Monday, we have a plan

This morning I had a need to get in touch with Anne's Oncologist.  He has always pulled things together for us, and I felt like we had become estranged since we came here to the Springbrook Rehab and Nursing facility last Saturday.  I got a hold of Dr. Ebrahim's nurse this morning as soon as MCCM opened, and low and behold Dr. Ebrahim called me and Anne back at noon.  He hadn't had an update on Anne since last Saturday, so he asked me for the low down.  He wants to get involved and help us out.  He has a plan.

I told him that here at Springbrook we haven't made any progress in terms of reducing the fluid that has collected in Anne's body.  They have done all they can and Anne hasn't shed one pound of fluid all week 

In terms of PT, Anne has been here for 9 days and has shown only minimal improvement physically.  She can stand now without getting dizzy.  She stood for up to 10 minutes last night as the nurses fiddled with the catheter.  During the day she was up from her recliner several times, and she moved around between the bed, recliner, and comode with a walker, but no big strides.

For these reasons, I was eager to 'go for help' and make something happen today, actually, you might even call it my first 'panic attack'.

Dr. Ebrahim agreed that we've reached the law of diminishing returns here, and he's arranging for Anne to return to Maine Medical Center, probably tomorrow, for some aggressive diuresis.  It involves using drugs to pull the fluid from her body, and some serious and close monitoring, more timely blood testing than can be done here at Springbrook.  Anne is on board and OK with this plan. 

We hope and pray that this effort to mobilize the fluid will produce results.  It's important for Anne's well being because some of her blood counts are low now.  I pray this will help Anne feel better.

Anne wants to be at home as soon as she can, she is interested in the Paliative Care concept of being pain free, and as you know in her heart of hearts she would like to be on her feet.