Thursday Afternoon Medical Update

I was sleeping really well last night. Then they woke me up at 2:00a for vitals and blood cultures. And of course I couldn't go back to sleep. I'm really sick of the bed (not that I can lay down, If I try to do that I can't breathe because of all the fluids), so I moved to a chair and turned on the History channel. There were some interesting programs about Abraham Lincolon. There I was thinking I might be doing much better today. Alas, that was not to be the case.

I have been incredibly nauseous all day, But in the beginning I was lucid enough to figure out that I started feeling so sick ALL the time when they doubled my dose of Vancomycin the other day. Now instead of 1000 whatever units, I'm getting 2000 whatever units, every 8 hours. I'm still getting all the other drugs, too.

Since we've figured out the progression of how I feel, we've a new take on the meds that hopefully make me feel better. As soon as I start feeling nauseous, I get a shot of Zofran in the IV. I also get a couple of Lortabs. Zofran is then given every 6 hours and 2 Lortabs every four hours. This is the first time I have felt like sitting up since this morning. So I wouldn't say any of this is making me feel better, but rather it's keeping me from feeling as bad as I could feel. Now it's about time for the next dose of vanco, so the cycle will start again.

Today, they doubled the dose of Lasix, and it has worked some. I probably need a higher dose tomorrow as I am still quite puffy. But at least I can bend my fingers now.

My reds and platelets are still holding from the last transfusions, so I didn't need any of those today. Probably platelets tomorrow. My infectious disease doctor is the one who upped the vanco, as it seems to be killing off the mystery bacteria. When she came by she said she's not yet heard back from Mayo. Perhaps tomorrow, but likely not till Monday or Tuesday.

Now, ladies and gentlemen. Are you sitting down? Colour me a Pointer Sister! I'M SO EXCITED. AND I CAN'T DENY IT..... My white count. I actually now have a white count. The neutrophil count is 0.04. In actuality, that number is abysmal. But for me it's like the sun finding a hole through the clouds. Now that we know I can still produce some white blood cells, I'm hopeful I can produce enough to be able to leave the hospital. Ideally they want the neutrophil count to be at least 0.5 before then. That is a number that I haven't had since before Christmas. (Just an FYI. the normal neutrophil count is 1.20-3.40. I haven't had a normal count in well over a year.) So keep on visualising!

Apparently I am having hallucinations or lucid dreaming or something - probably side effects of the Lortab. Mike says I talk, even though I am asleep. Not normal talking in your sleep, but it's like he's hearing one side of a conversation. If he talks to me, then I answer him and go back to the other conversation. This morning he thought I said something to him and he asked me if I was OK. I said, "Oh yes. They're not taking me to the dungeon anymore. I'm flying high just fine up here now." At this point he knew it was one of those weird things, so he didn't talk anymore. But apparently I discussed flying and such. A couple of times, I've thought someone is talking to me. I answer and when I open my eyes there is no one there.

My picc line is still not drawing properly. Last night the nurse got blood by having me hold my arm over my head and coughing. Every time I would cough she could get some blood. There must be a kink in it somewhere, so I've written myself a note to talk with my doc about it when he comes by in the morning. Much better to get it fixed whilst I am here in the hospital than to have to come back. They have sick people here!

So the long term prognosis has not changed, but I may have turned a corner such that I will get well enough to go home. There have been some times that I have wondered.