folks said it was critical, could be an infection, and we must rush into Emergency at Maine Medical. The girl on the phone (Tammy) would let the on-call oncology doctor (Dr. Devon Evans) know. She also said that Anne would probably be admitted to the Gibson Pavillion. Anne was able to get up and move around just fine, so we didn't need the ambulance this time.
At 5:30 we were being admitted to a room in the new Emergency area at Maine Medical. At 7:30 they took blood and told us it could be tested in a half hour. they told us how important it is for Anne to get some anti-biotics, but they didn't know what kind to use since Anne has so many alergys.
At 9:30 the supervisor of ER doctors came to our room and told us Anne's white blood count was low, that it was 800 and it should be 10,000, and that her immune system was compromized. He said this is when we don't even think, rather we just give anti-biotics thru the IV. That's when I lost it. I blew up because had been being told startin starting at 4pm about the possible infection, and the need for anti-biotics, and none were forth coming. This is when this supervisor (Tamas) turned the case over to the oncology Dr on-call to determine which anti-biotic would be safe to give to Anne. Dr. Evans was on his way in from home to do this, and to admit Anne to the Gibson Pavillion (cancer wing) once again. Soon Dr Evans was with us and he quickly prescribed Vancomycin. He said the condition with the low white blood count is called a "neutropenic" condition. It's scary because Anne's body cannot defend itself right now. I asked if he thought Anne would be able to have her final 2 R/T's on Monday and Tuesday and he said 'yes'. He is a good doctor, I can tell. All of the oncology staff here has always been fantastic.
Shortly Anne was feeling somewhat better and she was taken to room 565 at Gibson. I headed home after midnight.
Day 51, Friday, Noon
Tough morning today for Anne!
At 3:00am she woke me asking for pain and nausea meds, and the bucket. She was coughing and did so for a miserable half hour, spitting clear stuff and finally ending with some yellow stuff. Anyway, at 3:45am after some tending I was able to calm Anne down and we fell back asleep.
After Anne finished R/T this morning we explained what had happened to a nurse who said it wasn't out of the ordinary. She said the yellow was probably the end of the spitting up, and we said "yes". She said is a sign that the stomach was approaching empty. OK, makes sense I guess.
We took Dixie girl (our dog) with us into R/T this morning. Plan was to go to Pine Point and run on the beach after R/T. We did that. Anne did quite a bit of walking this morning, it was low tide and the walking was good. We picked up 2 sand dollars. It was a beautiful, sunny, cold, windy day on the ocean. Almost too windy so we didn't stay too long. The weather man had said today would "look" like a nice day, and tomorrow will "be" a nice day, so we look forward to less wind and more warmth tomorrow.
Anne was exhausted when we got home, but she put together a casserole, felt quite accomplished, and we had a good lunch.
At 3:00am she woke me asking for pain and nausea meds, and the bucket. She was coughing and did so for a miserable half hour, spitting clear stuff and finally ending with some yellow stuff. Anyway, at 3:45am after some tending I was able to calm Anne down and we fell back asleep.
After Anne finished R/T this morning we explained what had happened to a nurse who said it wasn't out of the ordinary. She said the yellow was probably the end of the spitting up, and we said "yes". She said is a sign that the stomach was approaching empty. OK, makes sense I guess.
We took Dixie girl (our dog) with us into R/T this morning. Plan was to go to Pine Point and run on the beach after R/T. We did that. Anne did quite a bit of walking this morning, it was low tide and the walking was good. We picked up 2 sand dollars. It was a beautiful, sunny, cold, windy day on the ocean. Almost too windy so we didn't stay too long. The weather man had said today would "look" like a nice day, and tomorrow will "be" a nice day, so we look forward to less wind and more warmth tomorrow.
Anne was exhausted when we got home, but she put together a casserole, felt quite accomplished, and we had a good lunch.
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